Samsung SmartThings Station evaluation: an ideal sensible residence hub when you stay in Samsung’s galaxy

I’m a fan of multipurpose sensible residence hubs. Nobody has the area or persistence for yet one more single-function plastic field plugged into their router. Past performing because the brains of your Apple sensible residence, the HomePod is a superb speaker; Google’s Nest Hub Max helps run your Google Residence and is an excellent digital picture body. And the brand new Samsung SmartThings Station? It’s a SmartThings hub that additionally fees your telephone.

Sure, Samsung made a SmartThings hub three years after saying it wouldn’t make any extra SmartThings {hardware}. (Effectively, it’s truly a modified model of Samsung’s present wi-fi charger, however it has a SmartThings emblem, so it’s SmartThings {hardware}.) However the $59.99 SmartThings Station can also be a wise residence button, an always-on system scanner for SmartThings Discover, a Matter controller, and a Thread border router.

In case you have a wise residence and are all in on Samsung gadgets, particularly when you use a Galaxy telephone, that is near a must-buy. However when you use every other model of telephone, whereas this can work as each a SmartThings / Matter hub, sensible button, and wi-fi charger, it’s not fairly as compelling.

Samsung SmartThings Station

$59.99

The GoodSmartThings hub and wi-fi charger in oneCheapest Matter controller and Thread border router you may buyWorks with iOS and AndroidAlso a SmartThings sensible buttonCan tie sensible residence automations to Galaxy telephone chargingThe BadNo Z-Wave assist Fewer options for non-Samsung phonesCan’t cost Galaxy smartwatchesSloooow charging for something however Galaxy gadgetsHow we price and evaluation merchandise

Let me again up. SmartThings wants a brand new standalone {hardware} hub due to Matter, the brand new sensible residence commonplace that Samsung based, together with Apple, Google, Amazon, and plenty of different firms, that’s designed to repair sensible residence interoperability. However it’s not going to show all of the sensible residence platforms into one homogeneous, harmonious place.

What it can do is facilitate communications between gadgets: your new Matter sensible plug will work with the sensible mild bulb you have already got and together with your SmartThings app and Apple Residence app. However you continue to want to select a platform (or two) to run your property on. And whatever the platform, you’ll get probably the most out of it with a platform-compatible hub — therefore, SmartThings now has a brand new cheap standalone hub. 

What’s Matter?

Matter is a brand new sensible residence interoperability commonplace that gives a standard language for linked gadgets to speak domestically in your house with out counting on a cloud connection. Developed by Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung, Matter makes use of Wi-Fi and Thread wi-fi protocols and, in its first rollout, helps sensible sensors, sensible lighting, sensible plugs and switches, sensible thermostats, linked locks, and media gadgets together with TVs. 

All which means that if a wise residence gadget you purchase has the Matter emblem on it, you may set it up and use it with any Matter-compatible system and with any Matter-compatible platform. Matter gadgets are beginning to change into accessible, and we count on to see much more arrive this 12 months.

Amazon Alexa, Google Residence, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple Residence are a number of the massive platforms that assist Matter, and so they have all up to date their suitable hubs to be Matter controllers.

The SmartThings Station works over Wi-Fi and is powered through USB-C, providing you with flexibility with the place you place it (it doesn’t should plug into your router). For $59.99 when you provide your individual 25W energy adapter, or $79.99 when you want the facility brick, it’s costly for a wi-fi charger that solely fees one system, however a discount at both value for a SmartThings hub that helps Zigbee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Thread, and Matter. 

The Station is small and sq., with a discreet look and a pleasant really feel to it. It should slot in high-quality in your corridor entryway desk or by your mattress. It is available in black or white and has one bodily button on the highest proper. That is additionally small, shows the SmartThings emblem, and can be utilized to set off sensible residence routines. In case you have it by your mattress, you possibly can set one press to set off a Good Evening scene and an extended press to activate a Good Morning scene. Or, in your corridor entryway desk you possibly can have a Welcome Residence scene and a Goodbye scene. 

There’s an LED indicator on the facet on the entrance with two mild bars: one which tells you the state of the hub (blue for all good, yellow for issues) and the opposite that tells you the charging progress of any system on it (crimson is charging, blue is prepared). 

The underside LED mild glows blue when the hub is on-line and blinks yellow if there’s an issue. The highest mild goes from crimson to blue when a telephone is charged. You may disable the sunshine.

SmartThings Station as a wise residence hub

As a SmartThings hub, the Station can onboard gadgets domestically to your sensible residence utilizing Samsung’s SmartThings app. In case you have any Samsung home equipment or TVs, you’ll seemingly be accustomed to the SmartThings app, or when you’ve been concerned within the sensible residence for some time, you’ll realize it as one of many authentic sensible residence platforms.

SmartThings has gone by vital modifications since its buy by Samsung in 2014 (for extra particulars, learn this wonderful explainer from The Digital Media Zone). However regardless of these modifications, it may run hub-connected gadgets domestically by the brand new SmartThings Edge platform, and Samsung tells me it’s engaged on migrating each hub-connected system to Edge.

SmartThings is an automation platform that may join gadgets from completely different producers and allow you to use them in scenes and automations. You need to use the SmartThings app with out a hub to regulate many gadgets by cloud connections, together with Ring cameras, Philips Hue lights, and Google Nest thermostats and cameras. However these gadgets must work over Wi-Fi or by a bridge that connects to Wi-Fi, which guidelines out a whole lot of sensible door locks, sensible sensors, and sensible lighting options. 

Including a hub lets you join SmartThings-certified Zigbee gadgets and Thread gadgets on to SmartThings domestically. The Station is each a hub and a Matter controller, so you may also onboard any Matter system to your sensible residence community. There, you may management it with the SmartThings app or pair it with every other Matter-enabled app — similar to Apple Residence, Google Residence, or Amazon Alexa — by the SmartThings app. Matter ought to carry extra locally-controlled gadgets to the platform and open it to some producers that didn’t work with it earlier than (together with Eve, Aqara, and Thread gadgets from Nanoleaf).

Should you want a 25-watt USB-C energy adaptor, the Station prices $80, or you should buy it for $60 with out.

One protocol the Station doesn’t assist that may be a massive a part of SmartThings is Z-Wave. For that, you’d want the Aeotec Sensible Residence Hub for SmartThings ($135), which is a SmartThings-compatible hub that helps all of the protocols (however it’s not going to cost your smartphone). The SmartThings Hub Dongle has the identical radio capabilities because the Station and is barely $35. It should get an replace to Matter / Thread later this 12 months, however it must be plugged right into a Samsung TV or fridge. (Sure, you may management your sensible residence with a fridge.)

The excellent news is that you would be able to run a number of SmartThings hubs, so when you began with the Station after which determined you probably did need to add Z-Wave, you possibly can combine an Aeotec hub into your setup. However Samsung advised me that for solely native automations, all gadgets concerned should be on the identical hub. In case your gadgets are on completely different hubs, the automations on them will run within the cloud.

Establishing and utilizing the Station with Matter

Establishing the Station is simple; you simply want the SmartThings app on both iOS or Android. It’s one of many first Matter controllers that works with each platforms (Samsung up to date its iOS app to assist Matter earlier final month; Google and Amazon have but to launch their iOS Matter apps). Open the app, faucet the plus image within the top-right nook, choose “add system,” choose Samsung below manufacturers, choose Sensible Residence Hub, select SmartThings Station, and observe the steps.

As soon as linked, you may onboard gadgets to the hub in an analogous manner. Faucet “add system” and both scan the system’s QR code or select from the opposite choices. SmartThings may auto-scan for gadgets utilizing its Matter Straightforward Pair characteristic. This solely works with Galaxy telephones, which detect any Matter system broadcasting a BLE beacon and ship a pop-up notification to your telephone asking if you wish to add it. 

I arrange a Matter-enabled Eve Movement sensor utilizing the Station, and it labored easily. A notification appeared on the Galaxy S22 I used to be testing with, and it prompted me to scan the system’s Matter QR code. Then, as soon as it had been added, I selected which room it was in and named it. From there, I arrange a routine utilizing the movement sensor to activate some Philips Hue lights linked to SmartThings through the Hue bridge.

The automation ran promptly and reliably, with the bulbs turning on easily a second or so after movement was detected. Nonetheless, after I added some Nanoleaf mild panels and Lutron sensible switches to the automation (each of that are linked by the cloud), there was noticeable lag, and the lights popped on in a random sequence.

SmartThings is well probably the most highly effective mainstream sensible residence system you may select, wanting organising your individual Residence Assistant server — and it’s so much simpler to make use of. It really works with IFTTT-style automation and permits for situations and a number of actions. This implies you may create extra intricate and particular automations than these supplied by Apple Residence and Amazon’s Alexa platform. And it blows Google Residence’s paltry choices out of the water. 

For instance, I set an automation to activate a wise plug linked to a fan within the hen coop when it’s over 80 levels Fahrenheit and sunny — however provided that I’m at residence and the hen coop door is closed. SmartThings is ready to tie automations to a particular time interval, presence, system state, climate, and mode.

The mode characteristic is especially useful for me. You may select from Residence, Away, or Evening and tailor automations round them. My husband works 24-hour shifts, so if I add the “Provided that location is in Residence mode” situation to my automations, I can activate the Evening mode whereas he’s sleeping throughout the day to ensure nothing by accident runs and wakes him up.

The SmartThings button provides you bodily management over sensible residence gadgets.

The Station has a built-in cooling system.

SmartThings Station as a wise residence button

The button on the Station could be a distant management for any scenes or automation you create. For instance, I set the Evening mode scene to activate with a single press. This manner, when my husband comes residence and must sleep, he can simply press it as soon as and know that he received’t get disturbed. I haven’t discovered an answer to that downside so simple as this on the opposite platforms I’ve examined.

The button will be configured to run as much as three scenes or automations or simply management a single system. Along with single press, there’s additionally the choice to double press or lengthy press. If you first arrange the Station, it prompts you to set the double press motion to ring your Samsung telephone (it solely works with Samsung telephones), so you will discover it if it’s in your home. Curiously, when you flip this on, you may nonetheless use the double press to set off a wise residence system. I set it to activate a lightweight within the hallway, and it did each concurrently. 

SmartThings Station as a SmartThings Discover scanner

The Station acts as a tool scanner for SmartThings Discover, which works with Galaxy SmartTags. Picture by Owen Grove / The Verge

Talking of discovering issues, the Station additionally acts as a SmartThings Discover system scanner. That is Samsung’s model of Apple’s Discover My characteristic, protecting tabs on any gadgets registered by a Samsung Galaxy, similar to watches, earbuds, and even issues like keys and pets if they’ve a Galaxy SmartTag or SmartTag Plus (sure, like AirTags).

I examined it with my automotive keys, that are consistently strolling off on their very own.

The Station can consistently scan for any linked system and inform you if it leaves your property or when it comes again. I examined it with my automotive keys, that are consistently strolling off on their very own. I connected a Galaxy SmartTag Plus, which makes use of UWB along with Bluetooth for extra exact location identification.

It labored reliably to alert me when the keys left my location and once they returned. (I despatched my husband out with the automotive.) However I couldn’t discover a great way to get the notification to pop up as an alert. As a substitute, it simply obtained buried in all my different notifications, making it lower than helpful for protecting tabs on one thing in real-time, similar to a pet or particular person.

There’s additionally the choice to activate alerts if you go away the system behind, and you’ll see a location historical past in your system. What I discovered most useful was after I had my keys on me however couldn’t discover my telephone. In these conditions, I might press the button on the tag twice to ring the telephone. This works in reverse, too, and doesn’t require the Station.

SmartThings Station as a quick wi-fi charger

The Station is a “quick wi-fi charger” for Galaxy telephones. For all the pieces else, it’s a “very gradual wi-fi charger.”

As a wi-fi charger, the SmartThings Station’s essential declare to fame is “super-fast” wi-fi charging. Keep in mind that that is nonetheless slower than charging with a cable and a fast-charging brick, however it does pace issues up a bit. It could possibly cost suitable Samsung telephones at 15 watts, about three watts greater than commonplace wi-fi charging (so long as you utilize a 25-watt brick). The Samsung Galaxy S22 went from zero to hero in round 2.5 hours.

Whereas it can additionally cost different manufacturers of smartphones, it does so at slower speeds. Samsung says it may cost Apple gadgets at 7.5 watts and Qi-compatible telephones at a glacial 5 watts. It juiced up an iPhone 14 in a bit over 4 hours, however a Pixel 6 took perpetually. It could possibly additionally cost Samsung buds — however not Galaxy watches.

The Station is barely value contemplating when you use a Galaxy system

I did discover it actually tough to place the telephone on the charger. I finally found out the best positioning for the Galaxy 22; it’s important to put the underside digicam lens within the top-right nook of the Station. The iPhone most well-liked a jaunty angle. However all of them required particular placement, and it undoubtedly made me miss the comforting clunk of an iPhone with a MagSafe charger.

Because it’s a flat charging pad, the Station doesn’t make it simple to make use of the telephone whereas it’s charging. It’s additionally considerably chunkier than most wi-fi pads, however it’s packing all these further radios and has a fan / cooling system occurring. It does have a charging indicator mild that stays crimson till the telephone is charged, in order that’s a helpful visible cue that it’s working, 

The distinctive factor right here is that you would be able to tie charging into automations. Which means that if you begin charging, cease charging, or when the telephone is totally charged, you may have a scene or automation run. I set it to ship me a notification by SmartThings and switch certainly one of my lights blue when the telephone was totally charged. I additionally had it activate an I’m Again! scene to show the lights on and regulate my Ecobee thermostat after I put the telephone on the charger after 4PM. 

A match made in heaven.

As helpful of a multipurpose system as it’s, the Station’s further capabilities are geared towards Samsung smartphones, making this solely value contemplating when you or somebody in your home makes use of a Galaxy system. If you have already got a SmartThings hub that helps Zigbee and Matter, then there’s no must get this for the hub portion. 

In case you have a Samsung Household Hub fridge or sensible TV, the SmartThings Hub Dongle will get you an identical options for much less cash. (It should get Thread assist quickly.) However the SmartThings button characteristic bumps the Station up a notch if these are your wants. It’s very helpful.

If you have already got a SmartThings hub that helps Zigbee and Matter, there’s no must get this.

Nonetheless, as a wise residence platform, SmartThings doesn’t rely upon a Galaxy system, particularly not in the way in which Apple Residence depends on an iPhone. (I nonetheless don’t get why rebooting my iPhone usually fixes any sensible residence issues I’m having with HomeKit.) It really works simply as properly with an Android or iPhone.

SmartThings has wide-ranging compatibility with sensible gadgets. It’s one of many few mainstream choices that assist Z-Wave (although not by the Station, sadly). It really works with an extended checklist of firms and integrates with well-liked gadgets from Ring, Nest, Ecobee, Philips Hue, Lutron, and Nanoleaf, in addition to with a whole lot of obscure and geeky devices. It’s additionally suitable with Amazon Alexa and Google Residence if you wish to add voice management. (You may additionally use Bixby… .)

If you would like your sensible washer or oven to be a part of your sensible residence, SmartThings seems to be like the best choice. Samsung has mentioned its home equipment won’t be Matter gadgets. When you can management some Samsung gadgets and people from different producers with Amazon Alexa or Google Residence, the expertise isn’t optimum. And shortly SmartThings may fit with many of the main equipment producers.

Samsung is a founding member of the Residence Connectivity Alliance, an business group working to make the sensible gadgets of all massive residence equipment producers interoperable. If this pans out, SmartThings might change into one of many solely platforms to have the ability to management all of your bigger residence home equipment alongside sensible residence gadgets like lights, locks, and thermostats. So, you possibly can have your LG tv, GE fridge, Samsung oven, and Electrolux washer multi functional app.

If you would like your sensible washer or oven to be a part of your sensible residence, SmartThings seems to be like the best choice.

Whereas in principle, different Matter-enabled apps from HCA members (similar to LG’s ThinQ app) might do that, too, Samsung’s platform has a major head begin on its equipment producer brethren, placing it in a strong place. 

This brings me again to Matter. It might be fixing system interoperability, however the sensible residence platforms will nonetheless be competing to lock you into their ecosystems — no matter $10 sensible plug you purchase. Apple with the iPhone and its subscription providers; Samsung with its smartphones and home equipment; Amazon with its very low cost sensible audio system and streaming providers; and Google with its well-curated suite of Nest sensible residence {hardware}. 

Sure, the sensible house is getting easier to make use of and arrange, however even with Matter’s multi-admin characteristic (which helps you to use gadgets throughout ecosystems), you’ll nonetheless need to decide a main platform. Matter permits for flexibility, however finally, similar to most individuals don’t need a number of plastic packing containers dangling off their routers, most individuals don’t need to use a number of apps to regulate their sensible houses. And proper now, the SmartThings platform seems to be set to have the broadest compatibility as soon as once more. 

Pictures by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge

Conform to Proceed: Samsung SmartThings Station

Each sensible system now requires you to conform to a sequence of phrases and situations earlier than you should utilize it — contracts that nobody truly reads. It’s unimaginable for us to learn and analyze each single certainly one of these agreements. However we began counting precisely what number of instances it’s important to hit “agree” to make use of gadgets once we evaluation them since these are agreements most individuals don’t learn and undoubtedly can’t negotiate.

To make use of the SmartThings Station, you have to obtain the SmartThings app (iOS and Android), which requires location information and entry to Bluetooth (which you’ll disable in settings). You should conform to the next:

Samsung Providers Phrases and ConditionsSamsung Privateness Discover

Closing tally: two necessary agreements.