Samsung Electronics has announced the latest update to SmartThings, its global connected living platform with 470 million registered users and support for more than 430 Works with SmartThings (WWST)-certified brands worldwide. The update introduces SmartThings Now at the top of the Home tab and updates the app’s Home tab and local control capabilities.
SmartThings Now and redesigned Home tab
SmartThings Now appears as cards at the top of the Home tab and builds on Home Insight by combining relevant information with actions based on the user’s current situation.
Examples of SmartThings Now suggestions include:
- A care card with options to check in or call when a Family Care member, such as an older parent, shows no device activity for an extended period.
- A suggestion to turn on lights and air purifiers when a user arrives near a home location pre-registered in the SmartThings app.
- A prompt to create a routine after the user takes a suggested action, allowing the same actions to run automatically going forward.
SmartThings Now also analyzes the past week’s activity to suggest updates to Home tab Favorites, including devices, services, and routines. For example, it may recommend removing an air conditioner card as usage drops heading into cooler months or adding an AirDresser card as its usage increases during the change of seasons.
Routine management is also available through SmartThings Now. The Routine Insight card provides a detailed view of routine activity from the past week, allowing users to review and delete routines they no longer need. Routine Insight is also accessible through the Automations > Suggestions tab in the SmartThings app.
The updated Home tab reorganizes key information into dashboards, device cards, and service cards. Service cards use a more space-efficient design to display more services on a single screen and present information such as device status and numerical readings. Live Wallpaper changes throughout the day.
The update also introduces a Floating Bar at the bottom of the screen that places frequently used features within easier reach. It supports one-handed use on larger smartphones and reflects the latest One UI design direction.
Enhanced local control
SmartThings is introducing local control technology for operating connected devices when there are changes to the home network environment or disruptions to external internet service.
When a mobile device and SmartThings Hub are connected to the same Wi-Fi network, the mobile device can communicate directly with the hub instead of routing controls through the cloud. Compared with cloud-based control, this can improve response times by approximately 30% and help maintain control of connected devices during temporary network fluctuations.
The updated Offline Device Diagnostics page helps users restore devices that have gone offline.
- Local control is used when the mobile device and SmartThings Hub are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- SmartThings automatically switches between local and cloud-based remote control when the user is at home or away.
- Offline Device Diagnostics updates new network information across all registered devices at once.
Matter 1.6 support
Samsung has added support for Matter 1.6, the latest smart home connectivity standard from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). The update enhances stability and Group Control performance and adds four new device categories:
- Energy Meters: Real-time power monitoring
- Closures: Specialized door and gate types
- Irrigation devices: Such as sprinkler systems
- Soil Sensors: Measuring ground conditions
Availability
The updated Home tab experience, including SmartThings Now, is available across SmartThings-supported devices:
- Mobile devices
- Samsung Smart TVs
- Family Hub refrigerators
- Samsung appliances with 7-inch or 9-inch screens
- Windows devices
Local control is available on Android and iOS devices with the SmartThings app installed for SmartThings Station, SmartThings V2, V3, and V4 Hubs, and hub-enabled Samsung Smart TVs and Family Hub.
Speaking on the update, Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of the SmartThings Team, AI Platform Center, Samsung Electronics, said:
This update marks another step in SmartThings’ ongoing efforts to move beyond a home experience where users search for and launch features. By delivering relevant information and controls at the right time, SmartThings is pushing the boundaries of more intelligent home experiences and enabling users to manage their everyday lives more naturally.