Samsung's Simple Solution for Expanding Your Smart Home's Matter Capabilities through the SmartThings Station
Samsung's Simple Solution for Expanding Your Smart Home's Matter Capabilities through the SmartThings Station
It was an eventful week for Samsung. The tech giant unveiled its new lineup of premium smartphones, headlined by the Galaxy S23 Ultra, boasting an impressive 200-MP primary camera. Besides showcasing its flagship device, Samsung also highlighted its device ecosystem by announcing the Windows-based Galaxy Book 3 Pro series, promising seamless integration with Samsung smartphones. Further solidifying its commitment to the smart home scene was the introduction of SmartThings. The company even handed out the SmartThings Station as a freebie to attendees of the keynote event.
Samsung announced the Matter-compatible smart hub, now known as the SmartThings Station, at CES last month. The SmartThings Station includes a programmable button and wireless charging capabilities for smartphones. In an update, its iOS app became compatible with iOS 16.
Although I'm yet to acquire Matter-compatible accessories to pair with the SmartThings Station, I was eager to test it out. Priced at just $80, the SmartThings Station serves as an affordable way to establish a smart home setup, especially for those new to this concept. However, I don't intend to replace my current system any time soon.
The Samsung SmartThings Station is straightforward to set up
The SmartThings Station looks like a typical charging pad, with two indicator lights on the side – one for SmartThings connectivity and another for wireless charging. This compact hub supports Matter, Thread, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, enabling it to connect a wide range of smart devices, including bulbs, plugs, thermostats, and TVs. It also functions as a Zigbee controller, albeit requiring a separate SmartThings Hub from Aeotec for Z-Wave connectivity. Nonetheless, popular connected devices like Philips Hue smart bulbs utilize the Zigbee protocol, making it a valuable addition.
The SmartThings Station isn't merely a smart home hub; it's also compatible with SmartThings Find, helping locate registered Samsung devices, such as the Galaxy Buds and the Galaxy Watch, or items tagged with the Samsung SmartTag Bluetooth tracker. Additionally, its wireless charging maxes out at 15W, requiring a suitable adapter to reach its full potential. I found that a 25W adapter worked best.
Setting up the SmartThings Station took less than ten minutes. Simply plug it in, and the app will automatically prompt you to add it to your network. After tapping 'Add now,' the app handles the configuration process itself.
Equipped with a button, the SmartThings Station allows for three customizable actions – pressed, held, and double-pressed – each programmable to trigger specific routines. I chose to have the lights in my office turn on and off with each press, finding it a convenient alternative to interacting with Google Assistant or Bixby.
The process of programming the button on the SmartThings Station is intuitive, with a user-friendly interface.
Where is the Samsung Home Hub?
Over a year ago, Samsung announced its intention to release the Home Hub, a tablet-style device to manage SmartThings. However, the device never materialized. The SmartThings Station seems to serve as an alternative, with a more economical price tag compared to producing and maintaining an 8-inch tablet. Google, on the other hand, is planning to launch the Pixel Tablet this year as a companion to its ecosystem. It remains to be seen whether Samsung will follow suit post-launch.
In an interview between The Verge and Samsung's Jaeyeon Jung, head of SmartThings, Jung indicated that the company would prioritize embedding smart home functionality within its products rather than requiring users to buy separate devices. This strategy allows Samsung to offer a more integrated experience to its customers.
Interestingly, the SmartThings Station is one of the few Matter-compatible devices supported by iOS, with Samsung updating the SmartThings app for iOS to accommodate this protocol this week. New iPhone users can now create SmartThings routines, although they can't utilize the tracker feature. While the SmartThings Station may not provide the native integration offered by Apple Home, it does offer a compelling cross-platform alternative for iPhone users. Google Home's iOS app, on the other hand, does not currently support Matter for iPhone users.
The SmartThings Station works with all Samsung and Android devices running Android 8 and above. It pairs seamlessly with Matter, Zigbee, BLE, and iOS devices running iOS 14 and beyond. It supports both 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks and is available for $80 in black and white.
The SmartThings Station, a new addition from Samsung, not only serves as a wireless charging pad but also functions as a Matter-compatible smart home hub. With its ability to connect a wide range of smart devices and integrate with Samsung's SmartThings ecosystem, it promises to shape the tech-driven future of home automation.
As we look towards the future, Samsung's focus on embedding smart home functionality within its products could potentially mean fewer separate smart home devices are needed. This strategy, in line with the tech giant's recent moves, could significantly impact the smart home market.