Yes. SmartThings runs on supported iPhone and Android devices, so you do not need a Samsung Galaxy phone. You do need a Samsung account, and some devices—especially Matter products—also require a compatible SmartThings hub. The phone requirement and the hub requirement are separate issues.
What you can use instead of a Samsung phone
SmartThings is an app, not a Galaxy-only service. Samsung lists the app for both Android and iOS, which means an iPhone or a supported Android phone from another manufacturer can be used for SmartThings control. Samsung’s SmartThings pages do not identify a Galaxy phone as a requirement for ordinary app access.
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The practical requirements are:
- A phone that meets the current SmartThings app requirements for your region.
- A Samsung account. You can sign in to an existing account or create one inside the app.
- The correct connectivity hardware for the devices you want to add. Some products connect directly, while others require a hub.
Samsung’s general SmartThings information is available at Samsung SmartThings | Smart Home and its app page at Samsung SmartThings App.
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Compatibility depends on the app version, phone model, operating-system version and region. Samsung’s US product listing currently states Android 9 or later with at least 3 GB of RAM, or iOS 14 or later. Those figures are not universal forever: Samsung warns that supported devices and requirements can change, and regional app stores can show different minimums.
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Check the SmartThings listing in your local Google Play Store or Apple App Store immediately before installation. This matters particularly if you are using an older iPhone or Android handset. A phone can run a newer operating system yet still lack a model-specific capability that a connected device needs, so app compatibility and device compatibility should both be checked.
Samsung’s Canadian iPhone instructions refer to iOS 13 or later for that regional support article. That does not override the current requirement shown in another country’s store; it demonstrates why the local listing is the authoritative check for your installation.
Why a Samsung account is still required
Your phone does not have to be made by Samsung, but SmartThings requires a Samsung account. The account identifies your SmartThings environment and is used when you sign in to the app. On an iPhone, Samsung’s instructions explicitly provide two choices on first launch: sign in with an existing Samsung account or create one.
The same account requirement applies when SmartThings is installed on a non-Samsung Android phone. Creating the account does not require owning a Galaxy device. It is a separate login that lets the app manage your SmartThings setup.
Set up SmartThings on an iPhone
Use these steps for an iPhone. Labels can change slightly as Samsung updates the app, but the sequence follows Samsung’s published installation guidance.
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- Open the Apple App Store on the iPhone.
- Search for “SmartThings” and install the official SmartThings app.
- Open SmartThings after installation.
- Choose the option to sign in to a Samsung account. If you do not have one, choose the option to create an account and complete Samsung’s registration process.
- Continue through the app’s device-add flow and select the product you want to connect.
- If the selected product requires a hub, add or configure the compatible hub when SmartThings requests it. Do not purchase a hub solely because the phone is an iPhone; the hub decision is based on the connected device.
Samsung’s region-specific walkthrough, How to install the SmartThings app on your iPhone, shows the account sign-in and creation steps. Consult the Canadian article together with your local App Store listing, because its iOS version reference is regional and app requirements can change.
Set up SmartThings on a non-Samsung Android phone
A non-Samsung Android phone follows the same basic pattern:
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- Open Google Play and find the official SmartThings app.
- Verify that the handset meets the current Android version and hardware requirements shown in your region’s listing.
- Install and open the app.
- Sign in with a Samsung account, or create one if necessary.
- Use SmartThings’ add-device process for the specific product you own.
- Provide a compatible hub if the product’s requirements call for one.
Samsung’s published minimums vary by page and locale. Its US information currently lists Android 9 or later and at least 3 GB of RAM, while other support material may display different thresholds. Treat the store listing presented to your phone as the final installation check rather than assuming that every Android handset is supported.
Do you need a SmartThings Hub?
No universal hub rule applies. A SmartThings hub is required for certain devices, but the requirement belongs to the device and its communication protocol—not to the fact that you are using an iPhone or another brand of Android phone.
When a separate hub may be required
Some connected products need a hub to communicate with SmartThings. Before buying hardware, identify each exact model you plan to use and read its SmartThings compatibility requirements. The same product category can contain models with different connectivity options, so a generic assumption about lights, sensors or appliances can lead to an unnecessary purchase.
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Products with a hub built in
Samsung notes that some of its products include a built-in hub. In that case, the hub function is part of the product rather than a separate box. Check the specifications for the exact model; built-in-hub availability is not a reason to assume that every Samsung product includes one.
Matter devices
Samsung states that a Matter-compatible hub is required for Matter devices to connect to SmartThings. The phone still only runs the app and provides the control interface; the Matter hub supplies the required home-network connection. Confirm both Matter compatibility and SmartThings support before purchasing.
iPhone, non-Samsung Android and Galaxy: what differs?
All three phone paths can provide SmartThings access when the app and the intended features are supported. The meaningful differences are the app platform, the account setup and whether a particular function has Galaxy-specific support.
| Phone type | App and account | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | SmartThings is installed from the Apple App Store; a Samsung account is required. | Check the current iOS requirement in your local App Store. Samsung’s regional support pages can show different minimum versions. |
| Non-Samsung Android | SmartThings is installed from Google Play; a Samsung account is required. | Check the current Android version and RAM requirement in your local listing. Samsung’s US page currently lists Android 9 or later and at least 3 GB of RAM. |
| Samsung Galaxy | SmartThings is available on Android with a Samsung account. | Samsung says Galaxy phones may offer the best experience or different support for some functions, but a Galaxy phone is not stated as necessary for ordinary SmartThings access. |
This table describes phone-side access only. A connected device can impose additional requirements, including a compatible hub, regardless of which phone runs SmartThings.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Galaxy-specific advantages actually mean
Samsung describes some SmartThings functions as available on Android and iOS while noting that Galaxy phones may provide the best experience or different support for certain functions. That wording is narrower than saying the entire service is restricted to Galaxy phones.
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If a feature is important to you, check its individual compatibility information rather than relying on the general app listing. A non-Samsung phone may be entirely suitable for adding devices, viewing status and controlling supported products, while a specific Galaxy-integrated function could have different support. The available evidence does not establish a universal list of features that are Galaxy-only, so avoid treating “best experience” as a blanket incompatibility warning.
A practical decision process before you buy anything
- Start with the phone. Check the local SmartThings app listing for the operating-system version, hardware requirements and availability.
- Confirm the account. Make sure you can sign in to a Samsung account or create one during setup.
- List the exact devices. Record the model numbers, not just product categories.
- Check each device’s SmartThings requirement. Look for direct app support, a required hub, built-in hub capability and Matter requirements.
- Choose connectivity hardware only after that check. Buy a separate hub only when one of the selected devices requires it and no compatible built-in hub is available.
- Install and test one device first. Adding a single product confirms that the account, phone, network and device requirements align before you expand the setup.
This order prevents a common mistake: buying a hub to compensate for using an iPhone or a third-party Android phone. The phone manufacturer does not determine whether a hub is needed.
Troubleshooting when SmartThings will not work
The app cannot be installed
- Recheck the operating-system version and the RAM or model requirement shown in your local store.
- Compare the store listing with Samsung’s regional support information; requirements can differ by country and change over time.
- Install pending phone operating-system updates if your model supports them, then check the listing again.
You cannot sign in
- Use the Samsung account option in the app rather than a phone-maker account.
- If you have never used a Samsung account, create one from the sign-in screen and then return to SmartThings.
- Confirm that you are using the same Samsung account intended for the SmartThings home; switching accounts can make an otherwise configured setup appear missing.
A device will not pair
- Recheck the exact model’s SmartThings compatibility instead of relying on its brand or category.
- Determine whether the device requires a hub, whether the hub is built in, and whether the hub supports the device’s protocol.
- For Matter products, verify that the hub is Matter-compatible.
- If the phone app works but the device does not, the problem is more likely a device, hub or protocol requirement than the absence of a Samsung phone.
A feature appears different on iPhone or non-Samsung Android
Samsung acknowledges that Galaxy phones can have different support or the best experience for some functions. Compare the feature’s own compatibility notes and use a Galaxy device only if that specific function is documented as requiring or favoring it. Do not infer that every SmartThings control is unavailable on iOS or other Android phones.
Bottom line for choosing your phone
Keep your existing iPhone or supported non-Samsung Android phone if it meets the current SmartThings listing and you can use a Samsung account. Choose a Galaxy phone only when a particular SmartThings function’s documented support makes its integration worthwhile. Separately, check every intended device for hub requirements, because Matter products and other selected devices may need compatible hub hardware regardless of the phone you use.
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