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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Samsung’s October 5, 2026 SmartThings update puts personalized suggestions and controls at the top of the Home tab, so users can act on household context without first searching for a feature. SmartThings Now can recommend actions and offer controls; Samsung’s announcement does not say that it autonomously carries out every suggestion.
What SmartThings Now does
SmartThings Now is a set of cards at the top of the redesigned Home tab. Building on Home Insight, it draws attention to information and actions Samsung considers relevant to a user’s situation and recent activity. For example, a Family Care card may appear if a family member, such as an older parent, has had no device activity for an extended period. The card can offer options to check in or call; Samsung does not describe this as emergency monitoring or response.
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Another example is a suggestion to switch on lights and air purifiers when the user arrives near a home location registered in the app. After the user takes an action, SmartThings can suggest turning it into a routine. These are prompts and controls, not proof that the home will make every decision or perform every suggested action without the user.
Recommendations for the Home tab
SmartThings Now also reviews the previous week’s activity to suggest changes to Favorites, which can include devices, services, and routines. A Routine Insight card lets users review routine activity from the past week and delete routines they no longer need.
#1 Best Overall
- Powered by SmartThings: Connect, monitor, and automate your home through the SmartThings app. Build a reliable, unified smart home using Samsung's proven ecosystem
- Matter + Zigbee Smart Home Hub: Supports the newest Matter standard plus Zigbee for lighting, sensors, plugs, switches, thermostats, and more - thousands of compatible devices. PLEASE NOTE: Z-Wave not supported
- Easy Setup with Wi-Fi or Ethernet: Get started in minutes using Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet connection for apartments, houses, and expanding smart home systems - Z-Wave not supported
- Automations That Work for You: Create custom routines for security, lighting, comfort, and energy savings. Many local automations continue working even if your internet goes offline
- Wide Device Compatibility: Connect compatible smart devices from Aeotec and many other brands to build a unified system for lighting, voice control, energy management, and climate settings
Other Home tab changes
The redesign reorganizes dashboards, device cards, and service cards. Samsung also adds a Floating Bar for frequently used features and Live Wallpaper that changes during the day. These are presentation and access changes alongside SmartThings Now’s contextual recommendations.
What local control changes—and what it requires
With a compatible hub and a mobile device on the same Wi-Fi network, the SmartThings app can communicate directly with the hub rather than routing controls through the cloud. Samsung says the app uses local control at home and cloud-based remote control when the user is away. The supported configurations listed in its announcement are:
- An Android or iOS device running the SmartThings app, paired with a SmartThings Station or SmartThings V2, V3, or V4 Hub.
- An Android or iOS device running the app, paired with a hub-enabled Samsung Smart TV or Family Hub.
Samsung reports that local control improved response times by approximately 30% compared with cloud-based control in its controlled tests. That is Samsung’s test result, not a guaranteed improvement in every home; the company says actual performance varies with the environment. Samsung also describes continued control during temporary network fluctuations or external internet disruption, but does not promise that every device or feature will work through every outage.
Rank #2
![SmartThings Hub 3rd Generation [GP-U999SJVLGDA] Smart Home Automation Hub Home Monitoring Smart Devices - Alexa Google Home Compatible - Zigbee, Z-Wave, Cloud to Cloud Protocols – White](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/21hChu0ounL._SL160_.jpg)
- Monitor and control compatible devices in your home using a single smartphone app for your phone
- Automate connected devices in your home and set them to turn on or off when doors are opened, people come and go, and much more
- Works with a wide range of smartphone compatible products
What Matter 1.6 support adds
Samsung says the update adds Matter 1.6 support, with improvements to stability and Group Control performance, and support for four device categories:
- Energy meters: real-time power monitoring.
- Closures: specialized door and gate types.
- Irrigation devices: including sprinkler systems.
- Soil sensors: measuring ground conditions.
Samsung’s announcement does not identify specific compatible models in these four categories. Check SmartThings’ current compatibility information and the device’s supported functions before buying; category support alone does not establish that a particular product works in a particular market or setup.
Documented IKEA Matter examples
In a separate announcement dated April 21, 2026, Samsung described 25 IKEA Matter-over-Thread products that integrate with SmartThings, including bulbs, plugs, a scroll-wheel remote, temperature and humidity sensors, air-quality sensors, motion sensors, door sensors, and water-leak sensors. Samsung says they can connect directly to a SmartThings hub. Availability and timing may vary by market.
Rank #3
- LOCAL PROCESSING FOR INSTANT RESPONSE: The Hubitat Elevation C-8 Pro runs automations directly on the hub, not on remote servers, so lights, locks, thermostats, and routines keep working even when your internet goes down; this local-first architecture delivers near-instant response to every trigger without relying on remote servers to process commands; compatible with 1,000+ devices across 100+ brands, and device data stays at home for enhanced privacy
- WORKS WITH ALEXA, GOOGLE HOME, AND APPLE HOMEKIT: Connect your preferred voice assistant and start controlling your smart home from day 1; the C-8 Pro is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit, so your existing ecosystem works alongside the hub without compromise; Ring camera integration adds a concrete layer of security awareness; approachable setup is supported by step-by-step documentation and an active online community ready to guide you through every stage
- MULTI-PROTOCOL SUPPORT WITH EXTENDED RANGE: A single hub covers Matter 1.5, Z-Wave 800 Series with Long Range, Zigbee 3.0, and Bluetooth, so existing devices stay compatible without extra bridges or adapters; 800 Series Z-Wave and Zigbee 3.0 deliver improved reliability and mesh stability, backed by Z-Wave Alliance membership; 2 dedicated external antennas, one for Z-Wave and one for Zigbee, extend wireless reach in larger homes and device-dense environments where signal consistency is critical
- AI-ASSISTED AUTOMATION AND ADVANCED RULE ENGINE: The AI-assisted routine builder suggests and builds automations based on your connected devices, no programming required; Rule Machine enables multi-condition logic across lighting scenes, geofenced arrivals, layered security responses, and whole-home scheduling; when your family arrives after dark, the hub can unlock the door, activate pathway lights, and adjust the thermostat, turning complex sequences into reliable hands-free routines
- NO SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED AND CONTINUOUS UPDATES: Full platform functionality needs no recurring subscription; every automation, integration, and advanced feature is available from setup; continuous platform updates since 2018 have expanded compatibility without requiring new hardware; an active community of tech-savvy homeowners and DIY smart home builders shares custom apps, drivers, and automation blueprints for ongoing value; compact at 3.23 x 2.95 x 0.67 in and just 0.16 lb, it fits anywhere
Samsung’s footnote for that announcement said that, as of April 20, 2026, the scroll-wheel remote supported lighting control only, with blind control planned for later in 2026. That dated note does not establish whether blind control is now available; verify current functionality and regional availability for an individual model.
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What to know about privacy
Samsung’s U.S. SmartThings Privacy Notice, version 1.13.0 and effective September 21, 2026, describes collection of service interactions and inputs, device configuration and identifiers, service usage, and location information from GPS, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Precise geolocation is subject to permission. The notice also describes inferred information, including environmental preferences, and says Samsung may use SmartThings information to improve and customize the experience.
This U.S. notice provides broader context for SmartThings personalization; it is not a feature-by-feature explanation of what data SmartThings Now uses for each card. Samsung’s public feature description does not establish every data flow behind a particular recommendation.
Rank #4
- 【Easy Setup, One Control】With Matter, Skip the step of downloading and registering multiple manufacturers' apps every time you buy a new device. Instead, head straight to certified smart home platforms like Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, or AiDot to control all your Matter devices.【TIP】Matter-certified hub or controller (HomePod, Echo Dot, Nest, SmartThings Hub) is required for Apple Home/Alexa/Google Home/SmartThings platforms. Alternatively, the AiDot app can be used without hub
- 【Offline-Ready Control】Once you've set up your Matter-certified devices on your LAN, they'll be able to communicate with each other directly, using the Matter protocol. This means that if your home internet connection goes offline, your Matter-certified devices will still be able to communicate and be controlled within your LAN, without relying on the internet or cloud services.
- 【Remote Control from Anywhere】Use the app to turn electronics on before you arrive home and off after you leave, no matter where you are. Using the smart plug that work with alexa manage your power usage and save money.
- 【Hands-free Voice Control】Control linkind homekit plug using simple voice commands through Apple HomeKit, Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and SmartThings, without the need for physical input such as buttons or switches.
- 【Flexible Scheduling & Timer】Effortlessly reduce energy usage with automatic device shutdown after a set time. For example Chrismas Tree, TV, Lamp, Fan, Humidifier,Blenders, Lightbulbs
How to evaluate a SmartThings device
Compatibility is more than a Matter logo or a device category. Before choosing a product, check:
- Whether the exact model is listed as compatible with SmartThings and Matter.
- Whether it needs a SmartThings hub, and whether your existing hub is supported.
- Which functions work locally and which require cloud access.
- What the device actually measures or controls, rather than relying on a broad category label.
- Whether the model and its relevant functions are available in your region.
Samsung reported 470 million registered SmartThings users and more than 430 Works with SmartThings-certified brands in its October 2026 announcement. Those figures describe the platform’s scale, not a guarantee that every device from a certified brand—or every Matter product—supports every SmartThings feature.
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Sources
- Samsung U.S. Newsroom: SmartThings update announcement, October 5, 2026
- Samsung Global Newsroom: IKEA Matter integration announcement, April 21, 2026
- Samsung SmartThings U.S. Privacy Notice
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
