Gadget of the Week – Samsung SmartThings Smart Home Hub

Published on May 3, 2018

Smart home technology used to be the stuff of science fiction. We thought that automated assistants would look like Rosie from The Jetsons, or that central technology hubs would give us serious attitude, like HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

But here we are in 2018, and smart home tech isn’t some far-out fantasy, or even just a hot buzzword. It’s a reality that is improving life for millions of people all over the country and around the world – and it’s getting better every single day.

If you’re looking to join in on the smart home fun, one of the best starting points out there is the Samsung SmartThings Smart Home Hub. (Moving forward, we’ll probably call it the SmartThings Hub, for short).

Essentially, the SmartThings Hub acts as the nerve center for your interconnected smart home system, which might include a wide variety of smart devices, including lights, sockets, thermostats, appliances, sensors, locks, and so on.

This hub allows you to control all of your other smart devices centrally, using either a smartphone app or a smart speaker. This means that you can program in all sorts of controls for systems all over your house, without having to break out a confusing users’ guide (or even get up from your chair).

Want your locks to open remotely when you’re pulling up outside? Want your thermostat to automatically lower the temperature when no one is at home? Want to know when someone is at your front door, even when you’re stuck at the office? Your smart home system can let you do all of this and more – and this SmartThings hub can help you get everything organized and operational, without breaking a sweat.

If you’re just getting started with automating your home, the SmartThings Hub is a great device to have on hand; start with this central unit, and you can easily build out your home, system by system. On the flip side, if you’re already a smart home aficionado, the SmartThings Hub can help you to wrangle all of your systems together, meaning you won’t have to open a dozen different apps for a dozen different tools.

Either way, one of the best things about the Hub is that it’s compatible with a wide variety of smart home brands and devices, including Amazon Alexa voice assistant technology, Philips Hue lighting, ADT security systems, and more.

Ready to give yourself the home of the future – and make your everyday life simpler, safer, and more sustainable in the process? You can purchase a Samsung SmartThings Smart Home Hub starting around $90; more advanced models, offering Wi-Fi meshing capabilities, can run up to $180.

Think there are any other smart home hubs, kits, or accessories our team should try? Let us know over on Facebook or Twitter, where we keep the tech talk going 24/7! You might even see your suggestion featured in a future blog post!