Menu
When I think of a Smart Home, there are a few things that come to mind, like Rosie the Robot from the Jetsons, a power beyond the walls that can open doors and turn on lights, and generally the stuff of Science Fiction narratives. That’s not exactly how Samsung SmartThings’ operates, but it does offer total control of your home—if you’re willing to do the initial legwork, of course.
Design 9.3
Aesthetically, SmartThings does pretty well in the world of Home Automation. The devices and sensors are modern and fresh, easily blending in with your home. The design of the system is a little underdeveloped in my opinion. It’s based on an internet of physical sensors and a central hub, all working in conjunction with several third-party devices (as well as its own) with a mobile app as the main controller. There’s a lot of configuration required to set-up each component of the SmartThings-verse, which can get really confusing.
Samsung SmartThings Product Images
Software 9.6
As mentioned before, once you put in the legwork required to set smart power outlets up to non-smart lamps, SmartThings devices, sync your Bluetooth devices, set schedules for lighting, motion activity, and configure it with supported household third-party devices, you’ll have an intricate web of control over all home functions.
All devices report to the mobile app after being translated through sensors. The software can support an immense variety of functions and settings, but it’s not the easiest to navigate. If you’re looking for something to make life easier, SmartThings can automate nearly everything, but it’ll probably take a few weeks until you can “set it and forget it.”
Warranty 8
As expected, SmartThings offers the typical warranty period for most consumer electronics, with coverage lasting for about one year from purchase date, including only protection against defects, materials, and workmanship. Pretty standard.
Performance 9.8
SmartThings is a major performer, automating everything in the home from lighting, outdoor fountains, home audio, door locks, thermostats, and more. You can configure it for Sonos, Bose, Cloud Cameras, Belkin devices, Philips Hue, and just about anything you can think of. The SmartThings hub supports a multi sensor which tells if doors or windows are open—even the fridge door! Each individual sensor (as well as the multi) can sense temperature, motion, and humidity. Why do I love SmartThings? I can control just about everything in my home. It’s nearly limitless. I set the rules and SmartThings follow.
Value 8.5
Depending on how much you’d like to invest in your home, and how much having a smart home is worth to you, the cost of SmartThings could offer tremendous value. For just $99, the 2nd gen SmartThings Hub can be purchased. If you follow that with several sensors, some outlets, and whatever other third-party devices you’ll be linking up, you could wind up spending quite a lot to automate your home, averaging to around $300-400 for a very basic system. While the possibilities of Samsung’s SmartThings are limitless, so are its peripherals, and its price point. But, the convenience of a smarter home may just be worth it. I mean, it controls just about everything and the software aims to support more and more devices in the next year.
