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Managing a smart home is becoming more convenient, and Samsung wants to make the experience even simpler with its latest SmartThings update. Instead of having to search through different menus to control connected devices, users can now receive personalised suggestions and access relevant controls directly from the app's Home tab.
Samsung Electronics has introduced SmartThings Now, a new feature designed to make smart home management more intuitive, personalised and responsive. The update also brings a redesigned Home tab, improved local device control and expanded support for smart home devices.
The improvements come as SmartThings continues to grow globally, with 470 million registered users and more than 430 Works with SmartThings (WWST)-certified brands supported worldwide.
With the latest changes, Samsung is focusing on making connected homes easier to manage, whether users are checking on family members, preparing their homes before arriving or controlling devices when their internet connection is disrupted.
Samsung Electronics has introduced SmartThings Now, a new feature designed to make smart home management more intuitive, personalised and responsive. The update also brings a redesigned Home tab, improved local device control and expanded support for smart home devices.
The improvements come as SmartThings continues to grow globally, with 470 million registered users and more than 430 Works with SmartThings (WWST)-certified brands supported worldwide.
With the latest changes, Samsung is focusing on making connected homes easier to manage, whether users are checking on family members, preparing their homes before arriving or controlling devices when their internet connection is disrupted.
Image for illustration purposes only
SmartThings Now Makes Your Home Tab More Personalised
One of the biggest additions to the update is SmartThings Now, which appears at the top of the app's redesigned Home tab.
Building on the existing Home Insight feature, SmartThings Now presents information and suggested actions through convenient cards based on a user's current situation and device activity.
Rather than simply displaying a list of connected devices, the feature aims to anticipate what users might need and make relevant controls immediately accessible.
For example, if an older parent registered under Samsung's Family Care service has not shown any device activity for an extended period, SmartThings Now can display a care notification with options for the caregiver to check in or make a call.
Another example involves arriving home. When a user approaches a home location previously registered in SmartThings, the app may suggest switching on the lights or air purifier before they enter.
After completing the action, SmartThings Now can also recommend creating an automated routine so the same task can be performed automatically in the future.
This approach helps users discover useful smart home features without having to manually explore the app or configure every action from scratch.
Smarter Suggestions Based on Your Daily Habits
SmartThings Now also takes users' habits into account when recommending how to organise their Home tab.
By analysing device activity over the previous week, the feature can suggest adjustments to the Favorites section, including connected devices, services and automated routines.
For instance, if an air conditioner is being used less frequently during cooler months, SmartThings may recommend removing its shortcut from Favorites.
Similarly, if a Samsung AirDresser is being used more often, the app may suggest adding it for easier access.
Users can also access Routine Insight to review their automated routines and identify those that are no longer needed.
The feature provides an overview of routine activity during the previous week, allowing users to review and delete unnecessary automations.
Routine Insight is accessible through SmartThings Now and the Automations > Suggestions section of the SmartThings app.
A Cleaner Home Tab With Easier One-Handed Controls
Alongside SmartThings Now, Samsung has redesigned the Home tab to make everyday navigation more straightforward.
The updated interface reorganises dashboards, device cards and service cards into a more streamlined layout, making it easier to browse connected devices and access relevant information.
Service cards now use a more compact design, allowing users to view additional services on a single screen while still displaying useful details such as device status and numerical readings.
Samsung has also introduced a refreshed Live Wallpaper experience that changes throughout the day, giving the interface a more dynamic appearance.
Another practical addition is the Floating Bar, which places frequently used features near the bottom of the screen.
This makes common controls easier to reach, particularly when using larger smartphones with one hand. The change also reflects Samsung's latest One UI design direction.
The redesigned Home tab experience, including SmartThings Now, is available across supported devices such as smartphones, Samsung Smart TVs, Family Hub refrigerators, compatible Samsung appliances with 7-inch or 9-inch displays and Windows devices.
Control Smart Home Devices Even During Internet Disruptions
Beyond the visual changes, Samsung has also improved how SmartThings communicates with connected devices.
The update introduces enhanced local control technology, allowing supported devices to respond more reliably when external internet connectivity is unstable or temporarily unavailable.
Traditionally, some smart home commands are processed through cloud servers before reaching the connected device. With local control, a smartphone and compatible SmartThings Hub connected to the same Wi-Fi network can communicate directly.
This reduces the need to route commands through the cloud and can help devices respond more quickly.
According to Samsung, local control can improve device response times by approximately 30% compared with cloud-based control, based on testing conducted under controlled conditions.
Actual performance may vary depending on the user's network and device environment.
For example, if an external internet connection experiences a temporary disruption but the home's local Wi-Fi network remains operational, supported connected devices may still be controlled through SmartThings.
The app can also switch automatically between local control and cloud-based remote control depending on whether the user is at home or away.
Local control is supported on Android and iOS devices with the SmartThings app installed, together with compatible hubs including SmartThings Station, SmartThings V2, V3 and V4 Hubs, as well as supported hub-enabled Samsung Smart TVs and Family Hub devices.
Easier Troubleshooting for Offline Smart Home Devices
Anyone using several connected devices at home will know that changing a Wi-Fi network or updating network settings can sometimes create additional work.
To address this, Samsung has updated the Offline Device Diagnostics page within SmartThings.
The feature helps users restore devices that have gone offline by allowing new network information to be updated across registered devices at once.
This is intended to simplify troubleshooting and reduce the effort involved in reconnecting multiple smart home products after changes to the network environment.
Matter 1.6 Support Expands Smart Home Compatibility
The latest SmartThings update also introduces support for Matter 1.6, the smart home connectivity standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA).
Matter is designed to improve interoperability between compatible smart home products from different manufacturers, making it easier for devices to work together within a connected home ecosystem.
With Matter 1.6 support, Samsung is enhancing connection stability and Group Control performance while expanding compatibility to four additional device categories.
These include:
Energy Meters for monitoring electricity consumption and power usage in real time.
Closures for specialised doors, gates and other compatible opening or closing mechanisms.
Irrigation Devices for managing equipment such as automated sprinkler systems.
Soil Sensors for monitoring soil conditions through compatible connected devices.
The additional categories broaden the types of products that can be integrated into SmartThings, extending its functionality beyond conventional smart home devices such as lights, televisions and air conditioners.
Samsung Wants Smart Homes to Be More Intuitive
According to Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of the SmartThings Team at Samsung Electronics' AI Platform Center, the latest update represents another step towards making smart home technology more proactive and convenient.
"This update marks another step in SmartThings' ongoing efforts to move beyond a home experience where users search for and launch features," said Jung.
"By delivering relevant information and controls at the right time, SmartThings is pushing the boundaries of more intelligent home experiences and empowering users to manage their everyday lives more naturally."
The latest improvements suggest that Samsung is placing greater emphasis on reducing the number of steps needed to manage connected devices.
Instead of expecting users to remember which menus to open or which routines to configure, SmartThings Now brings relevant suggestions directly to the Home tab, while improved local control aims to make everyday commands more responsive.
For households already using multiple connected devices, these changes could make managing a smart home less complicated, particularly when it comes to automating daily activities, checking device status and maintaining connectivity.
As the number of compatible smart home products continues to expand, Samsung's latest SmartThings update is another move towards creating a connected home that is easier to control and better adapted to how people actually live.
One of the biggest additions to the update is SmartThings Now, which appears at the top of the app's redesigned Home tab.
Building on the existing Home Insight feature, SmartThings Now presents information and suggested actions through convenient cards based on a user's current situation and device activity.
Rather than simply displaying a list of connected devices, the feature aims to anticipate what users might need and make relevant controls immediately accessible.
For example, if an older parent registered under Samsung's Family Care service has not shown any device activity for an extended period, SmartThings Now can display a care notification with options for the caregiver to check in or make a call.
Another example involves arriving home. When a user approaches a home location previously registered in SmartThings, the app may suggest switching on the lights or air purifier before they enter.
After completing the action, SmartThings Now can also recommend creating an automated routine so the same task can be performed automatically in the future.
This approach helps users discover useful smart home features without having to manually explore the app or configure every action from scratch.
Smarter Suggestions Based on Your Daily Habits
SmartThings Now also takes users' habits into account when recommending how to organise their Home tab.
By analysing device activity over the previous week, the feature can suggest adjustments to the Favorites section, including connected devices, services and automated routines.
For instance, if an air conditioner is being used less frequently during cooler months, SmartThings may recommend removing its shortcut from Favorites.
Similarly, if a Samsung AirDresser is being used more often, the app may suggest adding it for easier access.
Users can also access Routine Insight to review their automated routines and identify those that are no longer needed.
The feature provides an overview of routine activity during the previous week, allowing users to review and delete unnecessary automations.
Routine Insight is accessible through SmartThings Now and the Automations > Suggestions section of the SmartThings app.
A Cleaner Home Tab With Easier One-Handed Controls
Alongside SmartThings Now, Samsung has redesigned the Home tab to make everyday navigation more straightforward.
The updated interface reorganises dashboards, device cards and service cards into a more streamlined layout, making it easier to browse connected devices and access relevant information.
Service cards now use a more compact design, allowing users to view additional services on a single screen while still displaying useful details such as device status and numerical readings.
Samsung has also introduced a refreshed Live Wallpaper experience that changes throughout the day, giving the interface a more dynamic appearance.
Another practical addition is the Floating Bar, which places frequently used features near the bottom of the screen.
This makes common controls easier to reach, particularly when using larger smartphones with one hand. The change also reflects Samsung's latest One UI design direction.
The redesigned Home tab experience, including SmartThings Now, is available across supported devices such as smartphones, Samsung Smart TVs, Family Hub refrigerators, compatible Samsung appliances with 7-inch or 9-inch displays and Windows devices.
Control Smart Home Devices Even During Internet Disruptions
Beyond the visual changes, Samsung has also improved how SmartThings communicates with connected devices.
The update introduces enhanced local control technology, allowing supported devices to respond more reliably when external internet connectivity is unstable or temporarily unavailable.
Traditionally, some smart home commands are processed through cloud servers before reaching the connected device. With local control, a smartphone and compatible SmartThings Hub connected to the same Wi-Fi network can communicate directly.
This reduces the need to route commands through the cloud and can help devices respond more quickly.
According to Samsung, local control can improve device response times by approximately 30% compared with cloud-based control, based on testing conducted under controlled conditions.
Actual performance may vary depending on the user's network and device environment.
For example, if an external internet connection experiences a temporary disruption but the home's local Wi-Fi network remains operational, supported connected devices may still be controlled through SmartThings.
The app can also switch automatically between local control and cloud-based remote control depending on whether the user is at home or away.
Local control is supported on Android and iOS devices with the SmartThings app installed, together with compatible hubs including SmartThings Station, SmartThings V2, V3 and V4 Hubs, as well as supported hub-enabled Samsung Smart TVs and Family Hub devices.
Easier Troubleshooting for Offline Smart Home Devices
Anyone using several connected devices at home will know that changing a Wi-Fi network or updating network settings can sometimes create additional work.
To address this, Samsung has updated the Offline Device Diagnostics page within SmartThings.
The feature helps users restore devices that have gone offline by allowing new network information to be updated across registered devices at once.
This is intended to simplify troubleshooting and reduce the effort involved in reconnecting multiple smart home products after changes to the network environment.
Matter 1.6 Support Expands Smart Home Compatibility
The latest SmartThings update also introduces support for Matter 1.6, the smart home connectivity standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA).
Matter is designed to improve interoperability between compatible smart home products from different manufacturers, making it easier for devices to work together within a connected home ecosystem.
With Matter 1.6 support, Samsung is enhancing connection stability and Group Control performance while expanding compatibility to four additional device categories.
These include:
Energy Meters for monitoring electricity consumption and power usage in real time.
Closures for specialised doors, gates and other compatible opening or closing mechanisms.
Irrigation Devices for managing equipment such as automated sprinkler systems.
Soil Sensors for monitoring soil conditions through compatible connected devices.
The additional categories broaden the types of products that can be integrated into SmartThings, extending its functionality beyond conventional smart home devices such as lights, televisions and air conditioners.
Samsung Wants Smart Homes to Be More Intuitive
According to Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of the SmartThings Team at Samsung Electronics' AI Platform Center, the latest update represents another step towards making smart home technology more proactive and convenient.
"This update marks another step in SmartThings' ongoing efforts to move beyond a home experience where users search for and launch features," said Jung.
"By delivering relevant information and controls at the right time, SmartThings is pushing the boundaries of more intelligent home experiences and empowering users to manage their everyday lives more naturally."
The latest improvements suggest that Samsung is placing greater emphasis on reducing the number of steps needed to manage connected devices.
Instead of expecting users to remember which menus to open or which routines to configure, SmartThings Now brings relevant suggestions directly to the Home tab, while improved local control aims to make everyday commands more responsive.
For households already using multiple connected devices, these changes could make managing a smart home less complicated, particularly when it comes to automating daily activities, checking device status and maintaining connectivity.
As the number of compatible smart home products continues to expand, Samsung's latest SmartThings update is another move towards creating a connected home that is easier to control and better adapted to how people actually live.
