Read our Aeotec SmartThings hub review for more info.Īnd then read our complete guide to the SmartThings ecosystem and check out our reviews of the best Samsung SmartThings compatible devices.Īmazon's Alexa ecosystem is finally a viable smart home system to run your entire set up on, especially since the tech giant started packing Zigbee connectivity into its smart speakers. Its power is undeniable, and its broad interoperability can't be beat. If you're coming in new, however, you can forget all about that and instead just enjoy one of the most feature rich smart home hubs that is compatible with a huge array of devices. The trouble is that die-hard SmartThings users have spent years building their automations, scenes and so on in the older app and some of these won't be transferable. The plan is to eventually get everyone over to the latter, and it's a much nicer experience. The app situation was pretty dire as there were actually two: the original SmartThings app, which has continued to be updated until very recently and Samsung's new Connect app. Once it's all set up and connected, SmartThings works great.

SmartThings' biggest strength is its versatility: it is the most compatible hub out there and it integrates with both Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can control all your connected devices and scenes using voice. There's work to be done on general usability, and the app situation needs serious finessing, but those who own a lot of kit from different manufacturers may be able to overlook these shortcomings. The latest SmartThings base is a versatile hub, supporting a broad range of devices thanks to both Zigbee and Z-Wave integration and an open approach. Now, with the Samsung-branded v3 Hub in very short supply - you'll struggle to find it on sale anywhere - people do have another option - Aeotec's SmartThings Hub is essentially the v3 but with different branding. Samsung-owned SmartThings is an incredibly popular ecosystem and, although the Korean company did used to make hardware in-house, it has now shifted the SmartThings device manufacturing process to third-parties. Whether you're just starting out or already committed to an ecosystem - we have the right hub for you.īest smart home hub: Aeotec SmartThings HubĬonnectivity: Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave. Here are our picks for the best smart home hub for your home.

What does a smart home hub actually do?.

Scroll down to get clued up on the best smart home hubs, including the all-important details on exactly what they do and our in-depth reviews. You'll need to navigate the waters around protocols such as Zigbee, Z-Wave, Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, SmartThings, Matter, Thread and more.Īnd it can get confusing.

While home hubs conjure images of white boxes connected to your router, some Alexa / Echo and Nest smart speakers can step in to help.īut it all depends on what tech you want to connect and how you want to do it. The fact is, hubs can take many forms you may already own a smart home hub and, in a dramatic end of season twist, you may not need to buy anything at all. While the demise of the smart home hub has been much talked about, the reality is a little less clear. When you’re blending smart home devices from a bunch of different manufacturers you need a home automation hub to get them all working together, and all controllable within one app. A smart home needs a smart home hub – don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Video hub app 3