Samsung has updated SmartThings with local control for supported hubs and devices, reducing its dependence on a cloud connection. When a phone and compatible SmartThings Hub are on the same Wi-Fi network, commands can be sent directly to the hub, allowing certain smart-home devices to remain controllable if the external internet connection fails.
Samsung says local communication can improve response times by roughly 30% compared with cloud-based control. SmartThings will automatically switch between local and cloud control as needed, including when the user leaves home. Offline functionality is not universal, however: it depends on both the hub and the device being controlled.
Local control is available through the SmartThings apps for Android and iOS with the following hub-capable products:
- SmartThings Station
- SmartThings Hub V2
- SmartThings Hub V3
- SmartThings Hub V4
- Samsung TVs that can operate as a hub
- Family Hub refrigerators that can operate as a hub
Contextual cards move to the Home screen
The same release introduces SmartThings Now, a feature that places contextual information and control cards at the top of the Home tab. The cards draw on Home Insight data and household context to suggest actions rather than requiring users to locate devices or automations manually.
Samsung cites examples including a Family Care card that can appear when an elderly family member has shown no activity for a period, offering options to check on them or place a call. As a user approaches home, SmartThings may suggest turning on lights or an air purifier, then offer to turn that action into an automated routine.
The app also uses the previous week’s usage history to reorganize Favorites. A device used less frequently, such as an air conditioner after the weather cools, may be moved out of prominence, while a more frequently used product such as an AirDresser can be promoted on the Home screen. Routine Insight shows recently run automations and can help users remove routines that are no longer useful.
SmartThings Now follows Samsung’s earlier addition of natural-language routine creation. The new feature shifts the emphasis toward proactive recommendations, while the revised Android interface introduced compact cards and a floating bar aligned with Samsung’s One UI design direction.
Matter 1.6 expands supported device categories
Samsung is also adding Matter 1.6 support to SmartThings. The update expands compatibility to four device categories:
- Energy meters for real-time power-use monitoring
- Closures for certain doors and gates
- Irrigation systems and sprinklers
- Sensors that measure soil conditions
Samsung says SmartThings has reached 470 million registered users and supports more than 430 Works with SmartThings-certified brands. The Matter 1.6 update and local-control rollout further position the platform as a cross-brand smart-home layer, though the practical offline benefit will remain tied to compatible hub-and-device combinations.
