Samsung SmartThings is one of the most popular smart home hubs on the market. As we mention in our detailed review, the SmartThings Hub includes a Zigbee and Z-Wave radio so it connects to a very wide range of smart devices. However, this article is going to focus on officially tested and certified devices so you can be sure the will work well with the hub.
Here are our recommendations for building a Samsung SmartThings home automation system.
Thermostat
The best thermostat for SmartThings is the ecobee4. It is their top-of-the-line device, but you can also use the ecobee3 lite if you don’t need all of the features included with the ecobee4. Our review of ecobee thermostats includes a side-by-side comparison of the two models.
Another option to consider is the Honeywell Lyric line of thermostats, which we review in more detail here. The Honeywell Round 2.0 is the best Honeywell option, in our opinion. It is also good if you are looking for a round form factor.
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theIOTpad Pick
ecobee4 Thermostat
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Also Good
Honeywell Round 2.0
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| Buy ecobee4 | Buy Honeywell Round |
Light Switches
We recommend the Lutron Caséta Wireless system for SmartThings compatible light switches and dimmers. While they require an additional bridge to operate, we find them to be the most reliable switches available. They also work without a neutral wire in case your electrical setup doesn’t have a neutral — find out more about neutral wires here.
Leviton makes a series of dimmers that work with Z-Wave. These are another good option, but make sure you have a neutral wire before you purchase. The Z-wave dimmers don’t require a bridge so you won’t have an extra piece of hardware to purchase.
We also like the Wemo switch, which we review here. Unfortunately, the Wemo switches are not officially supported (and the dimmer isn’t supported at all). The switches are part of SmarThings Labs so they work, but don’t have official support.
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theIOTpad Pick
Lutron Caséta Wireless Dimmer
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Also Good
Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer
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| Buy Lutron Caseta Dimmer | Buy Leviton Z-Wave Dimmer |
Smart Plug
Samsung makes a series of devices under the SmartThings brand. Their SmartThings Outlet (2018) is compact and since it is manufactured by Samsung, you are assured it works the the SmartThings Hub. The only drawback we see is that the power button is on top so you need to use the top receptacle to maintain access for manual control.
We also like the iHome ISP6 since it has a button on the front, which is generally easier to find. The ISP6 is also compatible with Alexa for voice control integration. The ISP6 is wider than the SmartThings outlet, but it still occupies a single receptacle.
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SmartThings Outlet
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iHome SmartPlug
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| Buy SmartThings Outlet | Buy iHome SmartPlug |
Doorbell
Ring doorbells are compatible with Samsung SmartThings. You can activate Automations to respond when the doorbell senses motion — for instance, you can have lights turn on when someone approaches. You will also receive SmartThings alerts.
Unfortunately, you cannot review video or speak to visitors through the SmartThings app so you’ll have to use the Ring App for those tasks.
Ring doorbells are available on Amazon.
Security Camera
Arlo security cameras have full integration into the SmartThings app. You can access video clips and live streams through the Things and Rooms sections of the app. Automations are also available so you can set up actions based on when the camera detects motion.
The following Arlo Cameras are compatible with SmartThings: Arlo Q, Arlo Q Plus, Arlo (wire-free) and Arlo Pro (Wire-free).
You can find Arlo Cameras on Amazon.
Voice Assistant / Speaker
SmartThings is compatible with Amazon Alexa so you have access to voice control. You can also use the Amazon Echo devices if you want to integrate both voice control and multi-room speakers. The Echo Dot is perfect if you only want to add voice control to your system. However, if you want to add decent speakers for listening to music then you should consider the Amazon Echo Plus. Keep in mind that the Echo Plus includes a Zigbee radio and can function as a smart hub so you may not need the SmartThings Hub unless you have Z-Wave devices.
The standard Google Home is also a good option for a SmartThings compatible voice assistant. Unfortunately, the speaker in the device isn’t all that great. The upgraded Google Home Max has better sound, but isn’t officially supported by SmartThings.
We think a good speaker option for SmartThings may be the Sonos Play:1. Unfortunately, the Play:1 isn’t officially supported by Samsung. However, it is part of SmartThings Labs so you may have luck making it work. Just understand that you won’t have official support. The Play:1 is available on Amazon.
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Amazon Echo Plus
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Google Home
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| Buy Amazon Echo Plus | Buy Google Home |
Leak Detector
The Samsung SmartThings Water Leak Sensor works over Zigbee communications. Since it is an official SmartThings product, you should have no problem connecting it to the hub or app. From there, you can set up alerts from the app or create other Automations to inform you of a leak.
The Dome Leak Sensor is another great option. It works over Z-Wave and includes an extension cable that extends the range of the sensor. In addition, Dome makes a separate water valve shut-off device that can turn the water supply off when the sensor detects a leak.
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SmartThings Leak Sensor
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Dome Leak Sensor
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| Buy SmartThings Leak Sensor | Dome Leak Sensor |
Door / Window Sensor
Samsung makes a SmartThings branded door and window sensor that they call the Multipurpose Sensor. It operates with Zigbee and has full integration with the SmartThings Hub. The sensor can be tied to an alarm system or it can simply activate an Automation (like turning on the lights) when a door opens.
If you prefer a Z-Wave device, FIBARO makes a SmartThings compatible Door/Window Sensor. It includes a temperature sensor as an added benefit.
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SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor
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FIBARO Door/Window Sensor
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| Buy SmartThings Multipurpose | Buy FIBARO Door/Window |
Door Lock / Deadbolt
Both Yale and Schlage make deadbolt locks that are compatible with Samsung SmartThings. Both options are available in Z-Wave and Zigbee.
The main difference (besides aesthetics) is the Yale Key Free doesn’t have a backup keyway while the Schlage Connect includes a keyway in case you are locked out due to a malfunction or drained batteries. The Yale device has a 9-volt battery connection so you can gain access to your home if the lock’s batteries run low.
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Yale Key Free Z-Wave Deadbolt
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Schlage Connect Z-Wave Deadbolt
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| Buy Yale Key Free | Buy Schlage Connect |
