# Aeotec Smart Home Hub 2 Aeotec Smart Home Hub 2 is the clearest dedicated SmartThings card when the home needs Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Ethernet, and local SmartThings automation in one box. It is not the right upgrade for a Z-Wave-heavy SmartThings home. Canonical page: https://matterhome.io/devices/aeotec-smart-home-hub-2 Markdown page: https://matterhome.io/devices/aeotec-smart-home-hub-2.md Author: Matterhome Editorial Team Author profile: https://matterhome.io/authors/matterhome-editorial-team Edited and fact-checked by: JC Martinez Editor profile: https://matterhome.io/authors/jc-martinez ## Device Facts - Brand: Aeotec - Model: Smart Home Hub 2 - Product type: SmartThings Matter Controller and Thread Border Router - Category: Matter controllers - Connection: Matter over Thread - Matter status: Aeotec lists Smart Home Hub 2 with Matter and Thread support, and Samsung SmartThings identifies supported hubs and products as the SmartThings smart home hub layer. - Launch date: 2025-10-30 - Thread border router required: No - Brand hub required: No - Typical price range: Around $120 - Markets: North America, Europe - Review status: Compatibility guide - Product image: https://matterhome.io/content-assets/devices/aeotec-smart-home-hub-2/product.webp - Product image alt text: Aeotec Smart Home Hub 2 - Product image source: https://aeotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/hub-v2-edited-1.webp ## Ecosystem Support - Apple Home: Not listed - Google Home: Limited - Alexa: Limited - SmartThings: Supported - Home Assistant: Not listed ## Best For - SmartThings homes that want a dedicated Matter and Thread hub - Samsung-heavy households that need a stronger hub than a TV or appliance role - Buyers starting fresh with SmartThings, Zigbee, Matter, and Thread ## Skip If - You need Z-Wave support without another controller - Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, Homey, or Home Assistant is the main automation system - Your supported Samsung TV, monitor, soundbar, or appliance already provides enough SmartThings Hub coverage ## Setup Notes - Set up Smart Home Hub 2 in SmartThings and keep it powered as the Matter and Thread hub for the location. - Use it when SmartThings should own the Matter fabric and local automations. - Choose the older Aeotec Smart Home Hub instead if Z-Wave support is still required. ## Known Limitations - Smart Home Hub 2 is built for SmartThings, not for Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, or Home Assistant as the main controller. - Aeotec says the Hub 2 supports Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth onboarding, but Z-Wave is not listed. - SmartThings device behavior still varies by product type, region, and the controls exposed by the receiving ecosystem. ## Pros - Dedicated SmartThings hub for Matter and Thread - Supports Zigbee 3.0 alongside Matter and Thread - Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity - More purpose-built than relying on a TV, monitor, or appliance as the hub ## Cons - SmartThings only as the primary hub layer - Does not include Z-Wave support - Availability is region and retailer dependent - Samsung appliance and TV hub options may already be enough for some homes ## Sources - https://aeotec.com/products/smartthings-smart-home-hub-2/ - https://www.samsung.com/us/smartthings/ - https://www.theverge.com/news/798263/samsung-smartthings-thread-border-routers-apple-google-amazon-matter - https://www.androidcentral.com/accessories/smart-home/samsungs-new-smartthings-hub-hits-us-shelves-and-its-a-big-deal-for-your-smart-home - https://aeotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/hub-v2-edited-1.webp ## Buy it for a real SmartThings hub Aeotec Smart Home Hub 2 is the SmartThings card that makes the most sense here because it is a dedicated hub, not a TV, monitor, soundbar, or appliance doing hub duty on the side. Aeotec lists Matter and Thread support in its technical details, along with Zigbee 3.0, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth onboarding. That makes it the straightforward SmartThings pick when the house needs SmartThings to be the center of the setup. It can own the SmartThings location, connect Matter-over-Thread devices, and run SmartThings automations without asking a Samsung TV or refrigerator to be the permanent hub. ## What it fixes SmartThings can live in a lot of Samsung products now, but that can also make the hub decision fuzzy. A TV or appliance with a built-in SmartThings Hub may be enough for some homes. A dedicated hub is easier to reason about when the smart home has many sensors, switches, lights, and routines. Smart Home Hub 2 also gives SmartThings buyers a current Matter and Thread path. For new SmartThings homes, that is more relevant than buying an older hub only because older SmartThings setups often revolved around Z-Wave. ## The Z-Wave catch The tradeoff is Z-Wave. Aeotec's technical details for Smart Home Hub 2 list Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, but not Z-Wave. That is fine for a fresh Matter, Thread, and Zigbee setup. It is not fine if the home already depends on Z-Wave locks, switches, sensors, or relays. In that case, the older Aeotec Smart Home Hub may still be the better SmartThings purchase while it remains available, or the Z-Wave side may need a separate plan. ## Where it is the wrong buy Skip Smart Home Hub 2 if SmartThings is not the system you want to maintain. Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, Homey, and Home Assistant each have cleaner hub paths when one of those ecosystems is the center of the home. It is also worth skipping if your Samsung TV, monitor, soundbar, or appliance already provides the SmartThings Hub coverage you need. Buy the dedicated hub when the home needs a stable center, not just because the SmartThings logo appears in the comparison.