Aeotec Smart Home Hub 2
SmartThings Matter Controller and Thread Border Router
A sensible $119.99 foundation for a new SmartThings home using Matter, Thread and Zigbee.
Thread$119.99
208 devices with SmartThings support
Matter devices that work with SmartThings
SmartThings runs Matter through a hub, so decide which box plays that role before buying devices.
Start here
Pick your SmartThings hub
The phone app only adds a product; after setup, a SmartThings hub controls it, even over Wi-Fi, and Thread devices also need a Thread border router, usually the hub itself. Samsung TVs at Q60 or above released after 2022 include a hub with Thread, and some Samsung fridges and monitors do too, but Samsung ties that to the individual model. The 2015 SmartThings Hub has no Thread radio and needs a third-party border router for Thread products.
Help choosing
Before you buy
What to know about Matter in SmartThings
Samsung Wallet home key
Samsung Wallet's Digital Home Key is added during SmartThings Matter setup and opens a compatible lock with an NFC tap, or hands-free over UWB where phone and lock support it. Availability depends on region and lock model.
Sensor readings
SmartThings reads more from a Matter sensor than some platforms: the light level from Eve Motion, every IKEA ALPSTUGA air reading and IKEA KLIPPBOK leak alerts all have documented SmartThings support.
Energy readings
SmartThings can show the power and energy readings a Matter plug sends, and makers document them for Eve Energy and the updated Tapo P110M. Some metering plugs still keep their meter in their own app.
Thread 1.4
On Aeotec hubs and the 2018 SmartThings Hub, a 2025 firmware update brought Thread 1.4, so the app can merge the hub's Thread network with a nearby one using credentials already stored on your phone.
Guides for SmartThings
Do you need a Thread border router?
A plain-English guide to when a Matter home needs a Thread border router, which device types depend on one, and when you can safely skip it.
Choosing the best smart home ecosystem for Matter
A practical comparison of Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, Homey, Home Assistant, and Aqara for Matter homes, including automation depth, hubs, Thread, and hybrid setups.
Matter device setup checklist
A buyer-friendly checklist for adding a Matter device without guessing: network path, hub requirements, setup codes, firmware, placement, and multi-admin sharing.
Matter bridge vs native Matter device
When to choose a Matter bridge, when to buy native Matter devices, and why bridges can be the right answer for existing Hue, IKEA, Bosch, and similar smart home systems.
Latest SmartThings news
SmartThings opens local app control to Android and iOS
Samsung documents local phone-to-hub control on supported SmartThings hubs. Its status page marked hub firmware 0.62.14, which replaced the paused 0.62.13 to fix Matter updates and local connections, completed on October 20. Thread migration remains unconfirmed.
SmartThings' lock-code migration beta is open, and testers report PIN failures
SmartThings began moving beta testers' lock codes into each lock card on October 7. Owners report codes from community drivers left untracked, a new six-digit minimum and new PINs the app cannot add. SmartThings has given no rollout date or undo path.
Samsung's new Bespoke laundry line is SmartThings-only
Samsung's July 2026 Bespoke AI washer and dryer lineup keeps connected features in SmartThings, so Matter buyers should verify each regional model before ordering.
SmartThings rolls out blind control for IKEA's BILRESA wheel
Samsung now documents BILRESA lighting and blind control for Matter and Zigbee window coverings, but supported blinds and the app requirement remain unclear.
Recently reviewed
The newest reviews of devices whose documentation lists SmartThings support.
Govee Christmas String Lights 2
Tree string light with color and warm white LEDs, 20 to 100 m (66 to 328 ft)
Worth buying for a Christmas tree that should look good in steady warm white as well as in color, thanks to dedicated white LEDs and one continuous string sized to the tree.
Wi-FiFrom $74.99
No brand hub or Thread router required
Nanoleaf Smart Multicolor Permanent Outdoor Lights Starter Kits
Trimmable roofline light kit with color and 2200 to 6500K white, 49 to 147 ft
The best middle choice for a roofline that needs trimming or warm evening white: the strings can be cut to fit and every puck has dedicated warm and cool white LEDs, for well under Govee's Pro price.
Wi-FiFrom $179.99
No brand hub or Thread router required
GE Smart Shades (standard sizes)
Battery roller shade with a built-in Matter-over-Thread motor
GE Smart Shades are a sensible buy for an ordinary US window that one of the six standard widths fits.
ThreadFrom $299.99
Needs a Thread border router
ULTRALOQ Latch 5 Pro (UUL-LATCH5-PRO-BK)
Fingerprint and keypad lever lock with Aliro wallet tap for single-bore doors
Latch 5 Pro is a good lever lock for a Samsung Galaxy household that already runs SmartThings, because its wallet tap works with Samsung Wallet today, alongside a fingerprint reader and keypad.
Thread$249.99
Needs a Thread border router