35 articles
Best smart speakers for home automation in 2026. Apple HomePod 2nd gen, Amazon Echo 4th gen, Google Nest Audio, and Sonos Era 100 compared for home control.
Thread networking explained for smart homes in 2026. How Thread works, why it's better than Zigbee for Matter devices, border routers, and which devices support it.
The ThirdReality ZigBee Smart Plug has quickly become a favorite among smart home enthusiasts, and for good reason. This device combines robust functionality, seamless integration, and energy efficiency into one compact unit, making it a top choice for anyone looking to automate their home.
The Hubitat Elevation C-8 has a similar form factor as it's C-7 predacessor, but the C-8 features new external antennas for improved wireless range and ...
After many years of satisfied SmartThings automation, I started wanting more from my IoT hub and began looking for better solutions. Then I found the Hubitat Elevation hub, and my smart home was forever changed for the better.
The ThirdReality Zigbee smart button device is a reliable, simple, and powerful Zigbee push button device. Powered by 2x AAA batteries, featuring a large single button with 3 supported interaction types (tap, double tap, hold), this button is out top pick for single-button devices to integrate with Hubitat or SmartThings.
IoT Button Devices: Top Picks for 2023 As you expand your smart home's capabilities and build new automations in SmartThings or Hubitat, the need for push bu...
The Netgear Orbi 960 Series is a high-performance mesh Wi-Fi system that promises to deliver reliable and fast Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home. The system comes with one Orbi router and one Orbi satellite, which work together to create a seamless Wi-Fi network.
Fast Roaming is a term used to describe the seamless transition of a wireless device from one access point (AP) to another within a wireless network. It is a...
While Z-Wave offers better interoperability, longer range, and more advanced security, it comes at a higher cost and limited compatibility. On the other hand, Zigbee offers wider compatibility, lower cost, and energy efficiency, but it may have interoperability issues, less security, and shorter range.
In this article, we will be reviewing the Habitat Elevation C-7 Smart Home Hub, a comprehensive and user-friendly solution for managing your smart home devices.
As technology continues to advance, the concept of the smart home is becoming more and more popular. Home automation and IoT devices have taken over homes across the world, and with good reason. They offer convenience, security, and energy efficiency, making our lives easier and more comfortable. However, with so many devices available in the market, it can be challenging to choose the right one for your home.
After reviewing over 25 smart buttons for SmartThings and other smart home hubs, we thought it'd be helpful to single-out the top 3 buttons to date. The buttons we link to below are natively compatible with SmartThings, and utilize Z-wave, Zigbee, and sometimes both.
Released in early 2019, the new Aeotec NanoMote (Available on Amazon) comes natively compatible with Samsung SmartThings, in addition to other Z-Wave Smart Home Hubs. Offering 4 physical buttons, each with 2 touch-modes (short press & long press), the NanoMote is an upgrade to the Aeotec WallMote Dual and Quad button controllers. Comparatively, the NanoMote is significantly smaller; measuring about 2-inches by 2/3-inch.
Black extension cord running along a white baseboard? Matrix of cables hanging from your new flat screen? Three power strips plugged into each other in the closet? These types of finishing touches can detract from the hard work and hours it took to setup. A few simple additions focused on cable management, like cable clips or raceways, can give any project a professional appearance.
The latest products from Philips Hue for outdoor and indoor smart LEF lighting, light strips, path lighting, and more. Updated 6 days ago.
In addition to router brand, home size, and internet service provider (ISP) speed caps, there are a number physical factors - inside and outside - which can affect performance and speed of the WiFi network in your home. It's important to think about these factors when placing access points, and mesh network nodes, around your house.
This is the simplest, most cost-effective way to automate existing window blinds, without professional installation and programming.
This stand-out push button for Z-Wave smart homes (including Samsung SmartThings), developed by Fibaro, can function as a standalone panic button or a scene controller. Depending on your configuration, a single push can trigger any number of devices and automations.
The basic operation is to toggle power on and off using the SmartThings mobile app, but you can also dim the brightness of the plugged-in device using a fully customizable sliding scale. This feature enables homeowners to achieve the perfect dimmer level for table and floor lamps, and other lighting applications.
The Z-Wave Plus outdoor smart switch from GE is a reliable, heavy duty controller for lighting and appliances exposed to weather and the elements. Natively compatible with SmartThings, its compact, all-black enclosure and short 7.5-inch power cord can easily be concealed behind foliage and rocks, or mounted to an exterior surface.
Manufactured directly from the makers of the Samsung SmartThings Hub, this simple, elegant, and affordable push button enables unlimited possibilities for smart home automation. With native device compatibility, this button takes about 30 seconds to pair to your hub. Simply open the app, tap "+Add Device" and select "Samsung SmartThings Button".
Automating lamps and other plug-in appliances in a smart home has never been easier than the SYLVANIA SMART+ 'Lightify' Zigbee power outlet. Natively compatible with Samsung SmartThings, simple design, and 30-second installation and pairing make this outlet out #1 pick for SmartThings wall plug control.
The garage door is a common roadblock for home automation, because garage door openers are “dumb”, expensive, and not something you'd want to break. Have no fear! If you pair a SmartThings hub with the Chamberlin MyQ Garage Door Kit, you can control your garage door remotely, and check its current status. You can even automate it using IFTTT and webCoRE.
This compact siren and strobe plugs directly into the wall outlet. It extends up about 3 inches, but, the device can be plugged-in upside down if necessary. It boasts a 105dB audio siren, with 5 different alert tones available to choose from. The bright LED strobe is a white light that can flash when triggered. No other customization can be done to the strobe light functionality.
WebCoRE is capable of executing automation flows using inputs from any Z-Wave or Zigbee device connected to your SmartThings hub. Explore pistons...
The Logi Pop smart button is, by far, the most aesthetically pleasing IoT push button. However, this beautifully designed smart button requires an additional hub for basic remote operation. To achieve an experience comparable to a native SmartThings device, you'll need to use a custom device handler & smart app, on top of IFTTT web hooks.
For both standard and non-standard doors, or doors with decorative door handles, you should consider adding a deadbolt-only smart device to the door to enable remote control and access. A smart deadbolt is simply a locking mechanism that fits into the existing deadbolt cut-out in your door, and connects to the internet to allow for remote access and programming.
The Ring Spotlight cam combines motion-activated security lighting with Wifi security camera. The perfect addition to any smart home with...
Which Schlage locks work natively with Samsung SmartThings? What is the difference in Schlage Touch vs. Connect vs. Sense? Read to find out
Visonic MCT-340 E Wireless Door Window Temperature Sensor is perfect for homes powered by SmartThings. At less than $20 on Amazon, this is...
With the rapid growth of home automation, home security has shifted to be consumer-powered, installed, and monitored. We've reviewed the best
Learn about the underlying network that powers most modern smart homes, including those with Samsung SmartThings hubs running online.
This outlet controller from Zooz is natively compatible with SmartThings, which means no custom device handlers or coding is needed to get setup. Be sure to stand near your hub when pairing, otherwise installation is a breeze and takes less than 60 seconds!
Using Nest Thermostat, learn how to leverage your GPS location to tell Nest when you are home or away, helping improve you automated schedule.