Samsung just rolled out a beefy SmartThings update, and while there are plenty of quality-of-life improvements, the big news is full support for Matter 1.4 and the device types that it introduced.
That means SmartThings users can now sync up a wider range of energy-related devices – think water heaters, solar inverters, and battery storage – directly into their SmartThings ecosystems.
Hot on the heels of Aqara, who just announced some major Matter upgrades and support for Matter 1.4, Samsung also joins Home Assistant in getting behind the latest spec.
As well as new device types, Matter 1.4 also improves interoperability between platforms and devices, while adding more control options.
Samsung hasn’t detailed exactly how much of the Matter 1.4 functionality is rolling out on day one, but it’s a clear signal the platform is staying aggressive on Matter support, which continues to steal a march on the other major platforms like Apple Home, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa.
Beyond Matter, SmartThings is also updating to include a bunch of new automation bells and whistles.
You will be able to create routines that run on weekly, monthly, or yearly schedules; ideal for things like birthday lighting effects or Holiday scenes.
Routines will also now play nicely with Samsung TV Plus (if you’ve got a 2025 model), so you could automatically fire up the morning news as part of your wake-up routine.
Speaking of mornings, SmartThings is leaning into sleep automation by syncing more tightly with Samsung Health. If you’re wearing a Galaxy Watch or Galaxy Ring, you can now build automations based on your actual sleep and wake times; think turning off lights when you doze off, opening blinds when you get up, or adjusting the thermostat to keep your sleep environment just right.
Samsung says it’s tracking everything from room temperature to CO2 levels to help fine-tune conditions for better rest.
There’s also a new intercom-style feature that lets you send voice messages across SmartThings-compatible speakers. It works both at home and remotely, so you can now broadcast a message even if you’re still stuck at the office.
Finally, Samsung’s Calm Onboarding feature, which launched late last year, is getting a bump too.
When you buy compatible devices directly from Samsung.com, you’ll now get real-time order and delivery updates inside the SmartThings ap plup,s step-by-step setup instructions as soon as your package arrives
All in all, it’s a pretty solid update that brings SmartThings closer to the elusive dream of a truly intelligent, platform-agnostic, ambient smart home.
