Samsung SmartThings Wifi review
Our Verdict
With an interface that tin can control an assortment of home-automation devices, Samsung'due south SmartThings Wifi mesh network can fill up the largest homes with data. The simple setup and peak functioning are counterbalanced past the system's disappointingly short range and the need to use two dissimilar apps to become the virtually out of the gear.
For
- Excellent operation
- Creates smart home hub
- Minor devices
- Can use many extensions
Against
- Requires two apps
- Short range
Tom'south Guide Verdict
With an interface that tin control an assortment of home-automation devices, Samsung's SmartThings Wifi mesh network tin can fill the largest homes with data. The simple setup and tiptop performance are balanced by the system's disappointingly short range and the need to use two different apps to get the most out of the gear.
Pros
- +
Fantabulous performance
- +
Creates smart dwelling house hub
- +
Pocket-sized devices
- +
Can use many extensions
Cons
- -
Requires two apps
- -
Brusque range
Samsung SmartThings Wifi Key Specs
Wi-Fi Spec: 802.11ac
Number of Antennas/Removable: 5/No
Ports: Ii 1Gbps LAN, power
Processor: Quad-cadre ARM 710MHz
Retention/Storage: 512MB/4GB
WiFi Chip: Qualcomm IPQ4019
Tiptop 802.11ac Functioning: 539.9Mbps
Range: 65 feet (router only)
Size: iv.seven ten 4.7 10 one.2 inches
Pocket-size and like shooting fish in a barrel to hide, the Samsung SmartThings Wifi ($289 for three or $119 per device) mesh disks practice more than spread Wi-Fi throughout a abode. They can consolidate everything from connected thermostats to light switches and let you have control of your digital home. With great operation and a smart home-friendly design, it'south the all-time mesh Wi-Fi choice for connected domicile devices.
Editor'southward Note: Nosotros periodically update our reviews to brand sure that pricing and data is up to date. The rating and recommendations in our Samsung SmartThings Wifi review is unchanged from when it originally published in November of 2018.
Samsung SmartThings Wifi review: Design
Like the Eero and TP-Link Deco mesh routers, the Samsung SmartThings Wifi mesh organisation (A3LETWV525) is based on small hockey-puck-shaped devices that tin can be easily hidden. About the size of a fume alert, the 4.7 10 4.7 x 1.2-inch devices are slightly smaller than the second-generation Eero mesh Wi-Fi devices and tiny compared with the likes of the Netgear Orbi RBK40.
Rather than directly plugging them into an Air-conditioning outlet, SmartThings Wifi devices use an external Air-conditioning adapter and work with 2-prong outlets, something those with older homes volition appreciate. Different the Eero, at that place are no 3rd-party brackets for wall mounting or plugging the gear directly into an outlet.
All the SmartThings Wifi networking devices are the aforementioned and get the host router or extension during configuration, simplifying the setup and providing greater flexibility. There'south a unmarried LED up front that alternates betwixt green and red when it'south ready to connect and glows green when everything's working. A blinking red light ways something is wrong or – worse – the device is overheating, while a solid reddish light means no internet connectivity.
A dual-ring 802.11ac Wi-Fi mesh router, the SmartThings Wifi mesh arrangement creates a 2 10 2 network that can move upwardly to 400Mbps over its 2.4GHz channel and 866Mbps on the 5GHz channel; it carries an AC1300 throughput rating. Unlike Netgear'due south Orbi system, SmartThings WifI lacks a 3rd band defended to streams from the extensions to the router.
The mesh organisation incorporates control software from Plume. It non just shows the health of the network, tests network speed and has parental controls just continually optimizes the network based on utilise.
Inside, there're no fewer than seven antennas: a pair for each of the 2.4Hz and 5GHz bands too equally private ones for Bluetooth, Zigbee and ZWave connections. For those who live in a large house, a SmartThings Wifi network tin can handle up to 32 devices rather than three or iv, but the bandwidth at the extremities volition fall off as the extensions exceed v or six devices.
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The SmartThings devices are simply designed, without a power switch, but they have a recessed reset button for returning the device to its factory software and settings. Each device has input and output gigabit Ethernet connections but lacks a USB port.
Samsung SmartThings Wifi review: Performance
Based on Qualcomm'due south IPQ 4019 Wi-Fi control fleck, the SmartThings Wifi router runs on a 710MHz quad-core processor. It comes with 512MB of RAM and 4GB of space to store its firmware and settings. Each SmartThings Wifi device is rated past Samsung to encompass about 1,500 square feet, and the three-pack is proficient for a 4,500-square-pes home.
In our Utah exam facility using Ixia'southward ixChariot benchmark software to simulate a busy network, the SmartThings router created a powerful network that was able to distribute up to 539.9Mbps at five feet. That'southward less than 2 percent off the pace set up by the form-leading Netgear Orbi RBK40'southward ability to movement 549.9Mbps. This is more 100Mbps higher than Google Wifi and Linksys Velop's mesh systems could muster.
This throughput falls off with distance, yielding 488.7Mbps (at 15 feet) and 444.5Mbps (at 50 feet), a stride or ii backside the Orbi RBK40's 543.5Mbps (at fifteen feet) and 478.3Mbps (at 50 feet). However, SmartThings Wifi gear is the long-distance winner, delivering 364.1Mbps (at 100 feet) and 217.6Mbps (at 150 feet), well alee of the Orbi RBK40's 315MBps and 187.5Mbps at the same distances.
In our simulation of a real abode with different edifice materials, the SmartThings router's performance was mixed, with class-leading scores of 561.3Mbps and 524.4Mbps when we sent the signal through soundboard or a ceiling versus the Orbi RBK40'southward 540.9Mbps and 384.8Mbps. It, however, fell short on penetrating the metallic wall with the SmartThings router delivering 329.7Mbps on the other side, compared with the Orbi RBK40's 537.7Mbps.
When it came to penetrating several walls, the SmartThings Wifi equipment excelled with 417.1Mbps emerging afterwards going through ii walls, a 6 per centum improvement over the Orbi RBK40's 392.1Mbps. The SmartThings router moved 134.1Mbps through the ceiling versus the Orbi RBK40'due south 95.9Mbps, a 40 pct margin.
The SmartThings mesh network we created was in the middle of the pack with information technology able to distribute 325.1Mbps on a unmarried-hop (with two devices) and 186.7Mbps on a double-hop topology (with three devices). That's better than Eero's 128.9Mbps and 103.5Mbps, respectively, only behind the Linksys Velop'due south 331.6Mbps and 223.2Mbps on the same tests.
The three SmartThing Wifi devices were more than enough to fill my old 3,500-square-foot firm with bandwidth to spare. It served upward 175Mbps on my previously unconnected patio, but its 65-pes range was disappointingly short, and a big home will require a fourth or fifth SmartThings Wifi device to make full in, which could reduce throughput at the extremes.
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It ran for several days without a data hiccup. Although the devices got warm to the touch, they never exceeded 108 degrees Fahrenheit. Along the mode, they each used 4.3-watts of power. If you pay the national average cost of electricity (xiii.ane cents per kilowatt-hour), they each have an estimated annual cost of operation of well-nigh $5; all three would add together upwardly to $fifteen per year.
The SmartThings Wifi network satisfied a variety of users at once, passing our informal saturation test. With a Surface Pro iii and an iPad Pro playing YouTube videos, while a MacBook Air tuned in to an cyberspace radio station, my Samsung Tab Pro S moved files dorsum and forth with a network-attached storage organisation. The audio and video came through without a skip, intermission or stutter.
Samsung SmartThings Wifi review: Setup
If yous're looking to install and configure a SmartThings Wifi mesh arrangement via an app or a spider web browser, you're out of luck. The only way to set up the SmartThings router and extensions is to use Samsung's SmartThings app with a telephone or tablet; there are versions for Android and iOS.
The minimalist instruction canvas lacks a QR code for directly getting the software. Unfortunately, all the screens are locked into portrait orientation, and they can take up to 3 minutes to reflect changes fabricated to the network.
Out of the box, all SmartThings Wifi devices are the same; Eero's come designated as either a router or extensions. I started by creating an account, and plugged one of the SmartThings devices into my broadband modem using the included Cat6 jumper cable.
When the router'due south LED glowed dark-green, I fired up the SmartThings app on my iPad Pro and tapped "Add together device.". The software immediately establish and recognized the unconfigured device. Information technology took me through the steps to create a network. After agreeing to Samsung's license, my iPad connected with the SmartThings router and asked me to type a network proper noun and countersign.
Following a quick restart, I added a custom location name and then proceeded to add the two extensions. It took xv minutes to create a three-node SmartThings Wifi mesh network. Along the fashion, the software has a circular progress meter to lower the anxiety level of outset-timers.
Samsung includes a ane-year warranty with its SmartThings Wifi gear, a step ahead of Netgear'southward xc-day support policy. While the support site lacks a full transmission with details about the SmartThings system, it has everything else yous might need. This ranges from specs and answers to common problems encountered to a thorough troubleshooting guide.
Samsung SmartThings Wifi review: Configuration
On its own, the SmartThings app is basic and lacks customization options. That's where the Plume app comes in, which needs to be installed separately. The two-fisted approach to control takes a little getting used to but you tin can use your Samsung SmartThings login credentials to optimize the network with the Plume app.
In one case logged in, the app shows a overnice overview of the network with an appraisal of its health and point strength. It can evidence what devices are connected and who'south online. The Advanced Settings section lets you reserve IP addresses (but not use truthful static IP addressing) too every bit alter your DNS server.
Samsung SmartThings Wifi review: Smart dwelling integration
A large advantage is that the network is also a SmartThings Hub that acts similar a clearinghouse to control and monitor everything in ane place. It works with Alexa voice control through an Amazon Repeat or similar device.
In one case the network was up and running, I added a Belkin WeMo Insight Outlet and Smart LED Light Bulb. The SmartThings app provides an extensive list of the types of devices it works with, but some need to be configured in their own app. In less than a minute I was able to plow the outlet on and off and dim the light bulb. On the other mitt, the SmartThings app didn't piece of work with my Amazon Smart Plug.
The integration of home-automation control into the SmartThings app will be a big help for those who desire to use wireless light bulbs, outlets, thermostats, powered window shades and who knows what else is coming in home automation. Yous tin build automation sequences from scratch or use Samsung's premade ones for monitoring your home, severe weather and keeping the AC or rut on. I gear up my lights to turn on in the evening (at 5:45 p.m.) and off in the forenoon (at vi:45 a.thou.).
Samsung besides sells its own line of – you guessed information technology – SmartThings home-automation devices. They range from smart outlets and motility detectors to h2o leak sensors and alarm kits through ADT.
Samsung SmartThings Wifi review: Verdict
Small and piece of cake to hide, Samsung's SmartThings Wifi mesh organization packs a heavy dial with the ability to motility as much information as larger and more than expensive devices while keeping tabs on your home's wireless thermostats, door locks and low-cal bulbs. All told, it is smaller than the Netgear Orbi RBK40, simply with comparable performance, a lower price and the power to bring all your home-automation devices under one software roof.
To get the most out of it, though, you demand to bound between two different apps, and it has a disappointingly brusk range. At $120 per device, or iii for $280, SmartThings Wifi is an economical mode to fill just about any home with Wi-Fi while satisfying enervating users.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/samsung-smartthings-wifi-mesh-router,review-5934.html
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