Samsung Introduces 'SmartThings Wi-Fi' Combination Mesh Router and Smart Home Hub

The latest offering for users looking to add mesh networking to their homes has been revealed by Samsung today, called the SmartThings Wi-Fi (via The Verge). The router includes mesh networking technology from Plume, which itself recently revealed its "SuperPod" mesh router along with a $60/year subscription.

Samsung's SmartThings Wi-Fi isn't subscription-based, and in addition to the usual mesh networking features, the device also acts as a smart home hub for any SmartThings accessories. Similar to Apple TV and HomePod acting as a hub for HomeKit, SmartThings Wi-Fi will allow customers to set up and manage SmartThings-compatible plugs, switches, lights, cameras, and doorbells from Philips, Ring, Arlo, Kwikset, and much more.

With Plume's technology, SmartThings Wi-Fi learns the environment to optimize performance for consistent coverage throughout the home. The system is sold on Samsung's website in a 1-pack for $119.99 (covering 1,500 square feet) or a 3-pack for $279.99 (up to 4,500 square feet).

The company today also revealed a new standalone SmartThings Hub priced at $69.99, for those users who already have a router but still want to implement SmartThings products into their home. As an upgrade to the previous hub, the new device does not need to be plugged directly into your router and can instead work wirelessly anywhere in your home.

There are a few other SmartThings announcements that happened today, including upgrades to the platform's Motion Sensor, Multipurpose Sensor, and Water Leak Sensor. There's also a new SmartThings Outlet for $34.99 and a SmartThings Button for $14.99, all available to purchase on Samsung.com beginning today.

The SmartThings product launches today follow last week's Galaxy Note 9 reveal event, during which Samsung showcased its latest flagship smartphone. The company also detailed a new Galaxy Watch, Wireless Charger Duo, and Galaxy Home Smart Speaker.

Tags: Samsung, mesh routers

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macduke

11 months ago

I have been wanting for Apple to get into the mesh WiFi game for a while. It's a shame they left that market. Guess I'll have to buy an Eero or something when 802.11ax is supported.

Rating: 2 Votes

Fender2112

11 months ago

About a month ago, I bit the bullet and purchased a Google Home 3-node kit from Best Buy. So far so good. I have no complaints. It was easy to set up. I have 2600 sqft 2-story home and now I have full coverage throughout.

Rating: 2 Votes

velocityg4

11 months ago

Well that's what many mesh setups I see online do, just bridge connections exactly like an AirPort. Only some of them do it wirelessly too, whereas AirPort devices only had one wifi connection and therefore could only bridge wired-to-wireless or vice versa.

The reason to make routers and wifi APs is to help with their smart home stuff, like what Samsung is doing here. Also, the other routers and wifi APs are still more difficult to set up than AirPort.

Airport supports wireless repeating. Best I can tell the only real differences between Airport range extending and mesh is ease of setup and time to setup. When you update a mesh network. All devices are updated by the app. While you had to reconfigure each Airport.

Other than that mesh WiFi networks are still just repeating a WiFi signal. Thus they have the same drawback. If it is only receiving at 50% strength. That node will be limited to the speed that signal can provide.

I still prefer hard-wiring all my access points. Then give them all the same SSID, encryption type and key. It takes a while to setup. But you get the best performance from AP that way. How often do most people change their SSID or any other WiFi setting? Although I don't buy actual AP. Using routers and disabling DHCP is cheaper.

The next best is Powerline adapters going to powerline access points. Works quite well. As I recall the utility TP-Link provides will allow you to apply the same settings to all Powerline AP on you powerline network.

Plus you don't have to log in through the vendor. I prefer to control my network directly.

Rating: 1 Votes

albusseverus

11 months ago

I’m hoping Apple is out of the router business the way it was out of the Display business… until enough pressure is applied and it sees the need.

Private & secure routing is desperately needed, and I suspect not necessarily possible give recent revelations about national security affordances governments are requiring of network equipment manufacturers.

I would feel much safer with Apple in charge of my home network and internet firewall. I hope it becomes possible in the near future and Apple gets back in the game.

Rating: 1 Votes

macduke

11 months ago

Was AirPort not mesh wifi? I don't get why they stopped making those.

Hahahahahaha no unless you count being able to bridge to AirPort Express. I think the last iteration, which I owned, came out in 2012 or 2013 before mesh networks weren't much of a thing that consumers could buy. There was no innovation going on with that.

I think it was Gruber or something he linked on Daring Fireball that had a good explanation: Apple used to make printers. They started making printers because all the printers out there sucked. Printers got better and they stopped making printers. The same applies to WiFi.

Rating: 1 Votes

BvizioN

11 months ago

Unfortunately, if you are buying iPhone you are indirectly buying something from Samsung. Are you suggesting you are also not buying an iPhone?

No, he is not buying from Samsung when he buys an iPhone just like you are not buying from X or Y farmer when you buy your bread or you are not buying from X or Y paint maker when you buy a drawing from an Artist. He is doing business with Apple. Apple is doing business with their partners to produce components for their products. As Samsung would tell you with their "amazing" adverts, they wold rather have you buy their products then Apple's. And that's exactly what the person you quoted said he won't do. And neither would I, if they continue with their stupid adds.

Rating: 1 Votes

fairuz

11 months ago

Can you elaborate?

You end up sometimes blocking things that you want to work, especially both LAN and internet P2P applications, and usually such a package comes with invasive data collection and telemetry to whatever company maintains the firewall. The packet inspection is also pretty complicated from a technical standpoint, so generally there's a lot more that can go wrong compared to more standard setups.

Rating: 1 Votes

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