SmartThings v2 vs v3

If you’re searching for ways to make your home smarter, the “Mission Control” system you’re looking for might be a smart center.

Smart hubs, including lighting, speakers, alarms, cameras, thermostats and more, can be a handy way to organize a vast range of smart devices inside your home.

This review is going to be looking specifically at the Samsung SmartThings smart hub system.

We would first go into depth and compare how the hardware has improved in SmartThings v2 vs v3. Make sure you read each and every part of this hub and its usability down to the heart.

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Comparison Chart of SmartThings v2 vs v3

Hub

What links all of your sensors and gadgets to your WiFi and each other is the SmartThings hub. Both hubs are compatible with Alexa, Google, Z-Wave and ZigBee communication protocols. Both of them plug in fuel, but only one has a backup battery: the SmartThings v2 center. As with its previous iteration, the current version 3 hub does not have a battery backup.

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Connectivity

SmartThings generation 2 must link to your router via Ethernet cable. However, you have the option of connecting directly or wirelessly via Ethernet with the SmartThings 3rd generation.

With respect to specific smart devices, most devices are able to connect to the SmartThings hub.

Nest thermostats and Canary smart cameras, most importantly, cannot attach to the hub, however. For certain consumers, as a result, this may be a major issue.

If you have a nest (or have thought about having one), you might suggest the Ecobee instead as well. Our ultra-detailed analysis of Nest vs. Ecobee breaks down the two thermostats to help you discover which one is better for you.

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SmartThings Hub Size & Dimensions

The Samsung SmartThings hub is pretty compact and fits easily into a small cabinet or along a shelf.

The SmartThings 2nd Generation Hub is:

• Dimensions: 4.9″ x 4.2″ x 1.3″
• Weight: 0.5 pounds

The SmartThings 3rd Generation Hub is:

• Dimensions: 5″ x 5″ x 1.2″
• Weight: 0.5 pounds

The SmartThings v3 hub looks sleeker instead of circular, with a circular shape. While its dimensions are only just a little bit smaller than the v2 hub, it looks much bigger. Add in the advantage that you can position it instead of next to your router anywhere in your house, and you have a hub that looks and functions smarter than its predecessor.

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Multipurpose Sensor

• Design: The v3 sensors are, much like the current centre, more rounded and elegant. They form a full circle as the sensors come together, because they are the same height. A lot more boxy-looking was the v2 multipurpose sensor.
• Stronger magnet: The stronger magnet ensures that it is possible to further isolate the two parts of the multipurpose sensor and yet consider them closed within the app. As several doors have a deep base, this adds convenience and the magnets can be mounted further apart while also monitoring reliably whether the doors are open or closed. If that sort of door is open or closed, the v2 sensors wouldn’t be able to tell reliably, but the new v3 sensors would operate on more doors and windows.
• Price: The new multipurpose sensors, initially $40, are now $20, making it much more affordable to protect your house with these powerful sensors. When looking at SmartThings v2 vs v3, this is the largest and most necessary price slash for sensors.

Motion Sensor

• Design: Comparing SmartThings v2 and v3 motion sensors, you’ll quickly see that the version 3 sensor looks more useful and less bulky. Version 2 sensor was a large square with the sensor in the upper left, but the new version has the sensor centered and is more rounded.
• Magnetic mount: The version 3 motion sensor has a more functional, adjustable mount for pointing the sensor exactly where you need to monitor. The mount is a magnetic ball and can be moved in any direction or even removed, so it’s completely customizable.
• Motion detection: The motion sensor v3 could see movement or walk even quicker around the room than the v2 sensors.
• Price: The v2 and v3 motion sensors are now priced at the same cost: $16.99. The v2 sensors used to be about $34, but with the introduction of version 3, the price has fallen.

Water Leak Sensor

To detect a water leak on either side, the new v3 water leak sensor has sensors on the top and bottom. In contrast, the sensor version 2 just detected water under it. As often water drips or comes from above before reaching the ground where the bottom sensors are, this is a major change.

Price: $26.56

Outlet

To make something intelligent, the SmartThings outlets plug into the wall. Plug in simple appliances such as a fan, lamp or coffee maker and it will have smart home controls that are sophisticated. When the outlet switches the system on or off, you can plan or automate. Outlets for SmartThings v2 vs v3 are priced the same, although there are a few updates worth noting for the new outlet.

Such as range of V3 at at 140ft and the old outlet range is at 50-150ft, and in addition to that design of new outlets is slightly smaller and lighter than the original outlet. The original outlet awkwardly has the status light on the side, making it look bulky.

Price: $17.99

Usability

In terms of usability, in my view, the SmartThings smart hub is reasonably user-friendly. Basically, usability can be broken down into two forms:

• Usability during initial setup
• Usability during daily use.

SETUP & INSTALL | The setup and install of the SmartThings hub was also quite easy.

The steps were basically:

• Connect your SmartThings Hub to your internet router using the included Ethernet cable (or wifi on the generation 3).
• Connect your SmartThing Hub to power using the included micro-USB power cable and power adapter.
• Register your SmartThings Hub to your account using the mobile app.

Once you’re got power, internet, and your account setup, then you simply can begin adding all of your smart home devices.

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Which SmartThings hub is best?

The SmartThings V3 is the perfect option. It has virtually all that the V2 has, but it can still be used wirelessly and is a bit less pricey than the V2.

In addition, the 3rd generation has “improved guided onboarding for easier setup”, according to Samsung.

Both previous versions of the SmartThings sensors and outlets are now consistent with the SmartThings V3, so you don’t have to think about missing any of your hardware.

Overall, for more features, it’s less pricey. It seems like it’s a no brainer.

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Should I upgrade SmartThings hub?

If you have a version 2 hub already, you might want to think twice before updating. Transferring to version 3 allows you to uninstall your version 2 hub devices, smart applications, and routines and connect them all separately to the version 3 hub again, it takes so much time and is very uncomfortable. So, if you just want to take advantage of the Wi-Fi feature, just update your sensors.