Samsung Unveils New SmartThings Hardware at CES

Surprising no one, Samsung made a slew of new SmartThings announcements at its CES keynote this year. From a new hub and sensors to integration with third-party manufacturers like Chamberlain, Honeywell, Philips Hue, and more, the smart home system is expanding in a big, big way.

The SmartThings hub now has a battery backup and “expanded cellular connectivity options” that will allow it to continue working during a power outage. Also on the revised spec sheet? A new Bluetooth radio.

The new sensors have been redesigned to be one-third their original size, meaning SmartThings will now be far less obtrusive in your home.

As for third-party integration, Samsung is making great strides to expand SmartThings’ open platform.

The system will now work with August smart locks, Chamberlain garage door openers, D-Link and Netgear IP cameras, Rachio smart sprinkler controllers, Somfy window shades, Samsung smart appliances, and WeatherBug.

To top it all off, Samsung also announced a premium subscription service for SmartThings, which will provide home monitoring features. These include DVR service for security cameras and text and phone alerts if something goes horribly wrong at home.

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Samsung says its new offerings will be arriving in April, giving SmartThings users and potential buyers a lot to be excited about. These announcements further cement SmartThings' position as one of the leaders in the burgeoning smart home space.

Now it's up to Apple, Nest, and Wink to make their own offerings more compelling. Let the smart home battle commence!