Samsung SmartThings Hub (3rd Gen) Review: Still Worth It?

Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen)

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Score: 8.2/10 — A versatile, multi-protocol powerhouse that remains the gold standard for users balancing legacy Z-Wave/Zigbee hardware with modern smart home automation.

Overview

Building a truly cohesive smart home requires a reliable central brain, and choosing the right smart home hub is critical for seamless automation and home security. If you are planning a broader home efficiency overhaul—perhaps upgrading to a modern mini-split system—integrating a centralized hub is the next logical step. While the industry ecosystem has shifted aggressively toward Matter and Thread, the Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) remains a versatile powerhouse for those balancing legacy Z-Wave and Zigbee devices with modern automation routines. In an era where many companies are pushing "hub-less" Wi-Fi setups, the V3 hub provides the stability and local coordination necessary for a professional-grade installation. For those integrating full security suites, we also recommend checking out our Ring Alarm Pro guide or exploring other comprehensive home security systems, including our Cove Home Security guide or the SimpliSafe 13-piece kit review for complementary coverage.

The Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) acts as a central bridge between your diverse smart home devices and the SmartThings cloud platform.

Rather than relying on individual devices to each connect directly to your Wi-Fi network—which can lead to network congestion and "device dropout"—the hub consolidates communication across multiple wireless protocols. By managing the "chatter" of dozens of sensors and switches on a separate mesh frequency, it preserves your Wi-Fi bandwidth for high-traffic activities like streaming and gaming.

This hub is specifically designed for the "power user" or the "ecosystem agnostic." It is best suited for users who want broad device compatibility without locking themselves into a single brand's walled garden. Whether you are integrating an older Z-Wave door lock, a Zigbee motion sensor, or a modern Wi-Fi-connected light strip, the Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) serves as the unifying layer that allows these disparate technologies to talk to one another through a single interface. If you are also upgrading your home's essential infrastructure—such as with a whole house water filter or improving basement health with a sump pump system—see our Honeywell Home ST9400C review for HVAC timing, or check out our Panasonic WhisperGreen guide for ventilation needs. Its ability to bridge the gap between 2010-era smart switches and 2024-era AI appliances makes it a unique anchor in the modern smart home.

Key Features

Pros & Cons

Performance

In real-world testing, the Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) excels in stability. When managing a network of 30+ devices—including Z-Wave light switches, Zigbee leak sensors, and Wi-Fi plugs—the response time is nearly instantaneous. The transition from a sensor trigger (e.g., a motion sensor in the hallway) to an action (e.g., turning on the living room lights) happens with minimal lag, thanks to the hub's efficient handling of mesh networking. This is particularly evident in "chained" automations where one trigger sets off a sequence of events across different protocols.

One of the most impressive aspects of the Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) is its handling of "local processing." For many years, smart hubs were essentially "cloud remotes"—if your internet went down, your house stopped being smart. The V3 hub mitigates this. By processing specific routines on the device itself, the hub ensures that your scheduled lights still turn on and your security sensors still trigger sirens even if your ISP suffers an outage. This reliability is a significant upgrade over purely cloud-based alternatives and provides a peace of mind that is essential for security-critical installations (similar to how we evaluate reliability in our Wayne ESP25 battery backup review), such as those detailed in our ADT Self Setup 9-Piece Kit guide (ideal for those wanting a professional-grade baseline) or SimpliSafe review.

Integration with voice assistants is equally seamless. For a visual command center, we recommend the Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen).

Pairing the hub with an Amazon Echo Hub

, an Amazon Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen), or Google Nest speaker allows for a "single pane of glass" management style. You can ask Alexa to "turn on the movie scene," and the SmartThings hub coordinates the dimming of Z-Wave lights, the closing of Zigbee blinds, and the powering on of a Wi-Fi media center simultaneously. There is very little "command drift" or failure to execute complex scenes, provided the devices are named clearly and the network is stable.

Deep Dive: How It Works

To understand why the Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) remains relevant, one must understand the "Protocol War" of the smart home. Most smart devices communicate via three main avenues: Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Z-Wave. Wi-Fi is great for high-bandwidth devices (cameras) but consumes too much power for a battery-operated door sensor. Zigbee and Z-Wave are "low-energy" protocols that create a mesh network—each device acts as a repeater, extending the signal further across your home.

The Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) acts as a translator. When you press a Zigbee button, the button sends a signal to the hub. The hub translates that signal into a command the SmartThings cloud understands, which then sends a command to a Wi-Fi-connected coffee machine. Without this hub, you would need a separate bridge for every brand of device you bought, leading to a "bridge graveyard" of power bricks and Ethernet cables plugged into your router. This consolidation is the primary value proposition of the 3rd Gen hub.

The 3rd Gen hardware specifically improved upon previous versions by introducing more robust processing power and better antenna design. This allows for a more stable Z-Wave mesh, which is critical for larger homes where a signal might need to hop through four or five switches to reach a lock at the far end of the property. The internal memory and CPU are optimized to handle "Edge" processing, meaning the logic moves from the remote servers in the cloud to the actual hardware in your living room, drastically reducing the time between a sensor trigger and the resulting action.

Comprehensive Setup and Maintenance Guide

Setting up the Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) is a straightforward process, though it requires a few specific steps for optimal performance to avoid the common "device not found" errors often reported by novice users.

Initial Installation

Physical Connection: Plug the hub into a power outlet and connect it to your router via an Ethernet cable. While Wi-Fi is supported, Ethernet is highly recommended for the initial pairing process to ensure a stable handshake with the server. Position the hub in a central location—ideally not tucked inside a metal cabinet or behind a thick concrete wall—to maximize the range of the Zigbee and Z-Wave radios.

App Integration: Download the SmartThings app on your smartphone. Sign in with your Samsung account and select "Add Device." The app will automatically scan for the hub on your local network. Ensure your phone is on the same subnet as the hub to avoid discovery issues.

Firmware Updates: Immediately upon connection, the hub will likely request a firmware update. Do not power off the device during this phase; these updates often include critical patches for new device compatibility and security vulnerabilities. Samsung frequently pushes "Device Handler" updates that allow the hub to recognize newer hardware that didn't exist when the Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) was first released.

Adding and Managing Devices

Depending on the protocol, adding devices varies in complexity:

• Zigbee/Z-Wave: Put the device in "pairing mode" (usually by pressing a button on the device or using a specific sequence) and select "Scan for devices" in the SmartThings app. For Z-Wave devices, pay attention to the "exclusion" process; if a device was previously paired to another hub, you must run an "exclusion" command first to clear its memory before it will pair with the V3 hub.
• Wi-Fi/Matter: These are typically added via the manufacturer's app first or through a QR code scan if they are Matter-certified. Once the device is in the cloud, the SmartThings app can usually "discover" it via a cloud-to-cloud integration.

Long-term Maintenance and Optimization

To keep your smart home running smoothly, we recommend a "mesh health check" every six months. This involves checking for "dead nodes"—devices that have lost power or connectivity—which can cause a "hole" in your mesh network and lead to delayed responses in other devices. In Z-Wave networks, this is sometimes referred to as "healing" the network, where the hub recalculates the most efficient paths between devices.

Additionally, keep your Samsung account security updated with two-factor authentication. While securing your digital home—perhaps while managing air quality with a GE ADEL50LZ dehumidifier guide or upgrading your bathroom ventilation— don't forget your physical air quality—check out our Filtrete MERV-12 air filter review for maintenance tips. The hub has deep access to your home's security (locks and Arlo Pro 4 cameras (see our complete 4-pack guide for larger properties) for comprehensive outdoor surveillance). Periodically review your "Automations" list to delete old routines that may be conflicting with new ones, as "ghost" automations can sometimes cause unpredictable device behavior.

The Buyer's Guide: Who Should Buy This Hub?

Choosing the right hub depends heavily on your current hardware inventory and your long-term goals. The Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) is not a "one size fits all" solution, but it is the most comprehensive "one-stop shop" for specific user profiles.

The Legacy Collector

If you have a collection of Z-Wave switches from 2015 or a variety of Zigbee sensors from different budget brands, the Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) is essentially mandatory. Very few modern hubs (like the newer Amazon Echo hubs) support Z-Wave. If you don't want to rip out your walls to replace perfectly functional Z-Wave switches, this hub is your only viable path to a unified app experience.

The Ecosystem Agnostic

For users who refuse to be locked into "Apple Only" or "Google Only" environments, this hub serves as a neutral ground. Because it integrates with all major voice assistants, you can start with an Alexa-based setup today and migrate to Google Home tomorrow without having to replace your sensors, locks, or light switches. The hub remains the constant while the voice interface changes.

The Home Automation Hobbyist

While the move away from the Groovy IDE (the developer-centric customization tool) was a blow to some, the current "SmartThings Edge" driver model allows for significant customization. Hobbyists can still write and install custom drivers to make the hub support niche devices that aren't officially certified. This flexibility makes it superior to "locked" hubs like the Philips Hue Bridge or the Lutron Caséta Bridge, which only support their own brands.

Comparing the V3 Hub to Modern Alternatives

To truly judge the value of the Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen), we must compare it to the current market landscape, specifically the rise of Matter and the emergence of "Hub-less" ecosystems. If you are considering a touchscreen interface, the Amazon Echo Hub is a strong modern alternative.

Samsung SmartThings Hub (2018, 3rd Gen) vs. Amazon Echo Hub

For those seeking a visual interface, the Amazon Echo Hub provides a beautiful touchscreen for home management.