Samsung’s range of smart hubs come in a stylish design and offer powerful features. The SmartThings Hub v2 and the v3 come with a modest range, support a wide range of wireless protocols to ensure maximum compatibility with other devices in your home and allow for voice control The SmartThings v2 is battery powered, comes with 2 USB ports and comes with a well designed mobile application while the SmartThings v3 comes with the ability to be powered using AC only, supports the latest ZigBee3 protocol and has a range of up to 130 feet. Which device is better than the other? We will give a head to head comparison of the two smart hubs and this will help you make a judgment as to which device is better suited to cater for your unique needs.
Alternatively, just skip to either the SmartThings Hub v2 or the SmartThings Hub v3 on Amazon.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table Smart Things Hub v2 vs v3
| SmartThings Hub v2 | SmartThings Hub v3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |
| Connect to router via Ethernet | Yes | Yes |
| Connect to router via WiFi | No | Yes |
| AC | Yes | Yes |
| Battery Powered | Yes | No |
| Battery Backup | Yes | No |
| USB Ports | 2 | 1 |
| Voice Control (Alexa & Google Home) | Yes | Yes |
| IFTTT | Yes | Yes |
| Protocols Supported | ZigBee, Z-Wave, Cloud-to-Cloud, LAN | ZigBee, Z-Wave, Cloud-to-Cloud, LAN, ZigBee3 |
| Range | 50-100 ft. | 50-130 ft. |
| Mobile Application | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Key Similarities between the SmartThings Hub v2 and the SmartThings v3:
- Ethernet port present
- AC power
- Voice control capabilities
- Mobile application
- Protocols supported
- IFTTT
Key Differences between the SmartThings Hub v2 and the SmartThings v3:
- Ability to connect to the router via WiFi
- Battery backup capabilities
- Number of USB ports
- Range
- Cost
A Comprehensive Comparison between the SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3
1. Ethernet Port
When creating any type of computer network, it is best to have a wired connection. This usually comes in the form of an Ethernet connection. The wired connections usually perform better than the wireless connections as they are less prone to interference caused by other wireless networks as well as other devices that use the same frequency band, and hacking. In addition, the latency is usually much better (lower) than that in wireless networks. The SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3 both come with an Ethernet port. This allows for the network to offer faster performance than it would if it were purely wireless.
2. AC Power
Most electrical devices are able to be powered by main electricity. This is because mains electricity is readily available in most places in the home as you will be able to get access by simply plugging your device to a free socket. Mains electricity has the advantage that it allows for your devices to use a lot of electricity and you will not have to worry about any batteries running out as there will be a steady “never-ending” supply as electricity (as long as your bill is paid). Both the SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3 use AC power.
3. Voice Control Capabilities
The introduction of voice control capabilities is a feature that man has always wanted computers to have. A simple look at the most popular tech movies will show this in an abundantly clear manner. Very many voice assistants are now available in the market and these included Cortana, Siri, the Google Assistant, Alexa, and more. These allow for you to input commands to the computer systems through the use of your voice. Both the SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3 allow for you to use the Google Assistant as well as Alexa.
4. Mobile Application
The introduction of mobile devices led to a new type of market for software developers. They were now able to create applications that would run on these new portable devices. Manufacturers quickly caught wind of how important these new applications would be and they started creating hardware devices that would come with mobile applications that would allow the user to install and setup the device with ease. As technology improved, the applications were now able to directly control the hardware applications through the use of cloud computing. Both the SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3 come with mobile applications that allow you to customize your home network.
5. Protocols Supported
There are a wide variety of protocols present in the market. These protocols govern how two or more electronic devices communicate. This allows for uniformity as all devices that use the same protocols will communicate in a predictable manner. The SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3 both support the following protocols: ZigBee, Z-Wave, Cloud-to-Cloud, LAN. The only minor difference is that the SmartThings v3 is more advanced than the SmartThings v2. This is because it supports the advanced ZigBee 3.0 protocol. This offers faster transmission speeds for ZigBee 3.0 devices and it also has improved security.
6. IFTTT
The If This Then That (IFTTT) service is a very popular service amongst homeowners, hobbyists and tech enthusiasts. This is because it comes with the ability for you to create a series of If statements. If you are new to programming, here is how If statements work. They allow you to execute an instruction if the condition is true and another instruction if the condition is false. The SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3 allow for you to use the IFTTT service to come up with your own instructions. You could set your lights to turn on when a motion sensor detects if you are present in a particular room, and turn the lights off if it detects that you are not in that room anymore.
7. WiFi
The SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3 connect to the LAN network differently. The SmartThings v2 can only connect to your LAN network using an Ethernet cable. As you probably know, there are some cases in which using an Ethernet cable is physically impossible. In addition, when you are renting a house, the landlord will not be very happy you drilling holes everywhere. The SmartThings v3 connects to your LAN network using both WiFi and also using an Ethernet cable. This means the SmartThings v3 is more versatile than the SmartThings v2.
8. Battery
The SmartThings v2 is more reliable than the SmartThings v3 in this regard. The SmartThings v2 comes with a built in battery. This battery allows for the device to have battery backup capabilities. This means that if there is a sudden power outage, the device will still be operational. The SmartThings v3 does not have any battery backup capabilities.
9. Number of USB ports
The SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3 have a different number of USB ports. These USB ports allow for you to connect a different number of USB devices to the SmartThings Hubs. The SmartThings v2 comes with 2 USB ports while the SmartThings v3 comes with only one USB port. This means the SmartThings v2 is more robust than the SmartThings v3.
10. Range
The SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3 have different ranges. The SmartThings v2 has a range of 50 – 100 ft. The SmartThings v3 comes with a range of 50 – 130 ft. This allows you to have more devices covered if you use the SmartThings v3.
11. Cost
The SmartThings v3 is cheaper than the SmartThings v2. Believe it or not – the latest and more advanced version is cheaper than its predecessor. This may be due to the fact that the SmartThings v3 does not come with a battery and it has one less USB port. These may appear to be minor changes, but they can translate to lower production costs and, thus, the lower cost. This therefore makes the SmartThings v3 to be the perfect purchase as you get all of the latest technology as well as all of the latest features at a price lower than its predecessor.
Our Pick
We found the SmartThings v3 to be extremely attractive. This is because it comes with a host of features. It has a longer range. This allows for you to connect more devices to it. It allows for you to connect it to the LAN using WiFi. It also comes with the latest version of ZigBee.
Why Do You Need a Smart Home Automation Hub?
1. Extreme Automation
Through the use of a Smart Home automation hub such as the SmartThings v2 or the SmartThings v3, you can achieve a level of automation that you never though was possible. You can control a wide variety of Z-Wave devices, ZigBee devices and you can customize the actions that they will perform through services such as IFTTT.
2. Ease of Use
The Smart Home Automation devices are really easy to use. All you need to do is to follow the very easy to understand instructions that are present in the instruction manual as well as the guides that are present in the guidelines. These smart hubs allow for you to move around the house and control all the smart devices connected to the hub through an application present on your mobile phone.
3. Voice Control
This must have to be the best innovation that has been made in the 21st century. You can now control your devices using voice assistants such as Alexa or the Google Assistant. The SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3 support this revolutionary feature.
Factors to Consider When Choosing between the SmartThings Hub v2 and the SmartThings Hub v3
1. WiFi
The SmartThings v3 and the SmartThings v2 are quite different in this regard. The SmartThings v3 is able to connect to a wireless LAN. This allows for you to gain access to your local home network which is usually connected to the internet. Through this connection, your mobile application will be able to communicate with your SmartThings device. The SmartThings v3 works differently. It is only able to get connected to your LAN through the use of an Ethernet cable. If you have no problems with using the Ethernet cable option, then any device will do. If you are a tenant or if Ethernet cables will give you challenges, then the SmartThings v3 is for you.
2. Battery
The SmartThings v3 and the SmartThings v2 are also different in this regard. The SmartThings v2 comes with a battery. This allows for battery backup capabilities. If you live in an area with frequent blackouts, brownouts or with an erratic power supply, then the SmartThings v2 is for you. If you never have any such problems then go for the SmartThings v3.
3. Number of USB Ports
If you find the USB ports that are present on the back of the SmartThings devices to be useful to you, then you may want to go after the SmartThings hub with the most number of ports. This is the SmartThings v2. If you do not mind this, then go for the SmartThings v3.
4. Range
The SmartThings v3 comes with a superior range. It allows for you to control your wireless devices from a range of up to 130 feet. That is over 30 feet more than the maximum range offered by the SmartThings v2. This makes the SmartThings v3 ideal for big apartments as well as areas that are rather difficult to reach. If you have a small apartment, or if you find this feature to be rather unnecessary, then feel free to go for the SmartThings v2.
5. Cost
Surprisingly, the SmartThings v3 is cheaper than the SmartThings v2. This means that you pay less to get the latest technology as well as the latest upgrades based on all the customer complaints from the SmartThings v2. This makes the SmartThings v3 the best option in this regard.
6. Design
The design of the SmartThings v3 and that of the SmartThings v2 is different. The SmartThings v3 is more aesthetically pleasing than the SmartThings v2. It is flatter and comes with more rounded corners. This makes it perfect as a tech accessory to place in your living room. If you like the older design of the SmartThings v2 then you should probably go for it.
SmartThings Hub v2 vs. SmartThings Hub v3 FAQ
Is it Easy to Upgrade From the v2 to the v3?
Unfortunately, no. Samsung makes it quite difficult to upgrade from a previous generation smart hub to another.
Do you need to be connected to the Internet for it to Work?
Unfortunately, yes. If you do not have an internet connection then this may be a problem.
Can I Program the Hub to Dim my lights?
Oh yes. You can certainly do so as long as you have compatible hardware.
Can I use it with Schlage Connect Locks?
In most cases, yes. Try checking on online forums and check for reviews before purchasing.
Is it iPhone Compatible?
Yes it is. Just make sure you download the application and you will be good to go.
Conclusion
In this article, we explored the differences between the SmartThings Hub v2 and the SmartThings Hub v3. We declared the winner to be the SmartThings Hub v3. This is because of the wide host of features that it comes with. It comes with the latest version of ZigBee, ZigBee 3. It comes with a longer range which is up to 50 feet more than the maximum range offered by the SmartThings Hub v2. It also comes at a lower price point which makes it the perfect purchase.
We included a comprehensive list of features that you will need to consider when choosing between the SmartThings v2 and the SmartThings v3. This will help you to choose which smart home automation hub is best for you unique needs.
Check out the best smart home automation hub, the SmartThings v3 on Amazon.
