SmartThings has received its biggest visual update in years, and the detail that doesn’t go unnoticed is that iPhone users can already download it, while those with a Galaxy have to wait. The version 1.7.51previewed by SamMobile and now available on the App Store, brings with it a redesigned interface that abandons the dated aesthetic in favor of a lighter color scheme, pill graphics and a floating navigation bar.
The update affects first of all the Home tab, redesigned to make the most used functions and essential information immediately available. The device and routine cards adopt a compact pill format, resizable as desired for those who prefer more generous touch areas. Samsung has also changed the behavior of taps: tapping the icon on the card activates the primary action of the device or routine, while tapping the rest of the card opens the full controls. A functional distinction, but one that could disorientate those who don’t immediately notice it.
The home screen also gains new information panels: power consumption, quick TV access, family care alerts and automation suggestions. The built-in remote for compatible TVs and monitors has been updated with a clear mode, with the ability to resize and reposition it freely on the screen.
Routine Insights and faster hub checks
Among the functional innovations it stands out Routine Insightsa panel that brings up your three most frequently used automations along with their recent activity, without having to navigate deep into the app. Samsung has also improved the control speed of devices connected to a hub: when the smartphone and the hub share the same Wi-Fi network, the commands are more responsive.
Source: SamMobile
On iOS, the interface also incorporates the language Liquid Glass introduced by Apple, which adds an additional layer of visual coherence with the operating system. A detail which, paradoxically, will differentiate the iOS version from the Android version even after the possible arrival of the redesign on Galaxy, destined to have its own graphic identity.
Samsung has not communicated a timetable for the Android release. The fact that the redesign appears on iOS ahead of its smartphones is a curious choice to say the least for a company that has its main terrain in the Galaxy ecosystem. The wait isn’t necessarily long, but for now Samsung’s home automation app is, in fact, more up to date on the competitor’s phone than on your own.
