You can now control your smart home devices with Samsung Family Hub refrigerators

Continuing its tradition of making your icebox one of the savviest devices in your home, Samsung announced at CES 2018 that it's offering improved integration of its SmartThings ecosystem into its line of Family Hub refrigerators. 

SmartThings is Samsung's connected home hub, allowing various devices to speak to and work with one another. By bringing more advanced  SmartThings connectivity to Family Hub, users can now control and monitor all of their home's connected devices from the screen on their fridge's front door. 

This command extends to compatible third-party devices, like the Ring doorbell, as well as things like thermostats. Users can also view camera feeds from inside their homes to see what's happening in another room.

SmartThings integration adds another layer of convenience to the Family Hub experience, even if you aren't spending a ton of time staring at your fridge door (though, admittedly, I do). All in all, this is another step in Samsung smartening up our homes by allowing various devices to connect with one another, and that bodes well for the company's smart home future. 

Fridgen' genius

Samsung's home intelligence push doesn't stop there. The company behind the Galaxy Note 8 also talked up this year's arrival of its digital assistant Bixby to its smart TVs and Family Hub refrigerators. 

This will bring voice control to the fridges, so now you really will be talking to the refrigerator the next time someone asks from the other room.

What's more, Samsung is also introducing a new SmartThings app in the spring to allow customers to have one central place where they can control all of their various Internet of Things devices.  

And by 2020, Samsung says all of its smart home-connected devices will not only be IoT ready, but also "infused with intelligence." Our best guess is that Samsung means the devices will rely on Bixby and other artificial intelligence, though it sounds just a tad unsettling. 

With just about every major company, from Amazon to Apple to Google, bringing their smart assistant to more devices, it's no surprise to see Samsung leading the way. 

  • New year, new tech – check out all our coverage of CES 2018 straight from Las Vegas, the greatest gadget show on Earth
TOPICS
Michelle Fitzsimmons

Michelle was previously a news editor at TechRadar, leading consumer tech news and reviews. Michelle is now a Content Strategist at Facebook.  A versatile, highly effective content writer and skilled editor with a keen eye for detail, Michelle is a collaborative problem solver and covered everything from smartwatches and microprocessors to VR and self-driving cars.

Latest in Smart Home
google nest
Google is slowly phasing out its Assistant helper to make room for Gemini's reign in smartphones - here’s how it’s doing the same for smart home devices
Various SwitchBot smart home automation devices
Switchbot has totally redesigned its smart home hub – and it's great news for renters
Ring video doorbell on blue background with white text reading 'TechRadar don't miss'
Refurbished Ring doorbells are going cheap at Amazon, with up to 50% off good-as-new devices
iRobot Roomba Combo 205
This new Roomba finally solves the big problem I have with robot vacuums
Person opening door fitted with Nuki Smart Lock Pro (5th Gen)
This renter-friendly smart lock fits over your existing door hardware, and costs less than you might expect
Two iPhones showing Apple HomeKit settings
Still using an iPad as a Home Hub? Bad news – Apple is about to end support for it
Latest in News
Metroid Prime 4
I reckon the Nintendo Switch 2 could launch with Metroid Prime 4 – here’s why
Pebble smartwatch countdown
Pebble confirms its smartwatch announcement is just hours away
Logo of YouTube Shorts
Is YouTube auto-playing Shorts when you open the app? Well, you’re not alone - here’s how to fix it
Google DeepMind panel discussion
“More sovereignty and protection” - Google goes all-in on UK AI with data residency, upskilling projects, and startup investments
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 expected to have AI upscaling and I can't wait to finally play Tears of the Kingdom with upgraded graphics
PowerColor Red Devil AMD RX 9070 XT graphics card shown side-on
Your next GPU could be from AMD, not Nvidia, if Team Red’s success with PC gamers continues