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When comparing SmartThings vs Wink, the Slant community recommends SmartThings for most people. In the question“What are the best smart hubs?” SmartThings is ranked 1st while Wink is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose SmartThings is:
If for whatever reason SmartThings loses access to tethered power it can still function for 10 hours on a battery.
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Includes a backup battery in case power fails
If for whatever reason SmartThings loses access to tethered power it can still function for 10 hours on a battery.
Pro Compatible with a wide variety of devices
A full list of supported devices can be found here.
Pro Has a Marketplace for user-submitted custom code
Adding extra code is as simple as copying and pasting the user submitted code. This allows for much added functionality and customization options.
Pro Offers a detailed way of setting up scenes
Pro Automatic home/away mode
When all connected devices leave the house, SmartThings automatically goes into 'away mode'. Once a device comes back in range, it will toggle to 'home mode'. You will need to configure what these modes do (whether it be locking the doors, turning the lights on/off, changing the thermostat's temperature...), but it's great that this is done automatically when you arrive home or leave.
Pro 'Robots' is a feature that lets you configure custom events and actions
You can use 'robots' to automate your system. Robots can be anything from neat tricks - flashing lights when you get a text - to more functional events such as locking your doors when you leave for work.
Pro Straightforward device pairing by scanning barcodes of supported devices
SmartThings makes it very easy to add new products - it's as easy as scanning a barcode instead of typing in a code.
Pro Does not need to be tethered
The hub can be put anywhere in your house so long as it's powered and within range of you router. You don't need it to be tethered to your router.
Cons
Con Custom access isn't currently supported
Custom access is supported by other smart home ecosystems, but not with SmartThings. Custom access allows for things like configurable unlock codes for smart door locks, or allow access to certain SmartHomes products to certain users.
Con Pairing a device is more involved than it needs to be
Con Companion app can take a while to get used to
Con Robot actions can be especially laggy as they are routed through the cloud
Robot actions would be much quicker to react if the robot code was stored locally, and you wouldn't have to rely on the internet as much.
Con Automation scheme setup could be a bit more straightforward
Con Slight lag between triggering an action and it occurring
