Samsung's SmartThings redesign is finally here, and Galaxy users don't get first dibs

Samsung’s modern One UI redesign has made its way into several of its native apps, but SmartThings, up until now, had largely been left behind until now. That’s starting to change.

Samsung is rolling out its biggest SmartThings redesign in years, but there’s a big catch: iOS users are getting access to the revamped app before Galaxy and other Android users.

We got an early look at the redesign back in early August, and it’s now shipping with version 1.7.51 on iOS, as pointed out by SamMobile.

I checked, and the new build is available to me here in Canada. On the App Store, Samsung’s release notes point to changes we had expected.

SmartThings is getting even better.

• Redesigned Home tab: View and access your frequently used features and essential information directly from the Home screen.
• Faster control of devices connected to a hub: Control devices connected to your hub more quickly when your phone and hub are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
• Routine Insights: See your top 3 most frequently used Routines and their recent activity.

The redesign making its way to iOS does have elements spotted back in August, including an overall lighter color scheme, pills in favor of standalone, borderless text, and even a floating navigation bar. And on top of those expected changes comes Apple’s own coat of paint in the form of Liquid Glass, as seen in the screenshots below.

Compared to the previous design, the new look gives devices and routines a more compact pill look by default. Of course, you still have the option to resize the pills if you prefer larger tappable areas to trigger devices/routines.

There’s also a smaller change to how these cards behave. Tapping the device/routine icon on the cards will trigger their primary action, while tapping elsewhere on the card takes you into its full controls. For a tech-savvy user who understands UI cues, this change should be easy to pick up. However, it might not be immediately obvious to everyone and can cause concerns about why tapping different parts of the same card produces different results.

Elsewhere, expect the app’s home screen to surface extra information, including cards for energy usage, quick remote access for TVs, family care alerts, and suggested automations. The home tab also surfaces your Favorites, which highlights all pinned devices and routines.

Samsung has also refreshed the built-in remote for compatible TVs and monitors by giving it a light-mode look, complete with the option to resize it and reposition it around the screen.

The company hasn’t shared a timeline for when the same refresh will land on Android. However, with the iOS update out now, Android hopefully won’t be too far behind.