Samsung Electronics has unveiled a new SmartThings update designed to make connected living feel more personal, practical and reassuring, with fresh features aimed at helping users care for both themselves and their loved ones.
In the latest upgrade to its global smart home platform, Samsung is sharpening the lifestyle appeal of SmartThings by focusing on family wellbeing, home comfort and seamless daily convenience. At the centre of the update is an expanded Family Care service, which is intended to help users keep an eye on ageing parents and relatives living apart, while also bringing more intuitive support into the rhythm of everyday life.
The move reflects a broader shift in smart living, where technology is no longer just about automation, but about creating homes that feel more responsive to the people in them.
“Samsung’s AI technology goes beyond everyday convenience to help users care for themselves and their families with greater peace of mind,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of the SmartThings Team, AI Platform Center, Samsung Electronics. “SmartThings will continue to strengthen its role as a platform that seamlessly connects customers’ daily lives with AI, and it will keep expanding differentiated services on an ongoing basis.”
Among the standout additions is Care on Call, a new feature that gives caregivers a quick snapshot of a loved one’s daily status before a phone call begins. Information such as the first activity of the day, the most recent activity time and the local weather appears in a pop-up, helping make check-in calls more informed and more meaningful.
Samsung is also deepening the home wellness aspect of SmartThings through connected monitoring of indoor conditions. Devices such as air conditioners, air purifiers, dehumidifiers and humidifiers can now be used to track temperature, humidity and air quality, with caregivers notified if unusual usage patterns are detected. In certain situations, they can also remotely control those appliances, adding an extra layer of reassurance from afar.
The update also enhances Safety Patrol, which works with Samsung’s Bespoke AI Jet Bot Steam Ultra. If no activity is detected from the care recipient for a set period, the system can send an alert and allow the caregiver to activate the robot remotely to inspect the home. Through its built-in camera, speaker and microphone, the device enables real-time viewing and two-way communication, turning a household appliance into a tool for peace of mind.
For those looking beyond immediate alerts, Samsung says its improved Care Insight feature now delivers more detailed long-term information, including changes in activity patterns, connected device use and indoor environmental conditions compared with the previous week. The result is a more rounded picture of daily wellbeing, rather than a simple stream of notifications.
The company is also extending the reach of Now Brief, its personalised briefing service available on Galaxy mobile devices. With the upcoming Galaxy S26 series, Now Brief will support Family Care, Home Security and Pet Care alongside existing services such as Home Insight, Energy and Sleep Environment Report.
In lifestyle terms, this means users can get a glanceable update on everything from energy consumption and home device status to a parent’s activity, home security alerts and even dog-walking information. Samsung plans to roll out these capabilities in phases to TVs launched in 2024 or later and Family Hub refrigerators launched in 2021 or later, creating a more connected experience across the home.
Designed to activate automatically when users approach the TV or interact with the refrigerator, the feature aims to reduce friction and make information feel naturally embedded into daily routines.
With the latest SmartThings update, Samsung is positioning the connected home as more than a network of smart devices. Instead, it is presenting it as a lifestyle ecosystem — one that blends care, comfort and convenience into the background of modern living.
