{"id":325100,"date":"2025-11-10T15:42:56","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:42:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/?page_id=95772"},"modified":"2025-11-10T15:42:57","modified_gmt":"2025-11-10T20:42:57","slug":"best-smart-hub","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/smart-home\/best-smart-hub\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Smart Hub"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"the-best-smart-hub\" title=\"The Best Smart Hub\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Best Smart Hub<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Smart hubs have evolved from single-brand bridges into multiprotocol controllers that speak modern standards. In 2025, the baseline is Matter for device interoperability and Thread for low-power mesh, with many hubs also handling legacy Zigbee and Z\u2011Wave via native radios or bridges. Matter\u2019s recent releases expanded device types and improved multi-admin sharing, so you can onboard a device once and control it from multiple ecosystems (<a href=\"https:\/\/csa-iot.org\">CSA: Matter 1.4<\/a>). Thread border routers are increasingly embedded in speakers and mesh routers, which stabilizes battery devices and reduces extra boxes (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\">Apple on Thread<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/product\/nest_wifi_pro\">Nest Wifi Pro<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Amazon Echo Hub<\/a>). We weighed Matter\/Thread support, legacy compatibility, local automation, and accessibility <a href=\"#methodology\">when choosing<\/a> our top picks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<section id=\"block_d1b0e0ac5573a\" class=\"block b-inline-subscribe b-inline-subscribe--\" data-js=\"b-inline-subscribe\" data-preamp=\"b-inline-subscribe\">\n            <div class=\"b-inline-subscribe__container\">\n            <h2 class=\"b-inline-subscribe__title\">Analysis paralysis? Subscribe to our newsletter.<\/h2>\n                <form method=\"#\" class=\"b-inline-subscribe__form js-newsletter\" >\n                <div class=\"b-inline-subscribe__inputs-container\">\n                    <label hidden for=\"newsletter_email\">Newsletter Subscribe<\/label>\n                    <input type=\"email\"  name=\"subscription_email\" placeholder=\"Email Address\" id=\"newsletter_email\" \/>\n                    <input type=\"submit\" value=\"Subscribe\">\n                <\/div>\n                <div class=\"b-inline-subscribe__accept-container\">\n                    <input type=\"checkbox\"  name=\"newsletter_checkbox\" checked required \/>\n                    <label for=\"newsletter_checkbox\">I would like to subscribe to Reviews.com newsletter and special email promotions. Reviews.com will not share or sell your email. See <a href='https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/privacy-policy\/'>privacy policy.<\/a><\/label>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/form>\n            <div class=\"newsletter-confirmation  js-newsletter-confirmation\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload\" alt='Reviews.com Logo'\n                data-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/reviews-2020\/assets\/images\/footer-confirmation.svg\" \n                src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/reviews-2020\/assets\/images\/LightGray-placeholder.png\">\n                <p>Nice! Thanks for subscribing. Check your email to confirm.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"our-picks\" title=\"Our Picks\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 3 Best Smart Hubs<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"block_9a7ddd01d8a2c\" class=\"block b-item-list b-item-list--\" data-js=\"b-item-list\" data-preamp=\"b-item-list\">\n    <ul class=\"b-item-list__list\">\n            <\/ul>\n<\/section>\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"comparison\" title=\"Comparison Chart\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Best Smart Home Hubs: Summed Up<\/h2>\n\n\n<section id=\"block---\" class=\"theme-block c-table \">\n  \n<div class=\"row\">\n    <div class=\" h-width-100\">\n    \n      <div class=\"table-responsive table-responsive--with-summary h-shadow-2dp h-border-small\">\n        <table class=\"table table-striped table-bordered table--bordered-top table--rounded\">\n          \n          \n  <tbody>\n          <tr>\n                              <td class=\"&#x20;col-1&#x20;fixed\">\n              \n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-2\">\n              <center><a href='https:\/\/aeotec.com' target='_blank' rel='nofollow sponsored'>SmartThings (Aeotec Smart Home Hub)<\/a><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-3\">\n              <center><a href='https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com' target='_blank' rel='nofollow sponsored'>Amazon Echo Hub<\/a><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-4\">\n              <center><a href='https:\/\/store.google.com\/product\/nest_wifi_pro' target='_blank' rel='nofollow sponsored'>Google Nest Wifi Pro<\/a><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                        <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n                              <td class=\"&#x20;col-1&#x20;fixed\">\n              \n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-2\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Best dedicated multiprotocol hub<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-3\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Best voice-assisted control panel<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-4\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Best router-as-hub (Thread+Matter)<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                        <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n                              <td class=\"&#x20;col-1&#x20;fixed\">\n              <center>Matter\/Thread support<\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-2\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Matter controller; needs separate Thread border router<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-3\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Matter controller; Thread via compatible Echo\/eero<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-4\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Built-in Thread border router + Matter controller<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                        <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n                              <td class=\"&#x20;col-1&#x20;fixed\">\n              <center>Radios\/protocols<\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-2\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Zigbee + Z\u2011Wave + LAN\/cloud integrations<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-3\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Wi\u2011Fi, BLE commissioning; Thread via ecosystem; no native Zigbee\/Z\u2011Wave<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-4\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Thread, Wi\u2011Fi; no native Zigbee\/Z\u2011Wave<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                        <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n                              <td class=\"&#x20;col-1&#x20;fixed\">\n              <center>Control surface included<\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-2\">\n              <center><font size='2'>\u2014<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-3\">\n              <center><font size='2'>\u2714<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-4\">\n              <center><font size='2'>\u2014<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                        <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n                              <td class=\"&#x20;col-1&#x20;fixed\">\n              <center>Local automation<\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-2\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Mix of local and cloud, device-dependent<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-3\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Alexa routines (local for eligible devices)<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-4\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Google Home automations; local control for eligible devices<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                        <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n                              <td class=\"&#x20;col-1&#x20;fixed\">\n              <center>Matter multi-admin (share across apps)<\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-2\">\n              <center><font size='2'>\u2714<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-3\">\n              <center><font size='2'>\u2714<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-4\">\n              <center><font size='2'>\u2714<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                        <\/tr>\n          <tr>\n                              <td class=\"&#x20;col-1&#x20;fixed\">\n              <center>Legacy Zigbee\/Z\u2011Wave support<\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-2\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Native Zigbee &#038; Z\u2011Wave<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-3\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Via bridges\/partner hubs<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                                        <td class=\"&#x20;col-4\">\n              <center><font size='2'>Via bridges (e.g., lighting)<\/font><\/center>\n            <\/td>\n                        <\/tr>\n      <\/tbody><!-- tbody -->\n        <\/table>\n      <\/div>\n      \n    <\/div>\n    \n  <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"Best_Dedicated_Smart_Hub\" title=\"Best Dedicated Smart Hub\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n            <span class=\"b-anchor\" id=\"samsung-review\" > <\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SmartThings (Aeotec Smart Home Hub)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n                                                            \n            <section id=\"samsung-smartthings-hub\"\n         class=\"block b-item-list-card b-item-list-card--\"\n         data-js=\"block-item-list-card\"\n         data-preamp=\"block-item-list-card\">\n\n        <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card\">\n\n                <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left\">\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__top\">\n                <span class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__top--top\"><\/span>\n                <span class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__top--top\"> Best Dedicated Smart Hub<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__bottom\">\n                                                    <a target=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B07FJGGWJL\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=B07FJGGWJL&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;linkId=14f82727223b0d79d2570f888f9c1147&#038;tag=315511-20\"\n                        data-tag='product' data-tag-outcome='MONETIZABLE' data-tag-location='LISTCARD' data-tag-product-id='315511' data-tag-product-name='Samsung SmartThings Hub' data-tag-brand='Samsung' data-tag-price='0' data-tag-subscription='month' data-tag-category=''\n                        aria-label=\"Samsung button\" \n                        rel=\"nofollow sponsored\" >\n                                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Product-Card-Samsung-SmartThings-for-Smart-Hub.jpg\" alt=\"Image for Product-Card-Samsung-SmartThings-for-Smart-Hub\" \/>\n                                            <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right\">\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__top\n                        b-item-list-card__card__right__top--line\">\n                Samsung\n            <\/div>\n\n            <br>\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__topv2\" >\n                Samsung SmartThings Hub\n            <\/div>\n            <br>\n\n           <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__middle\">\n                                        <a class=\"reviews-btn--primary reviews-btn--large reviews-btn--expand\"\n                    disable-tagular\n                    target=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B07FJGGWJL\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=B07FJGGWJL&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;linkId=14f82727223b0d79d2570f888f9c1147&#038;tag=315511-20\" type=\"button\"\n                    aria-label=\"Samsung button\" data-tag='product' data-tag-outcome='MONETIZABLE' data-tag-location='LISTCARD' data-tag-product-id='315511' data-tag-product-name='Samsung SmartThings Hub' data-tag-brand='Samsung' data-tag-price='0' data-tag-subscription='month' data-tag-category='' \n                    rel=\"nofollow sponsored\"\n                >\n                Check price<\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__bottomv2 h-margin-top-15\">\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__info\">\n        <div class=\"grid-x\">\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line cell medium-auto \">\n                <p class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line--title\"> Pros <\/p>\n                <p>Easy setup<br \/>\nThoughtful home automation<br \/>\nSupports several home automation products and brands<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line cell medium-auto\">\n                <p class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line--title\"> Cons <\/p>\n                <p>No voice assistant<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n      <div class=\"grid-x\">\n        <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-item-list-card__footer cell back_to_top\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='LISTCARD' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' >\n            <p>Return to top\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"b-item-list-card__footer-image lazyload\" alt='Return to top arrow' style=\"height: 20px; margin-left: 5px;\"\n                data-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/reviews-2020\/assets\/images\/Arrow.svg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/reviews-2020\/assets\/images\/LightGray-placeholder.png\">\n            <\/p>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n    \n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why we chose it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Easy setup<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Aeotec Smart Home Hub is the official SmartThings hardware and remains one of the simplest ways to unify mixed radios. It pairs Zigbee and Z\u2011Wave devices directly and acts as a SmartThings Matter controller so you can onboard Matter accessories with QR codes and Bluetooth LE commissioning (<a href=\"https:\/\/aeotec.com\">Aeotec Smart Home Hub<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT213554\">Apple: Use Matter accessories<\/a>). For Matter-over-Thread devices, you only need a separate Thread Border Router elsewhere in the home (for example, an Apple TV 4K\/HomePod mini, Nest Wifi Pro, or compatible Echo\/eero) (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\">About Thread<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/product\/nest_wifi_pro\">Nest Wifi Pro<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Echo Hub<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Thoughtful home automation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>SmartThings supports robust Scenes and Routines, and it benefits from Matter\u2019s multi-admin so devices can be shared across ecosystems without re\u2011pairing. Recent Matter updates improved device coverage and reliability, making it easier to build routines that run quickly and, where supported, locally (<a href=\"https:\/\/csa-iot.org\">CSA: Matter 1.4<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Supports several home automation products and brands<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>With native Zigbee and Z\u2011Wave plus LAN\/cloud integrations, SmartThings handles large mixed-radio homes. It also plays well with bridges like Philips Hue, which can expose an entire Zigbee lighting network to Matter so your scenes appear in multiple apps (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.philips-hue.com\">Philips Hue + Matter<\/a>). This protects existing investments while you add new Matter devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Points to consider<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">No built-in voice or Thread<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The hub has no speaker\/mic and no Thread radio inside. For hands\u2011free control or Thread mesh coverage, pair it with a voice device or router that includes a Thread Border Router (Apple TV 4K\/HomePod mini, Nest Wifi Pro, or eligible Echo\/eero devices) (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\">Apple on Thread<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/product\/nest_wifi_pro\">Nest Wifi Pro<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Echo Hub<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"Best_Voice_Assisted_Smart_Hub\" title=\"Best Voice-Assisted Smart Hub\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n            <span class=\"b-anchor\" id=\"amazon-review\" > <\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Amazon Echo Hub<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n                                                            \n            <section id=\"amazon-echo-plus\"\n         class=\"block b-item-list-card b-item-list-card--\"\n         data-js=\"block-item-list-card\"\n         data-preamp=\"block-item-list-card\">\n\n        <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card\">\n\n                <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left\">\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__top\">\n                <span class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__top--top\"><\/span>\n                <span class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__top--top\"> Best Voice Assisted Smart Hub<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__bottom\">\n                                                    <a target=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0794W1SKP\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=B0794W1SKP&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;linkId=ae11a9e37e03a9ba63a298af1c519360&#038;tag=315510-20\"\n                        data-tag='product' data-tag-outcome='MONETIZABLE' data-tag-location='LISTCARD' data-tag-product-id='315510' data-tag-product-name='Amazon Echo Plus' data-tag-brand='Amazon' data-tag-price='0' data-tag-subscription='month' data-tag-category=''\n                        aria-label=\"Amazon button\" \n                        rel=\"nofollow sponsored\" >\n                                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Product-Card-Amazon-Echo-Plus-for-Smart-Hub.jpg\" alt=\"Image for Product-Card-Amazon-Echo-Plus-for-Smart-Hub\" \/>\n                                            <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right\">\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__top\n                        b-item-list-card__card__right__top--line\">\n                Amazon\n            <\/div>\n\n            <br>\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__topv2\" >\n                Amazon Echo Plus\n            <\/div>\n            <br>\n\n           <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__middle\">\n                                        <a class=\"reviews-btn--primary reviews-btn--large reviews-btn--expand\"\n                    disable-tagular\n                    target=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0794W1SKP\/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&#038;camp=1789&#038;creative=9325&#038;creativeASIN=B0794W1SKP&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;linkId=ae11a9e37e03a9ba63a298af1c519360&#038;tag=315510-20\" type=\"button\"\n                    aria-label=\"Amazon button\" data-tag='product' data-tag-outcome='MONETIZABLE' data-tag-location='LISTCARD' data-tag-product-id='315510' data-tag-product-name='Amazon Echo Plus' data-tag-brand='Amazon' data-tag-price='0' data-tag-subscription='month' data-tag-category='' \n                    rel=\"nofollow sponsored\"\n                >\n                Check price<\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__bottomv2 h-margin-top-15\">\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__info\">\n        <div class=\"grid-x\">\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line cell medium-auto \">\n                <p class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line--title\"> Pros <\/p>\n                <p>Leading-edge voice technology<br \/>\nZigBee hub integration<br \/>\nNew design and features<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line cell medium-auto\">\n                <p class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line--title\"> Cons <\/p>\n                <p>Weaker bass and limited music options<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n      <div class=\"grid-x\">\n        <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-item-list-card__footer cell back_to_top\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='LISTCARD' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' >\n            <p>Return to top\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"b-item-list-card__footer-image lazyload\" alt='Return to top arrow' style=\"height: 20px; margin-left: 5px;\"\n                data-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/reviews-2020\/assets\/images\/Arrow.svg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/reviews-2020\/assets\/images\/LightGray-placeholder.png\">\n            <\/p>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n    \n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why we chose it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leading-edge voice and control<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Echo Hub is Amazon\u2019s wall\u2011mounted smart home control panel designed for whole\u2011home dashboards, cameras, and scenes with Alexa built in (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Amazon: Introducing Echo Hub<\/a>). Amazon has also previewed a more natural, generative\u2011AI Alexa with better context carryover and easier routine creation (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Amazon: Conversational Alexa preview<\/a>). Industry trendsetters are moving to real\u2011time, multimodal assistants, raising expectations for low\u2011latency conversations and visual context (<a href=\"https:\/\/openai.com\/index\/hello-gpt-4o\/\">OpenAI: GPT\u20114o<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tell Alexa to \u201cstart my day\u201d and refine routines conversationally. The broader Alexa ecosystem supports Matter and Thread across compatible Echo and eero devices, simplifying onboarding and local control for many devices (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Echo Hub<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Matter\/Thread-centric ecosystem<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Echo Hub complements Amazon\u2019s Matter\u2011first approach. With eligible Echo\/eero products acting as Thread Border Routers, you can add Matter devices once and share them across apps using multi-admin\u2014reducing lock\u2011in and improving reliability (<a href=\"https:\/\/csa-iot.org\">CSA: Matter 1.4<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Purpose-built design<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The wall\u2011mountable touchscreen emphasizes at\u2011a\u2011glance control and presence\u2011aware experiences. It\u2019s intended as a central control surface rather than a hi\u2011fi speaker, so pair it with your preferred audio gear if music is a priority (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Echo Hub<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Points to consider<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Control panel first, audio second<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Echo Hub focuses on home control. For premium sound or stereo pairing, use separate speakers or Echo models optimized for audio. Generative\u2011AI Alexa features are rolling out and may vary by region and device (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Amazon: Conversational Alexa preview<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"Best_Smart_Hub_Speaker_Combo\" title=\"Best Smart Hub Speaker Combo\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n            <span class=\"b-anchor\" id=\"google-review\" > <\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Google Nest Wifi Pro<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n                                                            \n            <section id=\"google-home-max\"\n         class=\"block b-item-list-card b-item-list-card--\"\n         data-js=\"block-item-list-card\"\n         data-preamp=\"block-item-list-card\">\n\n        <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card\">\n\n                <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left\">\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__top\">\n                <span class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__top--top\"><\/span>\n                <span class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__top--top\"> Best Smart Hub Speaker Combo<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__left__bottom\">\n                                                    <a target=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/linksynergy.walmart.com\/deeplink?id=b8XjFa1fmu4&#038;mid=2149&#038;u1=r16253&#038;murl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FGoogle-Home-Max-Chalk%2F458587096&#038;rvitemid=315512-20\"\n                        data-tag='product' data-tag-outcome='MONETIZABLE' data-tag-location='LISTCARD' data-tag-product-id='315512' data-tag-product-name='Google Home Max' data-tag-brand='Google' data-tag-price='0' data-tag-subscription='month' data-tag-category=''\n                        aria-label=\"Google button\" \n                        rel=\"nofollow sponsored\" >\n                                                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Product-Card-Google-Home-Max-for-Smart-Hub.jpg\" alt=\"Image for Product-Card-Google-Home-Max-for-Smart-Hub\" \/>\n                                            <\/a>\n                            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n\n                <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right\">\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__top\n                        b-item-list-card__card__right__top--line\">\n                Google\n            <\/div>\n\n            <br>\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__topv2\" >\n                Google Home Max\n            <\/div>\n            <br>\n\n           <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__middle\">\n                                        <a class=\"reviews-btn--primary reviews-btn--large reviews-btn--expand\"\n                    disable-tagular\n                    target=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/linksynergy.walmart.com\/deeplink?id=b8XjFa1fmu4&#038;mid=2149&#038;u1=r16253&#038;murl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FGoogle-Home-Max-Chalk%2F458587096&#038;rvitemid=315512-20\" type=\"button\"\n                    aria-label=\"Google button\" data-tag='product' data-tag-outcome='MONETIZABLE' data-tag-location='LISTCARD' data-tag-product-id='315512' data-tag-product-name='Google Home Max' data-tag-brand='Google' data-tag-price='0' data-tag-subscription='month' data-tag-category='' \n                    rel=\"nofollow sponsored\"\n                >\n                Check price<\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__card__right__bottomv2 h-margin-top-15\">\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__info\">\n        <div class=\"grid-x\">\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line cell medium-auto \">\n                <p class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line--title\"> Pros <\/p>\n                <p>Powerful speaker<br \/>\nVoice assistant<br \/>\nVoice recognition<\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n            <div class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line cell medium-auto\">\n                <p class=\"b-item-list-card__info__line--title\"> Cons <\/p>\n                <p>Limited connectivity<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n    \n      <div class=\"grid-x\">\n        <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-item-list-card__footer cell back_to_top\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='LISTCARD' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' >\n            <p>Return to top\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"b-item-list-card__footer-image lazyload\" alt='Return to top arrow' style=\"height: 20px; margin-left: 5px;\"\n                data-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/reviews-2020\/assets\/images\/Arrow.svg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/wp-content\/themes\/reviews-2020\/assets\/images\/LightGray-placeholder.png\">\n            <\/p>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n    \n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why we chose it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Built\u2011in Thread Border Router + Matter controller<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Nest Wifi Pro is a Wi\u2011Fi 6E mesh system that doubles as a Thread Border Router and Matter controller for Google Home, improving reliability and local responsiveness for Thread accessories (<a href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/product\/nest_wifi_pro\">Nest Wifi Pro<\/a>). That makes it an excellent backbone for a Google\u2011centric home where you want fewer boxes and simpler onboarding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Voice and automations via Google<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Use compatible Google speakers and displays for voice control and manage routines in the Google Home app. Google is transitioning users toward Gemini for richer, more conversational help with multimodal context and on\u2011device options where available (<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.google\">Say hello to Gemini<\/a>). Google\u2019s research direction highlights real\u2011time, context\u2011aware agents that understand what your camera or screen shows, pointing to more natural smart\u2011home interactions (<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.google\">Project Astra<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Interoperability and bridging<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Matter\u2019s multi-admin lets the same device be controlled from multiple apps, and bridges like Philips Hue expose legacy Zigbee lighting to Matter without re\u2011pairing (<a href=\"https:\/\/csa-iot.org\">CSA: Matter 1.4<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.philips-hue.com\">Hue + Matter<\/a>), giving Google\u2011centric homes flexibility with older gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Points to consider<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Limited legacy radios<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Nest Wifi Pro doesn\u2019t include Zigbee or Z\u2011Wave radios, so you\u2019ll keep device\u2011specific bridges (e.g., lighting) or add a multiprotocol hub if you have many legacy sensors and switches (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.philips-hue.com\">Hue + Matter<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/aeotec.com\">Aeotec Smart Home Hub<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-anchor\" id=\"methodology\" > <\/span>\n    \n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"the-search\" title=\"The Search\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How We Chose the Best Smart Home Hubs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We focused on modern hub roles: Matter controller for cross\u2011ecosystem onboarding, Thread Border Router for low\u2011power mesh, and paths for legacy Zigbee\/Z\u2011Wave via native radios or bridges. We also weighed local\u2011first automation and privacy, and considered embedded hubs in speakers\/routers alongside dedicated controllers (<a href=\"https:\/\/csa-iot.org\">Matter 1.4<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\">Thread in Apple Home<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/product\/nest_wifi_pro\">Nest Wifi Pro<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/aeotec.com\">Aeotec<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wide appeal and user-friendly design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We prioritized hubs that are easy to set up with QR codes and Bluetooth LE commissioning, clear dashboards, and reliable automation. We excluded pro\u2011install systems and required strong interoperability so buyers aren\u2019t locked into one brand. Embedded hub functions (speakers, routers, TVs) count when they provide Matter\/Thread coverage with local control for eligible devices (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT213554\">Use Matter accessories<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/csa-iot.org\">CSA: Matter 1.4<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5e84e9955c9aa\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">14 smart hubs we considered<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <ul class=\"list-items\">\n<li>Amazon Echo Hub<\/li>\n<li>Amazon Echo (4th gen)<\/li>\n<li>Apple TV 4K (home hub)<\/li>\n<li>Apple HomePod mini (home hub)<\/li>\n<li>Google Nest Wifi Pro<\/li>\n<li>Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)<\/li>\n<li>SmartThings (Aeotec Smart Home Hub)<\/li>\n<li>Hubitat Elevation C\u20118<\/li>\n<li>Home Assistant Green<\/li>\n<li>Philips Hue Bridge (v2, Matter bridge)<\/li>\n<li>eero (Thread + Matter ecosystem)<\/li>\n<li>Apple TV 4K (2nd gen or later, Thread BR)<\/li>\n<li>Homey Pro (2023)<\/li>\n<li>Aqara Hub (Matter bridge models)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Compatible smart home devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Prefer Matter\u2011native devices when possible; use Thread for low\u2011power sensors\/locks and Wi\u2011Fi for higher\u2011bandwidth products. Matter\u2019s multi-admin lets the same device appear in multiple apps so households can mix ecosystems. Keep bridges where needed (e.g., Hue) to preserve advanced features while exposing them to Matter (<a href=\"https:\/\/csa-iot.org\">Matter 1.4<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.philips-hue.com\">Hue + Matter<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Protocols to know: Matter runs over IP (Thread for low\u2011power mesh; Wi\u2011Fi\/Ethernet for high\u2011bandwidth) with Bluetooth LE typically used for commissioning. Thread 1.3.0 standardized Border Router behavior, improving mixed\u2011ecosystem reliability. Zigbee Direct makes onboarding legacy Zigbee via Bluetooth simpler; Z\u2011Wave LR supports very long range and larger networks. Wi\u2011Fi 7 improves throughput and latency for the home backbone (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT213554\">Apple on Matter<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.threadgroup.org\/news-events\/press-releases\/thread-group-announces-thread-1-3-0\">Thread 1.3.0<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/csa-iot.org\/all-solutions\/zigbee\/zigbee-direct\/\">Zigbee Direct<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/z-wavealliance.org\/z-wave-long-range\/\">Z\u2011Wave LR<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\">Wi\u2011Fi 7<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5e84e9955c9ab\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">What we cut for limited connectivity<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <ul class=\"list-items\">\n<li>Single-brand hubs without Matter support<\/li>\n<li>Legacy controllers that lack Thread or bridging paths<\/li>\n<li>Speaker-only devices without hub roles<\/li>\n<li>Systems requiring professional monitoring or contracts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 10 smart hubs we tested<\/h3>\n\n\n<ul class=\"list-items\">\n<li>Amazon Echo Hub<\/li>\n<li>Amazon Echo (4th gen)<\/li>\n<li>Apple TV 4K<\/li>\n<li>Apple HomePod mini<\/li>\n<li>Google Nest Wifi Pro<\/li>\n<li>Google Nest Hub (2nd gen)<\/li>\n<li>SmartThings (Aeotec Smart Home Hub)<\/li>\n<li>Hubitat Elevation C\u20118<\/li>\n<li>Home Assistant Green<\/li>\n<li>Philips Hue Bridge (v2)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ease of setup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Modern hubs use QR codes and BLE for commissioning, clearer status, and straightforward sharing across apps via Matter multi-admin. The smoothest experiences combined fast discovery, minimal account hopping, and stable Thread coverage where required (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT213554\">Use Matter accessories<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.threadgroup.org\/news-events\/press-releases\/thread-group-announces-thread-1-3-0\">Thread 1.3.0<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">App control and automation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If a smart hub is the brains of your <a href=\"\/home\/security-systems\/best-home-automation\/\" target=\"_blank\">smart home<\/a>, the app is the interface. We looked for dashboards that clearly show rooms and scenes, powerful but approachable automations, and transparency about what runs locally versus in the cloud. Natural\u2011language routine creation is increasingly supported as assistants adopt generative AI (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Amazon: Conversational Alexa<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.google\">Google: Gemini<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"smart-hub-guide\" title=\"Smart Hub Guide\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Guide to the Best Smart Home Hubs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research smart home devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Map what you own and what you plan to add. Apple\u2011centric homes can use Apple TV 4K or HomePod mini as home hubs and Thread Border Routers (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\">About Thread in Apple Home<\/a>). Google\u2011centric homes can anchor on Nest Wifi Pro for Thread and Matter (<a href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/product\/nest_wifi_pro\">Nest Wifi Pro<\/a>). If you have lots of Zigbee\/Z\u2011Wave devices, SmartThings (Aeotec) or Hubitat keep them running alongside new Matter gear (<a href=\"https:\/\/aeotec.com\">Aeotec Smart Home Hub<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/hubitat.com\">Hubitat Elevation C\u20118<\/a>). For premium lighting, keep a Hue Bridge and expose it to Matter so scenes appear in multiple apps (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.philips-hue.com\">Hue + Matter<\/a>). If your needs are simple \u2014 a Chromecast TV, a few lights, and a <a href=\"\/home\/smart-home\/nest-thermostat-review\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nest thermostat<\/a> \u2014 a speaker or router with built\u2011in hub features may be enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Consider whether you need a voice assistant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Assistants now emphasize natural, conversational control with better context and on\u2011device processing for privacy. Amazon previewed a generative\u2011AI Alexa aimed at more natural phrasing (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Amazon<\/a>), Google is moving to multimodal Gemini (<a href=\"https:\/\/blog.google\">Google<\/a>), and Apple announced a rebuilt Siri under Apple Intelligence with on\u2011device models and Private Cloud Compute (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/newsroom\/2024\/06\/introducing-apple-intelligence-for-iphone-ipad-and-mac\/\">Apple<\/a>). If you prefer apps and dashboards, a basic hub without a speaker remains a great choice. See our <a href=\"\/home\/smart-home\/best-voice-assistant\/\">voice control<\/a> guide for more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Look for deals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Electronics discounts peaked around 25\u201330% on average during Cyber Week in 2024, and similar seasonal patterns are expected this year (<a href=\"https:\/\/business.adobe.com\">Adobe Holiday Insights<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\">Salesforce Holiday Insights<\/a>). Watch mid\u2011year Amazon events too \u2014 Prime Day and the October deals event typically deliver strong prices on smart-home gear (<a href=\"https:\/\/press.aboutamazon.com\">Amazon Prime Day<\/a>). Recent MSRPs for context: Echo Hub $179.99 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Amazon<\/a>), Hubitat Elevation C\u20118 $149.95 (<a href=\"https:\/\/hubitat.com\">Hubitat<\/a>), Apple HomePod mini $99 (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/homepod-mini\/\">Apple<\/a>), Nest Hub (2nd gen) $99.99 (<a href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/product\/nest_hub_2nd_gen\">Google Store<\/a>). Bundles (hub + sensors\/bulbs) often undercut piecemeal pricing during these windows.<\/p>\n\n\n            <span class=\"b-toc-anchor\" id=\"faq\" title=\"FAQ\"><\/span>\n    \n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Smart Home Hub FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_66c63c87fa2cb\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Do I need a home automation hub?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>Not always \u2014 but you do need a <em>controller<\/em> for onboarding and automations, and many homes also need a <em>Thread Border Router<\/em> for low\u2011power devices. Speakers and routers now commonly provide these roles (e.g., Apple TV 4K\/HomePod mini, Nest Wifi Pro, select Echo\/eero devices), while dedicated hubs like SmartThings or Hubitat are ideal for large Zigbee\/Z\u2011Wave setups. Matter\u2019s multi-admin lets the same device be controlled from multiple apps once added, reducing lock\u2011in (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT213554\">Use Matter accessories<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\">About Thread<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/store.google.com\/product\/nest_wifi_pro\">Nest Wifi Pro<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5e84e9955c9ac\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">What are wireless protocols?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>Matter is the application layer that runs over IP networks \u2014 Thread for low\u2011power mesh, and Wi\u2011Fi\/Ethernet for higher bandwidth \u2014 with Bluetooth LE commonly used for onboarding. Thread 1.3.0 standardized Border Routers for smoother commissioning across ecosystems. Legacy Zigbee and Z\u2011Wave still excel for sensors and switches; vendors often use bridges to expose them to Matter. Wi\u2011Fi 7 boosts throughput and lowers latency for the home backbone (<a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-us\/HT213554\">Apple on Matter<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.threadgroup.org\/news-events\/press-releases\/thread-group-announces-thread-1-3-0\">Thread 1.3.0<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/csa-iot.org\/all-solutions\/zigbee\/zigbee-direct\/\">Zigbee Direct<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/z-wavealliance.org\/z-wave-long-range\/\">Z\u2011Wave LR<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wi-fi.org\">Wi\u2011Fi 7<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_aeb408aba7e10\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">What\u2019s the difference between a voice assistant and a smart home hub?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>A <strong>voice assistant<\/strong> is software (Alexa, Siri, Gemini) that lets you control devices and perform tasks by voice and, increasingly, with multimodal context. Recent updates emphasize more natural, generative understanding and on\u2011device processing for privacy (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/newsroom\/2024\/06\/introducing-apple-intelligence-for-iphone-ipad-and-mac\/\">Apple Intelligence<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.google\/products\/gemini\/hello-gemini\/\">Gemini<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aboutamazon.com\">Alexa preview<\/a>). A <strong>smart hub<\/strong> (or controller) onboards devices, hosts automations, and provides radios like Thread or Zigbee\/Z\u2011Wave. Many products combine both (e.g., speakers and routers that act as hubs).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_317a9af271d4a\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Will the smart hub work without power or internet?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>Hubs require continuous power. During internet outages, many platforms continue <em>local<\/em> control and automations for eligible devices. Local\u2011first controllers like Hubitat and Home Assistant are designed to keep core automations running offline; mainstream ecosystems increasingly run some routines locally too. Thread meshes remain operational inside the home when you have at least one Thread Border Router; remote access and cloud services resume when WAN returns (<a href=\"https:\/\/hubitat.com\">Hubitat C\u20118<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.home-assistant.io\/green\/\">Home Assistant Green<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/support.apple.com\">About Thread<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5e84e9955c9ad\" class=\"block b-accordion\" data-js=\"b-accordion\">\n    <div class=\"b-accordion__container\">\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__header\">\n            <a href=\"#\" class=\"b-accordion__title\" data-tag='cta' data-tag-element-type='LINK' data-tag-location='ACCORDION' data-tag-outcome='INTERNALLINK' ><h3 class=\"b-accordion__title--h3\">Do smart hubs jeopardize your privacy?<\/h3><\/a>\n            <span class=\"b-accordion__toggle chevron-arrow-down\"><\/span>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"b-accordion__content\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <p>Yes. Connected devices can be compromised, and voice requests may be processed in the cloud. Choose platforms with strong security programs and transparent update policies. Some assistants now execute more tasks on\u2011device or in privacy\u2011preserving clouds (e.g., Apple Intelligence\u2019s Private Cloud Compute) to limit data exposure (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/newsroom\/2024\/06\/introducing-apple-intelligence-for-iphone-ipad-and-mac\/\">Apple Intelligence<\/a>). There are ways to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/smart-home\/keep-your-smart-home-secure\/\">keep your smart home secure<\/a>, like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/smart-home\/prevent-alexa-from-tracking-you\/\">preventing Amazon<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/smart-home\/opt-out-of-google-homes-tracking-features\/\">Google voice assistants<\/a> from tracking you, and a few things you should know <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/smart-home\/best-voice-assistant\/\">before you let your voice assistant control your home<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Best Smart Hub Smart hubs have evolved from single-brand bridges into multiprotocol controllers that speak modern standards. In 2025, the baseline is Matter for device interoperability and Thread for low-power mesh, with many hubs also handling legacy Zigbee and Z\u2011Wave via native radios or bridges. Matter\u2019s recent releases expanded device types and improved multi-admin [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":345,"featured_media":90008,"parent":2230,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/template-reviews.php","meta":[],"categories":[1287],"tags":[],"post_author":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>The Best Smart Hub - Reviews.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviews.com\/home\/smart-home\/best-smart-hub\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Best Smart Hub - Reviews.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Best Smart Hub Smart hubs have evolved from single-brand bridges into multiprotocol controllers that speak modern standards. 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