Aeotec is introducing a new SmartThings-compatible hub at IFA in Berlin, but the announcement may frustrate longtime smart home users. The upcoming Smart Home Hub 2 supports Matter, includes a Zigbee 3.0 radio, and doubles as a Thread border router, but notably drops support for Z-Wave. That’s a big shift, given that Z-Wave has been a central part of SmartThings since its earliest days in 2012.
Under the hood, the Smart Home Hub 2 promises more horsepower than before, with Aeotec claiming double the performance of its predecessor thanks to a faster CPU and extra RAM. It also includes Bluetooth Low Energy for easier onboarding and diagnostics, plus a USB-A port whose purpose Aeotec hasn’t yet clarified. Power comes through USB-C, while network connectivity can be handled via either Wi-Fi or ethernet. Importantly, Aeotec emphasizes that the new hub is designed with local control first, so even if your internet connection drops, your smart devices should keep running smoothly.
For SmartThings veterans, the absence of Z-Wave will sting. The standard predates Zigbee and has been a major backbone of many smart homes. Samsung, which acquired SmartThings in 2014, stopped making its own hubs in 2021, instead licensing Aeotec to continue producing them. Samsung later returned with the Matter-certified SmartThings Station in 2023, but availability has been scarce, even on Samsung’s own site.
Aeotec has not disclosed pricing for the Smart Home Hub 2, though the company expects it to ship by the end of October 2025. With Matter and Thread adoption accelerating across the industry, the Hub 2 reflects a future-focused approach—but for households full of Z-Wave gear, it may feel more like an abrupt goodbye.
