Samsung Electronics today shared its vision for a calmer connected world through cutting-edge technologies that enhance the lives of users by providing smarter and more intuitive experiences. Speaking at a press conference at CES® 2023, Samsung and its key partners came together to outline details about how they plan to build a better-connected world while contributing to a more sustainable future.

Jong-Hee (JH) Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of the DX (Device eXperience) Division at Samsung Electronics, opened the company’s presence at CES by highlighting Samsung’s strategy to deliver on the promise of the connected experience across the key touchpoints in our lives — in our homes, cars and at work — while also working to build a more sustainable future. The strategy outlined during the press conference focuses on the company’s aim of bringing calm to our connected world so that devices and innovation can genuinely enable better, more personal and more intuitive experiences. To do this, Samsung is focusing on seamlessly connecting devices and designing products to make the everyday use of technology more sustainable.

“We recognize our vision is a big one,” said CEO JH Han. “It’s about solving real challenges today and understanding consumers’ future needs and aspirations. It will take time, innovation and cooperation with partners worldwide. But we are committed to achieving it and already getting started.”

Samsung Incorporates Sustainability at Every Level

To address our planet’s ongoing challenges, Samsung highlighted how it continues to prioritize the environment through a combination of sustainability targets, innovative product design and strategic partnerships. As a result, by 2050, all of Samsung’s businesses will match their electricity needs with renewable energy and reach net zero carbon emissions. In the nearer term, the DX Division will transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2027 and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030

To further the company’s sustainability goals, Samsung outlined how Everyday Sustainability — building sustainability features into the company’s most popular products and services — will contribute to a healthier environment. This includes creating more sustainable products through innovative design in materials and energy efficiency.

“By building sustainability into the product experience, we, and the many people around the world who use our products, can contribute to a healthier planet,” said Inhee Chung, Vice President of Corporate Sustainability Center at Samsung. “As a result, some of our most popular products are now some of our most sustainable.”

Samsung announced that many of its TVs and smartphones use recycled materials, including recycled plastic from discarded finishing nets, while the company’s home appliances, memory and 5G radio network chipsets are contributing to energy savings for customers. In addition, Samsung’s connected services, such as SmartThings Energy and AI Energy Mode, are also helping consumers save energy and cut costs while lowering their overall climate impact.

Samsung also shared the stage with Patagonia, a global leader in outdoor clothing, to discuss a partnership to combat the issue of microplastics – the tiny particles often found in clothes and released into oceans, lakes and rivers through the laundry. Vincent Stanley, Director of Philosophy at Patagonia, spoke at the Samsung press conference about how the two companies have developed a new wash technology called the Less Microfiber Cycle,1 currently being incorporated into Samsung washing machines, which can reduce microplastic release by 54%2 during a laundry cycle. Like the Less Microfiber Cycle, Samsung and Patagonia recently developed the new Less Microfiber Filter,3 which reduces microplastic discharge by preventing them from escaping into the ocean at the end of a wash cycle.

Meanwhile, James Kwon, Product Manager, ENERGY STAR for Consumer Electronics at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), announced that Samsung’s connected home experience with SmartThings is the first mass-market Smart Home Energy Management System to earn the prestigious ENERGY STAR SHEMS Certification. Samsung also continues to collaborate with diverse stakeholders in its sustainability efforts. For example, Samsung joined with the Carbon Trust and other technology leaders to develop the industry’s first specification for measuring, accounting for and decarbonizing the emissions associated with connected devices while being used by customers.

A Connected Home and Connected Life Built on Convenience

Samsung detailed plans to fulfill the connected experience today and in the future. During the company’s press conference, Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings, highlighted how features like SmartThings Home Monitor and SmartThings Pet Care bring convenience to the connected experience by monitoring and sharing alerts for anything out of the ordinary – for people and pets. Prompted by Samsung Smart TV, these services are some of the many ways Samsung and the connected platform SmartThings are creating an even smarter home.

A key part of this vision is increased interoperability, enabling consumers to connect more of their devices, whether they are Samsung’s or from a partner brand. As the industry looks to bring about a new level of compatibility through the Matter smart home standard, Samsung stated its commitment to this partnership philosophy. SmartThings was one of the first brands to adopt Matter, and Samsung is a founding member of the Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA).

Also, at the CES press conference, Samsung announced the latest smart home innovation, with the SmartThings Station — its first product to have Matter support built-in right from the beginning. It is a convenient, new way to kick-start SmartThings experiences at home and make it easier to interact with connected devices. SmartThings Station turns Samsung’s wireless charger into a smart home hub that can seamlessly transform the state of your home at the touch of a button.4The focus on connected experiences also extended to unveiling new partnerships, including announcing an expanded collaboration with Philips Hue. Jasper Vervoort, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Philips Hue, discussed a new way to sync the content from Samsung TVs with Philips Hue lighting through the Philips Hue Sync TV app, which can be downloaded from the app store on Samsung TVs. This is the first solution to sync lighting and content from Samsung TVs without additional hardware.

With more devices connected than ever, Samsung also detailed how security and privacy innovations will be keys to building connected device ecosystems. The company is taking its device security experiences to the next level with its upcoming solution, Samsung Knox Matrix, which will conveniently and safely sync credentials across devices while protecting sensitive information via multi-layered mutual monitoring enabled by private blockchain technology.

The connected experience is also extending to your commute. Marcus Futterlieb from HARMAN unveiled Samsung and HARMAN’s plans to inject a new level of intelligence, personalization and convenience into the in-cabin experience (ICX). Central to this effort is HARMAN Ready Care, which uses a machine learning algorithm to gather and process data from the car’s sensors to measure driver drowsiness and distraction, providing tailored interventions to mitigate risks and help improve the well-being of the driver.

A Vision for the Future

The company also showcased next-generation innovations and technologies using the latest artificial intelligence (AI). Experiences enabled by Spatial AI — like in the JetBot AI+ — are laying the groundwork for better in-home experiences specific to the dimensions and environment of your space.

Samsung also gave a preview of Relumino Mode, which will come to select 2023 Samsung Neo QLED 8K and 4K TVs this year to make content viewing possible for people with vision impairment. Relumino Mode highlights outlines and improves contrast and color so that content is clearer and easier to enjoy.5 In addition, Samsung also displayed a new pair of Relumino glasses, which first debuted at CES 2018 as part of its startup acceleration program C-Lab project, as well as its mobile app to make the visual experience more enjoyable and personalized on every screen.

For more information, please visit Samsung.com.

1 Already available for Samsung washers in Europe and will expand availability to Korea in February and to the U.S. soon.
2 Tested with 2kg load of 100% polyester hoodies, comparing Synthetics cycle on Samsung Conventional model of European washer WW4000T and the Less Microfiber cycle on WW7000B. The results may be different depending on the clothes and environment. Tested by the Ocean Wise Plastics Lab.
3 Will be available in the first half of this year in Europe.
4 Available with SmartThings App on Android or iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection is required.
5 Relumino Mode targets those who suffer from severe visual acuity loss (Source: WHO, World report on vision, 2019) and symptoms of blurry vision. Some features may be supported at a different time, and service availability may not be available at the time of purchase of this product. Relumino Mode is applied for TV models QN80C, QN90C, QN800C, QN900C and works on sources provided through DTV and HDMI only. The Mode does not work on other sources, OTTs, etc.

Samsung Electronics today announced SmartThings Station, an easy-to-use, affordable smart home hub and fast charging pad.

As the smart home market continues to grow, users need simple, interoperable and dependable ways to connect a more significant number of devices. SmartThings Station offers quick setup and compatibility with a range of smart home products, including Matter devices, with the simplicity that users expect from Samsung. With SmartThings Station, users can automate different aspects of their home environment, setting routines that add convenience to their day and help to reduce energy waste such as switching off lights and appliances easily.

“Having a smarter home shouldn’t be complicated or expensive. So we wanted to create SmartThings Station as a simple, reliable and expandable smart home hub,” said Jaeyeon Jung, Executive Vice President and Head of SmartThings, Device Platform Center at Samsung Electronics. “The number of devices in a connected home continues to grow, especially in light of the recent Matter standard launch. We’re proud to play a role in making it easier to embrace this exciting technology.” 

A Smarter Home With Minimal Effort

Samsung’s SmartThings Station is easy to set up. When a user powers the device on for the first time, pop-up messages will appear on a user’s Samsung Galaxy smartphone to help guide users through the connection process smoothly.2 Users may also choose the option to efficiently onboard devices with a simple scan of a QR code3 with a smartphone camera.

Intuitively Adapts to Users’ Daily Routines

A smart home hub helps multiple devices, including thermostats, lighting and power outlets, seamlessly interconnect with other devices connected to the smart home server so they all work together to create a harmonized environment. SmartThings Station makes it easy to automate pre-set routines created via the SmartThings mobile app without requiring users to control individual devices manually.

With a press of the Smart Button on the SmartThings Station, users can activate a routine created on their SmartThings app. For example, when it’s time for bed, a quick tap could trigger a routine for sleep — which could turn off the lights, close the blinds and lower the temperature. Or, if a movie night is on the cards, a movie routine could turn on the TV and dim the lights. When leaving home, the SmartThings Station can turn off power outlets and unused appliances to save energy and activate a security system. Users might also want a gaming routine, which could activate specific TV and lighting settings and turn on “Do not Disturb” mode.

Consumers can trigger up to three different routines just by pressing the Smart Button, with short press, long press or double press activations. Routines can also be activated via the SmartThings app whether people are at home or away.

Find and Manage Your Devices Around Home More Accurately

SmartThings Station is also integrated with Samsung’s SmartThings Find, a rapidly growing asset tracking service. It helps users to find misplaced devices — double pressing the Smart Button can ring your nearby phone, making it easier to find.

Serving as an always-at-home device scanner, SmartThings Station helps Samsung Galaxy users to keep track of the locations of their registered devices — from smartphones, tablets, watches and earbuds to personal belongings such as keys or a wallet that have a Galaxy SmartTag or SmartTag+5 device attached. By routinely scanning for devices, SmartThings Station will tell users the location of connected smart devices or tags around the home and share an alert on the user’s smartphone when a tag or device leaves or returns home.

A Fast Charging Pad That Fits Perfectly in a Smart Home

SmartThings Station is also a powerful charging pad supporting up to 15W wireless charging.7 Fast charging is an ingenious addition to a smart home hub because it works so well with the rhythms of life. Users can choose to receive an alert when charging is completed so they can pick up play where they have left off or switch to charge another device.

Availability

SmartThings Station will launch in the U.S. and Korea. The device will be available in black or white from early February 2023 in the U.S. market.

1 Up to 15W wireless charging is available for devices that support 15W. Actual charging speeds may vary by device and depending on usage charging conditions and other factors.
2 Available on Samsung Galaxy Smartphones with SmartThings app installed.
3 Only for Matter devices with a QR code.
4 Requires turning on the feature on the SmartThings app. Users also can turn off the feature or replace it with other routines or trigger both simultaneously.
5 Galaxy SmartTag/SmartTag+ sold separately.
6 Requires set-up on the SmartThings app.
7 Wireless charger requires power connection.

Samsung Electronics today announced innovations designed to bring about a new era of sustainable living. With services like SmartThings Energy setting new standards for household efficiency, Samsung’s latest Bespoke home appliances empower users to save both energy and money. Together with technologies, including a new wash cycle and filter that significantly reduce microplastic emissions from washers, Samsung’s newest advancements make it easier than ever for consumers to reduce their impact on the environment and support the health of the planet.

“The technologies we’re unveiling at CES 2023 place sustainability at the core of the user experience,” said Moohyung Lee, EVP and Head of the R&D Team of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics. “Our ambition is to become the most energy-efficient appliance brand globally, and our latest products and partnerships will help make sustainable living a reality for more people and more communities.”

SmartThings Maximizes Energy Savings

With more than 80 million connected devices,1 the SmartThings platform continues to expand while unlocking more ways for users to reduce their carbon footprint at home.

Now, SmartThings Energy’s AI Energy Mode2 is more powerful than ever, offering support for more devices and regions and even more significant energy savings. This includes up to 15% more savings for compatible refrigerators,3 up to 20% for compatible air conditioners,4 and up to 35% for compatible washers5 on select cycles.6

Industry’s First Smart Home Energy Management Systems (SHEMS) Certification

Samsung’s efforts to enrich and expand SmartThings Energy have led the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to award Samsung the industry’s first mass-market Smart Home Energy Management Systems (SHEMS) certification. The certification recognizes smart home appliances and services that manage and automate connected devices to help consumers gain insights into their energy use, thereby inspiring energy-saving behavior, reducing costs and helping to facilitate demand response measures that minimize stress on the grid.

The EPA has also awarded base model Samsung home appliances 260 ENERGY STAR® certifications, including 43 “Most Efficient” recognitions.7 Samsung is a long-standing leader with more than a decade of ENERGY STAR award leadership and a rare recipient of the prestigious ENERGY STAR Corporate Commitment Award.

Making Net Zero Homes a Reality — Offering Households the Ultimate in Energy Efficiency

To empower more people to enjoy energy independence at home, Samsung has unveiled the next phase of its net zero home initiative: the Smart City Project. Working with Sterling Ranch and its long-time technology partner Siemens, the Smart City Project will help establish Sterling Ranch as a master-planned sustainable housing community designed to house 30,000 residents in Littleton, Colorado.

SmartThings Energy will serve as the residents’ primary interactive app to monitor data, with Samsung appliances offering residents real-time insights on their energy, water and natural gas use. Throughout the community, solar panels and household batteries will produce and store energy, while energy-efficient appliances reduce power and monitor water use to save resources. Together with smart infrastructure solutions from Siemens paired with smart home and energy optimization solution from Resideo Technologies, Samsung technologies will make it easier for the residents of Sterling Ranch to enjoy a net-zero lifestyle.

Samsung’s collaboration with Resideo extends beyond the Smart City Project. Samsung and Resideo are exploring an opportunity to integrate Samsungs appliances with Resideo’s smart grid solutions to connect customers with energy management programs in California and Texas. In the future, this work could help make more communities smart-grid ready by expanding Resideo’s best-in-class demand response offering and optimizing SmartThings Energy’s savings.

Tackling Microplastics Head-on With “Less Microfiber” Technology

While reducing the impact of devices and homes is vital to creating a sustainable future, other clear and present risks to the environment demand our attention. For over a year, Samsung and Patagonia have been working together to address the challenge of microplastics shedding during the laundry process and polluting oceans and other bodies of water.

Samsung’s new Less Microfiber Cycle and Filter are the products of that collaboration. A breakthrough in the fight against microplastics, the Less Microfiber Cycle cuts microplastic emissions by up to 54%.8 Now available in Europe, the cycle will roll out to compatible washers in Korea from February this year and in the U.S. soon.

Like the Less Microfiber Cycle, Samsung and Patagonia’s newly developed washing machine filter has the potential to have a real impact on the health of aquatic ecosystems. The Less Microfiber Filter reduces microplastic emissions by preventing them from escaping into the ocean at the end of wash cycles. It will be available in select Samsung washing machines in Europe beginning in the second half of 2023 and can also be purchased separately and applied to any washer on the market, regardless of brand.

Samsung’s latest laundry innovations will make it easier for consumers to reduce environmental waste for years to come. So too will its washers and refrigerators’ class-leading 20-year warranties.9 Covering the appliances’ digital inverter technologies, the warranties open the door for additional waste reductions by extending Samsung washers’ and refrigerators’ lifespans. Bespoke refrigerators also feature customizable door panels that support longer use by allowing users to easily update their existing appliance’s design instead of replacing it with a new one.

Through close collaboration, technological breakthroughs and a commitment to becoming the world’s most energy-efficient appliance brand, Samsung aims to lead the way to a more sustainable future. Visit Samsung.com to learn more about the eco-conscious innovations Samsung is showcasing at CES 2023.

1 As of December 2022.
2 Available on Android and iOS devices. A Wi-Fi connection and a Samsung account are required.
3 Available on specific models from May 2023 through a Wi-Fi update. Test results based on a comparison of the U.S. models’ factory setting temperatures with and without AI Energy Mode. Results may vary depending on usage conditions and patterns.
4 Based on internal testing of the U.S. models. Results may vary depending on the user’s actual environment and usage patterns.
5 Based on internal testing on the WF8900B model with an 8lb IEC except for Small Load cycle (4lb IEC). Results may vary depending on actual usage conditions.
6 Can be applied to Heavy Duty, Small Load, Towels and Power Rinse courses only when the selected washing temperature is “hot.”
7 As of November 2022.
8 Tested with 2kg load of 100% polyester hoodies, comparing Synthetics cycle on Samsung Conventional model of European washer WW4000T and the Less Microfiber Cycle on WW7000B. The results may be different depending on the clothes and environment. Tested by the Ocean Wise Plastics Lab.
9 The 20-year warranty is only applicable to the digital inverter motors in washers and dryers and compressors in refrigerators sold in the E.U. starting in July, in addition to digital inverter motors found in washers sold and manufactured in the U.S. Warranty is limited to products manufactured by Samsung and subcontracted manufacturers and does not apply to any outsourced products.