Devices
iPhone 18 Pro vs Galaxy S27 Ultra: One Controls Matter Without a Hub
Compare how the iPhone 18 Pro controls Matter devices without a hub versus the Galaxy S27 Ultra's requirement for a SmartThings hub or compatible Samsung device. Find out which phone eliminates the most friction for your smart home.
- Apple HomeNot stated
- Google HomeNot stated
- AlexaNot stated
- SmartThingsNot stated
- Home AssistantNot stated
If the question is which flagship lets you open the app and actually talk to the device without buying one more box, the iPhone 18 Pro is the cleaner answer; the Galaxy S27 Ultra only gets there when some other Samsung hub hardware is already in the house.[1][2][3]
What Apple Does Directly
Apple's useful trick is blunt. iOS 18+ can pair and control Matter-over-Wi-Fi accessories directly, so a Matter plug can show up and respond without a hub in the middle.[1][2] For nearby Matter-over-Thread gear, Apple also enables direct local control from the phone when the accessory is mains-powered.[4] The limit matters just as much: battery-powered Thread devices such as sensors and locks still need a Thread border router, usually a HomePod or Apple TV.[4]
What Samsung Needs In The House
Samsung takes the opposite route. The Galaxy S27 Ultra can show devices in SmartThings, but the phone itself is still only a dashboard unless the house already has a SmartThings hub, a SmartThings Station, or a compatible Samsung TV or appliance acting as the controller and border router.[3][5] Samsung's Hub Everywhere strategy puts those capabilities into TVs, Family Hub fridges, soundbars, monitors, and projectors, so some owners already have the right hardware without buying anything new.[3][5]
That breadth helps in homes already built around Samsung's ecosystem, but it does not change the basic requirement: the phone alone is not the bridge for Matter, Thread, Zigbee, or Z-Wave.[3][5]
The Practical Answer
If you want the least friction for day-to-day Matter control with no extra hardware, the iPhone 18 Pro is the straightforward pick.[1][2][4] The Galaxy S27 Ultra only reaches the same result when the home already has the Samsung hardware that serves as the controller and border router.[3][5]
References
- iOS 18 lets you control Matter devices without a smart home hub - The Verge, Sept. 18, 2024
- Pair and manage your Matter accessories - Apple Support
- Where Did Smart Home Hubs Go? Everywhere! - Samsung News
- Apple enables Thread control for smart home devices in iOS 18 - AppleInsider
- SmartThings - Samsung US
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