ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Samsung makes devices across a broad range of consumer categories.
- Many of the devices work with one another by design, in really cool ways.
- It makes staying within the brand satisfying, but it can also lock you in.
When we talk about the devices that run our lives, the word “ecosystem” is used frequently. Apple is the first brand to come to mind, as its devices are designed to “just work” better together — and for the most part, they do.
Also: The best Samsung TVs: Expert tested and reviewed
But Apple isn’t the only one. Google has Pixel watches, phones, and tablets (and soon: Googlebooks), while Samsung has its own extensive ecosystem that I’ve been using for the past several weeks. It helps that Samsung makes some of my favorite devices, but the fact that they all work so seamlessly together is a huge plus.
This whole experiment started when I got a Samsung S90H TV. It has a 48-inch OLED screen with an anti-reflective coating that I will miss dearly when I return the loaner later this week. The TV comes with a remote, of course, but I barely used it. Instead, I used my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 as the remote. Samsung’s SmartThings comes preinstalled on the phone and can connect to any other device that uses your Samsung account. It found the TV and gave me a lovely, intuitive remote to use with a swipe pad and a few virtual buttons. But that’s not the whole story.
SmartThings is smart
I’m also testing a Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and it also has SmartThings installed. It, too, has a remote you can use to control the TV, but in one of the coolest “I can be a Jedi” moments I’ve experienced, you can open the remote and point your hand at the screen. A cursor appears that you can maneuver around the screen by pointing. Select an option by tapping your thumb and forefinger together. It’s a little impractical, sure, but I love it.
Also: Pixel 11 XL Pro: Google’s big flagship is more Pro than ever
It’s worth noting that the SmartThings app is the engine driving this. I installed SmartThings on a Pixel 11 Pro, and I could remote control the TV with that phone, too. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of the ways Samsung devices all work with one another.
Adam Doud/ZDNETOne of the more advertised features includes using the watch and the Galaxy Ring to control your phone’s camera. Since Samsung foldables can serve as their own tripod, this adds another useful dimension. Setting up your shot and double-tapping your ring finger is a handy way to get a shot with you in the frame. Using the watch to remotely view the viewfinder is great, too.
They work well together
I use a Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Pro all the time, and as someone who tests laptops for a living, I can say this is my favorite. The 16-inch screen is great, the keyboard is snappy and lovely, and it has a fingerprint sensor and Windows Hello for unlocking. Battery life is top-notch. But adding my phone to the mix makes it even better. Windows and Android get along quite well together with notifications, app mirroring, and the like, but the aforementioned ability to use your phone as a webcam is pretty cool. Plus, transferring files from one device to another is really easy.
Also: Samsung Galaxy Book 6 Ultra review: This Windows laptop sets a new standard for me
Finally, one of my very favorite ways these devices work together centers on the laptop: using the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra as a second screen. You can also control your phone simultaneously using the laptop’s mouse and keyboard. By carrying all three, I can essentially have a three-monitor setup that fits in my backpack. That’s incredible when you really stop and think about it.
I should note that you can do most of this in the Apple ecosystem as well. Apple doesn’t currently sell a smart ring, nor does it sell its own TV (though the Apple TV set-top box works similarly), so those are two big exceptions. But Samsung’s net is cast far and wide in the consumer electronics department, and it wouldn’t surprise me to see even more interoperability among its branded devices in the future.
It’s also worth mentioning that most of these capabilities represent a form of platform lock-in. Particularly noteworthy is that the Samsung Galaxy Buds 4 Pro only support multi-point connectivity between Samsung devices, which is slightly maddening.
Also: I found true AirPods Pro rivals in these Samsung earbuds
But overall, Samsung’s tech environment truly represents the word “ecosystem.” It’s an ecosystem designed to enhance each other’s capabilities, and it’s wide-ranging enough to extend beyond your pocket or backpack. That’s pretty powerful, and it will be fun to watch how Samsung continues to leverage this capability.
