Providing a central hub that brings food, entertainment and smart functionality all together in a single package, Samsung’s Family Hub for 2021 is unifying and elevating experiences in the home like never before. A winner of the CES 2021 Innovation Awards six years running, the Family Hub continues to evolve with new features that add convenience, connectivity and delight to the kitchen.

One new notable service that can be used with the new incarnation of Family Hub is SmartThings Cooking, which makes food preparation a seamless culinary journey. With you from the initial moment of inspiration to meal planning, grocery shopping and eventually guided cooking, SmartThings Cooking is making keeping your family well-fed easier than ever before. SmartThings Cooking also synchronizes with the Cooking Board screen on the Family Hub, making it easy to switch between devices as needed.

To see how Family Hub for 2021 and SmartThings Cooking can enhance home experiences, Samsung Newsroom followed a day in the life of a family living in a home equipped with a Samsung smart kitchen.

[Monday, 5 PM] Customized Culinary Journeys

Looking to plan out the family’s meals for the week, Dad turns to his Family Hub’s one-stop Cooking Board. SmartThings Cooking’s Meal Planner automatically suggests a full week’s worth of delicious meals based on the family’s preferences and the ingredients they have in their fridge. With a few quick taps, Dad is able to create a grocery shopping basket straight from the recipes and conveniently complete payment through his usual online retailer.¹

The family’s meals planned out for the week, Dad turns his attention to their meal for that evening. Considering what they have already eaten that week and the ingredients they have in the house, Family Hub recommends a sumptuous chicken pasta bake. Once he has completed his meal prep, he selects “Cook Mode” on his Family Hub screen to receive step-by-step instructions. When it is time to turn on his oven, the appropriate temperature and timing settings are transmitted to his Samsung smart oven with a tap of the “Send to Oven” button.

About to head home for the day, Mom opens the SmartThings app on her smartphone and sees that the family’s meals for the week are all ready to go. She is excited to see that she has a delicious pasta bake to look forward to when she gets home!

[Tuesday, 3:30 PM] Enriching Precious Family Moments

Jenny, the youngest child, goes to the Family Hub to show off the first photos she took all by herself on its screen, proudly displaying them for her family to see and decorating her display with images and stickers. By accessing the Family Hub device plug-in within the mobile SmartThings app, users can quickly and easily add photos to their large 21.5-inch Family Hub screen for all their loved ones to enjoy.

Mom arrives in the kitchen, ready to prepare dinner. She sees Jenny’s photos, smiles, and swipes to the Cooking Board to see what’s for dinner. Checking the recipe on the screen, she begins preparing the ingredients and sets the oven to the allocated pre-heat temperature by pressing “Send to Oven.”

[Tuesday, 6 PM] Making the Kitchen Fun

Time to start cooking! Using the Family Hub’s internet browser, Mom pulls up an online cooking tutorial to remind herself how to prepare the meal.  That done, she uses one-touch Mirroring from her smartphone to play a video for the family’s youngest child and keep them entertained while herself and her eldest child prepare the meal.

When Dad arrives home, he comes in to find his family all happily cooking together and nodding along to some great cooking tunes.

[Tuesday, 10 PM] A Smarter and Safer Space 

With the dishes all done, it’s time for the family to retire for the night. Dad goes to the Family Hub to check that all of the family’s appliances are set to their appropriate modes for the night. The Family Hub also lets him know that the temperature is set to drop significantly that night, allowing him to set the thermostat to the right temperature to keep his family comfortable. Before heading to bed, Dad uses the SmartThings Video Widget to check that the house’s internal and front door cameras are working well, ensuring that his family will rest safe and secure.

Samsung’s Family Hub for 2021 and SmartThings are making it easier than ever before to enjoy rich, memorable family experiences in the kitchen and throughout the home. With the refrigerator serving as their central hub, family members can enjoy more efficient interactions within their home environment, giving them more time to spend on what matters most – each other.

¹ In the U.S., SmartThings Cooking service allows you to enjoy convenient one-stop grocery shopping through the Whisk network, including Walmart, Kroger, Instacart and Amazon Fresh. Availability varies by region.

Families today are doing more laundry than ever before, and Samsung is introducing new innovations to make this age-old chore easier and more intuitive. With Samsung’s WF8800A Front Load Washer and DV8800A Front Load Clothes Dryer (the smart laundry pair), doing your laundry becomes a breeze, giving you more time to commit to the activities and people you care about most.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with Hyunju Lee and Taihyuk Jang of Samsung Digital Appliances’ Living Product Planning Group to find out just how Samsung’s new laundry appliances, including CES 2021 Innovation Award Honoree WF8800A washer, is overhauling the experience of doing laundry and changing users’ lives for the better.

Taihyuk Jang and Hyunju Lee of Digital Appliances’ Living Product Planning Group

A More Intelligent Way to Wash

Q. In what ways is Samsung’s smart laundry pair changing the experience of doing laundry?

When we were developing the smart washer and dryer, the focus was on how we could make them smarter in a way that would be truly beneficial to the user. The new smart washer’s OptiWash cycle, for instance, determines how much water, detergent and softener you need for each load and dispenses it automatically. The machine senses the load’s weight, as well as how dirty the laundry is with special turbidity sensors, and decides on the most efficient way to wash it.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s smart dryer utilizes heat and humidity sensors to optimize its drying cycles, letting you spend less time toggling through settings. You can just toss in the laundry and let the machine figure out the rest. The washer and dryer are also connected to each other, allowing the best drying cycle for your load to be automatically determined based on the specifics of your washer load.

The intelligent laundry pair also offers a broad selection of cycles, with 25 wash cycles and 19 drying cycles that users can modify, delete and save using the My Cycle feature. Add to that the Smart Dial feature, which learns which settings you prefer for your washing and drying, and moves those settings to the top of your cycle list.

Let’s say you wash your workout clothes every Monday using the “Activewear” cycle. After an initial period of routine use, your Samsung laundry pair will learn this habit and automatically display the “Activewear” cycle on Mondays. The more you use your Samsung laundry pair, the more it will be able to help you minimize the work that goes into doing your laundry.

Innovative Function and Control

Q. What features make Samsung’s smart washer and dryer easier to use?

The WF8800A laundry pair includes a function called Multi-Control, which allows you to control your smart washer and dryer from a single control panel. Your dryer’s settings are also automatically matched with those from your wash cycle as long as your washer and dryer are connected via cable or through the Auto Cycle Link feature in the SmartThings app. The SmartThings app also allows users to manage their cycles and laundry settings remotely. With the new smart laundry pair, we additionally paid special attention to accessibility. For those who require it, the new smart washer and dryer feature dials with audio assistance technology that provides easy-to-understand feedback sounds that correspond to different options within cycles.

Q. What distinguishes the appearance of Samsung’s smart laundry pair?

Both Samsung’s smart washer and dryer come in a sleek black design that is accented by silver controls, making the appliances a complement to any home environment. The products also feature elegant control panels that make the washer and dryer easier to use by displaying words instead of symbols, removing the need for the user to consult a manual if an error ever occurs.

Q. How is Samsung’s new laundry pair caring for the environment?

Both the smart washer and smart dryer are made almost entirely out of recyclable parts, meaning that they can be taken apart and disposed of when needed without having to worry about adverse environmental impact. Using the intelligent OptiWash function, which optimizes wash settings for each load, users can rest easy knowing they’re using just the right amount of water and detergent. The pair are also both compatible with the HomeCare Wizard, which, in addition to providing information on schedules and delivering error reports, allows users to monitor their energy usage over time.

Samsung’s new laundry pair delivers intelligent capabilities to learn about users’ habits and preferences and harnesses cutting-edge technology to bring real change to a traditional household chore. Making the washer and dryer a collaborative pair and delivering a sleek, modern design to set off the aesthetics of your home, Samsung’s smart laundry pair is the future of laundry care.

For as long as people have had dwellings, they have had to commit time and energy to maintaining those dwellings. But now, Samsung is looking to make the age-old task of maintaining our homes far quicker and easier.

Created to give your house an amazing clean with minimal effort on your part, the JetBot 90 AI+ is the industry’s first smart robotic vacuum powered by Intel^® AI. It uses cutting-edge object-recognition technology to navigate your home just like you do: avoiding furniture, dog droppings and cables without missing any spaces out. Check out the video and read on below to learn more about how, with innovations like a self-cleaning Clean Station and a camera you can monitor from anywhere, the JetBot 90 AI+ allows you to give your house a fast, efficient clean while barely lifting a finger.

Intelligent Navigation

The first-ever smart vacuum to be powered by Intel^® AI, the JetBot 90 AI+ uses 3D sensors and enhanced object recognition to navigate your home as well as a person would. Utilizing a high-precision LiDAR sensor similar to those used in self-driving cars to detect distance and track location, the vacuum is capable of moving with a high degree of precision. Able to sense distances of up to six meters, rotate 360 degrees and access hard-to-reach spaces, no dirt is safe when the JetBot 90 AI+ is on the case.

When it comes to evading objects, the JetBot 90 AI+ features a powerful 3D sensor that allows it to scan an object and expertly maneuver around it without missing any cleanable spaces. Utilizing cutting-edge sensors, high resolution and object recognition technology, the JetBot 90 AI+ is capable of not only seeing, but classifying objects in its line of vision to differentiate which items to avoid, and which to clean close to.

The Intel^® AI utilized in JetBot 90 AI+ allows for object recognition capabilities based on learning from over 1 million images of household items like home appliances and furniture. JetBot 90 AI+ is able to recognize objects such as sofas, bookshelves, tables, dog bowls, towels, and electrical cables.

Thoroughly Clean

Once it has finished cleaning, the JetBot 90 AI+ returns to its Clean Station, an elegantly designed dock for your robot vacuum that optimizes health and convenience by automatically emptying the vacuum’s dustbin for you. Dirt, dust and hair is emptied into a dust bag inside the machine through a filtration system that traps 99.999%¹ of pollutants the vacuum captures and prevents them from being released back into your home during emptying.

The Clean Station’s dustbin only requires a bag change once every two to three months, and, like the robot vacuum itself, it features a blue LED notification light that alerts you when the bag is full.  And the JetBot 90 AI+’s innovative dustbin is also made entirely of washable parts, making keeping it clean quick and convenient.

Remote Monitoring and Smart Control

And to make sure you stay connected and in control of how and where your robot vacuum is cleaning, the JetBot 90 AI+’s front camera and upgraded smart controls allow you to connect to your vacuum from anywhere via the SmartThings mobile app. You can use the app to see where the vacuum is cleaning in real time, schedule cleanings, and even specify ‘no-go zones’ on a map of your home.

With the JetBot 90 AI+, keeping your home clean and hygienic is easier than ever before. Combining powerful intelligence with an elegant and minimalistic design, Samsung’s new JetBot 90 AI+ is taking the ‘work’ out of housework, ensuring that you will return to a clean house at the end of the day.

¹ Based on internal testing, using Max mode, in accordance with the IEC62885-2 Cl. 5.11 standard. Results may vary depending on the actual home conditions.

Samsung’s introduction of its award-winning Bespoke refrigerators made waves across the industry by ushering in a new era of customizable home appliances.

At this year’s CES, the company officially announced the launch of all-new Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex refrigerator in the U.S. market. Now, U.S. consumers can customize their kitchen with a fridge featuring colors and materials that perfectly suit their own lifestyles and décor choices.

In particular, the all-new Bespoke 4-Door Flex refrigerator takes the lineup’s personalization to the next level by introducing a range of customizable food management features. Read on to learn more about how Samsung designed the Bespoke 4-Door Flex to cater to a wide variety of households’ refrigeration needs.

Match Your Aesthetic

The Bespoke 4-Door Flex refrigerator includes Samsung’s trademark large capacity, flexible convenience and powerful cooling performance, along with the option to choose the color and finish of the four front panels to match every décor style. Whether your preferred color palette is minimalist or cozy, there’s a Bespoke color for you.

The panels of the Bespoke 4-Door Flex refrigerator are available in a dynamic range of colors, with users in each region able to choose from a color palette of options tailored specifically to their market.

In the U.S., the first market the Bespoke 4-Door Flex will be available in, consumers can choose between Grey Glass, Sky Blue Glass, Navy Steel, Champagne Steel, Matte Black, Navy Glass, White Glass and Rose Pink Glass panel color options.

Furthermore, U.S. consumers will also be able to match their Bespoke 4-Door Flex even more closely to their interior design aesthetic thanks to the availability of either a classic Steel metal finish or a glamorous Glass finish.

If your home aesthetic changes, you can make sure your refrigerator keeps up. Simply contact an installer to switch out the panels to the color and finish of your choice for quick and easy customization.

Whichever style you select for your Bespoke 4-Door Flex, you are guaranteed a premium touch to your home thanks to the refrigerator’s flat doors and seamless design.

Beverage Access Made More Convenient Than Ever

The Bespoke 4-Door Flex also comes with a brand-new Beverage Center, hidden away behind the upper left door to maintain the refrigerator’s flat, sleek front door design. The Beverage Center includes an Autofill Water Pitcher that is always full of fresh water whenever you need it, and a water dispenser with a washable dispenser nozzle for hygienic use.

Once you have your water, you can easily cool it down with ice. The Bespoke 4-Door Flex comes with a Dual Auto Ice Maker that can make regular cubed ice as well as nugget ice – smaller, more chewable pieces of ice that will cool down your drinks even quicker.

Customize Your FlexZone

The Bespoke 4-Door Flex offers more customized food management options than ever before, whatever your needs might be. The refrigerator features a FlexZone in its lower right compartment that allows you to switch between refrigerator and freezer modes as you require. The FlexZone now includes five different convertible modes to keep your food at optimal temperatures, including the brand-new “Fruits & Veggies” mode.

The two veggie boxes, or crispers, in the Bespoke 4-Door Flex also allow for more control over your food storage. The Crisper+ drawer is airtight, keeping fruits and vegetables fresher for longer, while the Flex Crisper can be temperature-controlled to be perfect for either for vegetables or for meat and fish. The storage modes on the FlexZone and Flex Crisper can be controlled either directly on the fridge itself or through the SmartThings app.

Of course, the Bespoke 4-Door Flex comes with Samsung’s signature cooling technologies including Triple Cooling, which independently cools the three separate compartments and enables customized temperatures in each; Metal Cooling, with an even wider metal plate for more even and fast cooling; and Precise Cooling, which ensures that the fridge is always set to the exact temperature you want.

The Bespoke 4-Door Flex refrigerator is not just a home appliance – it is as aesthetically customizable as a piece of furniture and as functional in your kitchen as the food products it stores. From its variable panels to its flexible storage and dispenser options, the Bespoke 4-Door Flex has been designed to fit your lifestyle, just as every “bespoke” item should be.

“Consumers, especially millennials, are spending more time at home and demanding products that enhance their everyday lives with customized features,” said JaeSeung Lee, President and Head of Samsung Electronics’ Digital Appliances Division. “Great, reliable performance is now a basic expectation. The standard for a better, smarter home experience is now decided by how closely appliances can be ‘fit’ to various customer lifestyles.”

Introducing a More Tailored Take on Appliance Design

Customization is already a key feature of Samsung appliances. Guided by a design philosophy first introduced with a project known as Project PRISM, Samsung appliances cater to users’ unique needs, reflecting their lifestyles just as a prism refracts light into various colors.

That customizable, lifestyle-centric philosophy is epitomized by Samsung’s Bespoke refrigerators. The company’s flagship refrigerator lineup was first introduced in Korea in 2019, and has since expanded into global markets. Offering multiple types of modules (1-Door, BMF, 4-Door), along with panels that can be customized with various colors and finishes, the Bespoke range challenges industry norms by empowering users to customize their fridge to their décor, rather than vice versa.

Bespoke turned out to be a game-changer, driving two-thirds of refrigerator sales in Korea, and proving that consumers – particularly millennials – are in the market for appliances that answer their unique lifestyle needs. The refrigerators went on to launch in select markets around the world, bringing a revolution in home appliances wherever they went.

Launching the ‘Bespoke Home’ Era

In Samsung’s vision for the future, the concept of customizing appliances to fit users’ lifestyles does not stop with refrigerators. Indeed, the company is constantly exploring ways to add customizable elements to a wide range of appliances – from staple appliances like refrigerators to relatively new categories of devices, including air purifiers and the clothing care device AirDresser.

The company’s vision does not stop at hardware design, either. Equipping appliances with AI capabilities and connectivity will be crucial for creating more holistic and personalized user experiences. Washing machines that automatically relay cycle information to dryers, refrigerators that know when milk will go bad, air purifiers that switch on automatically when air quality drops – these are a few examples of how Samsung is using its leadership in connectivity and intelligence to put the consumer at the center of every appliance experience.

While continuously upgrading software in devices like the beloved Family Hub refrigerator, Samsung is continuously enhancing its SmartThings ecosystem with services that allow consumers to input personal preferences and manage their appliances for a more closely tailored experience.

The idea of taking a more bespoke approach to home appliance design will take center stage at CES 2021. Not only will Samsung kick off Bespoke’s entry in the U.S. market with the unveiling of the all-new Samsung Bespoke 4-Door Flex refrigerator, but the company will also reveal exciting new ways that its smart appliances work with users and each other to make life easier for all lifestyles.

“We see the future of Bespoke home appliances as not only being about design, but about performance, hygiene, and sustainability as well,” says Lee. Samsung is excited to present this new way of thinking about home appliances, beginning at this year’s CES. We look forward to another year of developing innovations that put consumers’ needs first.”