Samsung's SmartThings Targets Application Layer Where Matter Protocol Falls Short

The Matter protocol standardized device connectivity but left application-layer challenges unsolved: energy orchestration, multifamily access control, and cross-device automation. Samsung is positioning SmartThings above that layer, backed by a multifamily enterprise API, a live Tesla integration announced in January 2024, and a refreshed developer experience released June 23, 2026. The positioning signals where fragmentation actually persists in smart home infrastructure.