Comparison · Hubs & platforms
Smart home appliance brands worth caring about
LG ThinQ, Samsung, GE, Whirlpool, and the Matter-shaped ones — who actually ships local control.
Maya ChenUpdated September 12, 202610 min read
Our pick: Buy the appliance first, the app second
Smart home appliances brands all promise a fridge that texts you. Most of them promise a cloud that will be deprecated. Rank the metal, then the Matter badge, then the app.
Who we would actually buy
| Brand | Buy them for | Skip the smart pitch if |
|---|---|---|
| LG ThinQ | Washers/dryers with useful cycle status | You want local-only, no account |
| Samsung | Family already in SmartThings | You hate extra hubs |
| GE Profile | US service network + growing Matter | You expected HomeKit on day one |
| Bosch | Quiet dishwashers; Home Connect is secondary | You wanted a US-first Matter story |
The 2026 rule
A Matter-enabled appliance is interesting. A Wi-Fi-only appliance whose only trick is a phone notification is a $2,000 QR code. If the washer washes, you can add a vibration sensor and a plug later.
Questions we get
Which smart home appliance brand works with Alexa and Google?
LG ThinQ and Samsung SmartThings have the widest voice coverage. GE Profile is catching up via Matter on select SKUs. Always check the exact model — the logo on the brochure is not the radio in the board.