AUCKLAND, New Zealand – September 1, 2023 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today showcased its latest innovations for the connected home. During its IFA 2023 press conference, the company highlighted its vision for SmartThings is to enable consumers across the globe to prioritise the topics they care about - from saving energy, increasing security and access to great entertainment to making their everyday lives more efficient. The ever-growing SmartThings ecosystem allows its 285 million users to adapt and personalise their homes to suit their needs, seamlessly connecting and controlling multiple appliances and devices via one app.
Samsung’s presence at IFA 2023 comes as the company shares new consumer research, conducted across Europe to understand evolving needs for technology in the home¹.
“Samsung is passionate about connecting our users to the people, places and pastimes that matter most to them,” said Benjamin Braun, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Europe. “We will continue to take advantage of the possibilities offered by the latest innovations in technology to make sure the SmartThings ecosystem grows and develops in a way that allows people to make even more of the connections that matter.”
Enhancing the at-home experience
The SmartThings app allows users to control their homes from anywhere, helping them to enjoy seamless entertainment as well as keeping them safe. Across Europe, our homes continue to be more important than ever as they play multiple roles each day – from offices to places for relaxation and entertainment. Seven in ten consumers (71%) agree that technology has a positive impact on their everyday living, including how they interact with their friends and family, how they conduct their chores and how they enjoy their hobbies¹.
Now, those with a passion for food can fully connect themselves to the joy of cooking and eating with Samsung Food, the new all-in-one app for recipe searching, saving and sharing, meal planning, cooking and grocery shopping. Announced at the press conference, Samsung Food is available in 104 countries and eight languages, and puts the world’s food knowledge at users’ fingertips, empowering them to make the food, health and cooking decisions that are right for them. It also connects to users’ kitchens, instantly sending the right time and temperature to their compatible Samsung oven. With more than 160,000 recipes, there will always be something new to cook.
By the end of the year, using Food AI, Samsung Food will provide personalised recipes reflecting users’ dietary requirements, such as converting recipes into a vegan version in just a few taps. In a further enhancement due later this year, it will link with Samsung Health so tailored meal plans can be adapted to suit preferences and dietary requirements, as well as support users in reaching their health goals.
As the number one TV brand for 17 years in a row², Samsung has an unrivalled commitment to entertainment. It has completed its super screen line up with the launch of the 98” 4K Q80C and plans to bring Micro LED screens to New Zealand early next year, offering incredible contrast and jaw-dropping detail that places viewers in the middle of the action whether gaming or watching films.
Also announced at the press conference was the global launch of The Freestyle 2nd Gen. This versatile, portable projector delivers a big screen experience wherever the user chooses - even on the ceiling. The Smart Edge Blending feature offers landscape and portrait screen experiences, meaning two Freestyle 2nd Gen projectors can be paired to give a 160” panoramic and 120” vertical viewing experience.
In partnership with Xbox and Bethesda Softworks, this now includes Starfield³ from 6th September, the stunning, next-generation role-playing game set amongst the stars. Playable with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership⁴, without the need for a console.
Taking small steps for our planet
Samsung is committed to developing products and services that help people save money and take steps towards a better planet. These topics are high on the agenda for consumers too, over three quarters (77%) say they seek out tech products that save energy - not only to save money, but for the benefit of the environment too⁴. Two-thirds (67%) also consider it important that their next appliance can connect to an app that allows them to monitor and reduce their energy consumption⁴.
To help combat the effects of the current high cost of living, SmartThings Energy can help users optimise the energy used across their appliances to suit their needs and lower usage. For example, AI Energy Mode in SmartThings Energy allows you to monitor and reduce your washing machine's energy use by up to 70%⁵ by using BubbbleWash to wash with cool water instead of warm.
Samsung has also partnered with global ocean conservation organisation Ocean Wise and apparel maker Patagonia to find solutions to the issue of microfiber shedding. The Less Microfibre™ Filter, launching in New Zealand early next year, is an external washing machine filter that cuts up to 98% of microplastic emissions from laundry cycles⁶. Speaking at IFA, Charlie Cox, Manager of Microplastic Solutions at Ocean Wise said: “Through our collaboration with Samsung and Patagonia, Ocean Wise is proud to have shown a way for industry to play its part in stemming the flow of microfibers into the ocean. Through innovations like the Less Microfibre™ Filter, we can empower individuals to reduce their microfiber footprint at home. It is a simple, everyday solution that our oceans will thank us for.”
Samsung’s journey is constantly evolving as it aims to design technology that helps people make the most of their day while taking small steps to reduce our environmental impact. The Galaxy Z Flip5⁷ and Fold5⁸ and the Galaxy Tab S9 series⁹ feature a variety of recycled materials, including recycled aluminium, glass and plastics sourced from ocean-bound discarded fishing nets, water barrels and PET bottles. Even the Galaxy Watch6 series incorporate post-consumer recycled plastics. All of these Galaxy innovations come in packaging boxes made using recycled paper material¹⁰.
Unlocking the future through smart technology
Samsung is invested in a future built around the possibilities that technology can unlock. One area it aims to make a difference is in making the technology for smart homes more easily available. The research shows a quarter of Europeans consider the inclusion of smart technology to be a key factor in the desirability of their next home and over three quarters of respondents said fully functional smart homes are appealing (77%)10.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at news.samsung.com.