One-minute review

A groundbreaking collaboration between Google, Samsung, Apple, Amazon, and a whole mess of other tech companies, the Matter standard is meant to unravel the complexity of smart homes, one Thread-connected device at a time. And the SmartThings Station is Samsung’s first big entry in the Matter world. 

The Station is a kinda-clunky smartphone charger with a Matter hub inside it, to connect all your gadgets and unlock the smart-home coolness you’ve been promised: The Station will turn off the lights when you go to bed! It’ll find your missing keys! It’ll make everything work, seamlessly and simply! All for just $60 bucks! Well, $80 if you want the charging brick … and you do.

That said, the Matter standard (and the SmartThings Station by extension) are a promise based on you upgrading all your stuff, or better yet, simply starting from scratch with new gear. And the device itself does little to alleviate the clutter confusion most consumers probably have when it comes to hubs. Do I need one? Wait, I have one already? And I need another? Which spec or protocol am I using anyway? 

The Station is simple enough - and smart enough, for that matter. But like a teenager’s bedroom, I’m afraid the smart home may remain a cluttered mess for now.

SmartThings Station review: price and availability

• List price: $79.99
• Available only in the US

The is available to buy for a list price of $79.99 and is available only in the United States. It can be bought direct from the Samsung website. You'll have a choice of color to choose from; it's available in black or white.

SmartThings Station review: Specs

SmartThings Station review: Design

The Station is a black plastic square with rounded edges, about an inch tall -- sort of like a stack of drink coasters. A dark gray top is recessed a tiny bit and contains a single button in the top right corner that can activate different features depending on whether you press, long press, or double press it. There’s a set of colored LEDs on the right front edge to indicate connectivity and charging status and a USB-C connection on the back. And that’s about it.

Because it has extra smarts in it that any other charger lacks, it also has a fan to keep itself cool. I didn’t notice the gentle whir at all, but somehow my wife said she heard it on my nightstand from her side of the bed. Pay her no mind; it’s not really audible.

The $60 version of the Station lets you BYO your charger, and you've probably got something around that'll power it via USB-C. But to get super-wicked-fast charging from your Galaxy phone (you're using this with one, right?), you'll want to drop an extra $20 to get Sammy's. 

For a phone charger, the Station is decidedly clunky, especially when compared with the $10 Tozo W1 wireless charger I bought recently, a wisp of a disc with a grippy rubber top. (Don’t like the Tozo? We’ve got a great list of the top chargers on the market, which come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.) But keep in mind, this is no mere charger, hence the circa $80 price tag. The Station has a secret: Matter. We’ll get to that in a second.

Design score: 2 out of 5

Let's talk about hubs

The core raison d’etre of the Station is also the main problem with smarthomes today: hubs. (And you’re forgiven if the word alone makes you want to put a pillow over your head.) Some smart home devices connect directly to an app on your phone through Wi-Fi or some other protocol, including the Nest Learning Thermostat and many popular door locks. Others come with a hub that facilitates communication out to the world.

Most people have hubs without thinking twice about them: An Amazon smart speaker or a Google Nest hubs or the Apple HomePod, which allow you to use voice assistants to speak to your devices. This is handy, but of course, you can likely only use the one assistant. Hubs are necessary.

I’ve got two other hubs in my home, one for the SimpliSafe home security system and a second for my EufyCam 2 security cams (the best home security camera system on the market). That’s right, I have two different security systems with two different hubs that speak different languages. And neither of them works well with Google. And neither speaks Matter, for that matter. 

This, in a nutshell, is the challenge of today’s smart home: too many hubs, too many standards, too much confusion. And into this space steps … another hub. I’m sorry too. Don’t blame me.

Hubs function essentially as a bridge to the outside world. Think of the Matter standard as the language your devices speak, regardless of whether they’re talking on the phone or DMing or on FaceTime, metaphorically speaking. Hubs allow that conversation to reach outside of your house, so you can use your devices from anywhere in the world, via the SmartThings app. As I said, it's a necessary thing.

SmartThings Station review: performance

Yes, the Samsung Station is a hub for Matter, but it’s also a charger, and a darn good one, supporting “super-fast” wireless charging on Samsung phones. My Samsung Galaxy S22 acknowledged the Station and the 15 watts of juice it supplied with a grin and smile. Other devices won’t support those speeds, but they should charge at regular wireless speeds -- that is to say, slowly. And as with all charging thingies, you’ll have to position your phone just right or you’ll wake up with 22% battery life, as I did this morning. Sigh.

The Station can locate your devices as well through a service called SmartThings Find, which is useful in the morning when you’re scrambling to find keys or that cell phone that’s walked off. Swipe between devices on the app, then press the tile's button to locate them. You can also activate this feature through a physical button on the Station itself, which otherwise didn’t feel super handy to me.

Setting up the Station is a snap. Download the Samsung SmartThings app on either Android or iOS, plug the device in and your phone will automatically find it. If not, just tap the small plus sign to start things rolling. Voila. Next up, connect your smart home devices, and if you’ve already got SmartThings set up, you’re way ahead of the game. If not, it’s simple enough to add gear to Samsung’s app.

Matter is intended to smooth out this process, so to test it out, I screwed a Nanoleaf Essentials Matter Smart Bulb (model N67) into a kitchen light. The N67 is a brand new smart bulb that can change colors and temperatures thanks to the Nanoleaf app.

I added the N67 first to the Nanoleaf app. Once there, the SmartThings app detected the device and began registering it to my Samsung account. It … well, didn’t work. The app hung for several minutes before telling me “Something went wrong. Error code 39-511.” It did this twice in a row before I gave up in frustration.

Several days later, new firmware was pushed to the bulb, updating it from 3.2.0 to 3.5.0. Following the update, I noticed that the bulb was available in SmartThings. Had it always been there? What was the error? Is it registered to my Samsung account? What does that even mean? Regardless, once over the hump I could control the bulb flawlessly from either app. By clicking the “Share with other services” menu in SmartThings, I was able to share the bulb and its features to my Google Nest Hub, which is also a Matter hub. This worked remarkably well, but I don’t expect anyone to ever take advantage of it. Who has two Matter hubs?

Setting up Routines

The real power of connected devices lies in automation -- tying together multiple devices to change the setting, set the mood, or whatever. And frankly, I remain shocked that modern office buildings don’t do more in this regard. If you’re like me, you walk into conference rooms on a daily basis carrying both a smartphone and a laptop; Why those devices don’t interact with the room itself is beyond me. Can’t they automatically log into a Zoom room or Google Hangout, turn on the lights, enable the camera (and point it at me), and log into whatever conference is configured to start? Or set the conference room status to “occupied” or “lunchtime beer tasting” or something?

But forget the office: SmartThings Station can do that for your home, tied to the time of day, home status, or several other variables that make this a very powerful feature. Drop a phone on it to charge and you can automatically trigger a routine -- turn the music to something innocuous, set the lights to mellow yellow, whatever.

Through SmartThings, I set a routine to trigger after 10pm if I set my phone on the charger for more than 1 minute. Under those specific circumstances, the routine turned off the lights and set things to away mode. It was handy indeed, and I could see this being quite useful.

Performance score: 3 out of 5

Should you buy the SmartThings Station?

Buy it if ...

Don't buy it if ...

SmartThings Station review: also consider

This is a pretty unique proposition from Samsung but if you wish to create an ecosystem with smart devices, or need a new phone to charge on the SmartThings Station here are a couple of products to consider...

How I tested the Samsung SmartThings Station

I spent a month with the SmartThings Station to ensure that I understood the Matter ecosystem and how it worked. Testing the phone charger simply as a charger -- including the Find My Device features and so on -- was straightforward enough with my Galaxy S22 Ultra, but that's really only half of the product. 

My New York City apartment lacks the cornucopia of smart home devices that suburban dwellers use, however, such as connected doorbells and security systems. So I focused my testing on the brand new Nanoleaf Essentials Matter Smart Bulb (model N67). I tested the pair over the span of two weeks, unplugging the Station, adding the Bulb to my other Matter hub, and experimenting with Routines. The more energy you invest in this feature, the more value you'll get from your purchase. But that kind of flies in the face of Matter's plug-and-play attitude, doesn't it?

First reviewed April 2023

Read more about how we test

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is the latest addition to the brand's lineup of pod coffee machines. It's main USP – which is, perhaps, the most obvious – is that it's available in six gorgeous colors, allowing you to select a model to suit your kitchen decor or to make a statement.

Nespresso is known globally for producing some of the finest coffee and best coffee makers. Its coffee machines fall into one of two established categories, Vertuo and Original, with the Vertuo capsules larger in size and dome-shaped over the more refined, smaller Original capsules.

The Pop is a Vertuo machine and therefore accepts Vertuo capsules. Currently, it comes with 50 free capsules that are auto-added at checkout. I received a box of 12 for the purpose of this review – and can say that I've enjoyed every single one.

There were four espressos (40ml), four double espressos (80ml) and four mug (230ml) capsules, which were all different flavors. The Pop can also brew a gran lungo (150ml), delivering up to four cup sizes. In addition, making a coffee is as simple as pushing a button; the machine will automatically recognize the blend.

The Pop comes with a removable cup support to accommodate the larger mug size, although I found that I didn't use this much (if at all) during testing because I only have regular mugs in my household. This didn't impact the quality of the coffee or the pour. I also found that the 600ml / 20fl oz capacity tank was only sufficient for making two mug-sized capsules; for any more, you'll need to refill the water tank. But since you can only make one coffee at a time, this shouldn't be an issue.

In my opinion, the Vertuo Pop is the best Nespresso machine for single households, or where space is limited on the counter top. Each coffee I made it was delicious with a thick crema on top. Read on to discover more.

Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: price and availability

• List price: £99
• Widely available at resellers
• Larger Vertuo Pop+ is available in the US

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop can be bought directly from Nespresso, or resellers such as Amazon, Argos, Currys and John Lewis for a list price of £99. It's often discounted, so do shop around for deals. It's not available in the US, but coffee lovers there can buy the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+, which looks similar but is larger, has a larger 25.4fl oz / 750ml water tank, and can make an XL 12oz coffee in addition to the four sizes offered by the Vertuo Pop.

The machine is the latest addition to the Vertuo range. It's the most affordable, with the Nespresso Vertuo Plus being the next best option for those on a budget at £179.

Compared to the Nespresso Original machines, the Vertuo Pop doesn't come with an integrated milk frother or separate Aeroccino, so those who like frothy, heated milk in their cappuccino may benefit from spending an additional £90-or-so from Amazon for one.

• Value: 5/5

Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: specs

• No. of cup sizes: 4
• Heat-up time: 30 seconds
• Water tank capacity: 600ml / 20 fl oz
• Connectivity: Yes
• Dimensions: 136 x 426 x 250mm / 5.3 x 16.7 x 9.8in
• Weight: 3.5kg / 7.7lbs

Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: Design

• Compact and minimalist
• Movable cup support
• Available in six colors

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is a compact coffee pod coffee maker. It measures  136 x 426 x 250mm / 5.3 x 16.7 x 9.8in, so it doesn't take up much space on the countertop. In addition, it weighs just 3.5kg / 7.7lbs, so it can be easily moved if you need to store it out of sight.

A slight downside of its compact form is that the removable 600ml / 20 fl oz water tank only holds enough water for making two mug-sized coffees. This is fine for single-person households, or maybe even couples who drink one coffee per day; but for families this particular coffee machine won't be up for the demand.

The Vertuo Pop can make four different cup sizes: espresso (40ml), double espresso (80ml), gran lungo (150ml) and mug (230ml). For the largest size, the cup support can be removed – although I didn't use this since I have only regular-size mugs.

The one-touch button for operation is on the top of the machine. Beneath this is a lever that can be turned to unlock the top of the machine for inserting a capsule. With the capsule in place, the lid can be shut and locked into position.

This coffee machine is available in six attractive colors, allowing you a choice of model that will either blend in with your kitchen, or make a statement. You get a choice of Liquorice Black, Pacific Blue, Aqua Mint, Spicy Red, Mango Yellow and Coconut White. Although the machine isn't wrapped entirely in a colorful hue because of it's black lower-half, it certainly catches the eye. The model I tested was Aqua Mint, and since all of my other appliances are black, it certainly brought a nice pop of color to my kitchen.

• Design: 4.5/5

Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: Performance

• Quick to set up
• Easy to use
• Compatible with the Nespresso app

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop is super-easy to set up and use from the get-go. It comes with a comprehensive instruction booklet, and while the pages might make it seem that you have to "pair" the coffee machine with the Nespresso app before use, the reality is that you don't have to use the app at all – it's merely for additional support, if you feel you need it.

I set up the machine before downloading the app. Rinse out the water tank, and then you'll need to "place a container". This is a little vague, but reading ahead in the instructions, it turns out that you'll need to find a container the same size as the water tank or larger, and move the cup support. After pressing the button three times within a 2-second time frame, you'll see why. The machine will start rinsing, and it will use all the water in the tank to do so; unless you're prepared with a container the same size as the water tank, or have a couple of empty mugs handy, you could end up with a puddle on the counter top.

Having done this, you're now ready to use the machine. You just need to turn it on, insert the capsule, and press the button to start pouring coffee.

Our review unit arrived with an assortment of 12 coffee capsules and, at the time of writing, you can receive a box of 50 coffee capsules for free, giving you plenty to get started. Do note that there isn't much of a selection of decaf coffee, so if you're not big on drinking caffeine, you may need to source some alternative capsules to the freebies. There's a lot of choice of Vertuo capsules on Amazon, for example.

The machine will automatically detect the size of capsule added to the machine, and I found that it poured the perfect amount of coffee into my chosen vessel every time.

Offering simple one-touch brewing, I just pressed one button and the Vertuo Pop took care of the rest. It takes no longer than 30 seconds to make a mug of coffee, and even less time to make a smaller coffee. There were no drips from the spout once the coffee had been poured, and it produced the perfect crema on top.

The capsules will automatically dispense into an integrated drawer, which holds up to 12 capsules, once the coffee is poured. These capsules can't be recycled via your home recycling, which is rather annoying. I found that the best way to recycle Nespresso pods was to request a Podback bag at the time of ordering and thereafter take it to my nearest CollectPlus location. Alternatively, if you're regularly ordering capsules then you can arrange a time and date for your used capsules to be collected, which is the next best option.

The Vertuo Pop can brew only one coffee at a time. If we wanted to make two mugs of coffee, for example, I just needed to make sure that I had enough water in the water tank and a capsule and mug at the ready. Note that this machine is noticeably loud when brewing a coffee; I measured it between 62–71dB, the louder level being equivalent to a washing machine.

As mentioned earlier, there is an app that accompanies the Vertuo Pop. This isn't essential to run the machine, but it does provide care instructions for your machine, and you can receive real-time tips on using your coffee machine.

Download the Nespresso app then pair with your machine using Bluetooth. Then, connected to your home Wi-Fi, you can receive notifications and gain access to help and support, should you feel you need it. 

In terms of maintenance, the advice is to descale the machine every three months or 300 capsules (which ever comes first). There is some guidance about how to do this in the Nespresso app, or follow the steps in the instruction manual. You're also advised to clean the machine every six to 12 months, which involves just running clean water and odorless detergent through the machine on a cycle.

• Performance: 4.5/5

Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Nespresso Vertuo Pop review: also consider

If you prefer to consider a pod coffee machine from another brand, here are a couple of machines to consider...

How I tested the Nespresso Vertuo Pop

• I've been using the Vertuo Pop for 2 weeks
• I've made an espresso, gran lungo and mug (sized)
• I now prefer coffee

The Nespresso Vertuo Pop compact pod coffee machine has been residing on my kitchen countertop for a couple of weeks. I've been reviewing it in the Aqua Mint colorway, which brings a nice "pop" of color to my kitchen.

The review machine arrived with a box of 12 capsules. These were in the sizes of espresso, gran lungo and mug. The machine automatically detects the size of pod inserted, and to make any size of coffee, I simply inserted a capsule, put a mug under the coffee spout, and pushed the button. It was super easy. I was impressed by the quality of coffee poured, with the thick crema similar to that seen in coffee bought from a coffee shop.

I've been reviewing coffee machines for three years, and have been writing about appliances for over 10 years. I'm generally a tea-drinker, but this pod coffee machine has proved to me that you don't need to spend a lot of money, or claim a lot of kitchen space, to make a decent cup of coffee.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed: April 2023