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# DO YOU REALLY NEED A SMART FRIDGE WITH AN ANDROID TABLET?
When Samsung released its first smart fridge in 2016, people were skeptical about having an Android tablet stuck to the door of their fridge. Now, the newest model, the Bespoke 4-Door Flex With Family Hub Plus, is available for preorder, and it still begs the question: do you really need a giant tablet on your fridge?
# A BIGGER SCREEN FOR YOUR KITCHEN TV
If you answered yes to the previous question, then you’re in luck because the Family Hub Plus has a two-times bigger screen than the previous model. It’s still quite pricey, roughly $1,000 more than a comparable Samsung fridge without a screen, but if you’re into watching Samsung’s TV Plus service while cooking or using the digital dashboard to view recipes, photos, stick notes, and control your smart home devices, then you’ll love the bigger screen.
# A BEZEL-LESS SCREEN THAT BLENDS IN
At CES, people got to see the Family Hub Plus’s new screen in person, and it’s impressive. The extra real estate feels more useful as a kitchen TV, and with the new picture-in-picture mode, you can multitask on the tablet. The new screen is also bezel-less, so it blends in better when not in use. A giant tablet in your kitchen can be distracting, but Samsung has fixed this issue in its newer models.
# SMART HOME CONTROLLER AND MATTER
As a Matter controller, the fridge can onboard Matter-compatible devices, like smart lights, plugs, thermostats, and locks, to your SmartThings app, as long as it’s a Wi-Fi device. A version of the SmartThings app is also on the fridge’s touchscreen tablet, giving you a big screen to control your smart home from. While there are much cheaper Matter controllers, like the $60 Samsung SmartThings wireless charger, it’s good that this feature is available in the fridge.
# GOOGLE PHOTOS AND AMAZON ESSENTIALS INTEGRATION
The same software update that will bring Matter control to all Samsung Family Hub fridges in July will also add a Google Photos integration, making it easier to turn the fridge into a digital photo frame. Additionally, the update will add Amazon Essentials integration, allowing for quick Amazon shopping from your fridge. Samsung has also enhanced its cooking dashboard, a feature that uses AI to recommend recipes and meal plans based on your preferences as well as the fridge’s AI-powered cameras, which can recognize food in your fridge.
Are you convinced that you need a giant tablet on your fridge door? If so, the Family Hub Plus may be the perfect addition to your smart home. With its bigger screen, Matter controller, and Google Photos and Amazon Essentials integration, it has everything you need to stay organized while cooking and keep up with your busy life.
