If you have Matter accessories at home, as an iPhone user you now have another option to operate them. The Samsung SmartThings app now works for Matter on iOS, which offers additional options. 
SmartThings is Samsung's smart home platform, like HomeKit and the Home app is for Apple. Both HomeKit and SmartThings support (just like Google Home) the new smart home standard Matter. The advantage of Matter is that an accessory works directly on multiple platforms, without the manufacturer having to build in support for each individual platform. But there was still no way to control Matter accessories on the iPhone with the app from one of the other major smart home platforms. But with the latest update of Samsung SmartThings you can.
Samsung SmartThings on iOS works with Matter
To combine the SmartThings app for iOS with Matter accessories, you need at least iOS 16.2. The SmartThings app is available for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. The platform offers a number of advantages over HomeKit. The biggest advantage is that Samsung SmartThings works on both Android and iOS. If you live with Android users, it is smarter to opt for a multi-platform system such as Google Home or Samsung SmartThings than for HomeKit. After all, it is more convenient for automations and the like if every family member in the house can access all devices. And now that the SmartThings app supports Matter on iOS, it makes it much easier to control your home if you have both Android and iOS users in your home. The SmartThings app can also come in handy if you don't find the Home app useful, for example.
In addition, Samsung SmartThings supports more smart home devices than HomeKit and the Home app, although this range for Apple's system can increase considerably in the near future thanks to support for Matter. After all, manufacturers only need to support Matter to be able to operate the accessories in both HomeKit and Google Home or Samsung SmartThings.
Matter has been available since the end of 2022 and we expect many more products to support it in the coming years. Eve, a popular HomeKit brand, now supports Matter for a number of products, allowing Android users to operate these devices for the first time. You can read more about this new smart home standard in our explanation. We also have an extensive Matter FAQ for answers to the most frequently asked questions.
See also 
What is Matter, the global smart home standard?
Matter ensures that smart home products from different manufacturers work better together. Apple, Google, Amazon and about 200 other manufacturers are participating. What's in it for you?