I recently had the opportunity to participate in the SmartThings Hub Firmware 25.x Beta program, and I wanted to share my experience and some tips for anyone considering joining future beta tests.
The update process itself was straightforward, though it did require a brief minute of downtime for the hub. I was impressed with how smoothly the update went, especially considering the significant changes under the hood, such as the new Z-Wave framework and support for additional DTHs.
One thing I found particularly useful was the ability to manually control GE/Jasco Zigbee in-wall switches and dimmers, which had been a pain point for me in the past. The firmware also addressed some discovery issues with Zigbee ZLL devices, which I noticed improved the reliability of my RGBgenie RGB controller.
For those interested in participating in future beta programs, I recommend keeping an eye on your email for update notifications and ensuring your hub is on the latest stable firmware before opting in. It’s also a good idea to back up your settings and have a list of devices handy in case any issues arise during the update.
Overall, this beta experience gave me more confidence in the SmartThings ecosystem and its ability to adapt and improve based on user feedback. If you’re curious about how your devices might benefit from these updates, I’d encourage you to consider joining future beta programs!