hubs that won't leave your front door unlocked during a cloud outage

gold standard. integrated zigbee and thread radios (silabs mg21) mean no dongle mess hanging off usb ports. cm4 module handles the compute load easily - even with fifty automations running. running z-wave js add-on makes schlage locks respond instantly. if you aren't running local via mqtt why even bother? requires setup but total control creates peace of mind.

ugly interface - looks like windows 95 threw up on a dashboard - but the logic engine is solid. external antennas for z-wave 800 series increase range significantly (critical if your front door is far from the server rack). processes rules locally. no cloud lag. good redundant option if you don't want to maintain a linux box.

only specifically the 128gb model - don't cheap out or you lose thread support. acts as a solid border router for matter-over-thread locks. wife acceptance factor is high since it just works with siri. rock solid uptime unlike the homepods which flake out on the mesh network constantly.

it's just rebadged smartthings hardware. acceptable if you refuse to learn yaml but rely on cloud processing for too many device handlers. pings samsung's servers to unlock the door? massive security vector. use only if forced.

technically a controller not a full hub but pair this with a raspberry pi 4 and you have the most robust z-wave network possible. s2 security protocol implementation is flawless. superior to proprietary boxes.

finally added power over ethernet (poe) - hate changing batteries or wasting wifi bandwidth on bridges. focuses on matter protocol. good for their u100 lock but binding other brands is a headache. ir blaster is a gimmick.

thread border router built-in. display is okay for checking doorbell cam feeds while cooking. issue is google kills products randomly (remember works with nest?). trusting them with long-term infrastructure is risky. api changes break integrations annually.

zigbee radio is weak. constantly dropping packets. plus the screen is 40% ads for features i disabled. sidewall network enabled by default is a privacy nightmare. use only if you are deep in the alexa ecosystem and don't care about network hygiene.

niche unit. specifically fixes the disastrous lack of interoperability between nest x yale locks and homekit. plugs into router. does one thing. does it well. annoyed i have to buy separate hardware because google refuses to play nice with standards.

absolute garbage. not a hub but people buy it. constant disconnects. destroys lock battery life because wifi is too power hungry for deadbolts. latency is 5-10 seconds. throw it in the e-waste bin.