I’m looking at the current fridges from Samsung and I’m wondering what functionality remains if internet is not available, I’m used to devices that can be controlled from the local network even if the internet is not working.
You need an active connection to the Internet to reach the SmartThings cloud for any of the smart features, even just checking the status in the SmartThings app.
The refrigerator continues to run as a refrigerator without the Internet.
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We should add that the entire SmartThings platform assumes you have an active Internet connection. Even the SmartThings app only works when you are connected to the Internet, even if you are on the same local Wi-Fi as your hub. They didn’t have to design it that way, but they did.
Here’s the official architecture schematic:
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It is a bit of a waste, once the devices are onboarded they could just advertise their presence and have the smartthings app or a device in the local network act as the cloud endpoint/cache and sync up once internet connectivity is restored, given they accounted for “third-party Cloud”.
Once there is an outage of any kind the Directly Connected devices stop being smart.
It really isn’t easy to find out. I certainly don’t know the answer. I always thought that Samsung appliances were integrated using OCF protocols meaning they could be controlled over the LAN with the SmartThings app effectively being a remote control. However they are clearly also integrated into the broader SmartThings platform to greater or lesser degrees. It is very confusing. It is tempting to think the SmartThings app is based on SmartThings with Samsung specific stuff bolted on, but it feels more like it is the other way around and it is a Samsung OCF app with SmartThings bolted onto it.