- The V2 was the SmartThings branded hub released in 2015. It’s no longer made, but is still supported. V2 just means “version two.“
- The station is the newest hub from SmartThings, released I think in 2022. It’s a phone charger as well as a hub. It does not have a Z wave radio.
- “Matter” is an independent third-party standard created a couple of years ago by all the big automation companies working together: Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung, IKEA, Phillips, and a bunch more. The idea is that it’s supposed to make it easier to add a device to multiple platforms. Also, communications between the devices and the account will be local rather than needing an Internet cloud. The vision has been better than what was actually rolled out so far: it’s been a pretty bumpy road. But SmartThings has been one of the early supporters of the idea, and Devices which are certified for matter will work with the SmartThings platform.
Consumer reports has a good introductory explainer:
For how it works with SmartThings, See the community FAQ:
FAQ: What do I need to add a Matter device to the SmartThings app? Do I need a bridge router device?
And the discussion thread in this forum for all things matter:
Matter - smart home connectivity standard (formerly Project CHIP)
- “AWA” is the “advanced Web app“ which is the official web interface to your SmartThings account