While most smart home hubs promise the world and deliver a glorified remote control, LG’s ThinQ ON actually seems to get it. This cylindrical device isn’t just another voice assistant with delusions of grandeur. It’s running something called “Affectionate Intelligence,” which sounds cheesy until you realize it actually learns your patterns and adapts accordingly.
The hub supports natural language commands, meaning you can talk to it like a human instead of barking robotic phrases. It monitors your appliances autonomously and tells you when your laundry’s done or something’s broken. Basic stuff, really, but executed well through a proprietary chipset that processes commands without the usual lag that makes you want to throw things.
What sets ThinQ ON apart is its Matter certification. Finally, a hub that plays nice with other brands instead of forcing you into a walled garden. It supports Wi-Fi, Thread, Zigbee, and Bluetooth, covering pretty much every connectivity standard that matters. You can control both LG appliances and third-party devices from one place, which is refreshing in an ecosystem typically fragmented beyond recognition.
The design is surprisingly thoughtful. The compact cylinder comes in Champagne Gold and Black, with a 3.5-inch LCD display angled for visibility. The embedded speaker delivers clear audio, and the visual interface supplements voice interactions with status updates. It’s functional without screaming “LOOK AT MY SMART HOME TECH” to every visitor.
The conversational interface recognizes context and user intent, storing preferences to optimize daily routines. You can set up automations using voice commands, and the system remembers your habits. It’s part of LG’s “Zero Labor Home” vision, which aims for fully automated living environments. The system utilizes AllJoyn Alliance compatibility to ensure broader device integration across manufacturers.
Remote management works through the mobile app, and the ThinQ platform keeps expanding to integrate more device categories and brands. LG Shield provides robust data protection by encrypting user information and storing it on separate servers. The hub also provides local control capabilities, allowing critical functions to continue working even when your internet connection goes down. While other companies focus on flashy features that barely work, LG quietly built something that actually functions as advertised.
The ThinQ ON isn’t perfect, but it’s competent in ways that make other hubs look amateur.
