Internet of Things (IoT)

IKEA's Kajplats GU10 LED bulbs are now available in the US. These cheaper smart home products offer wireless dimming, and they also support the Matter protocol.

Govee has added yet another option for illuminating backyards, patios, and decks. The Outdoor Chromatic String Lights feature large bulbs that each shine multiple colors. Available now at retailers, the waterproof smart lights ship in two different lengths with 10 or 20 bulbs.

The Philips Hue app version 5.63.0 is now available for Android and iOS. While the change log is minimal, users have found a new way to customize the Home tab.

Tapo appears to be working on a new presence sensor dimmer switch. This smart lighting accessory is listed as a Matter compatible device with a built-in ambient light sensor.

Xiaomi has launched a new smart home product in China: the Mijia Smart Bathroom Heater G20. It combines various functions including heating, ventilation and lighting, with support for HyperOS Connect.

IKEA's new smart Varmblixt LED table/wall lamp is now available in the US. Already available in Europe, this smart version of the popular donut-shaped light is Matter compatible and comes with a pre-paid remote.

Govee has launched a new Edison Bulb in various countries worldwide. This dimmable smart light bulb offers white and colored lighting effects. Plus, support for the Matter protocol allows it to integrate with many smart home ecosystems.

The Xiaomi Mi Home Air Conditioner Smart Health Check feature has been officially announced in China. This app-based functionality can help to improve the performance of these smart home appliances.

The Xiaomi Mijia Smart Bathroom Heater G10 has been launched in China. This new smart home product offers various functionalities, including heating, cooling, lighting and odor extraction.

Xiaomi’s Smart Door Lock G100 is launching in China in the near future. This smart home product offers nine ways to unlock your front door, including a fingerprint scanner and NFC reader.

Xiaomi’s Mijia Washing Machine Top-Loading 10kg has been launched in China. This compact model has a minimalist design and offers smart features thanks to the brand’s HyperOS Connect technology.

Dreame has launched its new Smart Control Screen S6 in China. The smart home product combines an IPS screen with a stepless dial, allowing you to control a wide range of connected devices.

The Xiaomi Mi Home Central Air Conditioner with Powerful Duct Unit is now available for pre-order in China. This “super energy efficient” model is said to offer rapid heating and cooling, with intelligent accessories and a range of remote control options.

Govee has released a new smart bulb in the US and the EU. Known as the Govee E26 Smart Light Bulb 1600lm or the Smart Bulb E27 A21 1600lm, it offers a particularly high level of brightness and color accuracy. Plus, it supports the Matter smart home protocol.

Xiaomi’s Mi Home Air Conditioner Super Energy Saving Pro (Super Energy Efficiency Level 1) has been released in China. It is said to be more energy efficient than the standard model and supports HyperOS Connect.

Xiaomi’s Smart Camera C302 has been released in countries across Europe. Most recently, it landed at the brand’s online store in Spain. Its features include smart human and pet detection and tracking.

Yesterday's arrival of Fedora Linux 44 beta introduces the post-install Plasma Setup application for all KDE variants of this operating system alongside the Plasma Login Manager, which replaces SDDM as the default login manager. The Games Lab also replaces Xfce with KDE Plasma, and the changes don't stop here.

The Xiaomi Mi Home Central Air Conditioner (6HP, Super Level 1 Energy Efficiency) has been revealed in China. This new smart home product comes with a range of optional accessories, including a mmWave radar presence detecting fan panel, a health filter and a smart control panel.

Shelly has revealed a new smart home sensor: the Flood S Gen4. This is an updated version of the brand’s original water leak sensor, with a new slimmer body. Features include several alarm modes and support for the Matter protocol for a wider range of smart home integrations.

Qualcomm has unveiled the Arduino Ventuno Q single-board computer designed for hobbyists and developers interested in creating physical AI projects, such as robots. The SBC is powered by a Dragonwing IQ8 SoC, 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM, and 64 GB eMMC, coupled with an STM32H5 MCU for real-time control of motors and sensors.

Espressif’s new ESP32-H21 adds an on-chip DC-DC converter that reduces power draw in always-on, battery-powered smart home and IoT devices. We're talking about devices that support Thread, Matter, Zigbee, and Bluetooth Low Energy and need to stay connected without draining the battery for weeks or months.

The 2026 Xiaomi Mi Home Air Conditioner Ultra Energy-Saving Pro 1.5 HP has been launched in China. This model has been upgraded in several ways, compared to its predecessor, with a higher air flow rate. Plus, it has a self-cleaning function and can be remotely controlled via the brand’s app.

IKEA has released a range of Kajplats smart bulbs in the US. Already available in Europe, these smart LED bulbs support Matter, meaning they can be connected to many other smart home devices. The line-up includes white and white/colored lighting options with various bulb shapes and some starter kits.

The IKEA Dirigera hub is receiving a new update: software version 2.934.0. This release is said to improve the stability of the Matter onboarding process. It arrives in the wake of a series of customer complaints about connectivity issues with the brand’s recently released Matter compatible smart home products.

Google’s March 2 Google Home release notes add “Live Search” for camera streams for Google Home Premium Advanced subscribers, plus updates to device targeting and automations.

The Govee Outdoor Pathway Lights 2 Lite are now available in countries worldwide. These relatively affordable smart lights are said to deliver S-shaped lighting effects, with a range of preset scenes to choose from. Plus, support for Matter allows them to integrate with many smart home ecosystems.

IKEA has started to roll out its new Tofsmygga Plug, black/outdoor smart, in countries across Europe. This smart plug is designed for outdoor use and could be used to remotely control lights or other devices. Plus, it is Matter compatible, meaning it can work with many other smart home products.

Quectel's RM255C-GL and RG255C-NA are two new Sub-6 GHz 5G modules designed for mid-tier IoT, industrial, and wearable devices. Both the modules support 3GPP Rel-17 RedCap technology, with LTE Cat 4 fallback, and both have a theoretical peak downlink of 223 Mbps and uplink of 123 Mbps.

This tiny ESP32-C3-based development board measures only 25mm x 20mm, features a 0.42-inch OLED display, and supports both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity via an onboard ceramic antenna.

The Govee Cone Tree Lights 2 are on the way. This smart lighting product, designed for outdoor use, appears to be a successor to the original model. So far, we know that it will offer colored lighting effects, with support for Matter enabling integrations with many popular smart home ecosystems.

Govee is set to release a new smart outdoor lighting product: the Spherical Net Lights. The model was recently spotted in the database of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), revealing some of its features. These include Matter compatibility for broad smart home integration.

The Sonoff AirGuard PM2.5/PM10 and the Sonoff AirGuard CO2 Air Quality Monitors are now available in countries worldwide. Both models feature a 3.73-inch display with alarm sounds and an indicator light to alert you to changes in air quality. Plus, they support Matter for a wider range of smart home integrations.

The Arduino Matter Discovery Bundle has been officially announced for learning and prototyping Matter-enabled smart home devices. Built around the Nano Matter board, the bundle includes expansion hardware, sensor modules, and a structured curriculum to help developers build and test Matter-over-Thread applications.

Soldered Electronics has launched a new e-Paper display via Crowd Supply. Dubbed the Inkplate 13Spectra, the ESP32-S3-based board features a massive 13.3-inch six-color E-Ink Spectra panel designed for standalone operation without a Raspberry Pi. The platform also supports battery-powered use, offering up to 40–50 days of runtime on a single charge.

The new display also supports touch input and can be used as a control panel for a smart home. Users can benefit from very extensive configuration options. In addition, smart home devices can integrated with this system.

A new display with an integrated circuit board can be used to build a relatively affordable smart home display. The Waveshare ESP32-S3 sports two microphones and the ubiquitous touchscreen.

Waveshare is now offering a 7-inch round touchscreen display with an IPS panel, HDMI input, and 10-point capacitive touch support, targeting smart home systems, in-vehicle infotainment systems, and other interactive embedded HMI hardware.

Philips Hue has officially launched the upgraded Turaco outdoor smart light range in Europe. The line-up includes three models: the Turaco Wall lantern, the Turaco Post and the Turaco Pedestal. Compared to the originals, these devices are brighter, offering dimmable white and colored lighting effects.

The Philips Hue app has been updated again. The version 5.61 release is now available for both iOS and Android users, arriving a couple of weeks after the last update. In the release notes, Philips Hue officially announces a new Automations function to improve the user experience.

A new Shelly Camera is set to be unveiled in Europe in the next few weeks. This will be the first smart security camera released by the brand in many years. While its design has yet to be revealed, its features are said to include local video storage, and it will not require users to have a subscription.

Dreame has released the Robotic Lawn Mower A2 1200 in Europe. This model is based on the original A2, though it is designed to cover a smaller area and has a lower RRP. Features include boundary-wire-free navigation thanks to onboard LiDAR and camera, and the ability to tackle up to 50% inclines. 

Anker has released its new eufy Smoke Alarm E10 in some European countries. Currently available via the brand’s Amazon storefront, the benefits of this smart home product are said to include a reduced number of false alarms and a tap to mute function. Plus, it is relatively compact, measuring 70 mm (~2.75 inches) in diameter.

Anker has unveiled the eufy Glass Break Sensor E10 in Europe. Also set for release in the US, this smart home security device can detect the sound of glass breaking. The sensor can then alert the homeowner to the possible break-in, and play a loud noise to deter a potential intruder.

After deciding against using the ISP router in part one, it’s time to focus on hardware: what actually works best for an OpenWRT router? A mini PC, Raspberry Pi, or a traditional router? And what about the switch and access point? In this part, I’ll walk through my hardware choices, including considerations around power consumption, architecture, and cost.

Eufy is now selling the E20 Motion Sensor in Europe, following its recent launch in the US. Designed to trigger linked smart home devices, this model is said to have a smart animal detection feature, which should reduce the number of false alarms caused by pets and wildlife.

Philips Hue’s new Essential Light Strip is now available at some retailers in Europe. Previously released in the US, this is the brand’s entry-level model with a lower price and a slightly reduced feature set. It offers both white and colored gradient lighting effects, with adjustable brightness and app-based controls.

Philips Hue is rolling out an update for a range of its smart home products. This release improvea the accuracy of battery status information and fixes a motion detection issue. According to the company, software version 67.116.1/2.85.1/2.85.5 has been pushed OTA to users of most of its battery-powered accessories.

The Cury by Shelly smart diffuser is now available in Europe. This smart home device is designed to fragrance your home, and can also help repel mosquitoes. Features include dual scent compartments, customized scheduling and scent intensity via the app, and support for voice commands.

Provider routers are convenient—but that’s exactly their biggest problem. Poor Wi-Fi coverage, limited control, questionable privacy, and technical limitations are everyday issues for many users. In this new series, I’ll gradually replace my provider’s all-in-one device (the Vodafone Station) with a modular setup using an OpenWRT router, access point, and switch. In part 1, I’ll explain why I’m taking this approach and how the project is structured.

TP-Link has released the Tapo C710 2K Pan/Tilt IP65 Floodlight Camera in the US. This model combines a pan/tilt security camera with a motion-activated floodlight offering up to 1,500 lumens brightness. Other features include a free AI human, vehicle and pet detection feature, and alarms to deter intruders.