Smart Home

Released in 2023 at a price of $1,600, the 55-inch Sony A75L OLED TV is now on sale at a total discount of 37.5% vs launch price. This corresponds to massive $600 savings, resulting in the lowest Sony A75L price to date.

The SwitchBot Hub 3, an unreleased smart home control centre, has appeared in the CSA database. The Matter-certified device has a built-in display and integrated sensors to detect motion and temperature. There are various upgrades compared to its predecessor, the Hub 2, including a new intelligent knob.

The TCL PlayCube, a new portable projector, has recently been named an iF Design Award 2025 winner. In the announcement, more specifications of this upcoming model have been revealed, including a brightness measurement. Unveiled at CES 2025, the projector has an unusual twisting design that is said to be inspired by the Rubik’s Cube.

The SwitchBot Floor Lamp, an unannounced smart light, has appeared in the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) database. The upcoming product supports the Matter standard, meaning it can integrate with many other smart home products. Features include white and colored lighting, and dynamic effects, including a music-synced mode.

The rumored Apple smart home hub is predicted to be delayed until the latter half of 2025, according to Apple market analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo states that the hub's launch is delayed due to iOS 19 launching later this year, which will overhaul Apple's entire mobile design language.

Following a massive layoff and a string of exits from top executives, Sonos new leadership has made the decision to cancel an upcoming product. The Android streaming device would have been a rival to the Apple TV 4K and Google TV Streamer.

TCL has launched the Q10L Pro QD-Mini LED TV in China. This new model, available in four sizes, arrives alongside the Q10L with upgrades, including a higher peak brightness and more dimming zones. Plus, the Q10L Pro and other high-end models from TCL have recently won an award.

The latest TCL QM6K 55-inch QD-Mini LED TV has dropped to its lowest price yet after scoring a sizeable 25% discount on Amazon. The TV is a 2025 release that relies on a HVA panel and QD-Mini LED backlighting system to enhance picture quality.

A Philips Hue Secure video doorbell might launch this year, according to recent rumors. It would join the brand’s lineup of smart home products, which already include a range of security cameras. It has been suggested that the device could launch with at least one accessory and would be compatible with the Philips Hue app.

Home Assistant has announced that it has received Matter certification from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA). The Home Assistant interface and Open Home Foundation Matter Server have been certified under different classifications. The company hopes that this will attract new users and brands to its platform.

The Nuki Smart Lock Pro (5th Gen) has been released in countries across Europe. It features various upgrades over its predecessor, including a new brushless motor with multiple locking speeds. On top of this, the most recent version is cheaper and more compact than the fourth-generation device.

The TCL Q10L QD-Mini LED TV has been unveiled in China, in sizes ranging from 65-inch to 98-inch. This 4K model offers up to 5,000 nits peak brightness, with an HVA panel for an enhanced contrast ratio and a ZeroBorder design. Plus, it is said to offer an integration with DeepSeek.

The Roborock P20 Ultra robot vacuum and mop has been officially unveiled in China. This is a slim model, thansk in part to a retracting LDS navigation module but a particularly high peak suction power. Many of its features are shared with two early models which have been released worldwide.

The TCL QM7K QD-Mini LED 4K TV is now available in the US. The model replaces the QM715G with upgrades and new technologies. These include a higher peak brightness level, the Halo Control System and the CrystGlow HVA panel for an enhanced native contrast ratio.

iFixit's latest teardown video has a timely Mario theme - although the clip features the OEM's alarm clock rather than one of its consoles. The Sound Clock: Alarmo proved capable of lasting at least as long, as various parts of Nintendo's most fun way to wake up can apparently be replaced with ease.

TCL has launched the X11K, a 4K QD-Mini LED Smart TV, in the US. This model is available in two larger sizes: 85-inch and 98-inch. Its features include the brand’s new Halo Control System, an HVA panel, gaming tools like ALLM and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certification.

Roughly three months have passed since a renowned Apple analyst received word that the so-called Smart Home Hub had been delayed beyond its Q1 2025 release window. Now, a separate source has shed new light on the state of the project.

Music Assistant version 2.4 has officially been released for Home Assistant users. It brings a wide range of new features and improvements for this add-on, which lets you stream content from many sources on your smart home devices. These include a Spotify Connect plugin, equalizer controls and native support for podcasts and audiobooks.

Three new Philips Hue Impress outdoor lights have been launched in North America. The line-up includes new wider and hardwired versions of an older model, as well as a pedestal variant for lighting lower to the ground. All three are White and Color Ambiance products which can be remotely controlled via the Philips Hue app.

The Roborock G30U robot vacuum and mop is expected to launch in China in the next few days. This new model shares similarities with the earlier G30 and G30 Space models, which are known in other countries as the Saros 10 and Saros 10R. Features include the AdaptiLift Chassis, a slim body and an intelligent docking station.

The GamePix 800 Smart is the latest projector produced by GamePix and Screeneo. Available from next month, the new projector delivers a 1080p and 120 Hz image with up to a 150-inch projection size.

The Home Assistant 2025.3 release has arrived. This is the third release from the company this year, bringing a series of new features and improvements to dashboards. These include the addition of headers and better tile cards. Plus, there are optimizations for the Assist AI assistant and several new integrations.

Govee’s upcoming Ceiling Light 1s has been spotted in the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) database. The listing reveals a few details about this unreleased smart light, which will be Matter-compatible. This is the third smart lighting panel from the company to gain CSA certification in recent weeks.

Navimow is rolling out a range of new features for its wireless robotic lawnmowers via a major update. The Navimow i-series in particular benefits from a wide range of improvements, and the app is also being prepared for the new X3 series.

Roborock is about to reveal a new robot vacuum in China: the P20 Ultra. The company has posted images and videos relating to this upcoming model on social media. These indicate that this model will be particularly slim, thanks in part to a retracting LDS navigation module.

Govee has launched a new Water Leak Detector 1s, an upgraded version of its original smart home sensor. Improvements include a longer communication range between the leak detector and Wi-Fi Gateway. Plus, the Govee Home app offers a new Find Device tool in case you forget where you placed the sensor.

The Philips Hue app version 5.37.1 is rolling out to users of the brand’s smart home devices. This release brings a new manual video recording tool for the Secure cameras. Plus, there are two tools to help some users organize their Hue Bridge and other Hue lighting products.

The Mammotion iNavi Service is coming to some of the brand’s robot lawn mowers. The feature was spotted in the change log of a recent app update and appears to be launching in one country initially. It is said to provide centimeter-level positioning accuracy without the need to install an RTK antenna in your garden.

The Roborock Qrevo Edge S5A robot vacuum and mop is now available in various countries worldwide. The model is a cheaper version of the older Qrevo Edge, with a few features removed or tweaked to reduce its cost. It still offers relatively strong suction power and comes with a self-cleaning docking station, but it is missing newer climbing technology.

Roborock has launched the Qrevo Curv S5X robot vacuum worldwide. This is a cheaper version of the Qrevo Curv, which was released in 2024, priced at $1,599.99. To make the S5X variant more affordable than the original, the company has removed and tweaked a number of features.

The Lenovo Xiaoxin Whale Color Inkjet Multifunction Printer has been launched in China. This 3-in-1 model offers scanning and copying as well as color printing. Lenovo indicates that its latest model offers enhanced remote controls, including support for a greater number of simultaneously connected users.

The Dreame Robotic Lawn Mower A2 is launching this March. The model was on show at IFA 2024 and is said to feature various upgrades compared to its predecessor, the A1. Improvements include OmniSense 2.0 navigation with an HDR camera, the EdgeMaster tool and a larger maximum recommended mowing area.

Xiaomi has revealed the Mijia Smart Crystal Dual Tank Electric Water Heater 60L P10, which will be launched in China shortly. While the model has a 60L capacity, it is said to be able to deliver hot water continuously for almost three hours. Other features include HyperOS with app-based controls and smart home device linkage.

An update for the Philips Hue Bridge, firmware version 1969152010, is on the way to users of the brand’s smart home device. This is the second release for the Hue Bridge this year, though it is a relatively minor update. Philips indicates that this is a phased rollout, with the update installed automatically for many customers.

The 50-inch Sony Bravia 3 LED 4K HDR smart TV remains a popular choice in the sub-$600 area of the market. Listed for $599.99 on Amazon, the 2024 model K-50S30 currently goes for $528 thanks to a 12% discount. The deal also includes Amazon's free return and free delivery services.

Matter isn't the only standard for smart home appliances that's widely successful. KNX was conceived in Belgium over 30 years ago and the fact is, every one of us has at some point come in contact with it.

Qualcomm touts its new Dragonwing Gen 4 Elite Platform as the first solution for AI-powered fixed wireless access (FWA) to broadband over an ultra-long-range mmWave connection. It is rated for downlink speeds of up to 12.5 gigabits per second (Gb/s), and can also confer tri-band Wi-Fi 7 and NTN Satellite connectivity on a next-gen 5G router.

Tado may block the use of its own products behind a paywall in future, at least via its own app. In doing so, the company appears to be risking the ire of its users. The company has only made a vague statement to date.

Govee has launched the Smart Thermo-Hygrometer 2s Lite in the US. It is said to provide precise temperature and humidity measurements, with data refreshed every two seconds. You can remotely track the data collected in the accompanying app, which also offers a data export feature.

Three of Apollo Automation's smart home devices are now Works with Home Assistant certified. These products include two multisensors with mmWave presence detection and an air quality sensor. The certification is a marker of product quality, with devices undergoing testing by a partner company.

The Xiaomi Smart Speaker Pro has been revealed in China. This new model features various upgrades over the original, including the new Super Xiao AI voice assistant, which can handle more complex commands. Other features include dynamic lighting effects and an IR transmitter to control regular home appliances.

The Roborock Saros 10 robot vacuum is launching in Europe in the near future alongside the Saros 10R. The company has recently confirmed the European pricing of the Saros 10, following the earlier leaked pricing of the Saros 10R. Plus, Roborock has announced that early customers will be eligible for a discount on their purchases.

Mixx Audio purports to offer the perfect way of celebrating National Retro Day today (February 27, 2025) with its new, appropriately-named record player. The Retro 65 is backed to deliver the traditional warm sound of vinyl with its full-sized turntable, belt-driven to support both 33 and 45 rpm modes. The player can also work with wireless external speakers and devices such as smartphones via Bluetooth.

A version of the Philips Hue Sync TV app for LG TVs has been released. The app allows you to sync Philips Hue smart lights with your LG TV for dynamic lighting effects that match what you are watching or playing. It is compatible with various TV models, formats and smart lighting products.

Amazon has unveiled Alexa+, an upgraded version of its voice assistant. It promises more natural conversations and the ability to handle certain tasks autonomously.

Govee is expected to launch a new Square Ceiling Light in the near future. This model would follow the original round Ceiling Light and is said to share similarities with another product from the brand. Plus, one product listing indicates that it will support Razer Chroma RGB for an immersive gaming experience.

The Nanoleaf app version 11.3.3 is now available for some users. This latest update resolves an issue for one of the brand’s smart lighting products. Other updates in the 11.3.x series bring a new option in the Control View and bug fixes for connectivity and configuration problems.

Aqara has released an update for its smart home app for some users. The release notes for  Aqara Home version 5.1.6 state that there are new features and improvements relating to its smart security cameras, including the new Camera Hub G5 Pro. Plus, there is an enhancement for HomeGuardian subscribers.