Smart Home

Xiaomi is releasing the Smart Door Lock E20 Wi-Fi Version in China following a successful crowdfunding campaign earlier this year. The smart home device offers multiple unlocking methods, including a fingerprint scanner, password keypad, Bluetooth and NFC. Plus, it has a built-in doorbell and can be controlled via an app.

Xiaomi has announced that it took in over 70 billion yuan (well over US$9 billion) over its latest quarter, which ended on September 30, 2023. The OEM's smartphones accounted for over half of that revenue, although its smart home, internet services and advertising businesses also made their contributions known.

The Xiaomi Smart Home Screen 10 is now available to customers globally via AliExpress. The smart home hub is compatible with many gadgets via Bluetooth 5.0 and IR. Other features of the touchscreen device include built-in speakers, for watching content, and a microphone and camera for video calling.

Fengmi has launched the Xming Q3 Neo smart projector in China. The new model has a native 1080p resolution and can project images up to 120-in (~305 cm) wide. Other features of the gadget from the Xiaomi subsidiary brand include Miija smart home compatibility, screencasting, and integrated speakers.

YEELIGHT has announced its Black Friday deals on a selection of its smart RGB accessories. They include the Smart Cube Lamp, which can be built and extended in nearly all directions for a more custom desk lighting solution. The brand's light bars, smart buibs and LED strips can also be picked up for less than normal during this sale.

IKEA has discounted various products in its SYMFONISK smart Wi-Fi speaker range in Europe. Customers in the UK, France, and Germany can buy discounted bookshelf speakers and speaker lamps. The products were designed in collaboration with Sonos and can be remotely controlled with an app or voice commands.

The advanced robot vacuum features LiDAR navigation, edge cleaning, auto mop lifting and washing, Siri voice commands, and AI-powered dirt-sensing technology to focus on dirtier sections of the home.

Govee has launched the Galaxy Light Projector Pro in the US. The smart home device creates an at-home planetarium experience with various images, color effects and white noises. Plus, you can control the gadget using physical buttons via the Govee Home app or with voice commands.

Joybee is now crowdfunding for the K2 robot lawn mower at Kickstarter. The gadget uses RTK and VSLAM technology for blind spot-free positioning and has an auto-lifting camera for additional visuals. Other features include ToF obstacle avoidance, a rain detection tool and app-based controls.

Govee has launched the TV Backlight 3 Lite in countries globally. The device uses a fish-eye camera to detect the colors on your TV screen, projecting them on the wall behind for an enhanced viewing experience. Other features include app or voice controls and Matter compatibility in the future.

Signify has announced the Philips Radii Wall and Pedestal lights. The products are designed for outdoor use and have integrated motion detection sensors to increase the light's brightness when you arrive home in the dark. Plus, the solar-powered lights have Ultra Efficient technology that makes them more reliable.

Anker’s Nebula sub-brand has launched the Capsule 3 and Mars 3 Air portable Google TV projectors with integrated Netflix worldwide. The gadgets have a 1080p resolution, with the Mars 3 Air’s maximum brightness at 400 lumens. Plus, both models are currently discounted thanks to in-page vouchers.

The Xiaomi Multi Function Camping Lantern has been launched in EU countries, including France, Italy, and Germany. The gadget has a larger lantern with a small detachable light in the centre. Plus, its color temperature and brightness can be adjusted with app-based remote controls.

"Chips are the new oil", proclaims MediaTek CEO Rick Tsai. The company will be pivoting more of its resources towards computing with a special focus on the fast-growing automobile sector for 2024 and beyond.

Bose has discounted its new Smart Ultra Soundbar in countries including the US, Canada, the UK and the Netherlands. Customers are offered up to US$100, with the deal terms differing by region. The soundbar, featuring Dolby Atmos and AI Dialogue mode, can be controlled with voice commands.

Aqara's latest smart home camera offers great bang for very little buck. For less than US$100, the Aqara Camera E1 boasts a 2k sensor, wide-angle lens, night vision, and is compatible with a range of third-party platforms including Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

Hisense has discounted its U7 Mini LED 4K TV series at Amazon in the US. The 55-in model is now less than US$500, with the 85-in model more than US$700 cheaper than the retail price. The TV has up to 1,000 nits brightness, supports Dolby Vision IQ, and has a 144Hz gaming mode.

Now rolling out for public preview, Alexa users can now control all their smart gadgets from a centralized map. The new Map View is limited to compatible LiDAR devices with the Alexa app, and Amazon plans to extend support for its Echo Hub by next year.

The Body Pro 2 is Withings' most advanced smart scale to date, which can connect to the internet via an integrated LTE modem and be expanded with specialized modules, including for early diabetes detection, thanks to its modular design.

They're not cheap, but there's no denying the appeal of Nanoleaf LEDs. The pack of hexagons or triangles are US$50 off and users can mix and match different shapes and sizes to make each setup unique.

The Nuki Smart Lock and Smart Lock Pro 4th generation are now available in Europe. The new models are compatible with Matter and will soon support Thread for a wide range of remote control options. Plus, the new Keypad 2 allows you to unlock your door with a fingerprint or code.

Zendure is now accepting pre-orders for its Flexible Solar Panels, which have a rated maximum power of 210W. These lightweight panels, which can be bent to fit a curved surface, are designed for use in a balcony power plant and can be purchased in packs of two, four, six or eight.

Signify has launched the Philips Hue Black Friday sale in markets including the US, the UK and the Netherlands. Customers can save up to 45% on individual items, 30% when choosing two or more smart lights and accessories, or 25% off when they buy two or more smart lamps. Products included in the sale vary by region.

CheckMag If you've upgraded to the new M3 MacBook Pro or a Lenovo X1 Carbon, take a look at some of the options for repurposing your old hardware instead of selling, recycling or sending to landfill. Repurposing old hardware can be a rewarding adventure that forms a core part of your home network.

The 65-inch Sony X90L 4K LED TV has dropped to less than US$1,000 on Amazon. The TV features Full Array Local Dimming, a high contrast ratio, excellent peak brightness, and support for Dolby Atmos/Vision. The TV is also highly rated with an 8.1 rating from RTINGS and a 4.1 star rating on Amazon.

With the AC200L, Bluetti has announced a new powerful power station. It has a capacity of 2,048 Wh, is modularly expandable and has a peak output of up to 3,600 W. In addition, it features app control, UPS function and fast charging.

NOMVDIC is now selling its projectors at Amazon in the UK. The brand also announced a range of Black Friday discounts, offering up to 50% off. The offers are available in the US and UK Amazon stores, including models like the portable R150, 4K P1000, and RGB triple laser L500.

Porsche Design has launched the PDS20 portable speaker in the US, the UK and the EU. The compact gadget comes with an interchangeable strap to make it easier to transport. Other features include a ten-hour runtime, Bluetooth connectivity and a voice assistant to control the speaker.

The SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ is now on sale in the US and Europe. The device has up to 2,500Pa suction power, can mop and comes with a self-emptying docking station for up to 70 days of hands-free cleaning. The gadget is compact, with the company suggesting it is the world's smallest robot vacuum.

Qbeamer is crowdfunding for its A80 projector at Kickstarter. The company calls it a “True 4K UHD Projector”, though it has a 1080p native resolution. Other features of the Google Certified projector include a maximum brightness of 1,500 ANSI lumens, built-in speakers and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Currently named Vega, Amazon's Android alternative for Google's mobile operating system is allegedly being tested on Fire TV devices and might hit the market in less than a year. Unlike the existing AOSP-based Fire OS, Vega is reportedly based on a Linux core and, in the long run, will run on all Amazon devices.

Various Panasonic TV models are now eligible for a 5-year guarantee in the UK, Germany and Austria. For context, the standard guarantee offered is for one year. The promotion details differ by region, with the deal backdated for customers who already purchased a TV within the time window.

The Van Rysel Interactive Turbo Trainer D100 is now on sale at Decathlon. The new model has a maximum power of 600W and simulates up to 6% inclines. The gadget connects to your bike chain for a natural feeling ride, with Bluetooth connectivity allowing you to monitor your activity with various apps.

The Xiaomi Smart Door Lock 2 is now available to pre-order in China. The device is quieter than other models thanks to its fully automatic lock body, allowing you to push the door to open once unlocked. Other features include a fingerprint scanner, NFC reader, Bluetooth and app controls.

IKEA has launched ORMANÄS, a new smart LED strip, already on sale in the Netherlands. The gadget provides dimmable, colored lighting, with app-based or voice controls. The company suggests the device is easy to set up, thanks partly to a sticker on the back, and can be cut down to size.

The long-awaited Nuki Smart Lock 4.0 is reportedly almost ready for launch, as the manufacturer has once again confirmed that the first smart Nuki door lock with Matter support will come onto the market before the end of 2023, i.e. within the next eight weeks.

The Twinkly Lightwall smart LED backdrop is now on sale in countries worldwide. The gadget is audio-responsive thanks to a music sensor, with custom or preset colored lighting schemes. Controls are provided via Android and iOS apps, and the gadget comes in a suitcase to make it easier to transport.

Xiaomi has launched a pre-sale event for the Projector Youth Edition 2S in China. The new model can throw images up to 120-in (~305 cm) wide and has up to 500 ANSI lumens brightness. Other features include smart home integration, voice commands and an auto-focus tool.

The 65-inch Hisense 65U8K with a 4K resolution, Mini-LED backlight, a 144 Hz max refresh rate, and 1500 nits of advertised brightness has dropped to an all-time low rate on Amazon. The TV comes highly-rated and features a VA panel with great contrast, black uniformity, and HDR performance alongside solid out-of-the-box calibration and reflection handling. Finally, there is Google Smart TV on board as well as support for Apple Airplay.

Xiaomi has unveiled a new WiFi repeater that is being launched globally. The new Xiaomi WiFi Range Extender N300 expands the home WiFi network and thus ensures better reception.

The TCL T7G Max TV is now available in China. The device has a 4K@144Hz resolution and a peak brightness of 1,100 nits. Other features include built-in 2.1 channel speakers and support for Dolby Vision IQ and AMD FreeSync.

GPT has found its way into the smart home with the Camera Genie S, a gadget backed by its maker Psync Labs, Inc to keep watch over domestic life in the smartest way possible. The Genie S is rated to leverage its "innovative generative AI technology" to identify and "preserve" social media-worthy moments as well as surveil a residence around the clock.

Xiaomi will soon launch the Smart Plug 2 Wi-Fi in the EU. The gadget works with Google Home, allowing you to control regular devices with the Xiaomi Home app or Google Assistant voice commands. Other features of the product include scheduling and energy consumption tracking.

Formovie has announced that the Xming Page One LCD projector will launch for general sale in November. Customers can currently “pre-order” the device with a US$100 discount. Features of the 1080p model include 500 CVIA lumens brightness, integrated Boston Dynamics speakers and built-in Google TV.

Roborock is launching its Zeo One washer dryer in Germany, though the product is currently listed as out of stock. The company says early customers will get a discount, and it has opened a Product Tester program offering the device for free in return for a review. Features of the machine include Zeo-cycle gentle drying, self-maintenance and app controls.

Xiaomi has launched a pre-sale event for its new Xiaomi Mijia Central Air Conditioning Duct Machine in China. The smart home device can be controlled with voice commands or via the Xiaomi app, with an optional wired controller. The gadget can heat or cool rooms with seven modes and a self-cleaning tool.

Sennheiser Europe has announced a "Halloween" sale with up to 20% off popular consumer audio products such as Ambeo soundbars and Momentum True Wireless earbuds. Meanwhile, the OEM is also building up to its Early Black Friday event for US customers, promising "exclusive" savings to those who sign up to its wait-list.

Xiaomi has revealed the new Mijia Ultra-Thin Washing and Drying Machine 10kg. The device is slimmer than other models from the brand, ensuring it sits flush with other units, with a direct drive motor to reduce vibrations. Smart features include automatic detergent dispensing, voice commands and app controls.