Smart Home

The Samsung The Premiere 8K ultra-short throw projector has been revealed ahead of CES. The gadget has a laser light source and can produce images up to 15-in (~381 cm) wide. The device's exact launch date and price remain unconfirmed, though the product is expected to arrive in some countries later this year.

Dangbei has launched the D5X projector for pre-order in China. The lighter gadget weighs 1.08 kg (~38.1 oz) and is 47.5 mm (~1.9-in) thick, making it easy to transport. The device has a maximum recommended projection size of 120-in (~305 cm) and can produce up to 1,100 ANSI lumens brightness.

IKEA has unveiled the SYMFONISK sound remote, gen 2, to use with the various products designed in partnership with Sonos. Plus, the gadget supports the broader Sonos Home Sound System. The controller features seven buttons, including two customizable pads which you can use to play your favourite playlists.

The Samsung Bespoke Infinite Line column refrigerator has been launched globally. The smart home appliance has two zones with different temperatures alongside an AI Energy Mode and a Dual Auto Ice Maker. The Auto Open Door uses a sensor to detect your presence and automatically push the door open.

The Samsung Bespoke AI Oven with a built-in camera and AI Pro Cooking technology has been revealed. You can use the camera to monitor your food without opening the oven door, receive burn detection notifications or even live stream your cooking to socials. The smart home gadget can recognize over 80 food types and recommend oven settings.

The South Korean manufacturer's high-end set from 2022, which is often referred to as one of the very best OLED TVs on the market, has now hit its lowest price yet as the 65-inch version of the LG G2 has gone on sale for an intriguing deal price of US$1,799.

MediaTek and Federated Wireless have announced that products such as 5G hotspots and Ethernet gateways powered by Filogic chips for either Wi-Fi 7 or 6E stand to benefit from improved capacity, speed and range, as they are now more compatible with the 6GHz band on Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) systems. The chips' new certification is touted as an important step toward their inclusion into standardized devices approved by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC).

MediaTek asserts that its Wi-Fi 7 tech is taking off as of 2023, with an upcoming range of devices based on its new flagship Filogic 880 chipset for this purpose. The OEM has now also confirmed that it will be a part of Lenovo's upcoming Legion series. Its Wi-Fi 7 solution has also been chosen to pair with the next generation of AMD Ryzen processors, as well as with that of testing and validation equipment.

LG has announced that it will unveil its new 2023 range of TVs during its CES 2023 exhibition. However, it has revealed that it has prepared new soundbars as the "perfect match" for these upcoming big-screen devices. Their combination is touted to result in powerful new features such as a WOW Orchestra soundstage.

Christmas day may have come and passed but tech deals are still aplenty. Currently, Best Buy has the well-rated LG UP7070 4K LED TV on sale for a significant discount of US$150. The LG UP7070 is a 70-inch Smart TV with support for Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit built in.

The popular 55-inch model variant of the Sony Bravia A80K is now back on sale at Amazon, where the beautiful OLED TV can currently be ordered for US$1,298 including free shipping, which results in a considerable US$702 discount in comparison to the original list price.

Sold as the "Ultimate Entertainment Bundle," the combo that brings together the Fire HD 10 tablet and Fire TV Stick 4K is only available with the 32 GB lockscreen ad-supported tablet in black. However, the 50% discount pushes the price down to a wallet-friendly value of just US$99.39.

(Update: Better deal at Walmart) An extremely compelling coupon code brings the price of the popular LG B2 OLED down to a sale price of just US$1,139, which is a huge discount of US$861 in relation to the 65-inch version's original list price of almost US$2,000.

Lenovo's latest consumer-grade IdeaCentre is a PC of no more than one liter (L) in capacity, yet packs specs also found in larger up-to-date desktops, Thunderbolt 4 and HDMI 2.1 included. It has also come to CES 2023 with 13th-gen Intel processors. With its partially-recycled chassis and upgradeable RAM/SSD storage, it also checks sustainability boxes.

Skyworth has announced that the Clarus will be the first TV of the type that can be installed outdoors with Google's stock UI on its launch. It is also touted as ideal for its target setting thanks to its bright mini-LED-based display and ingress-resistant metallic housing. The upcoming outdoor TV should become available to pre-order in 2023.

The XCLEA H60 Wet-Dry Vacuum Robot will soon be available via an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. The gadget comes with a self-emptying and cleaning docking station, providing up to 60 days of hands-free cleaning. The device has a maximum suction power of 3,200 Pa and 180 rpm mopping for a deeper clean.

The rather unusual 58-inch version of the very affordable but fairly bright Hisense U6H television has now reached its lowest price ever on Amazon, where the 4K HDR television can be ordered for just US$349 thanks to a massive US$250 discount.

The California-based OEM ViewSonic has announced that its X1 and X2 FHD LED short-throw projectors are the first to attain the new TÜV SÜD certification for eye protection for their category of display devices. Therefore, ViewSonic can now say that the projectors' up-to-100 inch output can be enjoyed by users of all ages without fear of fatigue or discomfort, despite their high brightness ratings.

JMGO has announced a new set of projectors following the release of the O1, O1 Pro and U2. This time, the company has released the N1 Pro and N1 Ultra, which it sells in China for CNY 6,499 (~US$932) and CNY 8,999 (~US$1,291), respectively.

The Displace TV is the work of Displace, a startup that wants to revolutionise home Smart TVs. Supposedly, the company has created a TV that works without a power cable or remote control. The Displace TV can attach itself to a wall without the need for a wall bracket, too.

The gigantic 77-inch version of the extremely popular LG C2 originally had a lofty price tag of US$3,499 when it was released earlier this year, but thanks to another enticing OLED TV deal, one of the most popular large screens on the market has now dropped back to its most compelling sale price yet.

In the US and the UK, Samsung has discounted various models of the QN85B Neo QLED 4K Smart TV (2022). Customers can get up to 40% off models ranging in size from 55-in to 85-in at the Samsung online store and Amazon. The Quantum Mini LED TV has 4K upscaling and motion smoothing features.

IKEA has launched the SYMFONISK Floor lamp with Wi-Fi speaker in the US. The gadget combines a floor lamp with a smart speaker, designed in partnership with Sonos. The speaker produces 180-degree audio and can be paired for a stereo experience. Plus, the gadget supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect.

The Optoma L1+ 4K ultra short throw projector has been announced and will be demonstrated at the Taipei International Audio Show. So far, the company has confirmed that the device will come with built-in streaming services and gaming features like VRR. The new product is due to launch in Q1 2023.

ViewSonic has revealed the LS610WH and LS610HDH LED projectors. Each device can produce up to 4,000 lumens brightness and throw images up to 300-in (~762 cm) wide. The LS610WH has a WXGA resolution, and the LS610HDH has a 1080p resolution with support for HDR and HLG.

Now that Wi-Fi 7 is all but here, Qualcomm has anticipated demand for new total-home or home mesh systems compatible with this new standard. The OEM's latest Immersive Home Platforms are touted as small yet powerful enough to deliver 20 gigabit per second (Gb/s) worth of broadband capacity in unobtrusive form-factors.

Xiaomi has unveiled the Mijia Smart Kitchen 7L S1 water heater, which is now on sale in China. The gadget has 2,000 W heating power and can produce up to 42 L of hot water continuously. You can control the device with Xiao AI voice commands or the Mijia app and connect the water heater to other smart home gadgets.

The Brewconcepts ChaiBot Tea Machine has begun crowdfunding on Indiegogo. You can use the device to make up to six cups of tea simultaneously, using loose leaves, tea bags, matcha or chai. You can save your favourite settings to automate brewing using a smartphone app. Plus, the gadget has a self-cleaning mode.

It seems that Samsung is preparing to release a new SmartThings Hub but with a twist. Lacking Matter integration, the SmartThings Station will offer Qi wireless charging, among other features.

Xiaomi has made a new Pro version of its Sound smart speaker official . It has upgraded to a new adjustable ambient lighting effect as well as a new "7-part" speaker system. The Sound Pro also supports NFC and the latest ecosystem support baked into MIUI 14 for easy pairing and control using a new 13-series flagship smartphone.

Xiaomi has unveiled its latest router official alongside its new flagship Android smartphones. The first-gen device can support up to four 2.5 gigabit (Gb) wired connections, and also purports to support "10Gb wireless" thanks to its tri-band support. The OEM also asserts that it is fast and powerful enough to even support "light NAS" work if necessary.

The quite affordable Hisense U6H, whose 65-inch variant usually carries a US$799 price tag, has returned to one of its lowest prices to date as multiple US retailers currently sell the large 4K HDR TV for under US$500.

With a list price of US$49.99, the latest model of Amazon's Fire TV Stick 4K is now discounted by 46%, so those interested can get it for just US$26.99. In addition to 4K Ultra HD support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and HDR10+, this product also comes with Dolby Atmos audio and Alexa Voice remote.

The IKEA SYMFONISK / FREKVENS has been launched in the US. The two new products, designed in collaboration with Sonos, combine the existing SYMFONISK Wi-Fi smart speaker with two FREKVENS lights, available as a spot or LED matrix. You can set the light to pulse in time with the music with various patterns on offer.

ViewSonic has unveiled the M2W portable projector. The device has up to 1,700 lumens brightness from an LED light source and can throw images up to 120-in (~305 cm) wide. Plus, the device has built-in Harman Kardon speakers and 5 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity.

The large 65-inch variant of the popular LG C2 with 120Hz and Dolby Vision support originally carried a lofty price tag of US$2,499 upon its release earlier this year, but the latest OLED TV deal offers an enormous discount of more than US$1,000 on this beautiful 2022 television set.

The Apple HomePod mini will be available in Sweden, Norway and Finland from December 13. The gadget delivers a 360° audio experience, and multiple units can be linked to create a stereo system. Plus, you can use the device as a smart home hub with Siri voice commands to control linked products such as lights or an Apple TV.

PLX Devices Inc. is currently crowdfunding for the Legion Solar 7 Home Power System via Indiegogo. The DIY kits include solar panels and a Solar Regulator with an AI computer, with various bundles on offer. You can control the system and view power consumption information in an accompanying smartphone app.

The Wasserstein Doorbell Chime and Wall Plate for the Google Nest Doorbell (wired, gen 2) have been revealed. The chime comes with five sounds and a silent mode, which alerts you to someone at your door with lights rather than a melody. You can use the wall plate to cover any marks left on the wall by previous doorbells.

Yunmi has launched the Viomi AI Smart Door Lock Super 2E in China. There are several ways to unlock the gadget, including a password, NFC card or an integrated fingerprint scanner. The device can last up to four months on a single charge, and you can view the lock's status in real time via the app.

Crate and Barrel now exclusively stocks the new GE Profile Smart Mixer with Auto Sense. This smart feature enables the gadget to detect changes in the viscosity of the bowl's contents and adjust its settings accordingly. You can view guided recipes in an accompanying app and control the gadget with Google or Alexa voice commands.

The AUN PH30S, a 720p projector, is now available globally via AliExpress. The cheaper projector currently retails for US$88.90. The device runs on Android 9.0, allowing you to download popular apps like Netflix. Plus, you can cast to the gadget via Apple AirPlay and Miracast.

The LG C1 Series 4K TV is now discounted in the US, where customers can save US$800 on the 65-in model at Best Buy. The OLED device supports Dolby Vision IQ and Dolby Atmos, and has AI 4K Upscaling technology. Gaming features include a 120 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time and HDMI eARC port.

The rather compact 42-inch Sony Bravia A90K OLED television, which can also be used as a large gaming monitor, has once again received a decent discount at multiple US retailers and thereby dropped back to its most compelling sale price to date.

Google has released its latest software specifically for TVs, which is in turn based on the latest version of Android for mobile devices. Most of its new updates could be described as developer-facing in nature; then again, some users may welcome the expanded physical keyboard layout customizations and updated privacy controls when it eventually hits their own sets.

Anker's home security brand eufy has built its name on assertions that footage recorded using its cameras is stored securely and only arrives on a user's device via “end-to-end military-grade encryption". However, The Verge now claims to be able to prove that some of these claims are technically false, citing some findings posted to Twitter by researchers.

Xiaomi has opened a pre-sale event for its new Mijia Desktop Drinking Machine Smart Edition in China. You can use the gadget to filter or create hot drinks at temperatures up to 95 °C (~104 °F). NFC technology lets the device recognize your cup and select your favourite temperature and volume settings.

Xiaomi has launched its Mijia Cooking Robot in Germany. The gadget shares many similarities with a Thermomix, heating foods at temperatures up to 180 °C (~356 °F). You can also use the device to chop, wash and steam food, with various attachments allowing you to cook up to four dishes simultaneously.

Xiaomi has revealed the Smart Door Lock E10, which you can now pre-order in China. The gadget has a fingerprint scanner, NFC and keypad, providing multiple ways to unlock your door. You can remotely control or check the lock's status via the Mijia app and link the device to other smart home products.

Samsung and Zigbang have unveiled a smart door lock with a UWB chip, allowing you to unlock your front door without touching your smartphone. The gadget senses a digital home key in your Samsung Wallet on your phone, removing the need to tap your device against the lock or open an app.