Smart Home

The Anker EverFrost Powered Cooler can now be purchased at the Anker Store and Amazon following its recent Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Three models of the gadget are available, with 33L, 43L and 53L capacities, each with a 299Wh battery. The cooler starts from US$799.

ViewSonic has confirmed US pricing and a release window for the X2-4K, its 'Designed for Xbox' projector. The ViewSonic X2-4K can create up to 120-inch projections with 2,900 Lumens peak brightness and offers 4.2 ms input lag.

EcoFlow has released its Smart Plug, compatible with the Matter standard. You can use the gadget to turn household appliances into smart products, integrating with many smart home systems, including Apple Home, Amazon Alexa and Google Home. Features include voice controls and remote power consumption tracking.

The Anker Solix brand has launched alongside several new products. The Anker Solix Solarbank E1600 is a balcony energy storage solution with a 1.6 kWh capacity, also available as a bundle with a portable power bank. The brand also announced the Anker Solix All-in-One Energy Storage Solution, a modular battery range launching in 2024.

The KOWOLL Kolmower M28E robot lawn mower has been revealed and will be available via a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign shortly. The gadget uses RTK-GPS to navigate rather than traditional boundary wires and a retractable LiDAR sensor helps the robot to avoid obstacles. Other smart features include rain detection and edge trimming.

Xiaomi has launched its Outdoor Camera AW300 in the EU, and is now on sale in countries like France and Germany. The 2K 3MP camera includes color night vision and a focus area adjustment tool. The product is compatible with Google Home and Amazon Alexa, and you can view video feeds from up to four cameras in the Xiaomi app.

Roborock has created the Smart Projector R1, its first endeavour into the home cinema market. To be available in three colour options, the Smart Projector R1 is an ultra-short throw projector with only essential ports.

The Anker Nebula Mars 3 outdoor projector has been unveiled via a pre-order campaign. The gadget has a peak brightness of 1,000 ANSI lumens, a maximum image size of 200-in (~508 cm) and automatic focus and brightness adjustment tools. Plus, an integrated power bank provides up to five hours of playback time.

Optoma has now released the ML1080 and its ST (short throw) variant to the United States market. The series' design award-winning "ultra-portable" form-factor is touted as ideal for on-the-go laser projection in 1080p, and packs a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor for automatic focus and keystone-finding. The ML1080 line also has USB type-C for display and charging as well as remote control support.

Leica is now selling the Cine 1, almost a year after it started teasing the ultra-short throw projector series. The Leica Cine 1 series comes in three variants, all with Summicron lenses. The new projectors should receive a global release later this year but are now orderable in Europe.

Roborock has unveiled the S7 Max Ultra robot vacuum cleaner in the US. The gadget has up to 5,500 Pa suction power, VibraRise mopping and Reactive Tech obstacle avoidance. Plus, the robot has a smart docking station that can empty and refill the onboard tanks and wash and dry the mop head.

EROC has launched its MAX projector in Southeast Asia. The gadget has a 1080p native resolution and 415 ANSI lumens or 3,000 lumens brightness. The device allows you to stream content from services like YouTube and Disney+ or cast content from a mobile device and has built-in 3W speakers.

The JMGO N1 Ultra, N1 Pro and N1 projectors are now available in countries worldwide from the brand’s website and Amazon. All models use a triple color laser light source, with the N1 Ultra 4K UHD projector achieving up to 2,200 CIVA lumens brightness. The gadgets cover 110% of the BT.2020 color space and have built-in speakers.

The Zemismart Matter Roller Shade Motor has arrived, shipping to various countries worldwide. The smart controller lets you directly link your blinds to a comprehensive range of smart home systems, including Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. This allows you to control your blinds via voice commands or an app.

ZEBRONICS has launched the new ZEB-PIXAPLAY 22 portable projector in India. The gadget has up to 3,200 lumens brightness from an LED laser light source, supporting resolutions up to 1080p. Other features include built-in speakers alongside dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for wireless screen mirroring and casting.

Jackery has announced that its new Plus counterpart for the Solar Generator 2000 Pro is about to be unveiled. It is touted as a new portable power station or backup generator with a build suited to bringing on summer trips from mid-2023. In the meantime, the brand is hyping its launch at a potentially early-bird price by running giveaways for money-off coupons on its website.

Eufy has launched its S220 SoloCam in the UK and Germany following its arrival in the US earlier this year. The 2K camera has IR night vision, AI human facial recognition and on-device storage. You can connect the gadget to eufy’s HomeBase 3, and a built-in solar panel can power the device.

The Philips Hue Bright Days Sale has launched in the US, UK and EU. The sale offers two types of discounts, offering 30% off when you buy two or more bulbs and accessories, and a buy one get 50% off a second smart lamp deal. The products included in the sale vary by region, with the Play table lamp included in the EU sale.

Reolink has launched its new E1 Outdoor Pro 4K security camera in the UK and EU. The device has a 4K 8MP camera with 355º panning and 3X optical zoom. The smart home gadget supports dual-band Wi-Fi 6 and a 256 GB microSD card for local storage. Other features include auto-tracking and color night vision.

EcoFlow asserts that its latest DELTA 2 Max portable generator can "power every day for 10 years" thanks to its long-lasting LFP batteries. They are rated for an AC output of up to 2,400W, backed to power even large appliances for most of a day in some cases. The 2 Max is also capable of using AC and solar at the same time for fast 0-80% charging times.

Although Sonos sued Google over six patent infringements, the US$32.5 million penalty comes as the result of a single infringement. The judge has ruled that the other five patents were not infringed. However, Sonos has made a statement saying that "Google infringes more than 200 Sonos patents" and made it clear that the war is not over.

Acer has unveiled the new Connect Vero W6m as a new way to bring Wi-Fi 6E to a home or workspace in an "eco-conscious" package. The mesh system's units are finished with recycled post-consumer plastics, and are also shipped using recycled paper. Nevertheless, they are rated to deliver transfers of up to 7.8 gigabits per second (Gb/s) over tri-band Wi-Fi.

The LG InstaView fridge with MoodUP has been announced for Australia, launching this summer. The device has LED panels allowing you to change the color of the fridge doors via an app. Other features include a built-in Bluetooth speaker and the InstaView tool to see what’s inside your fridge without opening the door.

Samsung has unveiled its HW-Q900C soundbar, launching in the US on May 29. The new model is a 7.1.2 channel soundbar with built-in Wireless Dolby Atmos and Game Mode Pro. You can control the device with Bixby or Alexa voice commands and wirelessly connect Apple devices using AirPlay.

Samsung has confirmed when it will start selling its next-generation Smart Monitor M8 series. Arriving in two sizes, Samsung's M80C monitors will be available in several colour options, all with 4K and 400 cd/㎡ panels.

The Xiaomi S10+, S12 and E12 robot vacuums are now on sale in Europe. All models have 4,000 Pa suction power, a mopping ability and smartphone app controls. The range-topping S10+ can clean for up to two hours on a single charge, with 3D obstacle avoidance technology and high-pressure washing.

Samsung has shared details about new Smart Monitor M5 series monitors. Launching as the M50C, the series will be available in 27-inch and 32-inch sizes, starting at US$279.99.

Samsung has confirmed when it will start selling the M70C series, a new pair of Smart Monitor M7 monitors. Launching alongside the M50C and M80C, the M70C combines 4K and 60 Hz panels with various smart features.

Xiaomi has launched a presale event for the Mijia Smart Micro-Streamer in China. The oven has four cooking modes: microwaving, steaming, air frying and baking, delivering up to 2,000W power. The kitchen gadget is compatible with the Mijia Smart Home ecosystem, allowing you to control the steamer with voice commands or via a smartphone app.

The Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum has been unveiled. The gadget is billed as the most powerful robot vacuum on the market, with up to 100,000 rpm. The 360 Vis Nav has obstacle avoidance and dust detection features, with a side actuator targeting dirt in the area closest to the wall.

The LG CineBeam PU700R 4K projector has launched in the US, retailing for US$1,699. The compact gadget has a 1.2 throw ratio, producing images up to 120-in (~305 cm) wide with up to 1,000 ANSI lumens brightness. Other features include Apple AirPlay and Screen Share, built-in speaker and various streaming apps.

Xiaomi has launched its Robot Vacuum X10 in EU countries, including Spain, France and Italy. The flagship model arrives as a cheaper alternative to similar products from other brands. The X10 has up to 4,000 Pa suction power, a self-emptying docking station and a 180-minute runtime.

Roborock has launched a pre-sale event for the A10 Ultra wet and dry vacuum in China. The gadget has up to 17,000 Pa suction power and 20N pressure washing for a thorough clean. Smart features of the new device include dirt detection to determine the amount of cleaning fluid or suction power required. The gadget is self-cleaning, with automatic mop head washing and drying.

Samsung has discounted its QN95B Neo QLED 4K Smart TV in the US, with price cuts of up to US$1,300 available at the Samsung online store, Amazon and Best Buy. The 2022 TV has a Mini LED display and runs on Tizen OS, allowing you to control the device with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands.

The co-founder of Pluto TV has announced Telly, a service that provides a free 4K Smart TV for your personal data. Telly will debut later this year in the US, with half a million units to be shipped before 2024.

Google continues to integrate more functionality into its Google Home app. Not only has the company added a light colour picker to the Wear OS app, but it also enabled Talk and Listen functionality on its web app. Additionally, the company will soon offer Matter support within the Google Home iOS app.

Virtual reality (VR) is touted to take a player to new dimensions of gaming - right up until it does it literally and increases the risk of crashing back into real reality, or its very real walls, obstacles and personal possessions, that is. Virtuix claims to be able to solve these problems with a version of its Omni "VR treadmill" for the home, creating a space in which a user can move freely and safely with less danger to or from the non-gaming world.

The TCL 2023 Smart S Class TVs are now available in the US. The lineup includes the S2, S3 and S4 models, ranging in size from 32 to 85-in, starting from US$169.99. The range-topping S4 is a 4K Ultra HD TV with Dolby Vision and Dolby Audio support. All new models run on Google TV OS, with Google Assistant voice commands and Chromecast.

The 2023 TCL QLED Q Class TV lineup has been launched in the US. The range features a 98-in QM8 model, with 2,000 nits peak brightness and Mini LED with 2,300 local dimming zones. All TVs use Google TV OS, allowing you to control the devices with Google Assistant voice commands.

Unveiled at the end of 2022 with a list price of US$1,499.99, the 34-inch Samsung Odyssey G85SB QD-OLED curved gaming monitor (model number LS34BG850SNXZA) is now available for US$1,299.99 via both Amazon and Samsung US. Its highlights include a 175 Hz refresh rate, a minimum response time of 0.03 ms, HDR True Black 400, and more.

The Fengmi R1c Nano ultra short throw laser projector has been launched in China. The gadget has a 0.23:1 throw ratio and delivers up to 1,050 ANSI lumens brightness. Features of the 1080p projector include voice commands, Mijia smart home integration and two built-in speakers.

An update for the IKEA Home smart app has revealed that a new RODRET wireless dimmer is coming. The gadget will allow you to control up to ten smart lights simultaneously with various controls. Plus, a Declaration of Conformity suggests that the RODRET range will also include a smart blind/curtain remote and shortcut button gadget.

The VANKYO Leisure 470 Roku projector kit has been launched in the US. The product combines the VANKYO 720p projector with a Roku Express streaming player, providing access to many streaming platforms and Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa voice commands. Plus, the compact gadget has a built-in speaker and support for wireless screen mirroring.

Fengmi has launched the R1c ultra short throw laser projector in China. You can use the 1080p device to throw images up to 200-in (~508 cm) wide with up to 850 CIVA lumens or 1,400 ANSI lumens brightness. Features include voice controls, Xiaomi Mijia smart home integration and built-in speakers.

XGIMI has launched a pre-sale event for its 100-in Soft Light Art TV MIRA in China. The laser TV uses Dual Light technology in its ultra-short throw projector with a 0.21:1 throw ratio. Other features include an “Art Frame” display, 2.1 channel Harman Kardon sound system and voice commands.

JBL has unveiled Wi-Fi-capable versions of its Charge 5 and Boombox 3 portable speakers. The improved connectivity reduces interruptions and enables you to wirelessly stream content from a mobile device via Apple AirPlay or Chromecast. The models also support HD audio with 24bit/96kHz playback over Wi-Fi.

Best Buy US is currently offering US$130 off the VIZIO 65-in Class MQ6 Series 4K QLED HDR Smart TV. The device supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+ and HLG and has various gaming features. You can control the TV via an app or voice commands and cast content via AirPlay or Chromecast.

Fengmi has launched a pre-sale event for its Laser TV C3 in China. The 4K ultra short throw projector can cast images up to 200-in (~508 cm) wide with up to 400 nits brightness. Other features of the device include support for HDR10+, MEMC and two built-in 15W speakers. Plus, the Formovie projector is compatible with the Xiaomi Mijia smart home system.