Smart Home

The Aqara Smart Curtain Companion E1 is available to pre-order in China. The device is compatible with Apple HomeKit, plus it supports Zigbee 3.0. You can use the smart adapter to open or close your curtains remotely, at a specific time or based on the intensity of light that the E1 detects.

Almost all sizes, including the popular 55-inch and 65-inch variants of the new Sony X80K 4K HDR TV, are now on sale at Amazon and are seeing fairly reasonable discounts ranging from 6 to 10% just a few weeks after the official launch.

Several of the new European TV models from TCL will be compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. This will make them the first Google TVs in the region with these features. As with other devices, AirPlay will enable you to cast content from your iOS or Mac device to your TCL TV. The HomeKit tools will allow you to control your TV using voice commands, such as switching the gadget on or off.

The Huawei Smart Door Lock and Smart Door Lock Pro are now available to pre-order in China. The prices for the devices have also been announced, starting at 2,199 yuan (~US$345) during the pre-sale period. The two devices are similar, with the Pro version having additional 3D facial recognition technology that can unlock your door in under two seconds.

While Harman Kardon has not officially released it, the Citation MultiBeam 1100 Soundbar is now available to pre-order in Europe. The device is designed for streaming and is the first in the Citation range to have Dolby Atmos and DTS:X technologies for immersive 3D surround sound.

Ikea has seemingly confirmed that a recently rumored second-generation smart home gateway is coming. The new product, named DIRIGERA, will have similar functionality to the TRADFRI smart home gateway. It is unclear exactly when Ikea could release this device and whether or not Ikea will continue to sell TRADFRI if the new product is launched.

Ikea could be developing new smart home products. A recent update to several smart LED light listings suggests that new or updated devices could be on the way for this range. Plus, FCC and WPC entries indicate that a new smart charging shelf could also be in the works. Ikea has not officially announced any of these gadgets.

Xiaomi has launched a crowdfunding campaign in China for a smart front door. The Xiaobai Blade Star has 3D facial recognition technology, plus six alternative ways to unlock the door, including a fingerprint scanner and an NFC reader. Like some smart locks, the door comes with a camera to show you who is calling.

Amazon is currently offering discounts in the US, UK, Netherlands and France for the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance 75W Smart LED Bulb. The offers vary in each country, with up to 22% off the retail price in the US. The smart bulb has up to 1,100 lm of brightness and is compatible with several smart home systems, including Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit.

A potential ‘Look and Talk’ feature has been found by 9to5Google in the latest Google app beta APK files. The reported tool would enable the Nest Hub Max to use its camera to determine if you were looking at the screen and trigger the Google Assistant from up to 5 ft (~1.5 m) away.

Xiaomi is crowdfunding a new smart home product, the Mijia Smart DC Variable Frequency Standing Fan. The gadget has a 16 m (~52 ft) range and can blow air at 6.5 m/s (~21 ft/s). The fan has a night mode which reduces the noise to around 32.75 dBA. You can control the gadget using the Mijia app or Xiao AI voice commands.

TCL has announced a range of electronics designed to make the user's home life "easier" today (April 12, 2022). They include the latest generation of its Sweeva robotic vacuum cleaners and Breeva air purifiers. They are joined by TCL-brand "smart" washer/dryer and air conditioners this year.

The FCC has published photos of the dLight, a Google work from home (WFH) initiative for its employees. The dLight contains numerous features for sprucing up a home office and is designed for use in video calls. Sadly, Google has no plans to sell the dLight commercially.

The Motion Sensor P1 is a new smart home product from Aqara. The motion detector has up to five years of battery life and can detect movement up to seven meters away. A built-in light sensor enables you to trigger smart home lights with greater precision. You can use the Motion Sensor P1 with Zigbee, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit.

Samsung has shared an unboxing of the Monitor M8, its 32-inch and much cheaper alternative to the Apple Studio Display. The Monitor M8 contains plenty of smart features and even a Height Adjustable Stand (HAS), plus a removable webcam.

TCL has introduced 3 of its latest soundbars to European customers, each of which comes with its own subwoofer and Bluetooth for wireless streaming. The highest-end of this new line-up also features the latest generation of in-house RayDanz sound-quality-enhancing design which, as the OEM insists, would match one of its new QLED TVs perfectly.

A new Xiaomi smart home product is now available to pre-order in China, the Mijia Water Purifier 1000G. The gadget can filter water at up to 2.65 L (~90 fl. oz) per minute. The device has a six-layer filter to remove impurities such as sediment and chlorine. You can view the water quality on the faucet’s smart screen or via the Mijia app.

TCL has now launched its latest C- and P-series Google TVs in the European market. These units are all 4K, although the OEM's miniLED technology is reserved for the new C93 and C83 lines. However, even the QLED C63 models feature HDMI 2.1 and ALLM, whereas those of the C73 level and higher feature improved variable refresh rates (VRRs) and gaming features.

Sony has announced pricing of the Bravia XR 2022 series in Europe. Ranging from €1,049 to €6,499, the Bravia XR 2022 series also includes models with Mini LED backlights. In Germany, Sony is offering free PlayStation consoles with some Bravia XR models, too.

TP-Link has released a tri-band mesh Wi-Fi 6E system, the Deco XE75. The two devices can deliver speeds up to 5,400 Mbps, cover an area of 5,500 ft² (~511 m²) and support up to 200 devices. The gadget has three Ethernet LAN ports and comes with the basic TP-Link HomeShield security plan.

The Dreame Bot W10 Pro robot vacuum could soon be coming to Europe, according to Caschy’s Blog. Recently launched in China, the gadget has 4000 Pa of suction and a mop that can be automatically washed and dried at the dock. The device also has an HD camera and AI obstacle avoidance technology.

Xiaomi has released the Xiaomi Air Purifier 4 Series in some European countries, including Germany, Italy and the UK. The devices are designed to help people who suffer from allergies by removing particles from the air such as pollen, dust and pet dander. There are three products in the range, to suit different spaces.

Roborock has launched the S7 MaxV series in the US. The S7 MaxV and the S7 MaxV Plus are now available from several retailers, having been unveiled at CES 2022 and launched in Europe last month. It is unclear when the third vacuum in the series, the S7 MaxV Ultra, will be available. Both Roborock and Walmart are currently offering discounts on the new products.

Hyundai is developing Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) technology to transfer power from an electric car's battery to a local grid, reducing load at peak times and decreasing our use of fossil fuels. Currently, the company is testing this technology in some Ioniq 5 vehicles in Germany and the Netherlands.

Alfred is a new robot lawnmower from Marotronics, powered by ArduMower. The gadget has a GPS RTK system, removing the need for a perimeter wire to guide the device. You can adjust the cutting height of the robot and remotely control it with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity. The device comes with an enclosed docking station.

YouTuber Clemens Elflein has shared an open-source robot lawnmower project, OpenMower. The smart mower can localize and navigate using GPS rather than a perimeter wire. The gadget uses an off-the-shelf robot lawnmower, replacing the electronics with a Raspberry Pi 4, ArduSimple RTK GPS board and a Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller.

TCL has set a date on which its newest 4K TVs and soundbars will be unleashed on the international market. The OEM has revealed that there will be at least 2 products from either product category to preview during the show ahead of their release, some of which have won 2022 Red Dot Design Awards for their esthetics and "innovative" features already.

Ikea has added a new smart light to its range, the NYMANE LED pendant lamp. The device's design is based on the KLANG light from the 1960s. Ikea claims that the product lasts up to 20 times longer than an incandescent bulb. You can control the gadget with the Ikea Home smart app and sync it with other smart Ikea products.

An apparent prototype of the Essential Home smart speaker that was never officially released is now available via eBay. Essential Products closed in 2020 before it could launch the device. The gadget is running Android OS, though it is unclear if the prototype is capable of anything beyond booting up.

Xiaomi has revealed a new smart home device, the Mijia all-round sweeping robot. Customers in China can join the crowdfunding campaign for the gadget. The mopping and vacuuming robot has up to 4000 Pa of suction and mops at 180 rotations per minute. You can control the device using the Mijia app or Xiao AI voice commands.

Japanese gaming furniture brand Bauhutte has revealed a new product, the BGB-100FA electric Gaming Bed. You can use a remote control to adapt the piece of furniture into a chair, with a 60° angle for your upper body and a 35° angle for your lower legs. The company said it had designed the gaming bed to save space in a smaller room or apartment.

Optoma has introduced the UHD55, a projector that can create over 300-inch projections at 4K/60 Hz or 1080p/240 Hz. The Optoma UHD55 contains plenty of other features too, including Google Home compatibility, and retails for €1,599.

A new homee update, 2.36.0, has brought a new Watchdog feature to the smart home hub. The tool improves the device's ability to switch on or off connected gadgets. The update also broadens the range of products that the homee panel is compatible with, including many Gledopto smart lights.

Sony has announced that its 2022 range of X80K 4K HDR TVs is now available in Europe. The gadgets have 4K X-Reality PRO technology that can upscale 2K or HDR content to nearly 4K. You can control the devices using Google Assistant voice commands, and the TV comes with Google TV.

Xiaomi has released a new Wi-Fi 6 capable mesh router, the Redmi Router AX6000. The device can deliver wireless speeds up to 5.95 Gbps, and it can support up to 248 gadgets simultaneously. You can set up and control the router using the Mijia app, with intelligent features including one-key password-free network distribution.

The TP-Link Kasa Smart Doorbell and the Kasa Cam Outdoor are now available in the US. Both devices have two-way conversation functionality and are compatible with smart assistants like Amazon Alexa. The smart doorbell has a 3 MP HD camera, while the outdoor security camera is capable of 2K images and videos.

The roll-out of Comcast’s Supersonic Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi 6E xFi Advanced Gateway device is underway. The router provides internet speeds over 1 Gbps. Notably, the gadget is available for US$14 to US Comcast customers with the Xfinity Internet Gigabit or Ultrafast packages. The router is Zigbee and Matter compatible to connect to your other smart home devices.

A new smart security camera has been unveiled by Eufy, the 4G Starlight Camera. The device will be available to customers in the US for US$249. The gadget has an optional solar panel for US$20 that, with a few hours of sunlight each day, can ensure your camera is always running.

iRobot has released the Create 3, an educational robotics kit based on the Roomba i3 series robot vacuum. The product has been designed to provide advanced makers with a lower cost, out-of-the-box kit to further their skills. The robot has intelligent features such as an optical floor tracking sensor.

Health and wellness company Renpho has released its first smart treadmill in the US. The device comes with a wireless Bluetooth speaker and an app that you can use to control the machine. The Renpho Smart Treadmill can fold, making it ideal for small spaces or offices. Amazon is currently offering a coupon worth US$100 for the device.

The Xiaoji A2000 10kg washing machine dryer is a new product from Xiaomi. The device has a touchscreen that uses two colors to denote whether you are using the washing or drying mode. There are 36 different programs on the gadget and several intelligent features, such as automatic detergent dosing to suit your washing load.

Eufy has revealed the Smart Scale P2 Pro, a smart scale that can calculate numerous health metrics. The Smart Scale P2 Pro relies on the EufyLife app but also supports Apple Health, Google Fit and Fitbit.

A reviewer from HDTVtest has discovered that not all 42-in LG C2 TVs currently available in stores contain the latest OLED EX technology. LG explained that, due to a supply chain issue, it was shipping some of these smaller TVs with the older WBC OLED panels and that it would resolve the matter later this year.

The SOUNDBOKS Go portable Bluetooth speaker is now available to pre-order. The device has two drivers and can deliver up to 121 dB of sound. The gadget has a 7.8 Ah battery providing up to 40 hours of playback time. You can connect the smart speaker to other devices to create an immersive experience.

Set-top box company Humax has released its first smart home product in the UK, the Wi-Fi Smart Plug. You can use the device to control smart devices remotely and monitor your energy usage; in the Humax Smart Living app, you can access historical data such as current, power, voltage and total kWh.

A new mesh Wi-Fi router is now available from Xiaomi, the Redmi Router AX5400. The Wi-Fi 6 capable gadget can deliver speeds up to 5.4 GB, and it can connect to up to 248 devices. You can set up and control the smart router using the Mijia app.
Update: The device is available to purchase in China via Xiaomi's Youpin or globally on AliExpress.

The iPhone SE 2022 has now been put through a Genshin Impact test alongside the M1-equipped iPad Air 2022, and the two variants of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. The compact phone puts up a fantastic showing, with exemplary performance, efficiency, and thermals.

A new smart fitness device is now available to pre-order in China, the TECHPLUS TP600SG trampoline. The gadget comes with an accompanying app and a belt to wear to track your workout. The app encourages you to exercise with friends to unlock points and earn prizes.

Customers in the US can now buy the Apple Home Key compatible Schlage Encode Plus Smart Wi-Fi Deadbolt lock. There are many other ways to control the device, including the Schlage Home App and voice assistants. The door lock has several smart features, such as timed delayed auto-locking.

With a native 120 Hz refresh rate, a decent HDR peak brightness of almost 600 nits and HDMI 2.1 features like VRR, the affordable and now even further discounted 75-inch Sony Bravia X85J is a great choice for TV buyers and PS5 owners who are simply looking for the best bang for their buck.