Smart Home

EEVE is now accepting pre-orders for Willow X, an outdoor robot that can carry out chores such as mowing the lawn, weeding and collecting fruit and vegetables. The device is still in development and is expected to ship in 2024. Two arms and a 4K camera on the machine help it carry out a wide variety of tasks.

The retail prices and release dates of the 2022 Sony Bravia XR TVs for North America have been revealed. The XR X95K TVs are already available to purchase, with other models due to be released in the coming months. The devices are powered by the Cognitive Processor XR and are compatible with Google Assistant and Apple AirPlay 2.

The VAVA Chroma triple-laser projector became the most-funded product on Indiegogo in 2021. Now, it is available as a retail unit via its brand's own website. Alternatively, it will be available through Best Buy in some markets. The device is rated to throw an image of up to 150 inches for a "cinematic experience".

The Garage Door Controller is a new smart home device from Wyze in the US. Paired with the Wyze Cam v3 and a QR code, the gadget can check if you have left your garage door open. You can close the door remotely and trigger the door to close at a particular time or based on your location. The adapter is compatible with a range of garage doors from brands like Chamberlin.

Realme has rounded its major Indian product event of today (April 28, 2022) with its latest smart TV. This new X Full HD variants boast Dolby Atmos-tuned stereo speakers and support Bluetooth 5 and 5GHz Wi-Fi and come in 2 sizes. They will join the ~US$300 price-bracket on their release to their first market.

Sony has introduced the VPL-XW5000ES and the VPL-XW7000ES, a pair of laser projectors that can output at 4K and 120 Hz. The VPL-XW5000ES and the VPL-XW7000ES also support HDR and high maximum brightness, but neither will come cheap.

Xiaomi has introduced the OLED Vision, an OLED-based Smart TV that has a 55-inch panel. The OLED Vision 55 Smart TV is also one of the few TVs that offers Dolby Vision IQ which should improve HDR playback. Xiaomi's latest TV relies on Android TV 11 too, along with eight speakers and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Xiaomi Smart TV 5A has been revealed in three sizes, from 32 to 43-in. The devices will go on sale in India on April 30th. The larger TVs in the range have Dolby Audio and DTS:X technologies for immersive surround sound. The gadgets come with Android TV 11, a Full HD display and ports including HDMI 2.0.

The SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam is now available in the US. The camera can rotate up to 360° horizontally and up to 115° vertically, guaranteeing that it will capture moving people or pets when motion is detected. The gadget has many features, including a physical Privacy Mask that hides the camera, ensuring it cannot record you against your wish.

iF Design has provided details and pictures of two upcoming flagship Philips TV series before their official introduction. The OLED907 and OLED937 TV series will arrive later this year, although prices are unknown at this stage.

Xiaomi has launched the Smart Door Lock Pro, now available to pre-order in China. The smart device is compatible with Apple HomeKit, enabling you to use this as a method to unlock your door and use Siri voice commands to control the product. There are seven methods to open your door, including via password, fingerprint and NFC.

HiSense has presented the 120L9-Pro, its highest quality laser TV to date. As its name suggests, the 120L9-Pro creates up to 120-inch images that are colour-accurate and up to 4K in resolution. The Hisense Laser TV 120L9-Pro retails for CNY 119,999 (~US$18,291) and can output in 4K.

Xiaomi has launched the 2022 Redmi Smart TV A58, now available to pre-order in China. The device has a 4K display to deliver over 1 billion colors, and an ultra-thin bezel allows a 95.4% screen ratio. The gadget comes with MIUI TV, enabling you to use the TV to control other smart home devices.

Xiaomi has revealed the Mijia Smart Bladeless Purification Fan, now available to pre-order in China. The bladeless tower fan can deliver wind speeds up to 15.5 m/s (~51 ft/s) with a 10 m (~33 ft) range. The fan has built-in sensors to automatically adjust its settings based on air quality, humidity, or temperature changes.

Roborock has released a new feature to celebrate World Earth Day, Off-Peak Charging. The tool lets you set your vacuum to only charge during off-peak hours, however those may be defined by your energy provider. Roborock suggests that this feature can save you money on your energy bills and reduce your CO2 impact.

Roborock has revealed the Q-series, a new range of robot vacuum cleaners. The model Q5+ has already launched, with a US$100 discount until April 28th. Five other robots are due to be available to purchase in May. All of the vacuums have a 5,200 mAh battery for longer cleaning times.

Information about the new Realme Smart TV X Full HD series has been unveiled ahead of the scheduled April 29th launch in India. The almost bezel-less HD TV will come with 43-in and 40-in options. The gadget will have Dolby Audio and Realme Chroma Boost technologies, with Android OS enabling Chromecast and Google Assistant.

An electronic engineer, salmec, has designed an autonomous robotic lawn mower named Mowerino. The DIY gadget uses an Arduino Mega 2560 board alongside 3D printed parts, with all instructions published by salmec on Hackster. The device has many innovative features, including an anti-tipping sensor and ultrasonic obstacle detection.

Reportedly, Signify could be about to increase the prices of over 250 Philips Hue smart home products. The rumored recommended retail price rise is around 17% and will be seen across several countries. This news follows price increases in North America and Europe across mostly outdoor Philips Hue products in December and January.

Razer has released the Leviathan V2, a 50 cm-wide soundbar that comes with a subwoofer. The Leviathan V2 supports THX Spatial Audio, among other features, and retails for US$249.99.

Cardio Health has revealed the Metabike, a home exercise bike that allows you to play games as you workout. Smart pedals on the fitness device monitor your output and use this to power an avatar in a game, plus there are controllers built-in to the bike's handlebars. As you play and workout, you can earn Cardio Points that can be converted into Cardiocoin crypto assets.

Rumors that Ecobee could release a successor to the SmartThermostat have begun after the discovery of hidden images and descriptions in a recent app update. The reported new gadget could have similar features to the current smart thermostat, with the additional ability to trigger air purifiers or fans when poor air quality is detected.

Xiaomi has unveiled the Smart Home Screen 10, which you can now pre-order in China. The smart home hub is similar to the Amazon Echo Show, with a touchscreen display that you can use to control your smart home devices or to stream content such as TikTok videos. The gadget has a built-in microphone and camera, so you can also use it to make video calls.

Denon has unveiled the DHT-S217, a 2.1 Ch soundbar that features six drivers and supports Dolby Atmos. Available from next month, the Denon DHT-S217 also has plenty of I/O and comes with a bundled remote.

The GT Neo3 is Realme's first-ever smartphone rated to charge at up to 150W. Now, the OEM has announced it is bringing that top-end spec with it when it lands in India later in April 2022. It will launch alongside the Mini version of Realme's first-gen Android tablet, as well as a new TV and more.

Oppo has launched the K9x Smart TV in China with 4K resolution. The K9x is a cheaper alternative to the recently released K9 Smart TV. The new gadget has many features, including eye-protecting blue-light reducing technology, an image optimization algorithm and Dolby Atmos.

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.