GoKawiilNabu Casa launches $69 Home Assistant Connect Aux-2 expansion box
Nabu Casa, the commercial arm behind Home Assistant's Open Home Foundation, has released the Home Assistant Connect Aux-2, a $69 pocket-sized device offering Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet with PoE, USB-A/USB-C, an audio jack, a Grove port and RS-232 serial connections. Built on the open-source ESPHome platform, it lets users bridge Bluetooth devices, extend Zigbee/Z-Wave antennas, control serial-connected hardware like TVs and solar inverters, and stream audio to older speakers through existing Home Assistant integrations.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The release reflects Home Assistant's continued push to lower the technical barrier for connecting niche or legacy hardware, which could broaden its appeal beyond hobbyists. By relying on open protocols like ESPHome and existing community-built integrations, Nabu Casa suggests it is trying to make the platform more approachable without sacrificing its open-source flexibility.
- Nabu Casa's Aux-2 costs $69 and supports Bluetooth, Zigbee/Z-Wave, serial, and audio connections.
- The device runs on ESPHome and taps into existing Home Assistant integrations rather than new proprietary ones.
- It's positioned as part of a broader effort to make Home Assistant easier to use for less technical users.
Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 Zigbee Dongle — If you're setting up the new Aux-2 multi-tool, pairing it with Nabu Casa's own Zigbee USB dongle lets you plug straight into its USB-A port and start bridging Zigbee devices into Home Assistant immediately. It's built specifically for Home Assistant compatibility, making it a natural companion for expanding your smart home hub's device support.
See Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 Zigbee Dongle on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: theverge.com — Nathan Edwards, 2026-11-11
Published there as: “Hands on with Home Assistant’s new ‘smart home multi-tool’”
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