GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple has added Apple Intelligence features that generate text descriptions of security camera footage, similar to tools already offered by Google Nest, Arlo, Ring and Blink. To use the feature, users need a compatible iPhone or iPad running iOS or iPadOS 27, a home hub device, and a camera brand such as Aqara that integrates with Apple's ecosystem.
A comparison of twelve popular Zigbee temperature and humidity sensors sourced mainly from AliExpress was conducted to evaluate their accuracy, build quality, and measurement range. All devices were tested alongside a calibrated reference sensor in an office environment, with the benchmark device calibrated against a lab-certified thermometer in a commercial refrigerator. The study aims to identify which sensors provide the most reliable readings for smart home use.
Apple expanded its third-party accessories lineup this week with eight new products, led by the Aqara Thermostat Hub W200, which first launched in April after debuting at CES 2026. The device sells for $169.95 through Apple, about $10 more than on Amazon, and supports Apple Home features including Adaptive Temperature and Clean Energy Guidance. Apple also began selling the Aqara Climate Sensor W100 alongside six other new accessories.
Aqara's Camera Hub G350 is a pan-and-tilt indoor security camera featuring a 133-degree 4K lens paired with a 2.5K telephoto lens offering up to 9x hybrid zoom. It includes local AI tracking of people and pets, sound recognition, microSD and NAS local storage options, and doubles as a smart home hub supporting Matter, Thread, Zigbee, HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, and IFTTT. Video records at 20 fps, and users are automatically enrolled in a free trial of Aqara's Home Guardian cloud storage service with 90-day event history.
Aqara has released the Multi-Sensor FP400, its latest mmWave presence detector for smart-home setups. Despite being a newer model, reviewers found it fails to meaningfully advance on the capabilities already offered by Aqara's earlier presence sensors.
Aqara has unveiled a new range of smart home lighting products, including permanent outdoor lights and a stick-style floor lamp. The launch signals Aqara's push beyond its core sensor and hub business into the competitive smart lighting market.
Aqara, known mainly for security sensors, revealed a broad new smart lighting range at IFA 2026 covering indoor lamps, LED strips, and outdoor lighting. The lineup includes a multicolor standing lamp with 18 controllable zones, a table lamp, a low-ceiling downlight, a dense LED strip, and both string and permanent weatherproof outdoor lights. Pricing and release dates were not disclosed.
Aqara used IFA to introduce a broad range of new smart lighting products, including the 4.6-foot Floor Lamp T1 with RGBIC lighting and 18 addressable zones, outdoor permanent lights, RGBIC string lights, an upgraded LED light strip, and second-generation downlights. All the new devices support Matter through Thread, letting them work with platforms like Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, Home Assistant, and Homey. Aqara has not yet announced pricing or release dates for any of these products.
WIRED's 2026 video doorbell guide lists three additional models that just missed the top picks: the $100 SwitchBot Smart Video Doorbell with a built-in display, the $100 Aqara G400 Select wired doorbell with local storage and optional HomeGuardian subscription, and the $170 Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell offering 2K resolution and Hue light integration. Each has strengths and drawbacks, from slow displays to bulky designs to reliance on paid subscriptions for advanced AI features.