Google has removed the iconic Nest x Yale Lock from its store as supplies run dry, redirecting shoppers to the $189.99 Yale Smart Lock with Matter — a Thread-powered successor that shows Google betting its smart home future on Matter and partners.
Govee’s CES 2026 announcements — the Floor Lamp 3 with 281 trillion colors, the 616-pixel Ceiling Light Ultra, the first tease of the Sky Ceiling Light, and a Samsung SmartThings partnership — set the template for the brand’s breakout year. Here is what was announced and how it played out.
Govee’s IFA 2026 lineup is headlined by the $399.99 AI-powered Sky Ceiling Light with 7,000 lumens and a 478nm daylight-mimicking spectrum, joined by the COB Strip Light 2 Pro and dual-zone Permanent Outdoor Lights 2 Pro — all Matter-compatible and driven by AI Lighting Bot 2.0. We break down the specs, pricing, availability, and how the lineup stacks up against Philips Hue.
Philips Hue has launched its first wired wall switch modules — €44.99 devices that fit behind existing switches and bring non-smart lights into the Hue ecosystem. They are Europe-only for now, arriving alongside a Play Table Lamp, a large floor lamp, and a Matter-over-Thread candle bulb. We cover installation realities, the competition from Shelly and Aqara, and whether the price is justified.
Google’s first Gemini-native smart speaker launched June 25, 2026 at $99.99 with 360-degree audio, a Matter/Thread hub, and four colors — but the best Gemini features require a $10/month Home Premium subscription.
Thread 1.4 has landed on Apple TV via the tvOS 27 beta and on the Google TV Streamer, bringing standardized credential sharing that should finally unite fragmented Thread networks. Here is what it fixes, what still does not work, and what Matter 1.6 has in store next. We explain the credential-sharing fix, the current beta limitations, and what to do in the meantime.
Apple ended support for the original HomeKit architecture on February 10, 2026. If you never upgraded to the modern Apple Home architecture introduced with iOS 16.4, here is why you must do it now and exactly how to upgrade in a few minutes. Plus: what to check before you tap Update, and how to handle shared homes.
Eufy’s Smart Lock E40, unveiled at CES 2026 for $299, combines a 2K wide-angle camera with facial recognition, a massive 15,000mAh battery and Matter support. It’s Eufy’s bid to merge the video doorbell and the smart lock into one device.
Roborock has launched the Saros 20 Sonic robot vacuum and mop at $1,499.99, featuring VibraRise 5.0 sonic scrubbing at 4,000 vibrations per minute, a 36,000 Pa HyperForce motor, a Dual Zero-Tangle brush system, and Matter compatibility. Here is how the new flagship compares to the Saros 20 Flow and what its launch means for the 2026 robot vacuum race.
TCL unveiled Matter-over-Thread smart locks at CES 2026: the D2 Pro with touch-free palm vein biometrics and local AI learning, plus the D2L fingerprint lever lock. Both carry BHMA Grade 3 certification.