News - Chris Smart

OBI ENERGY TRACKER - Smart electricity meter reader

OBI ENERGY TRACKER: Affordable smart meter with Home Assistant

July 2, 2026July 9, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

Rising electricity prices and the desire for greater transparency in energy consumption are driving the increasing popularity of smart meters. With the OBI ENERGY TRACKER*, the DIY chain OBI offers an optical reader for digital electricity meters that directly reads current electricity consumption and visualizes it in an app. The device becomes particularly interesting, however, when used in conjunction with Home […]

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SwitchBot USB Table Fan Quiet Fan

SwitchBot USB desk fan: Probably the quietest smart fan of 2026

June 29, 2026June 30, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

Quiet, energy-efficient, and smart – that's the perfect description of the new SwitchBot USB table fan. With a stated noise level of just 24 dB, an integrated battery, and the option to control it via app and smart home system, this compact fan is ideal for anyone who doesn't want to compromise on comfort, even on hot summer days. Whisper-quiet […]

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Relax on vacation with Homematic IP: How the smart home protects your home

Relax on vacation with Homematic IP: How the smart home protects your home

June 21, 2026June 21, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

Before a vacation, the same questions often arise: Are all the windows really closed? Is the front door locked? And what happens if there's a break-in, water damage, or even a fire while we're away? A smart home system like Homematic IP can alleviate many of these worries. Through the combination of sensors, actuators […]

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Anker SOLIX Solar Bank 4 Pro

Anker SOLIX Solarbank 4 Pro now available for pre-order: Up to €400 discount at launch

June 19, 2026June 19, 2026Chris1 Comment

The new Anker SOLIX Solar Bank 4 Pro* is now officially available for pre-order. Following its unveiling a few weeks ago, this also marks the start of sales for the new generation of energy storage systems. To celebrate the market launch, Anker is offering a limited-time pre-order promotion with discounts on the solar bank* and the compatible expansion battery*. Pre-order customers receive price advantages. Those interested in the new Solar Bank 4 Pro […]

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Amazon Prime Day 2026 is approaching; smart home bargains are in sight.

Amazon Prime Day 2026 is approaching: Smart Home bargains in sight?

June 16, 2026June 16, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

The next Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner. Amazon has now officially confirmed that the 2026 shopping event will take place from June 23rd to 26th, starting significantly earlier than in previous years. Prime members will have access to millions of deals across almost every product category over four days. This could be especially interesting for smart home enthusiasts […]

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Amazon Echo Show 21 Large Smart Display for controlling your smart home

Amazon Echo Show 21: Large smart display for controlling your smart home

May 30, 2026June 3, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

With the Echo Show 21*, Amazon offers its largest smart display to date. The device combines a 21-inch Full HD display with Fire TV, Alexa, and an integrated smart home hub. Echo Show 21 as a Smart Home Hub: The Echo Show 21 is much more than a traditional voice assistant. Amazon integrates a smart home hub with support for […]

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Blink Video Doorbell 2K+ (Battery Powered, Latest Gen.) | Head-to-Toe Recording

New Blink 2K+ video doorbell with high resolution, now available for pre-order at a lower price

May 13, 2026May 19, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

Blink has introduced a new 2K+ video doorbell that offers higher video resolution and is designed to show visitors at the front door in a crystal-clear, head-to-toe image. The new Blink 2K+ video doorbell will be available in both hardwired and battery-powered versions and in white and black. Additionally, it supports […]

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Home Assistant 2026.4: Infrared support, new automations and major UI improvements

Home Assistant 2026.4: Infrared support, new automations and major UI improvements

April 3, 2026April 3, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

Home Assistant version 2026.4 is a particularly comprehensive update, bringing both new features and fundamental improvements to existing Home Assistant systems. The focus is on better integration of older devices, significantly simplified automation creation, and a further improved user interface. With this update, Home Assistant continues its monthly release cycle […]

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IKEA GRILLPLATS – affordable Matter smart plug for the smart home

IKEA GRILLPLATS – affordable Matter smart plug for the smart home

March 11, 2026April 24, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

With the GRILLPLATS, the Swedish furniture company IKEA expands its smart home range with a new smart plug. This compact device transforms conventional electrical appliances into intelligent components of a connected home. Smart plugs are among the simplest ways to transform an existing home into a smart home. They are plugged in between the wall socket and the appliance, enabling control […]

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Spring offer for Navimow robotic lawnmowers – now also for the new i2 series

March 10, 2026March 30, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

To kick off the gardening season, there's an attractive spring offer for the new Navimow i2 series*. This model range was recently introduced and brings modern technologies for automated lawn care to any garden. Now is the perfect opportunity to switch to an intelligent robotic lawnmower from the i2 series and let the robot take care of your lawn for you. Newly introduced: […]

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Home Assistant 2026.3: All new features at a glance

Home Assistant 2026.3: All new features at a glance

March 6, 2026March 21, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

Home Assistant has released its monthly update, version 2026.3. The new version brings several practical improvements for automations, energy monitoring, and voice control. Particularly interesting are a new feature for robot vacuums, an enhanced energy dashboard, and experimental wake word detection on Android smartphones. What is Home Assistant? Home Assistant is an open platform for smart home systems that allows users to […]

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Shelly Plug M Gen3 Smart Plug with Meter and Power Measurement

Shelly Plug M Gen3: Smart plug with sensor and power measurement

March 3, 2026March 21, 2026Chris1 Comment

The Shelly Plug M Gen3 is a smart Wi-Fi socket for indoor use that combines classic switching functions with modern technology. In addition to remote control of connected devices, the plug offers integrated power metering and Matter support for seamless integration into smart home systems such as Home Assistant. Installation and setup: Installing the Shelly Plug M Gen3 […]

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SONOFF Orb – Smart wall switches and sockets with Matter or Zigbee

SONOFF Orb – Smart wall switches and sockets with Matter or Zigbee

February 21, 2026March 21, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

With the SONOFF Orb wall switches and wall sockets, Sonoff is launching a new generation of smart flush-mounted components on the European market. The series is designed for European Type E and Type F (Schuko) sockets and is permanently integrated into a standard flush-mounted box. Depending on the model, SONOFF uses either Matter over Wi-Fi or Zigbee, thus covering various smart home applications […]

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New Homematic IP wall switch – 6-gang, 230 V, the new light switch

New: Homematic IP 6-gang wall switch, 230 V, introduced

February 13, 2026February 15, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

The recently introduced Homematic IP wall switch – 6-gang, 230 V – clearly focuses on simple and direct operation of the smart home system. Many smart home systems increasingly emphasize app control. Switching lights on or off, operating blinds, adjusting heating settings, or activating security functions – all of this is done […]

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IKEA KLIPBPOK water leak sensor firmware update 1.0.11 is now available in Home Assistant.

IKEA KLIPBPOK water leak sensor: Firmware update 1.0.11 now available in Home Assistant

February 11, 2026February 12, 2026Chris1 Comment

IKEA has released a new firmware update for its smart KLIPBPOK water leak sensor: Version 1.0.11 is now available via Home Assistant and can be updated directly from the dashboard. The water leak sensor is based on the open Matter standard, is small, easy to install, and has already proven popular with many users for monitoring critical areas such as under […]

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Home Assistant 2026.2 – More clarity and convenience in the February update

Home Assistant 2026.2 – More clarity and convenience in the February update

February 8, 2026February 11, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

I'm a big fan of Home Assistant because hardly any other smart home system evolves so consistently and regularly. With each update, not only does the range of functions grow, but also its everyday usability. This was also the case in February: On February 4, 2026, Home Assistant 2026.2 was released – a release that focuses primarily on clarity, user-friendliness, and […]

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Navimow i2 series launches in Europe with six new model variants

Navimow i2 series launches in Europe with six new model variants

February 3, 2026February 4, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

With the Navimow i2 series, Segway is launching the official successor to the popular i1 series, the i105 and i108 models, on the European market. The new model range focuses on wireless navigation, advanced sensors, and easy setup via an app. The target group is primarily private garden owners who want to automate lawn care without laying a traditional boundary wire […]

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Home Assistant DIY remote control with ESP32, e-paper and touch display

Home Assistant: DIY remote control with ESP32, e-paper and touch display

February 2, 2026February 3, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

The Home Assistant community regularly generates new ideas for controlling a smart home efficiently and elegantly. Besides classic dashboards on tablets or wall displays, an alternative approach is increasingly coming into focus: a dedicated display with an E-Ink screen. A project recently presented in the subreddit demonstrates how an e-paper display can serve as a stylish control element […]

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Echo Show 8 as a smart home hub Zigbee, Matter and Thread Border Router at a glance

Echo Show 8 as a smart home hub: Zigbee, Matter and Thread Border Router at a glance

January 30, 2026March 3, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

With the latest generation Echo Show 8, Amazon is focusing its smart speakers more on smart home use. The device no longer functions solely as an Alexa voice assistant with a screen, but instead integrates several key wireless standards into a single system. These include Zigbee, Matter, and Thread, which acts as a border router. This allows the Echo […]

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FRITZ! Smart Energy 250 review – measuring power consumption and using it in Home Assistant

FRITZ! Smart Energy 250 review – measuring power consumption and using it in Home Assistant

January 14, 2026June 7, 2026ChrisLeave a Comment

The FRITZ! Smart Energy 250 from AVM is a power sensor for digital electricity meters that reads consumption data directly and makes it available in the smart home. We are testing the integration of the sensor with Home Assistant to analyze the energy data and incorporate it into automations. What is the FRITZ! Smart Energy 250? The FRITZ! Smart Energy 250 is a battery-powered sensor, […]

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