Paul Lamkin

The latest version of Matter has just gone live, but while it doesn't add support for any new device categories, there are still plenty of updates involved that should make setting up a smart home less frustrating.

If you've ever wondered what your Thread network is actually doing behind the scenes, help is finally on the way.

Google is re-entering the smart speaker market with its new Google Home Speaker, available for pre-order at $99.99 and launching June 25. This marks Google's first standalone speaker in six years, heavily emphasizing AI. It replaces the old Google Assistant with Gemini, offering more natural conversations and advanced smart home controls. Gemini for Home allows users to issue complex, multi-part commands, maintain context, and utilize Gemini Live for free-flowing discussions without a wake word, a feature of the Google Home Premium service. The speaker boasts a compact, spherical design with 360-degree audio and advanced microphone processing. It also acts as a Matter Controller and Thread border router, serving as a central hub for smart homes. This launch positions Google against AI-enhanced competitors like Alexa+.

Jackery is moving indoors with a fully refreshed, modular HomePower Series and the ultra-slim FridgeGuard, a dedicated refrigerator backup designed to take on Bluetti.

Signify, parent company of Philips Hue, is significantly boosting its smart lights with concurrent multiprotocol technology, developed in collaboration with Silicon Labs. This innovation allows compatible Hue bulbs to run Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Thread simultaneously. Previously, users faced a choice between the Hue Bridge's advanced features via Zigbee or a direct Matter-over-Thread connection. A software update later this year will enable bulbs to connect to the Hue Bridge for ecosystem features while also maintaining a direct Matter connection to platforms like Apple Home and Alexa. This eliminates the need to choose, simplifying the smart home experience and leveraging Matter's interoperability goals. The update utilizes existing Silicon Labs chips in select Hue products.

SwitchBot has launched its new RGBICWW Ceiling Light, entering the growing smart ceiling light market alongside brands like Philips Hue and Govee. Priced competitively from just $49.99, this Matter-compatible fixture offers direct integration with major smart home ecosystems such as Apple Home and Google Home via Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for a separate hub. It delivers both functional white illumination, adjustable from warm to cool, and dynamic RGBIC color effects for ambient scenes. Available in 12-inch and 15-inch models, the lights support extensive control through the SwitchBot app, including presets, scheduling, and voice commands, further solidifying SwitchBot's position in smart lighting.

Smart lock specialist Level faces an uncertain future as parent company Assa Abloy reportedly laid off most staff and integrated the brand into Kwikset. This restructuring led to the departure of Level's founders, CEO John Martin and CTO Ken Goto, and much of the engineering team. The Verge reported these changes, citing an internal meeting audio and former employee confirmations. Acquired by Assa Abloy in 2024, Level's assets are now being transferred, raising concerns about support for its hundreds of thousands of users and its cloud-dependent premium features. Assa Abloy, however, maintains Level will continue to operate and develop its products, despite the significant staff cuts to the brand known for its innovative, discreet smart lock design.

With a huge range of features, including PoE and local recording, the Aqara Doorbell Camera G400 (Wired) is a great entry-level doorbell.

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iRobot, now under Picea ownership after bankruptcy, is expanding beyond its traditional robot vacuums with the new Roomba Electro Plus. This $399 cordless wet-dry cleaner for hard floors vacuums and mops simultaneously. Its standout feature is electrolyzed water technology, converting tap water into a chemical-free disinfectant safe for homes with children and pets, killing 99.99% of germs. The Electro Plus also boasts a self-cleaning PowerSpin roller, Dirt Detect, and a self-propelled design. A ThermaClean dock handles roller maintenance, washing and drying it automatically. Alongside this, iRobot also refreshed its robot vacuum lineup. All new products are available for pre-order, launching at retailers in July.