If you are even remotely interested in technology, you are probably familiar with the Consumer Electronics Show or CES. While the trade show has traditionally taken place in Las Vegas, this year’s event has moved online. While CES covers just about every piece of tech imaginable, our focus is obviously on HomeKit and there were a ton of announcements from a variety of manufacturers. Though the products announced might not actually make it into the hands of consumers, news coming out of CES can give us a good indication of where HomeKit might be going in the coming year.
Rio Arc
Coming to Europe and the U.K. last year, the Rio Arc was HomeKit’s first stand-alone heater. Prior to CES, the manufacturer announced that it is preparing a North American launch of the smart warmer in 4 color variants: black, white, red, and gray. Simon from HomeKit News also tells us that this smart heater should be available to order at the end of January and shipping early February. Though no official pricing has been announced at the time of writing, it is sold in the U.K. for £225 which is approximately $300 USD.
Sony Bravia XR
Televisions are a mainstay of the Consumer Electronics Show and this year Sony has announced that its new Bravia XR TVs will all support Airplay 2 and HomeKit. Topping a lengthy list of desirable features, the Bravia XR sets use AI and machine learning to bring you a heightened viewing and listening experience. Appleinsider reports that pricing and availability is to be announced in the spring of 2021.
ecobee SmartCamera
Known for their thermostats in the HomeKit arena and building on their recent release of support for HomeKit Secure Video, ecobee announced that their SmartCamera would be receiving a few new features in the form of Spotify integration, improved pan and zoom functionality, and smoke detector monitoring when subscribed to their Haven security service. To top it all off, ecobee has also dropped the price to $129 and all of this is available now.
Level Lock
Primarily known for their “invisible” smart lock that replaces the cylinder of your existing deadbolt, last year Level Lock released their Level Touch deadbolt which replaces your entire deadbolt adding smart connectivity while maintaining a traditional look. At this year’s big tech event, they are planning to bring two new finishes, matte black and polished brass, to the currently available satin chrome and satin nickel lineup starting in February.
Lutron Caseta Outdoor Smart Plug
A very solid option for smart lighting, Lutron’s Caseta system is heading outdoors with the introduction of the Outdoor Smart Plug. Boasting a unique design that sets itself apart from the competition with an extremely rugged design, the Outdoor Smart Plug will allow you to control outdoor lighting and other devices with HomeKit, or other platforms, as well as connect to Lutron’s buttons for convenient indoor control. Lutron is shooting for a March 2021 launch at $79.95 in the U.S.
Arlo Essential Video Doorbell
While not a new product per se, but certainly a welcomed addition to the HomeKit family, smart security camera powerhouse Arlo rolled out a firmware update that makes its Essentials wired video doorbell HomeKit compatible. The good news? It’s available now. `The not-so-good news? No HomeKit Secure Video. Maybe next year….
Phillips Hue
Let’s be real, nobody expected Hue to NOT show up to CES. It’s no surprise that they of course announced a couple of new outdoor lighting fixtures, but more interestingly, what seems to be a smart wall switch of sorts and an update to their Dimmer Switch.
The wall switch module installs behind your existing light switch, but it’s unclear if the lighting controlled by the switch is then connected to the Hue bridge or if you can simply control Hue bulbs in fixtures controlled by the switch.
The update to their popular Dimmer Switch is a welcomed refresh with an updated design and a slightly reconfigured button layout. Though we can definitely expect more from Hue in 2021, you can look for these new offerings starting at the end of February.
VOCOlinc MistFlow Humidifier
Though not exactly announced or even released at CES, VOCOlinc’s latest smart home gadget, the MistFlow smart humidifier officially went on sale in the U.S. The big brother to the very well-received Flowerbud diffuser, this WiFi-based humidifier sports a larger 2.5 liter water tank with a built-in full color LED mood light and it’s available now on Amazon for right around $80.
If a smart humidifier weren’t enough, VOCOlinc also announced that they will soon release their Opto smart camera. This indoor camera will feature a 3 megapixel lens at 1080p resolution, IR night vision, and pan and tilt functionality, along with HomeKit Secure Video support. The VC1 Opto smart camera is slated for a European release in March coming in at just under €50, though no official North American release details are available quite yet.
LG CineBeam Laser 4K Projector
Following the recent update of Airplay 2 and HomeKit for its 2018 set tops, LG is planning to release their CineBeam Laser 4K Projector with support for our favorite connected home platform. With an up to 300-inch diagonal picture and a max brightness of 2,700 lumens, this HomeKit and Airplay 2 compatible projector has a ton a tech inside to bring a truly cinematic experience to your home. Be on the look out for the LG CineBeam Laser 4K at the end of January at a modest $3,000 in the U.S.
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