The smart home has been one of the most important topics at CES for the last decade, and we hope it will be again at CES XNUMX. Why? One big reason is that a new smart home standard has finally arrived called Matter, and it promises to be the glue that will hold all of our new smart home technologies together.
CES XNUMX is just kicking off and we're going to round up all the latest smart home announcements worth knowing here. Early titles include a new challenger from GE Lighting's Philips Hue, an AI-powered oven from Samsung, and an LG Artcool air conditioning system that's disguised as, you guessed it, a piece of wall art.
No doubt we're soon going to see a wave of security cameras, robot vacuums, and more flooding at CES XNUMX, and we'll be there to sort out the vaporware winners. For now though, here's the best smart home tech we've seen at this year's CES so far. On top of this from a new Kohler "shower pod" system, just for the fact that the aromatherapy accessory was too weird to pass up.
Smart devices
Samsung's custom AI oven
If there's one area where we need help from our new AI overlords, it's in the kitchen, and Samsung's new Bespoke AI Oven promises to be that virtual chef. The oven's smart camera is capable of recognizing foods and detecting burns, which means it can recognize up to XNUMX different dishes and advise cooking settings for each one. Alternatively, the European model can also send you a fear message that your lasagna is approaching scorched territory.
If you use Samsung Health or SmartThings Cooking (found in the SmartThings app), this new smart oven also promises to suggest meals based on your workout stats, dietary goals, and ingredients you have around the house. While you may have issues with the current supply of beer, double cream and onions from our fridge. Bespoke AI Oven is currently available in Europe and will launch in North America in QXNUMX XNUMX, although the cost is not yet known.
Four Door Adapted Samsung Flexible Refrigerator
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(Image credit: Samsung)(Image credit: Samsung)The internet fridge has been a CES staple for fifteen years, and Samsung has just taken the term to an oddly forceful new extreme. The Bespoke Flex Refrigerator with Family Hub features a XNUMX-inch vertical touchscreen, which is twice the size of previous models.
You can use this screen to view or share snapshots of your Google Photos library, monitor your SmartThings devices, and create digital shopping lists for Amazon deliveries. Of course, you can also use it to watch TV thanks to the XNUMX free channels (in the US) of the Samsung TV Plus service. Although the vertical orientation may be the most convenient for TikTok videos.
This one to rule them all fridge will launch in North America in the first half of XNUMX, though sadly we don't know the costs yet. Until then, we will have to continue sticking an iPad to our fridge.
LG Air Conditioning ArtCool Gallery
We've seen IKEA and Sonos build a speaker into a piece of wall art before, and now LG has pulled off the same trick with a wall-mounted air conditioner. Its new ArtCool Gallery has a XNUMX-inch LCD screen, which can display any photo you choose in the accompanying LG ThinQ app. It actually makes it a bit more appealing than your average metallic rectangle.
While this auxiliary technology is sure to make the ArtCool Gallery more expensive than your average AC unit (cost not yet known), it promises to offset the savings via a dual inverter lathe, which reportedly uses up to seventy percent. Less power than standard AC products.
More important to your sleep, it also works at sound levels as low as twenty decibels. Which is good news, otherwise you'll probably end up spilling a cup of tea on your buzzing new board.
Kohler Beach
In the future, we won't just buy pods for our coffee machines: if Kohler is successful, we'll also buy them for their Kohler Sprig system, which brings aromatherapy to your shower today.
The Sprig connects to your shower head and infuses the water with scents, oils and other skin-stimulating ingredients through Kohler's Sprig shower pods. And yes, only Kohler pods, which will initially come in 6 different flavors, will work with the system.
Still, if you're craving a burst of lavender, chamomile, or eucalyptus (as well as other skin-friendly ingredients like hyaluronic acid) in your morning shower, Sprig might be one to consider when it arrives. first months of two thousand twenty-three. The system will cost $6, not including the capsules, which will cost you $XNUMX for a package of XNUMX single serve capsules.
Intelligent lighting
GE Lighting Cync Active Effects
The likes of Nanoleaf Lines and Philips Hue have dominated smart lighting of late, but GE Lighting has increasingly incredible alternative options. At CES XNUMX, it announced new additions to its range of active effects that look like an enticing and affordable way to bring color to the background of your studio or YouTube channel.
The 4 new smart lighting products include Smart Hexagon Panels, which will accept Nanoleaf equivalents, and Smart Neon-Shape Lights, which can be folded or shaped as desired. GE Lighting has also released new Dynamic Effects smart lamps that come in Aline versions or for their indoor spotlights.
These new lights are competitively priced, starting at $19 (roughly $XNUMX / AU$XNUMX) for AXNUMX Aline lamps, and they'll be available in the US as they're controlled via Wi-Fi. -Fi using the Cync app. But, on the other hand, these new products will not be compatible with Matter, since GE Lighting will support the standard for certain new products throughout the next year.
smart security
Flex Touch Pro Padlock
Most smart locks require removing and replacing the existing deadbolt, which is not always practical or possible. But Lockly's Flex Touch Pro solidifies as a better option for renters or Airbnb owners: It brings a fingerprint reader to your existing lock.
The downside is that you'll need to put a rather heavy case inside your door, since that's where the AA batteries and Flex Touch Pro intelligence live. But outside the door you've got a rather fancy fingerprint reader, which you can supposedly keep up to ninety-nine fingerprints.
Since it comes with a Wi-Fi hub, you'll also be able to give or deny access to the door remotely, or check it using Amazon Alexa or Google Home. The Flex Touch Pro will be available in the US starting in the spring of XNUMX for $XNUMX ($XNUMX / AU$XNUMX).