Aqara Increases Support for Matter
Aqara is adding Matter support for more Smart Home devices. This will allow owners of Matter certified products such as robot vacuums, air quality sensors, and washing machines to connect to Aqara Matter controller devices. Extending support to a wider range of devices lets Aqara owners integrate more devices into their platforms and set automations and scenes for products other than security cameras, smart lights, and smart doorbells.
The Circana Take:
- Aqara continues to invest in Matter as the company prioritizes interoperability across ecosystems.
- Increased support for Matter will serve devices not covered by the major smart home platforms, such as home appliances, but it will also benefit existing product lines already aligned with one of the major ecosystems.
Samsung to Release a Robot in 2025
First announced at CES 2020, it looks like Samsung’s adorable home robot Ballie will be released for sale this summer. Pre-registration for orders is already open on Samsung.com. Ballie is a ball-shaped robot that rolls around on two wheels. It functions similar to a smart display with a built-in projector and Gemini AI installed. The robot can also control Smart Home devices via SmartThings.
The Circana Take:
- Ballie joins a host of real and rumored home robots recently announced by consumer technology companies. Though the features seem useful, Ballie lacks a clear use case and consumers will need to be convinced of the device’s true utility.
- The early market for robots (or robotic devices) has mainly been limited to single-purpose products like vacuums, grill cleaners, and window washers. The addition of generative AI capabilities is a novel addition and could make Ballie appropriate for a wider range of tasks.