Already known for all sorts of innovative smart lighting, Nanoleaf unveiled its first outdoor string lights at CES 2024 in January. But now you can finally buy them to dress up your yard or patio in time for spring. Nanoleaf Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights come in three lengths.
The new Nanoleaf Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights are designed to illuminate your outdoor spaces with a dash of color and smart functionality.
Nanoleaf, maker of smart-lighting products from modular light panels to smart bulbs, introduced its first dedicated outdoor lighting solution at CES 2024. And now, at last, you can purchase Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights to class up your outdoor spaces in time for warmer weather.
Product design and features
Nanoleaf’s new outdoor string lights look a bit different from many traditional string lights. The geometric form factor adds an aesthetic touch while creating multidimensional lighting effects.
These string lights come with addressable, color-changing LED bulbs. This means each bulb can display a different color, enabling dynamic, flowing color gradients. They are also IP65 water-resistant, making them ideal for outdoor use, rain or shine.
Smart functionality
The new outdoor string lights offer many color choices and control options. Photo: Nanoleaf
Nanoleaf’s new outdoor lights work with multiple smart home platforms, including Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings.
That means you can control your lights using voice commands or through the respective smart home ecosystem apps. Additionally, the lights can be controlled via Nanoleaf’s app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
The string lights also come with an easy-access controller for quick adjustments. You can turn your string lights On/Off, adjust brightness or cycle through various colors.
Advanced features
Beyond the core functionalities, the Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights pack several advanced features. Users can create custom color palettes and motions for dynamic multicolor scenes. The lights can also respond to music, creating a synchronized light show.
The lights integrate with the Nanoleaf Orchestrator software, a music visualizer that enables customizable light shows that respond intelligently to music. This software is compatible with all streaming music platforms and audio players.
Availability and pricing
Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights come in two kits — “smarter” and expansion — in three lengths. Smarter kits: 49-foot (15m) is priced at $129.99. The 98-foot (30m) length costs $199.99. And the 148 ft (45m) kit goes for $277.48. Expansion packs (49-foot) are $99.99.
Nanoleaf offers a 10% discount as a launch promotion with the code OSL10.
After a handful of rumors and speculation suggested Meta was working on a pair of AR glasses, it unceremoniously confirmed that Meta AR glasses are on the way – doing so via a short section at the end of a blog post celebrating the 10th anniversary of Reality Labs (the division behind its AR/VR tech).
While not much is known about them, the glasses were described as a product merging Meta’s XR hardware with its developing Meta AI software to “deliver the best of both worlds” in a sleek wearable package.
We’ve collected all the leaks, rumors, and some of our informed speculation in this one place so you can get up to speed on everything you need to know about the teased Meta AR glasses. Let’s get into it.
Meta AR glasses: Price
We’ll keep this section brief as right now it’s hard to predict how much a pair of Meta AR glasses might cost because we know so little about them – and no leakers have given a ballpark estimate either.
Current smart glasses like the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, or the Xreal Air 2 AR smart glasses will set you back between $300 to $500 / £300 to £500 / AU$450 to AU$800; Meta’s teased specs, however, sound more advanced than what we have currently.
Meta’s glasses could cost as much as Google Glass (Image credit: Future)
As such, the Meta AR glasses might cost nearer $1,500 (around £1,200 / AU$2300) – which is what the Google Glass smart glasses launched at.
A higher price seems more likely given the AR glasses novelty, and the fact Meta would need to create small yet powerful hardware to cram into them – a combo that typically leads to higher prices.
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We’ll have to wait and see what gets leaked and officially revealed in the future.
Meta AR glasses: Release date
Unlike price, several leaks have pointed to when we might get our hands – or I suppose eyeballs – on Meta’s AR glasses. Unfortunately, we might be waiting until 2027.
That’s according to a leaked Meta internal roadmap shared by The Verge back in March 2023. The document explained that a precursor pair of specs with a display will apparently arrive in 2025, with ‘proper’ AR smart glasses due in 2027.
(Image credit: Meta)
In February 2024 Business Insider cited unnamed sources who said a pair of true AR glasses could be shown off at this year’s Meta Connect conference. However, that doesn’t mean they’ll launch sooner than 2027. While Connect does highlight soon-to-release Meta tech, the company takes the opportunity to show off stuff coming further down the pipeline too. So, its demo of Project Orion (as those who claim to be in the know call it) could be one of those ‘you’ll get this when it’s ready’ kind of teasers.
Obviously, leaks should be taken with a pinch of salt. Meta could have brought the release of its specs forward, or pushed it back depending on a multitude of technological factors – we won’t know until Meta officially announces more details. Considering it has teased the specs suggests their release is at least a matter of when not if.
Meta AR glasses: Specs and features
We haven’t heard anything about the hardware you’ll find in Meta’s AR glasses, but we have a few ideas of what we’ll probably see from them based on Meta’s existing tech and partnerships.
Meta and LG recently confirmed that they’ll be partnering to bring OLED panels to Meta’s headsets, and we expect they’ll bring OLED screens to its AR glasses too. OLED displays appear in other AR smart glasses so it would make sense if Meta followed suit.
Additionally, we anticipate that Meta’s AR glasses will use a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset just like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses. Currently, that’s the AR1 Gen 1, though considering Meta’s AR specs aren’t due until 2027 it seems more likely they’d be powered by a next-gen chipset – either an AR2 Gen 1 or an AR1 Gen 2.
The AR glasses could let you bust ghost wherever you go (Image credit: Meta)
As for features, Meta’s already teased the two standouts: AR and AI abilities.
What this means in actual terms is yet to be seen but imagine virtual activities like being able to set up an AR Beat Saber jam wherever you go, an interactive HUD when you’re navigating from one place to another, or interactive elements that you and other users can see and manipulate together – either for work or play.
AI-wise, Meta is giving us a sneak peek of what’s coming via its current smart glasses. That is you can speak to its Meta AI to ask it a variety of questions and for advice just as you can other generative AI but in a more conversational way as you use your voice.
It also has a unique ability, Look and Ask, which is like a combination of ChatGPT and Google Lens. This allows the specs to snap a picture of what’s in front of you to inform your question, allowing you to ask it to translate a sign you can see, for a recipe using ingredients in your fridge, or what the name of a plant is so you can find out how best to care for it.
The AI features are currently in beta but are set to launch properly soon. And while they seem a little imperfect right now, we’ll likely only see them get better in the coming years – meaning we could see something very impressive by 2027 when the AR specs are expected to arrive.
Meta AR glasses: What we want to see
A slick Ray-Ban-like design
The design of the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses is great (Image credit: Meta)
While Meta’s smart specs aren’t amazing in every way – more on that down below – they are practically perfect in the design department. The classic Ray-Ban shape is sleek, they’re lightweight, super comfy to wear all day, and the charging case is not only practical, it’s gorgeous.
While it’s likely Ray-Ban and Meta will continue their partnership to develop future smart glasses – and by extension the teased AR glasses – there’s no guarantee. But if Meta’s reading this, we really hope that you keep working with Ray-Ban so that your future glasses have the same high-quality look and feel that we’ve come to adore.
If the partnership does end, we’d like Meta to at least take cues from what Ray-Ban has taught it to keep the design game on point.
Swappable lenses
We want to change our lenses Meta! (Image credit: Meta)
While we will rave about Meta’s smart glasses design we’ll admit there’s one flaw that we hope future models (like the AR glasses) improve on; they need easily swappable lenses.
While a handsome pair of shades will be faultless for your summer vacations, they won’t serve you well in dark and dreary winters. If we could easily change our Meta glasses from sunglasses to clear lenses as needed then we’d wear them a lot more frequently – as it stands, they’re left gathering dust most months because it just isn’t the right weather.
As the glasses get smarter, more useful, and pricier (as we expect will be the case with the AR glasses) they need to be a gadget we can wear all year round, not just when the sun’s out.
Speakers you can (quietly) rave too
These open ear headphones are amazing, Meta take notes (Image credit: Future)
Hardware-wise the main upgrade we want to see in Meta’s AR glasses is better speakers. Currently, the speakers housed in each arm of the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are pretty darn disappointing – they can leak a fair amount of noise, the bass is practically nonexistent and the overall sonic performance is put to shame by even basic over-the-ears headphones.
We know open-ear designs can be a struggle to get the balance right with. But when we’ve been spoiled by open-ear options like the JBL SoundGear Sense – that have an astounding ability to deliver great sound and let you hear the real world clearly (we often forget we’re wearing them) – we’ve come to expect a lot and are disappointed when gadgets don’t deliver.
The camera could also get some improvements, but we expect the AR glasses won’t be as content creation-focused as Meta’s existing smart glasses – so we’re less concerned about this aspect getting an upgrade compared to their audio capabilities.
Samsung this weekend has the 27-inch ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor at a steep discount, available for $899.99, down from $1,599.99. In addition to this $700 discount, you’ll find deals on 4K and 5K Samsung monitors, including the Smart Monitor M8, as well as storage, audio, TVs, smartphones, and home appliances.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Overall, the ViewFinity S9 5K Smart Monitor is at a very solid second-best price this weekend, just $50 higher compared to the previous record low price. This monitor has a matte display, modular 4K SlimFit camera, and support for Thunderbolt 4.
Samsung’s 27-inch Smart Monitor M8 is also being discounted during this sale, available for $399.99 in Warm White, down from $699.99. This is a 4K smart monitor with a design that looks similar to the iMac line, and it’s at another great second-best price during Samsung’s monitor sale.
Additionally, Samsung has quite a few more monitor and TV deals, which we’ve rounded up below. Anyone shopping for a Samsung smartphone or tablet can also find a few offers on the Galaxy AI-powered Galaxy Z Flip5, Galaxy Z Fold5, and Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra.
iOS 18 is expected to be the “biggest” update in the iPhone’s history. Below, we recap rumored features and changes for the iPhone. iOS 18 is rumored to include new generative AI features for Siri and many apps, and Apple plans to add RCS support to the Messages app for an improved texting experience between iPhones and Android devices. The update is also expected to introduce a more…
Apple’s iPhone 16 Plus may come in seven colors that either build upon the existing five colors in the standard iPhone 15 lineup or recast them in a new finish, based on a new rumor out of China. According to the Weibo-based leaker Fixed focus digital, Apple’s upcoming larger 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus model will come in the following colors, compared to the colors currently available for the…
Apple will begin updating its Mac lineup with M4 chips in late 2024, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The M4 chip will be focused on improving performance for artificial intelligence capabilities. Last year, Apple introduced the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips all at once in October, so it’s possible we could see the M4 lineup come during the same time frame. Gurman says that the entire…
Apple’s hardware roadmap was in the news this week, with things hopefully firming up for a launch of updated iPad Pro and iPad Air models next month while we look ahead to the other iPad models and a full lineup of M4-based Macs arriving starting later this year. We also heard some fresh rumors about iOS 18, due to be unveiled at WWDC in a couple of months, while we took a look at how things …
Best Buy this weekend has a big sale on Apple MacBooks and iPads, including new all-time low prices on the M3 MacBook Air, alongside the best prices we’ve ever seen on MacBook Pro, iPad, and more. Some of these deals require a My Best Buy Plus or My Best Buy Total membership, which start at $49.99/year. In addition to exclusive access to select discounts, you’ll get free 2-day shipping, an…
Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker: two-minute review
If you’re looking for a top multi-cooker, then there are plenty of best Instant Pot options to choose from. The Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker stands out as a great buy, not just for its 10 settings, but also because of its smart functionality. So, not only can you control the appliance from the touchscreen display on the front of the cooker, but you can start, adjust and stop it remotely via an app on your smartphone as well. This makes it a much more convenient option than your standard Instant Pot.
I really enjoyed browsing the Instant Connect app, which features lots of cooking inspiration. Offering access to over 1,400 recipes, you can search for a recipe to cook using keywords such as “chicken”, “fish”, or any other random ingredient you have to hand. Once you’ve decided what to cook, following the instructions in the app is super simple, and it will nudge you to choose the right cooking mode for the recipe chosen. This is a game-changer, making cooking really quick and speedy, with no need to refer to the instruction manual. It’s also handy when you’re stuck about what to cook and need some inspiration.
(Image credit: Instant Pot)
Provided the device is plugged in, you can turn the appliance on and off remotely, too – which is helpful if you want to keep an eye on the cooking cycle from the comfort of the sofa. This also means that provided you’ve prepped your ingredients correctly, you can turn on the cooker while you’re out – so that the slow-cooked lamb you planned first thing will be ready to eat when you walk through your front door.
In terms of design, the Instant Pot Pro Plus won’t catch the eye. Nevertheless, its timeless black and silver finish will work well in both modern and classic kitchen schemes. Offering 10 useful cooking modes, including those for steaming and making rice and a delay start and keep warm function; if there’s one option I was disappointed not to see, it’s an air fry function.
Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker review: price & availability
List price: $199.99 / £199.99
Reasonably priced for capabilities
Available in US and UK
The Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker is above average in price for an Instant Pot multi-cooker, setting you back $199.99 / £199.99. At the time of writing, this 6-quart / 5.7-litre design is on sale for $149.95, however.
You’ll be paying that bit more than the average due to its smart capability. For a 6-quart model minus smart features you can pick up the Instant Pot Rio for around $99.99. Or in the UK, you can buy the Instant Pot Duo Plus With WhisperQuiet Multi-Cooker for £99.99, which is currently on offer, down from £129.99.
Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker review: design
6-portion capacity
10 functions accessible via touchscreen
Dishwasher-safe removable pot
In terms of looks, the Instant Pot Pro Plus is rather average; with a sleek black finish and touchscreen display, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. However, what makes it stand out from the crowd is its high-tech smart capability, which allows you to control the multi-cooker not just through the touchscreen panel, but via a smart app on your phone.
Size-wise, it isn’t too intrusive on the countertop, and at 7.05kg it isn’t too heavy either. Its body is curvaceous and sleek, offering a generous 6-quart / 5.7-liter dishwasher-safe stainless steel inner cooking pot with aluminium core that can hold up to six portions. In the box you’ll also find a steam rack and extra sealing ring for when the original wears out.
(Image credit: Instant Pot)
While you won’t need too much room to store this appliance on the countertop or in a large kitchen cupboard, you will need to ensure there’s adequate space around it for good ventilation while cooking. Venting is easy: there are three touchscreen options for natural venting, pulse venting or a quick vent. The display also denotes how much cooking time remains, and highlights the cancel and start buttons for quick access while running.
I found the digital display clear and easy to read, allowing you to choose from the 10 settings available. These include pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, sautéing, yoghurt making, canning, sous vide, delay starting and keeping your food warm.
I found the device feels solid and secure on the worktop, with ample cord length to easily plug it in at the socket. The multi-cooker has a lid that’s easy to remove and lock into place when needed. Note that the sides of the machine do get a little hot to touch when it’s on, but nothing out of the ordinary – and the only time the multi-cooker makes much noise is when the steam is being vented. Helpfully, the inner pot comes with handles, which makes it super easy to take out.
Design score: 4.5 out of 5
Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker review: performance
Cooks up to 70% faster when pressure cooking
10 cooking functions via touchscreen or app
NutriBoost to lock in vitamins, improve texture
To test out the Instant Pot Pro Plus, I used it over the course of a month to cook a variety of dishes. I downloaded the Instant Connect app and followed recipes such as pressure-cooked Easy Holiday Butternut Squash Coconut Soup, which was made in under 20 minutes. I was keen to see how well this multi-cooker could pressure cook, sauté, steam and cook rice, as well as produce a slow-cooked lamb curry.
I found the digital control panel simple to use, and found that the “easy seal locking lid” clicked into place effortlessly. Pairing the appliance with the smartphone Instant Connect app proved faultless, too. After pressing the Wi-Fi button on the pot, and following the instructions to connect, I was able to use the app to control my recipes.
(Image credit: Instant Pot)
The app itself is actually one of the easiest and most comprehensive I’ve used. I welcome the way you can search for a recipe, and the app delivers step-by-step instructions – from gathering your ingredients to choosing the right settings, adding ingredients and venting the steam – all in real time.
Offering 20% more power than previous models, for faster pre-heating time and 15psi suitable for canning, the Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker claims to be the most powerful Instant Pot to date. This design does, in fact, claim to cook up to 70% faster than other cooking methods when pressure cooking, and can therefore help you save on energy bills as a result. I certainly found pressure cooking to be super quick: I was able to cook very tough butternut squash in just five minutes.
(Image credit: Future)
Following the recipe for pressure-cooked Easy Holiday Butternut Squash Coconut Soup, the app automatically guided me through the natural venting setting at the end, which I found reassuring and easy to follow. The appliance does get quite loud when venting steam, and you’ll need to ensure there’s sufficient space above to avoid covering the kitchen units with condensation. While making the soup, I also clicked on the NutriBoost setting on the control panel, which is designed to make meals healthier by breaking down the food, locking in vitamins and enhancing the flavour. It’s hard to tell if this made any difference to the final results of the soup, but it’s a reassuring addition to the offering.
I found the appliance very quiet in use – particularly when used for making a slow-cooked lamb curry. It was very easy to sauté ingredients such as the lamb, onions and seasoning directly in the pot at the start of the recipe, which saved time and having to wash up a separate pan. I then simply added the rest of the ingredients and switched to the slow cook setting for four hours on high. I like the fact that the sauté setting can be used at the end of the slow cook to reduce liquids directly in the pot if needed, too. The appliance gently beeps to let you know when the food is ready.
(Image credit: Future)
Cleaning was pretty simple; the pot is dishwasher-safe and the base and lid can be cleaned with warm soapy water and wiped down with a damp cloth. For more advice, learn how to clean an Instant Pot.
Performance score: 4.5 out of 5
Should you buy the Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker?
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
A reasonable price for a generous multi-functional Instant Pot with excellent smart capabilities.
4/5
Design
Good, solid build that doesn’t feel too bulky on the worktop, with an easy-to-read digital touchscreen display.
4.5/5
Performance
Great performance and surprisingly easy to use thanks to the step-by-step instructions provided via the smart app.
4.5/5
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
How I tested the Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker
Tested for a month
Used for a variety of dishes
I tested the Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker over the course of a month, using it to cook a variety of dishes and to gauge the effectiveness of its different cooking modes, including pressure cooking, sautéing, steaming and slow cooking. I also rated it on ease of use both with its touchscreen and app, as well as factoring in how easy it was to clean.
Fallout, Prime Video’s adaptation of the beloved game franchise, appears to be a hit: it’s currently sitting with 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and a whole bunch of rave reviews.
Inverse says it’s “as utterly addicting as it is innovative, and could very well become the new benchmark for the video game prestige series as we know it”, while Uproxx says “it manages to tread new ground within a genre that’s been covered almost too extensively thus far, mining comedy from its most mundane horror elements”.
With just eight episodes to binge in your bunker, however, it’s a pleasure that won’t last much longer than a cool bottle of Nuka-Cola. So here are three more sci-fi suggestions for you to stream on Prime Video.
Invincible
It’s hard enough being a teen without having a superhero for your dad, but that’s the cross Mark Grayson has to bear: he’s the kid of Omni-Man and has inherited powers of his own. This smart, violent and funny sci-fi animation has a whopping 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Jessie Gender says it’s “Game of Thrones for the superhero genre”, while Consequence says “this is so much more than just another superhero cartoon. No, this is humor, mystery, drama, romance and science fiction, all rolled up into one absolutely addictive treat.” According to Ars Technica, “not even Smallville could combine YA [young adult] drama and superhero DNA this well.”
The Peripheral
Gamer Flynne Fisher is stuck in a dead end job supporting her brother and her ill mother – but when her brother asks for her help with a game, she gets dragged into something strange and dangerous. The show comes from the same creators as Westworld, and stars Chloe Grace Moretz as Flynne in a story that’s often deeply odd. io9 says “It’s a lot to take in—but hardly any of it is extraneous, and nearly every nugget of information… becomes important.” The Peripheral is an adaptation of a William Gibson novel so it’s smarter than a lot of cyberpunk sci-fi, and according to The Wrap it’s “a joy to watch” for fans for cyberpunk crime drama anime. Isn’t that everyone?
Outer Range
Josh Brolin stars in this visually stunning sci-fi western that CNET says is “intense and unnerving” and that Inverse describes as “one of the boldest, weirdest, and most affecting sci-fi shows of the 21st century”. There are some pretty strong Stranger Things vibes here, and maybe some Lost and a bit of Westworld too, and while not everybody who watched it loved it – IndieWire isn’t a fan of the sci-fi elements – The Mary Sue says it’s well worth a watch: “What’s so great about Outer Range is that it’s something fresh while having the feel of a western in all the right ways.”
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Popular home lighting company Nanoleaf today introduced its latest product, Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights that bring HomeKit-compatible decorative lighting to decks, porches, backyards, gardens, pool areas, and more.
Nanoleaf is known for unique light designs, and the Outdoor String Lights aren’t an exception. The bulbs have an angular five-sided shape that makes them more geometric than soft. They’re made from a hard, clear plastic material and they look like they’re made from crystal or ice. If you want cozy, romantic-style lighting, Nanoleaf’s lights might not be the right vibe because of the shape, but if you want lights that are fun and eye-catching, these are perfect.
There are multicolor LEDs in each bulb, so you can control the lights individually and set them to any color, including shades of white. If you unscrew one of the bulbs, there’s actually a second protective plastic dome inside that further diffuses the light. The bulb shape might not have a cozy feel, but the lights can be soft yellows and whites, or any other shade of the rainbow, plus there are dimming controls. The colors are accurate and it does well with blues, purples, and greens, shades that can sometimes be off with LED lighting.
The Outdoor String Lights are meant for ambient lighting, and even at 100 percent brightness, they’re on the dimmer side depending on the colors used. Nanoleaf says they’re 55 lumens per bulb, so a 15-meter strand is 1100 lumens total. These are available in 15-meter (49ft) and 30-meter lengths (98ft), with the 15-meter version offering 20 bulbs and the 30-meter version offering 40 bulbs.
Strands can be connected together, but the maximum length is 45 meters or 147 feet, equivalent to one 30-meter strand and one 15-meter expansion. For anything longer, you’ll need separate sets with multiple power supplies. The lights have thick black cabling for weather protection, so these are probably not string lights you’re going to want to use indoors unless you have a room where an industrial look works.
There’s 6.5 feet of cord between the power supply and the controller and then another foot or so between the controller and the first light. The bulbs are spaced about two feet apart, and they hang down four inches, so they look best when draped down across beams or using outdoor light poles.
The lights have IP65 water resistance and the controller is IP67 rated, so they can be used outdoors in the rain and elements without protection all year. Nanoleaf offers a two-year warranty on the lights.
In terms of aesthetics, the Nanoleaf Outdoor Lights are great, but connectivity needs improvement. These connect to HomeKit through Matter, and Matter devices continue to face issues on Apple’s platform. I think it’s more of an Apple issue than a Nanoleaf issue because I see these same Matter problems regardless of device, but it’s a problem any potential buyer needs to be aware of.
The Outdoor String Lights have randomly disconnected or become unreachable for no particular reason a handful of times. Sometimes unplugging them fixes it, and sometimes they just start working again after being unreachable. As a caveat, I don’t know if the Matter/HomeKit interoperability issue I have is exacerbated by my Wi-Fi network or other factors. I have an Orbi mesh Wi-Fi 6E network, and while my standard HomeKit products seem to generally be reliable (especially those with hubs), Matter is not. The Outdoor String Lights are mostly functional and the disconnects aren’t constant, but it is worth noting that the lights may not always work seamlessly for HomeKit users.
I would have preferred native HomeKit support to Matter for the lights, but these are Matter only. There is no Thread support, and as with other Nanoleaf products, you can only use a 2.4GHz network.
On a more positive note, Nanoleaf has one of the better smart home apps. There are built-in scenes available in the app for the Outdoor String Lights, but I can also create my own or use scenes created by other Nanoleaf users. Nanoleaf also has an AI feature where you can type in any phrase like “tropical sunset” or “ocean waves” to get a custom scene in colors that match what you’re aiming for.
The AI works with a fairly wide range of suggestions, and I get a good range of colors. The only downside is that it appears to have a single color-shifting pattern, but Nanoleaf does support other patterns when you create your own scenes or download them. As these are able to connect to HomeKit via Matter, you can use Siri commands and turn them on and off with the Home app.
The Home app also supports automations for turning the Outdoor Lights on and off at select times or pairing them with other HomeKit devices.
Bottom Line
The Nanoleaf Outdoor String Lights are some of the neatest outdoor lights that I’ve seen, and the multicolored LEDs pair well with the geometric shape. These are expensive and are not cost efficient if you have a large area to cover in lights, but one or two strands will elevate any outdoor setup.
I have not seen flawless operation from the Outdoor String Lights, and have had to deal with some disconnects, so that’s something to be aware of. I am hopeful that Apple and Nanoleaf updates in the future will fix any of the lingering issues that Matter-enabled devices are still experiencing.
How to Buy
Nanoleaf’s Outdoor String Lights can be purchased from the Nanoleaf website. A 15-meter strand is priced at $100, and a 30-meter strand is priced at $180. Additional 15-meter expansion packs are available for $70.
Note: Nanoleaf provided MacRumors with a set of Outdoor String Lights for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
Today’s Mac Pro and smart TV setup is a rare find for two reasons. First, Mac Pro costs so much that we rarely see it in the wild. Second, while big smart TVs used as computer displays continue to gain popularity, we don’t often hear users saying they’re one of the best they’ve ever had. But that’s the case with this LG C2 smart TV setup, used by a photographer and musician.
In it, a powerful cheese-grater Mac Pro drives a gargantuan 42-inch smart TV as an external display.
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42-inch LG C2 smart TV works beautifully in Mac Pro setup
Photographer and Redditor johnnyphotog showcased the impressive setup in a post entitled, “Mac Pro Creation Station.” John’s Mac Pro (96GB memory, 2TB plus 16GB fast internal storage, dual 6900XT graphics with afterburner) drives a massive 42-inch LG C2 Series OLED smart TV.
On Friday, we focused on the setup’s killer Mac Pro. On Monday we look a bit more closely at that display.
Giant LG C2 smart TV as Mac Pro display
Commenters showed as much or more curiosity about the big display as they did about the Mac Pro.
“Do you find any weird issues with lag/latency when using the TV as a monitor?” asked a commenter. “That was something I read that deterred me from going this route, but I kinda wish I gave it another look.”
“Nope, in fact, the LG C2 42-inch works better than most monitors I’ve used in the past!” John replied.
He even posted a video review he taped about using the smart TV as a monitor (see above). He pointed out that MacBook Pro users got HDMI 2.1 recently, meaning they can view 120Hz 4K and take great advantage of smart TVs like the C2, with its 120Hz refresh rate and 3820 x 2160p ultra HD resolution.
And of course an OLED panel like this one achieves astonishingly high contrast, with a 1 million to 1 contrast ratio and remarkably deep-black tones. The TV also incorporates Cinema HDR technology with 100% color accuracy (1 billion colors in a wide gamut). For gaming, it features a low-latency mode, Nvidia GeForce Now and a less-than 1ms response time. It’s also HomeKit and AirPlay 2 compatible. See all C2 specs here.
John explained to another post commenter that he rests the big keyboard on a stand with sliders so he can tuck it under his desk.
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I’ve always preferred the glow of multiple lamps to the onslaught of overhead lights, but clicking them off one by one can get tedious. With smart plugs, any lamp can be controlled with a phone, your voice or even a programmed schedule or routine so you don’t have to think about them at all. Smart plugs also work with some appliances like basic coffee makers, fans, humidifiers and other items that have a simple on/off switch. Smart plugs all look pretty similar — a white rectangle with rounded corners — but as we’ve learned in our testing, they don’t all perform the same. We tested over a dozen models for both indoors and out to find ones that are easy to set up and perform reliably within your chosen smart home ecosystem so you can pick the best smart plug for you.
What to consider when buying a smart plug
Before you buy one, it helps to know how a smart plug works best. They are designed for things that have an on/off switch, making them great for turning lamps into smart lights. If you want a plug-in fan to move some air around before you get home, a smart plug can help. You can load a basic coffee maker with grounds and water the night before and wake up to a fresh pot in the morning. And instead of an air purifier running all day, you could set it to just run when you’re away. But gadgets that needs to be programmed further, or requires a stand-by mode, isn’t ideal. If you want to control built-in lights, you’ll need smart switches, which are more involved than smart plugs as they can involve installation.
Some smart plugs can even monitor how much energy they use and display those figures within their companion app. That might not be much use on its own, as lamps with LED bulbs consume very little energy, but it could help you keep tabs on your overall energy consumption.
Setup and use
Adding a smart plug to your home is relatively simple. You’ll use the manufacturer’s app to initially connect, after which you can add the plug to a compatible smart home ecosystem so you can use voice control and other features. Both the brand’s app and your smart home app will let you name the plug, set schedules and program “routines” which provide automation for multiple smart devices at once. But as you can guess, a manufacturer’s app only lets you control products from that brand. If you want whole-home automation, operating, say, a plug from TP-Link’s Kasa, a bulb from GE’s Cync and a camera from Arlo without switching apps, you’ll need to use a smart home platform, which means you’ll need to consider compatibility.
Compatibility
Smart home devices connect through wireless protocols, often using more than one to communicate with your phone, smart speaker, router and in some cases, one another. The majority of smart plugs use Wi-Fi, but some have recently incorporated Matter, a relatively new wireless standard intended to solve integration issues between different brands and manufacturers, while also improving security and reliability.
More of these smart plugs are coming to market and, for now, most Matter devices work via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and a low-power mesh network called Thread. Matter requires a controller that stays at home, like a hub or smart speaker, to manage things when you’re out and about.
As for Bluetooth, most plugs, including all Matter plugs, use the short-range protocol to get the device set up for the first time. Some can continue to run on Bluetooth in the absence of another option, but the connection isn’t as reliable and you won’t be able to control the plug when you’re away from home, or perhaps even just on the other side of the apartment.
Because Matter is relatively new, it may be easier to consider the manufacturer’s system you’d use the most. There are four major “branded” smart home platforms: Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, Apple’s HomeKit and Samsung’s SmartThings. The first two work with the widest range of brands and are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. HomeKit not only limits app access to Apple devices, but it’s also compatible with fewer plugs. You can also turn to open-source software like Home Assistant or go with the larger functionality of IFTTT if you want to, say, have your lights turn off when your Uber arrives. For the purposes of our testing, we stuck with the four big players. Nearly every plug we looked at clearly stated which platforms it works with, both on the packaging and retail product pages.
Of course, there’s no rule that says you have to stick with one home assistant. You might have an Echo Dot in the basement, a HomePod in the living room and a Google Nest Mini in the kitchen, each controlling any compatible devices. My kid has a great time telling Alexa to turn on a light then asking the Google Assistant to turn it back off.
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Hubs and smart plugs
All of our top picks recommended here don’t require a hub and connect directly to your home’s Wi-Fi router. That means if you already have wireless internet and a smartphone or tablet, you can quite literally plug and play. The exception is Apple’s HomeKit. If you want to pair up a compatible plug with that platform, you’ll need a HomePod speaker, Apple TV or an iPad that stays in your home to enable remote control when you’re away.
Some smart plugs require a hub regardless of which platform you use. For our guide, we focused on the simplicity (and lower cost) of options that work on their own, but hub-dependent devices may make sense in certain situations. Some companies, like Aqara for example, make a vast range of smart home products, adding automatic shades, window sensors, smart locks and air quality monitors to the more traditional cameras and plugs. If you’re going all-in on one brand and plan to get a plethora of connected devices, a hub can keep your Wi-Fi network from getting too crowded and provide a more seamless setup with reliable connectivity.
We tested the Aqara plug and hub and, while we found the connectivity was good and the proprietary app to be helpfully configurable, it’s tough to recommend the nearly $100 combo to anyone who isn’t planning to get a complete Aqara smart home setup.
Sharing
Once a plug is set up with your platform and voice assistant of choice, anyone can control the plug just by talking. If someone else wants to control things with their phone, things get more complicated. Google makes it easiest, allowing you to invite another person just by tapping the + button within the Home app. Whomever you invite will have full access to your connected devices – including cameras – so this is only for people you trust the most.
HomeKit makes it similarly easy to grant app access to someone else, but as with most things Apple, it only works for other iOS users. Amazon only allows you to share access to your Echo, not your connected home devices.
Many smart plug manufacturers allow you to share control through their app by inviting another person via email. But this only grants access to devices of that brand. Hopefully as Matter expands, multi-admin features will become more widespread.
How we tested the best smart plugs
Before we decided which smart plugs to test, we considered brands Engadget staffers have had the best experiences with, both in review capacity and personally. We also checked out other online reviews. We then looked at factors like price, compatibility and relative popularity. I got ahold of ten indoor smart plugs and four outdoor versions from eight manufacturers.
I set up each one using its companion app, then added it to all compatible smart home platforms. Plugging in a cadre of lamps and string lights, I tested the plugs using an iPhone 11, Galaxy S10e, Echo Dot, HomePod mini and Nest Mini. I accessed the plugs via the apps and through voice commands and controlled them in my home and away from it. I programmed schedules and routines and moved the plugs to different outlets, including ones in the basement to gauge range. For the outdoor devices, I plugged them into an outlet in the garage (approximately 85 feet from my Wi-Fi router) and an outlet attached to the back of the house.
Here’s every smart plug tested before settling on our top picks:
*Emporia issued a recall on its smart plugs purchased before August 1, 2023 due to a potential fire risk, though no incidents were reported. The plugs have since been updated to resolve the issue and are back on sale. We’ll be testing the revised version for an upcoming update to this guide.
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No
All of the plugs eventually did what they said they would, but each had a quirk or two that gave me pause – except TP-Link’s Kasa EP25. From installation to implementation, it was fuss-free and reliable. It’s also one of the cheaper plugs on our list at just $13 each (but you’ll usually find it in a four-pack). It works well with both iOS and Android and on all four smart home platforms. The Kasa app has a clean, intuitive design and includes the features you’d expect like timers, schedules, a vacation mode and smart actions (aka scenes). TP-Link makes a wide range of other smart devices, so you could expand your smart home without having to leave the Kasa app.
The EP25 is an updated version of the HS103 that adds HomeKit compatibility, so I was able to control it with both an iPhone and an Android phone. If you also live in a blended OS home, I recommend onboarding with the iPhone first. After tapping the + button in the Kasa iOS app, a HomeKit pop-up will prompt you to add the plug using the QR code from the box. (The code’s also printed on the plug, but that’s harder to access.)
Once set up in HomeKit, it was easy to add the plug to the other smart home apps. Google Home and SmartThings just need your TP-Link log-in details and Alexa uses the Kasa “skill.” Once you’ve added one plug, any future TP-Link devices you incorporate should automatically show up in each app. If you’re only using an Android device, the Kasa app will walk you through using a temporary Wi-Fi network to get the plug online.
After setup, I named the plug and assigned it a room (making sure it was the same in each app to avoid confusing myself). Then I programmed various routines and schedules and asked all three voice assistants to turn the light on and off – everything worked without a hitch. In the weeks of testing, the EP25 never had a connection hiccup, even after I relocated it to the basement, which is the farthest point from my router.
My single complaint is that sharing with another user isn’t supported within the Kasa app. You can share your log-in details with the other person, as the app does support access from multiple devices on one account. But Google Home feels like the best way to share smart home device control, whether that’s between iOS and Android devices or when everyone uses the same OS.
Assistant support: Alexa | Energy monitoring: No | Matter support: No | Hub required: No
If you have many Amazon Echo devices and use Alexa to answer your questions, control your music and manage your timers, Amazon’s smart plug makes the most sense. Your Echos and Alexa app already have your details, so you won’t have to create an account, enter your Wi-Fi password or switch to a different app, which makes setup mindlessly simple. In addition to naming your plug, you’ll also want to designate it as a light under Type in the settings menu. That way, when you say, “Alexa, turn all the lights off,” it will act accordingly.
I was impressed with the speed of the onboarding process and how seamlessly the plug blended into the ecosystem, adding another IRL appendage to flex. I still get a small thrill when I say, “Alexa, goodnight,” and all goes dark. However, you won’t be able to use the Alexa smart plug with any other smart home app, which is why it’s best for those who’ve already gone all-in on an Amazon home.
The only other drawback, and it’s not a small one, is the Alexa app’s lack of sharing capabilities. You can create households that let other people in your home access your Echo speakers through their phone, but they can’t see your smart home devices. If you’re the only one who needs app access and everyone else in your home is happy to interact via voice commands only, this plug couldn’t be simpler. At $25, it’s not the cheapest smart plug, but like all things Amazon, it goes on sale fairly often.
Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: Yes | Hub required: Only with HomeKit
Only a handful of Matter-enabled smart plugs are currently available and the Kasa KP125M is the best of what we tried. It works with all four platforms, installs easily and reliably maintains connections. Most Matter devices need to be initialized with a QR code, but this plug also supports Bluetooth onboarding, which saves a step. I set it up through the Kasa app first and because I already had another Kasa plug installed, the process was simplified, automatically prompting me to add the plug with a couple of taps. Adding the device to Alexa, Google Home and Samsung’s SmartThings worked the same way, with each app letting me know I had new devices available to add.
To add the plug to HomeKit, I had to scan the included barcode. The process didn’t work at first and I ended up having to long-press the button on the side to make it enter pairing mode. Unlike some Matter plugs, KP125M doesn’t require a Thread border router. And because it’s also a Wi-Fi plug, you don’t need a Matter controller, such as a smart speaker for access when you’re away from home. That said, many of the negative reviews on Amazon have to do with the plug’s poor HomeKit compatibility. In addition to the setup hitch I mentioned, the connection with the HomeKit app and Siri was extremely spotty until I added Apple’s HomePod mini to the mix as a dedicated hub. After that, the reliability improved.
The KP125M also provides detailed energy monitoring in the Kasa app. From the home screen, tap on a plug to see stats on its energy usage, along with an estimate of how much that energy will cost you on your next electric bill. You can even enter in your per-kilowatt hour pricing to get a more accurate picture. While we wish there were a way to see the energy usage from all connected devices at once, it’s still a useful insight to have on a per-plug level.
It’s important to note that our best overall pick is $7 cheaper and also works with all four platforms. The higher price tag is likely due to the Matter logo on the side. The protocol is still very new, and honestly, I’d call the KP125M plug more of a hybrid Wi-Fi-Bluetooth-Matter plug, which could be why it played nice with every platform. The other Matter plug, the Eve Energy Matter plug, requires you to have a HomePod for HomeKit access, a Nest Hub for Google Home connection and a SmartThings hub to make it work with Samsung’s system. The promise of Matter is faster and simpler connectivity – requiring three hubs to work with various platforms seems to miss that point.
Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Samsung SmartThings | Energy monitoring: No | Matter support: No | Hub required: No
None of the smart plugs we recommend block the second outlet, but the Meross Wi-Fi dual smart plug takes that convenience one step further by combining two outlets into one. This lets you independently control two different devices at once like a combo of a lamp and fan, a humidifier and your coffee maker, or whatever else you’d like to lend some smarts to. It also works with all four major platforms, so it should smoothly integrate with whichever assistant you’re already using.
Setup starts with the Meross app, though if you’re using an iPhone, you’ll see a suggestion to set up with HomeKit first. The plug has a QR code for communicating with Apple’s system, but that didn’t work for me, so I followed the prompts to use a temporary Wi-Fi method and connected successfully. As for Google and Amazon, each of their apps should automatically detect it and cue you to add it once you’ve completed the initial setup in the Meross app. Setup with Samsung involves entering your Meross email and password.
While the Meross app is required for setup, it’s not the most compelling app for programming routines and schedules. You’ll likely get a better experience using whichever of the major smart home platforms you prefer. When I tested moving the plug to a new position in my house, it reconnected instantly. Then I put it in the basement, which sometimes has spotty Wi-Fi, but it had no trouble working as intended. Should you ever want to operate the unit manually, there are two buttons on the front with arrows pointing to the outlet each controls.
My only qualm was the default name Meross assigned to each outlet within the app. I would assume the left plug to be called “Switch 1” and the right “Switch 2,” but it was reversed on my unit. That’s really not an issue as most people would rename the switches to match the plugged-in devices, but it still struck me as odd. Also, getting Siri to understand which switch I was asking to operate was complicated, until I renamed the entire plug and each switch within the Apple Home app. But in my experience, Siri is still working out its smart home assistant kinks, so I don’t blame Meross for this.
The plug is just $17 and, considering its wide compatibility and consistent connectivity, it’s easy to recommend, particularly if the number of outlets in your home isn’t as plentiful as you’d like.
GE CYNC Smart Plug, Indoor Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Outlet Socket, Works with Alexa and Google (1 Pack)
Honorable Mention
My main concern with the Cync plug is the way the scheduling works within the proprietary app. Instead of programming when an outlet should turn on, you tell it when it should turn off. Despite my best efforts, I could not figure out how to program the Cync-connected lamp to come on at sunset, as I did with every other plug. Other than that, the app is very elegant, set up is easy and reliability is spot on. It only works with Alexa and Google Home, not HomeKit or SmartThings, but at $15, it’s a couple bucks cheaper than the Wyze plug that has the same compatibility.
The best outdoor smart plugs
Most people will likely use outdoor plugs for two things: patio lighting and holiday string lights. The devices are designed for the outdoors with ingress protection rating of IP64 or higher, which means they’re impervious to dust and can handle splashing water from rain and sprinklers. They have a longer Wi-Fi range than indoor plugs, for obvious reasons, and many have dual outlets, with individual control over each one.
Setup is the same as for indoor plugs: you’ll use your phone to help the plug find your Wi-Fi using its companion app. The only tricky part is getting your phone within Bluetooth range of the plug (which it uses to initialize setup) and in Wi-Fi range at the same time. I had to awkwardly stand at a triangulated point in the middle of my driveway to get things communicating properly. Once set up, the plugs will communicate using your router for voice and app control and your phone needn’t be anywhere near the plug.
Photo by Amy Skorheim / Engadget
Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: No
Wyze’s indoor version wasn’t one of the top picks for this guide, not because there was anything wrong with it — connection was quick, the app is clean, and the plug works well with both Alexa and the Google Assistant — other plugs simply had other features that made them stand out. But when it comes to an outside version, the Wyze Plug Outdoor wins. For one, it’s cheaper than most at just $18, yet it offers the longer, 300-foot range that more expensive plugs do. Setup was quick using the Wyze app, which has you set up an account and enter your Wi-Fi password. You’ll be prompted to name each of the two outlets (for reference, when looking at top of the device, the one on the left defaults to “Plug 1” the one on the right is “Plug 2”). What you name them in the app will carry over to the Alexa or Google Home app.
After a few months of playing around with smart plugs, I find Alexa (in my case an Echo Dot) to be the most reliable way to control them. But if you want to use the Wyze app instead, you’ll find a clean interface with useful features like a vacation randomizer and usage stats. The scheduling is a little confusing and requires you to select the device from the home page, then tap the settings gear, then Schedules, then turn on Schedule 1, then you can program the times you want. There’s an option to turn it on or off at sunset or sunrise but unfortunately, you can’t set it to trigger, say an hour before sunset like you can with other apps. But again, using a smart home platform from Amazon or Google bypasses those minor inconveniences entirely.
Assistant support: Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri | Energy monitoring: Yes | Matter support: No | Hub required: HomeKit function is better with a HomePod
For those who rely on Siri to manage their smart home, the TP-Link Kasa EP40A reliably adds outdoor control to your world. The device looks like most smart plugs designed for outside spaces, with two downward-facing receptacles on the body and a short cable leading to a three prong plug. Unlike others, the plug head exits the cable at a right angle, so the unit hangs flat against the wall. That keeps things neater, but can get in the way of other items that might need access to the outlet.
Setup is the same as with indoor Kasa plugs: download the app, create an account and add the device. You won’t be asked to scan a QR code to connect with Alexa or Google Home — just go to the respective app and the device should pop up after it’s set up with Kasa. For Homekit, you’ll need to scan the code, which is printed on a postage stamp-sized sticker in the box, and also on the back of the plug itself. It took a few attempts to get connected to HomeKit, but nearly every time I initialize a smart home device with Apple’s ecosystem I hit a similar snag, so I don’t blame the plug.
Once connected, I was able to ask Siri to turn on the holiday lights. (I even asked the Google Assistant to shut them off and Alexa to light them up again and assistant switching was glitch-free.) HomeKit maintained the connection and responses were quick. When I moved the plug from the garage to the side of the house, Siri found it quickly and no re-install was necessary. If you want to use the Kasa app instead, you’ll find user-friendly controls and a straightforward scheduling feature, though, if you’re not planning on using the plug with HomeKit, I’d recommend saving the $12 and going with Wyze’s option.
With screen fatigue at an all-time high, the prospect of a smart home with even more screens might sound counterintuitive – but I think Samsung is onto something with its new ‘screens everywhere’ approach to smart appliances.
During its global launch event on 3 April, Samsung demonstrated a host of new smart appliances, including some featuring a new seven-inch LCD AI screen to “realize the idea of screens everywhere”.
At first, I was slightly incredulous; as someone who’s struggled with phone addiction and spends most of their time looking at screens, I’m not particularly thrilled with the idea of my home being filled with even more of them.
As I walked around the demo room and spoke with Samsung’s representatives, however, I started to come around to the idea – here’s why.
Hands-free at home
Our phones, our tablets, and now even our watches have become a lifeline to the outside world, our primary source of entertainment, and our oracle of information. More than just a way to help us navigate the outside world, over the past fifteen years they’ve become a mainstay of how we operate at home, too.
So how are built-in appliance displays going to shift this dynamic? Samsung’s in-appliance screens can show your home’s floor map and connected devices, as well as providing useful information about appliances and even energy usage. Larger displays like the Family Hub used in some of Samsung’s fridges also include entertainment services, recipe books, and family planners, and can even offer the ability to easily share content directly from compatible phones.
I spoke with Tanya Weller, Marketing Director for Samsung Home Appliances in the UK, to find out her take on why displays are a huge part of Samsung’s home strategy.
“By creating little hubs in other places, can be freer in your home, and access information anywhere. It’s also just more of a shared experience,” she explains. “It’s also about ease of use; if you’re walking around the kitchen, you don’t want to have your phone in your hand the whole time. Hopefully, you’d leave it on the side.”
While Weller says a hands-free home experience wasn’t the goal of Samsung’s screens everywhere approach, which focuses more on convenience, efficiency, and information, she sees it as a natural and positive byproduct.
“I do think reduced small screen time is a good idea. Thinking about my personal life, it’s crazy; I’m asking my son not to use his phone and go on his Xbox instead because at least he’s talking to people there,” she remarks with a laugh. “It sounds awful, but I think we’ve got to an era now where screens are a massive part of our lives.”
(Image credit: Future)
Screens are inevitable
It took until I got home from my trip to Paris for Samsung’s Bespoke AI event for me to register how that experience could work. With bundles of laundry in my arms, I staggered through my flat while also trying to text my mom to let her know I’d arrived home safely while also turning on my lights.
With one of Samsung’s smart washing machines, I could not only use Bixby to open the appliance’s door for me, but also control my smart home, communicate with my loved ones, and multitask much more efficiently and without my phone in hand.
While gadgets like the Rabbit R1 and the Humane AI pin promise a less screen-filled mobile device market, other device types are starting to become increasingly display-led, and it’s a trend I doubt we’ll buck any time soon.
In Samsung’s case, I can begin to see the justification for more screens in appliances; there’s useful information they can display, it’s easier to walk around at home without being glued to your phone, and it eradicates the need for costly single-purpose devices like the best smart displays.
Firewalla makes configurable hardware firewalls that connect to your router, providing protection for your home or business against various network and internet threats.
The company has announced the pre-sale of Firewalla Gold Pro, the newest and most powerful addition to the “Gold” product line. Touted as the world’s most affordable 10-gigabit smart firewall, this device is designed to be compatible with the next-generation Wi-Fi 7 and high-speed 5 and 10-gigabit ISP fiber networks.
The Gold Pro features two 10-gigabit and two 2.5-gigabit Ethernet interfaces, which provide network segmentation and redundancy. The device is powered by a quad-core Intel processor and 8GB of RAM, allowing it to scale with growing networks.
Available to pre-order
The 10-gigabit ports can be used for both WAN and LAN and users can segment their network with VLANs running at 10 gigabits or connect one port to a 10-gigabit Wi-Fi 7 access point and another to a high-speed switch. The firewall supports VPNs at speeds over 2GB, ensuring a fast and secure network experience, even on the go.
“Our dedicated community is always pushing for a better network at higher speeds. The Gold Pro makes it possible to protect their homes and offices at future speeds, without monthly fees,” said Jerry Chen, founder of Firewalla. “As small businesses upgrade their infrastructure and consumers adopt faster offerings from their ISPs, the Gold Pro gives them unmatched visibility and protection for the next generation of networks.”
The Firewalla Gold Pro is currently available for pre-sale at a price of $789 with early buyers receiving an additional six months of warranty. Shipping is expected to start in early November, with a price increase likely closer to the shipping date.
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