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Shelly has announced the Presence Gen4, a camera-free mmWave radar sensor that can detect up to 10 people at once and support customizable detection zones. It is available from Shelly for $84.99, with wider retail availability expected soon; its coverage, connectivity options and power requirements may shape how it fits into smart homes.
Shelly has launched the Presence Gen4, a smart-home sensor that uses mmWave radar instead of a camera to detect people, pets and movement, with capacity to track up to 10 people at once. The device is available through Shelly’s online store for $84.99 and is designed to trigger automations such as lighting or heating when people enter or leave a monitored area.
The Presence Gen4 can sit on a shelf or table using its built-in stand, or be mounted on a wall. Shelly’s sensor has a 140-degree horizontal field of view and is specified to monitor spaces of up to 650 square feet. It requires access to power through a USB-C cable, so placement depends partly on having an outlet within reach.
Users can configure up to 10 independently customizable detection zones. The zones can be used to link an automation to a particular part of a room: for example, switching on a desk lamp when someone sits at a desk rather than whenever anyone enters the wider space. Similar rules could activate a home theater when someone settles on a sofa.
The device supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Matter, and the report says it can be integrated with Google Home, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant. Automations can turn equipment on when someone is detected and off after they leave. Users can also choose whether the sensor includes pets in detection and adjust sensitivity to reduce triggers from low-to-the-ground objects such as a robot vacuum.
Camera-Free Detection for Home Automations
The product adds a way to make smart-home actions depend on whether people are present without using a camera to record a room. That distinction may appeal to people who want lights, heating, cooling or music to respond to occupancy but do not want a video feed in that space. The source describes radar-based detection, but does not provide technical testing or independent verification of the device’s privacy characteristics.
Its support for several smart-home platforms could make the sensor useful beyond a single-brand setup, while customizable zones offer more specific triggers than a basic room-level presence rule. That could reduce unwanted activations, although performance will depend on placement, configuration and how the sensor handles movement and objects in a particular home.
The $84.99 price puts the device among dedicated home-automation accessories rather than a simple motion detector. Its value to buyers will depend on whether its multi-person tracking and zone controls work reliably in their spaces and integrate with the systems they already use.
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Shelly’s Expanding Smart-Home Line
The Presence Gen4 follows Shelly’s launch of a $50 subscription-free security camera the previous month, according to The Verge. The two products serve different purposes: the camera provides video, while Shelly describes the new sensor as a camera-free way to detect presence and activity for automation.
Unlike motion-triggered systems that respond to movement in a broad area, the Presence Gen4 is presented as a presence sensor with multiple configurable zones and the ability to track up to 10 people at once. The report does not supply a comparison test against other sensors, so that capability should be understood as Shelly’s product specification rather than an independently assessed performance result.
Shelly began selling the sensor through its own online store on the day covered by the report. The company expected it to reach additional retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy, soon; the source does not give a specific retail launch date.
Performance and Retail Dates Still Unknown
The source does not include independent tests of the 10-person tracking claim, the stated 650-square-foot coverage, or how accurately the sensor distinguishes people from pets and other moving objects. It also does not explain how the device identifies or separates multiple people, or how performance changes with room layout, walls, furniture or placement.
Although the product is described as operating without a camera, the report does not detail what data the sensor processes or stores, whether information is sent to cloud services, or what privacy controls are available. Those details would matter to buyers evaluating a camera-free device for sensitive spaces. The source also gives no firm date for availability through Amazon, Best Buy or other retailers.
Retail Rollout and Hands-On Testing
The next reported step is a wider retail rollout: Shelly expects the Presence Gen4 to appear at Amazon and Best Buy, but has not provided a date in the source material. Buyers can currently order it directly from Shelly for $84.99, according to The Verge’s report.
Further product testing and documentation could clarify how well the sensor tracks several people in real rooms, how reliably its zones trigger automations, and what data handling applies. Until those details are available, the confirmed information is limited to Shelly’s stated specifications, compatibility claims, price and direct-store availability.
Key Questions
What is the Shelly Presence Gen4?
It is a smart-home presence sensor that uses mmWave radar rather than a camera to detect people, pets and movement for automation.
How many people can it detect at once?
Shelly’s product is described as detecting up to 10 people simultaneously. The source does not provide independent testing of that specification.
How much does the sensor cost, and where is it available?
The reported price is $84.99 through Shelly’s online store. The Verge says Amazon and Best Buy availability is expected, but gives no launch date for those retailers.
Which smart-home systems does it support?
The report lists Google Home, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant, alongside Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Matter support.
Does the Presence Gen4 need a power connection?
Yes. The device uses a USB-C cable and needs access to a power source, which can affect where it can be placed.
Source: rss
