Privacy-First Presence: Shelly's mmWave Bet
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The Presence Gen4 ditches cameras for radar, offering a way to automate the home without the surveillance creep.
For years, the dream of a truly automated home has been hampered by a binary choice: clumsy motion sensors that turn the lights off while you're still reading, or invasive cameras that track your every move. In my view, the latter is a non-starter for most of us who don't want our living rooms to feel like a security outpost.
Shelly is attempting to bridge this gap with the launch of the Presence Gen4. As first reported by The Verge, this new sensor avoids the 'surveillance state' problem by utilizing mmWave radar technology rather than a camera to monitor movement and activity. This allows the device to track the presence of people and pets without ever recording a visual image.
From a hardware perspective, the Presence Gen4 is designed for versatility. According to The Verge, the unit can be placed on a table via a built-in stand or mounted to a wall. Wall mounting is the preferred method for maximizing its 140-degree horizontal field-of-view, which allows the sensor to cover areas as large as 650 square feet. The only caveat for the minimalist is the power requirement; the device requires a USB-C cable connection to a power source.
What makes this compelling for the power user is the granularity of the detection. The Verge reports that users can configure up to 10 independent detection zones. This means you can trigger specific automations based on precise locations—such as powering up a home theater only when someone sits on the sofa, or activating a desk lamp only when someone is actually seated at their workstation.
Shelly has also addressed the 'pet problem' that plagues many smart sensors. The device allows users to either include pets in the detection or adjust sensitivity to ignore low-to-the-ground objects, ensuring that a robotic vacuum doesn't accidentally trigger your morning coffee routine.
Integration is another strong suit here. The Verge notes that the Presence Gen4 supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Matter, making it compatible with the heavy hitters: Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and Home Assistant.
At $84.99, the Presence Gen4 is available now through Shelly's online store, with a rollout to retailers like Best Buy and Amazon expected soon.