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SwitchBot Lock Vision Series Review: Face ID for Your Front Door

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PROS:


  • Fast 3D face unlock that feels truly hands free and effortless.

  • Palm vein and fingerprint biometrics add secure, contactless backup options.

  • Geo-fence auto-unlock arms intelligently and avoids accidental walk-by unlocks.

  • Three-tier battery system reduces lockout risk and long-term power anxiety.

  • Weatherproof IP65 exterior and mmWave radar help sensors last and save power.

CONS:


  • Motor noise is noticeably louder, especially near a bedroom off entryway.

  • Auto-unlock only works for owner or admin, not regular family members.

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

Face unlock finally feels like a deadbolt you forget is even there.

You walk up to your front door with both hands full of groceries. You don’t stop. You don’t shift bags to free a thumb for a fingerprint sensor. You don’t dig for keys. The door unlocks before you reach it. That’s the promise of the SwitchBot Lock Vision Series, and it’s the first deadbolt I’ve seen that actually delivers.

The Lock Vision Series has two models. The Lock Vision at $169.99 (model W9022003) gives you 3D structured-light facial recognition, passwords, NFC, auto-unlock via geo-fence, app control, and voice control. The Lock Vision Pro at $229.99 (model W9022000) adds contactless palm vein recognition and a semiconductor fingerprint sensor. Everything else is identical between them.

Click Here to Buy Now: SwitchBot Lock Vision Pro | SwitchBot Lock Vision

This is the world’s first deadbolt to use 3D structured-light facial recognition. Same core technology as iPhone Face ID. Twenty thousand infrared dots projected across your face, a camera captures the deformed pattern, a 3D map reconstructs and matches in under a second. The false recognition rate is less than 0.0001 percent. It works in total darkness because the IR projector is its own light source. It resists photo and video spoofing. It works with glasses, wigs, and makeup.

The first time it happened, I didn’t believe it. I walked up to the door, heard the bolt snap back, and walked through. Fast. Effortless. I dare say magical. That’s not a word I throw around in reviews, but there it is.

Other smart locks I’ve tested share the same bad habit: the deadbolt motor is too slow, so if you push or pull the door before it finishes retracting, the bolt catches, the lock panics, and you have to unlock it all over again. The Lock Vision doesn’t do that. The motor is quick enough that the bolt clears before you register it moving, and the sound it makes isn’t a whir. It’s a thunk. That’s the difference between a lock you wait for and a lock you forget is there.

Design, Ergonomics, and Aesthetics

The Lock Vision Series is a rectangular slab in black zinc alloy with a circular keypad integrated into the lower half and a sensor module at the top. The exterior unit measures 6.42 by 2.76 by 1.10 inches and weighs 551 grams (19.4 ounces), with an interior unit at 7.09 by 3.03 by 1.26 inches. It isn’t tiny, but it doesn’t dominate the door the way some camera-heavy smart locks do. The proportions are clean. The branding is restrained. On a dark door, it disappears visually.

SwitchBot built the exterior for weather. IP65 water and dust protection means rain and grime don’t get inside. The operating range spans minus 20 to 55 degrees Celsius, and humidity tolerance runs 10 to 90 percent. Certifications hit BHMA Grade 3, FCC, IC, and ISDS.

The interior unit is where things get interesting. At 218 grams (7.7 ounces), it’s strikingly light. SwitchBot uses a combination of zinc alloy and PC+ABS. On paper you might wonder if it feels cheap. Doesn’t matter. You mount it to the door. You only touch it to lock or unlock from inside, and the knob has a click to it. Clean look, feels fine where it counts. I stopped thinking about the weight after day one.

The keypad features tactile mechanical buttons with red, white, and green LED indicators. Press and hold for 2 seconds to pair. Press and hold for 15 seconds for Matter pairing. There’s a knob for manual unlocking from the inside.

The included visual assets tell the story well. The key visual shows both models with a hand reaching for a palm scan and a face profile with a 3D wireframe overlay. Scene images show a woman with groceries (hands-free), a child using palm vein (family-friendly), and a dramatic ice-encased shot (weather resistance). All available in the Drive media kit.

Performance: How It Actually Works

I’ve been living with the Lock Vision Pro long enough to say this: everything works. The facial recognition, the palm vein sensor, the fingerprint reader, and the geo-fence auto-unlock all behave the way the spec sheet says they should. When you test as many smart home devices as I do, that kind of delivery is rare.

The auto-unlock geo-fence is the killer feature here. SwitchBot labels it beta in the app, which makes its reliability surprising. Here’s how the chain works.

You set a geofence radius around your home. When your phone crosses into that zone from outside, the lock doesn’t open. It arms. The SwitchBot app starts scanning for the lock over Bluetooth. A validity timer starts, default ten minutes. When you close to within Bluetooth range, your phone and the lock establish a connection. The bolt retracts.

No biometric step. No app interaction. You walk through.

That arming step is the design intelligence in a system that could have been a disaster. A dumb geofence that unlocked the door whenever your phone wandered into range would trigger every time you walked past your own house. SwitchBot’s version requires the inbound crossing, starts the timer, and disables itself if you don’t reach the door within that window. Leave and re-enter, a new cycle begins.

No hub required. GPS, Bluetooth, the app running in background, and Wi-Fi enabled on the phone are the only prerequisites.

The limitation worth knowing: auto-unlock only works from the home owner’s phone or an admin account. Family members and shared users with member permissions don’t get the walk-up entrance on their own devices. They authenticate at the door with face, palm vein, or a code instead. For a lock built around passive entry, that’s a real asymmetry, and it’s the first thing I’d ask SwitchBot to fix as the feature graduates from beta.

3D Structured-Light Facial Recognition

Your face becomes the key. Most smart locks with facial recognition at this price use 2D infrared cameras that a printed photo can defeat. The Lock Vision Pro does not.

A laser and IR dot projector embedded around the lens cluster fires more than 20,000 infrared dots across your face in a grid pattern invisible to the naked eye. An IR flood illuminator provides fill light for total darkness operation. An IR camera captures how that dot pattern deforms against the three-dimensional contours of your face and reconstructs a millimeter-accurate depth map. The system matches that map against your enrolled template, the same foundational principle behind iPhone Face ID, and throws the bolt if the geometry matches.

The sub-second unlock speed means you don’t pause at the door. The IR projector works through condensation and surface buildup on the housing exterior, so IP65 weatherproofing doesn’t degrade sensor accuracy over time. It works in total darkness because the IR projector is its own light source. It resists photo spoofing because a flat image can’t reproduce the spatial deformation pattern. It resists video spoofing for the same reason.

Glasses, wigs, and makeup don’t throw it off because the underlying facial geometry the dot grid maps doesn’t change. SwitchBot claims a false recognition rate under 0.0001 percent. Across my testing period I haven’t had a single false positive or false negative in any lighting condition.

Contactless Palm Vein Recognition

Palm vein recognition is what separates the Pro from the standard Lock Vision. The technology reads subcutaneous vein patterns using near-infrared light: the unique geometry of veins inside your palm, entirely internal to your body.

You hover your palm near the sensor without touching anything. The IR emitter penetrates the skin surface and maps the vein network underneath. The lock matches that vascular geometry against your enrolled template.

This matters more than fingerprint in practice. A surface impression doesn’t work because veins aren’t on the surface. A photograph fails. The contactless method sidesteps the hygiene friction of a shared fingerprint pad, and it keeps working when your hands are slightly wet or dirty because the sensor reads through the skin rather than off it. Palm vein readers have been in high-security facilities for years. Finding one in a sub-250-dollar deadbolt is what makes the Pro worth the extra money.

Semiconductor Fingerprint Recognition

The fingerprint sensor is the third biometric layer. It’s positioned for kids and guests not in the face or palm databases, plus it works as a deliberate emergency fallback.

The semiconductor reader captures ridge patterns at the hardware level without storing images. All biometric data stays on the device, never routed to the cloud. It holds up to 90 user fingerprints and reserves 10 more slots for emergency prints.

The sensor reads quickly and reliably in dry and normal conditions. Wet fingers introduce the same challenge every semiconductor reader faces, but the palm vein sensor above it makes that edge case less relevant than it’d be on a lock without another contactless option.

mmWave Radar: The Power Manager

None of these biometric sensors stay active, and the mmWave radar unit handles that. It detects approach and wakes the recognition stack only when someone shows up. Without it, the 10,000mAh battery drains keeping a face camera awake. With it, the lock sleeps until you approach, wakes the sensors, and opens by the time you reach the handle. Across my testing it runs with no phantom triggers from passing cars or pedestrians.

The radar is separate from the auto-unlock GPS and Bluetooth chain. Auto-unlock handles the actual door opening via your phone. The radar handles sensor power management so the biometric readers aren’t burning battery scanning an empty porch all day.

A Note on Motor Noise

I’m not gonna sugarcoat this: the Lock Vision is noticeably louder than most smart deadbolts I’ve tested. The trade-off is speed. It’s the same trade-off you make with a fast garage door opener, more noise, faster movement. I’d rather have a motor that gets out of the way quickly than one that whispers and leaves me standing at the door.

That said, there’s a guest bedroom about five feet from our front door. It doesn’t get a lot of use, so most nights it’s a non-issue. When we do have guests staying over, the lock cycling is a little louder than I’d like. It’s one of the very few genuine downsides to this product, and the only people it will affect are those with a bedroom directly off the entryway.

The Access Hierarchy

The full unlock method count sits at 19, but the design intelligence isn’t in the number. It’s in how SwitchBot organized them by use case rather than technology type.

Passive biometrics, face and palm vein, for residents who should never have to think about unlocking. Fingerprint and NFC cards for recurring guests. Temporary and one-time passwords for deliveries and service visits. Geo-fence auto-unlock for the owner’s daily return. Physical key as the permanent legal fallback that requires no battery, no firmware, and no app update.

That’s a considered access hierarchy, not a feature list.

SwitchBot also built six tiers of security into the lock, and they all run behind the scenes. The alarm system records and notifies door status, ajar alerts, and tamper detection. Geo-fence auto-lock secures the door when you leave. On the unlock side, you get SOS fingerprint recognition, remote unlock confirmation, forced unlock for emergencies, and auto-lockout after repeated failed attempts. Data moves over AES-128 encryption, and every biometric stays local. Three-tier power management keeps the whole thing running with intelligent failover.

DualPower and DualBackup

Battery anxiety keeps people from buying smart locks. SwitchBot built a three-tier system.

Tier one: 10,000mAh rechargeable Li-Po. SwitchBot rates it for up to 12 months at 10 lock/unlock cycles per day, and the motor handles 50,000 cycles. Tier two: CR123A backup providing up to 500 emergency unlocks with 5-year standby. Auto-activates if main battery dies. Tier three: USB-C port on the keypad surface for emergency power. Connect a power bank, unlock, go find batteries.

I haven’t had it long enough to need a recharge yet, and that’s the whole idea. SwitchBot says the 10,000mAh battery lasts up to 12 months, and so far it hasn’t dipped enough for me to notice.

When it does run dry, the CR123A backup beats what most locks offer. Some competitors make you tap a battery pack to two contacts outside the lock for one open. This one has a dedicated cell already inside, good for 500 emergency unlocks and five years on standby. Haven’t needed it yet. Glad it’s there.

The mmWave radar handles power management. The lock only activates biometric sensors when someone approaches. The app provides real-time battery monitoring, push notifications at low power, and audio alerts at critical level.

Matter-over-WiFi and Ecosystem

Connects via Matter-over-WiFi. You don’t need a separate hub. Bluetooth holds a stable connection within 16.4 feet outside the door, and WiFi manages the same range through walls. SwitchBot listed Apple Home certification as in progress at launch. I don’t use Apple Home, so I didn’t test it, and that’s not a feature I personally value on a lock. The SwitchBot app handles everything: lock status, battery level, access management, unlock logs going back six months. Voice control works through Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri if you want it. If Apple Home integration is a dealbreaker for you, verify it’s live before buying. For me, the app does everything I need.

With the Smart Video Doorbell: monitor activity outside, lock/unlock from doorbell, automate entry. With the Wallet Finder Card: tracking card doubles as NFC key. With the Hub 3: doorbell chime plus lock status display. All biometric data stays local on the device.

Installation

Installation didn’t take long. My previous deadbolt had four screws. The Lock Vision’s bolt has a specific notch that mates with the SwitchBot housing, so I did have to swap out the deadbolt that was already in the door. That added maybe an extra minute to pull the old one and slide the new one in. Everything else lines up cleanly since the dimensions are standard.

Hardware swap took about 10 to 12 minutes. Setup: pairing the lock, enrolling my face, enrolling a palm, enrolling fingerprints, all of it happened fast. Under 20 minutes total and the new lock was live. If you’ve swapped a deadbolt before, this is the same job. If you haven’t, a single screwdriver and the included instructions will get you there.

Sustainability

The 10,000mAh battery is rechargeable and rated for 12 months per charge. CR123A backup lasts 5 years in standby. USB-C emergency port eliminates lockout. All biometrics stay local with no cloud dependency. SwitchBot rates the motor for 50,000 cycles.

One detail I really like: the battery compartment comes off the top with no screws, no tools. Just lift and the battery slides out. SwitchBot clearly thought about what actually happens when someone needs to swap or charge a battery, and they made it easy. That’s the kind of ergonomic detail you appreciate six months in when you finally need to pull it.

Value

At $169.99 (Lock Vision) and $229.99 (Lock Vision Pro), SwitchBot prices against the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, Yale Assure Lock 2, and Level Lock Plus. None of those competitors offer 3D structured-light face unlock. The facial recognition alone puts the Lock Vision Series in a different category.

The $60 Pro premium gets you palm vein and fingerprint. I’d pay it. We’ve got a front door, a back door to the garage, and a garage door into the house. If I had to redo all three, I’d spend the extra for the Pro on every single door.

Bundle pricing: Lock Vision + Video Doorbell $259.99, Pro + Video Doorbell $329.99. Canadian buyers pay CAD 229.99 and CAD 299.99 for the locks, CAD 329.99 and CAD 399.99 for the bundles. Both models sell direct from SwitchBot and on Amazon in the US and Canada.

Verdict

The Lock Vision Series is the first smart deadbolt I’d put on my own door. The 3D facial recognition works in the dark. The battery system covers every failure mode. Matter-over-WiFi means no hub on your nightstand. And when the battery dies, there’s a key in your hand. Two of them in the box.

But it isn’t for everyone. Apple Home certification hadn’t gone live as of my testing. Not every home qualifies without power tools on the door compatibility front. And I want to live with the 218g interior unit for a month before I trust the long-term build.

It’s a lock that just works, no matter how you get it open. Face, palm vein, fingerprint, code, phone, NFC, geo-fence, and yes, a physical key. Comes with two. When the tech is optional and the brass key still turns, that’s a lock I trust.

Click Here to Buy Now: SwitchBot Lock Vision Pro | SwitchBot Lock Vision

The post SwitchBot Lock Vision Series Review: Face ID for Your Front Door first appeared on Yanko Design.

SwitchBot Prime Day 2026: Smart Upgrades, No Installation, Up to 50% Off

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Smart home products have come a long way from the days when “home automation” meant complicated setups only tech enthusiasts could manage. The best ones now work with what people already have rather than asking them to start over from scratch. That shift has made the category far more approachable, and Prime Day sales like this one are worth paying closer attention to.

SwitchBot’s Prime Day 2026 sale runs from June 23 to June 26, offering discounts as high as 50% on a range of devices that handle security, window control, home decor, and daily comfort. None of them requires tearing down walls or rewiring anything, which is part of the appeal. The lineup this year has something for practically every room in the house.

Designer: SwitchBot

SwitchBot Lock Vision Series

Getting home with your hands full and somehow managing to unlock the door without dropping anything is one of those small daily struggles nobody really talks about. The SwitchBot Lock Vision takes care of that with 3D structured-light facial recognition, letting you walk right in without touching anything. It’s also built to tell the difference between a real face and a photo or video.

If your household has multiple people who need different ways to get in, the Lock Vision Pro adds fingerprint and palm vein recognition on top of the facial option, which makes it a bit more flexible for families. During Prime Day, the Lock Vision is down to $109.99, which is 35% off, while the Pro model drops to $169.99 at 26% off.

Click Here to Buy Now: $109.99 $169.99 (35% off). Hurry, Prime Day Deal ends soon! Website Link Here.

SwitchBot Curtain 3 Rod 2pcs + Remote

There’s something genuinely nice about curtains that open on their own in the morning, letting light in without you having to get out of bed. The SwitchBot Curtain 3 makes that possible by attaching directly to compatible curtain rods, so nothing needs to be replaced. You can control it through the SwitchBot app, a voice assistant, a set schedule, or the remote it comes with.

This bundle comes with two units, enough to cover a full window or even two separate ones, depending on your setup. The motor also runs as low as 25dB in QuietDrift mode, so it won’t wake anyone up if you’ve set it to open at sunrise. At 28% off during Prime Day, it’s priced at $129.99, which makes the automation a lot easier to justify.

Click Here to Buy Now: $129.99 $179.99 (28% off). Hurry, Prime Day Deal ends soon! Website Link Here.

SwitchBot AI Art Frame

Digital frames have been around for a while, but most of them glow a bit too brightly for a living room. The SwitchBot AI Art Frame takes a different approach with an E Ink display that gives artwork a paper-like quality rather than a screen-like one. It comes in 7.3-inch and 13.3-inch sizes, and can show photos, personal artwork, or AI-generated visuals.

What makes it genuinely usable is that it isn’t tethered to a wall outlet, thanks to a built-in battery. It can sit on a desk, lean against a shelf, or hang on a wall, wherever it fits into your space best. The 7.3-inch model is $109.99 at 27% off during Prime Day, and the 13.3-inch goes for $265.99 at 24% off.

Click Here to Buy Now: $109.99 $149.99 (27% off). Hurry, Prime Day Deal ends soon! Website Link Here.

SwitchBot Blind Tilt 3pcs + Hub Mini

If you work from home, you’ve probably gotten up too many times just to adjust your blinds whenever the sun shifts. The SwitchBot Blind Tilt attaches to your existing blinds and lets you adjust the slat angle precisely without replacing anything. Three units are included in this bundle, so you can cover an entire room instead of just one window.

The included Hub Mini connects everything to the wider SwitchBot ecosystem, so you can control the blinds from anywhere, set them up with voice commands, or let a schedule take over. Instead of manually adjusting slats every morning or evening, you can just let it happen on its own. The bundle is $139.99 during Prime Day, which is 26% off its regular price.

Click Here to Buy Now: $139.99 $189.99 (26% off). Hurry, Prime Day Deal ends soon! Website Link Here.

SwitchBot Standing Circulator Fan

A fan that just runs until someone turns it off isn’t exactly the pinnacle of smart living. The SwitchBot Standing Circulator Fan can be scheduled, adjusted remotely, and paired with other SwitchBot devices so it responds to what’s actually happening in your home. Given that Prime Day falls right in the middle of summer, it’s also one of the more timely picks.

Its adjustable height makes it easy to move between rooms without any hassle, and the quiet operation means it won’t be a distraction during calls or when you’re trying to sleep. At $89.99, it’s the most affordable item in this Prime Day lineup, and at 31% off, it’s a reasonable deal for a fan that fits neatly into a connected home setup.

Click Here to Buy Now: $89.99 $129.99 (31% off). Hurry, Prime Day Deal ends soon! Website Link Here.

The post SwitchBot Prime Day 2026: Smart Upgrades, No Installation, Up to 50% Off first appeared on Yanko Design.

Yanko Design’s Best Emerging Technologies at CES 2026: Hints at Tomorrow

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Every January, the Las Vegas Convention Center fills up with ideas that sit somewhere between prototype and inevitability. Some will vanish after a single news cycle, but a few feel like early drafts of how we will actually live with technology, once the spectacle wears off and the hardware shrinks into something you can forget about until you need it. Those are the ones worth bookmarking, the quiet experiments that hint at new categories rather than just new specs.

This year’s crop of emerging tech has a very particular flavor. Robots are edging closer to being housemates instead of stage acts, ambient objects are getting just enough AI to feel expressive rather than chatty, and work gear is evolving into compact appliances that reclaim space instead of stealing it. None of these ideas are mainstream yet, but they are all far enough along that you can imagine them in your home or on your desk, which is exactly what makes them so interesting to watch.

Vbot Companion Robotic Dog

Most quadruped robots people have seen are either industrial, loud, or built for stage demos rather than living rooms. Vbot is a companion robotic dog engineered around a single principle, Made to Be Near, designed for safe, quiet, human-scale proximity. The rounded body has no sharp edges, pinch-free joints maintain 2.5cm safety gaps, and soft-touch mesh covers the mechanical core. Low-noise locomotion using 3D-printed shock-dampening feet and tuned motors makes it quiet enough to watch over a sleeping baby.

Vbot’s social intelligence turns that safe form into something that feels alive and helpful. It interprets natural-language commands through tone, context, and meaning, understanding verbs like bring, follow, lead, show, or find without a remote. Agent intelligence breaks down objectives into steps, guiding visitors, escorting someone along a route, or positioning itself as a camera buddy for hands-free filming. It matches walking pace and repositions for better engagement.

Under the skin, embodied and spatial intelligence allow Vbot to operate as a real physical agent. Its legs use 22cm segments proportioned to match 18-20cm stair standards, giving it leverage to climb steps where wheeled robots struggle. A proprietary N45 motor delivers more torque at 25% less weight, while a 594Wh battery supports more than five hours of outdoor operation. A perception system with 360-degree LiDAR and UWB positioning understands paths and obstacles without cloud latency.

Vbot signals an early consumer-grade physical AI category. Unlike robots adapted from industrial platforms, it is built from scratch around close human proximity, readable motion based on animation principles, reliable battery life, and modular interfaces for cargo baskets, cameras, and tow carts. Its three-layer intelligence, embodied, spatial, and agent, points toward robots that are sociable enough to join you outside, smart enough to anticipate intent, and gentle enough to belong in family spaces.

Airseekers Tron Ultra Robotic Lawn Mower

Robotic mowers have mostly relied on differential steering or front omni-wheels to navigate yards, which works for wide-open lawns but struggles with tight corners and complex obstacles. Airseekers Tron Ultra uses a 4SWD drive system with independent control of each wheel, allowing it to move in ways that feel closer to industrial robotics than consumer lawn care. The mower can rotate in place without a turning radius, shift laterally, horizontally, or even diagonally through narrow gaps between garden beds, and pivot around obstacles up to 2.36 inches tall without backing up. That four-corner independence changes how the mower approaches difficult terrain. Upgraded high-traction wheels give it the grip to climb inclines up to 85% grade and traverse wet grass without spinning out, while intelligent environmental detection adjusts power distribution per wheel to prevent soil compaction and turf damage.

Under the hood, Omni Navigation combines AI vision sensors, LiDAR, and VSLAM mapping with a 300° field of view to feed real-time data to the 4SWD controller, dynamically adjusting wheel speed and direction as terrain changes. A 594Wh swappable battery supports up to 0.49 acres per charge, with the mower autonomously returning to its dock and resuming exactly where it left off. Paired with 360° radar beacons that eliminate dead zones under trees and around structures, the Tron Ultra reduces manual intervention by over 50% compared to earlier models. It signals a shift from mowers that follow preset patterns to machines that move like outdoor robots, treating lawns as navigable environments rather than obstacle courses.

Baseus Spacemate RD1 Pro Desktop Dock

USB-C hubs and flat docks have become standard, but most still sprawl across the desk with cables radiating in every direction. Baseus Spacemate RD1 Pro is a vertical, 15-in-1 docking station that treats the dock as a compact desktop appliance instead of a dongle. A single USB-C cable links a Windows laptop to dual 4K monitors, 10 Gbps USB-C ports, SD and TF slots, and 1 Gbps Ethernet, while the tall, minimalist tower tucks ports on the back and keeps the footprint small.

The Spacemate RD1 Pro merges that connectivity with a serious GaN power stack. An included 180 W GaN adapter feeds up to 160W of total output, with 100W PD reserved for the laptop, dual USB-C 100W-capable fast-charging ports for accessories, and a retractable Qi2.2 25W magnetic wireless pad on top for phones or earbuds. Intelligent power management dynamically allocates power and surfaces status on a front LED display, showing per-port draw and alerts. It feels like an early example of vertical, multifunctional docks becoming central power-and-I/O blocks for increasingly dense, multi-device workspaces.

Switchbot OBBOTO

Desks and living rooms are filling up with smart lights and displays, but most still behave like obedient bulbs or tiny billboards. SwitchBot OBBOTO is a desk-sized pixel globe that tries to be something closer to a companion, using more than 2,900 RGB LEDs, motion sensing, and music visualization to turn light into an expressive presence. It can show time and weather as patterns, react when someone walks by, and sit alongside SwitchBot’s Comfort Tech lineup as the one that gives the room a bit of personality.

OBBOTO leans on AI-driven mood animations and ambiance modes to adjust to what someone is doing, shifting between sleep-friendly scenes, focus-oriented visuals, or relaxed, reactive patterns that move with music. Interactive pixel art and animations can be triggered or customized, making it as much a canvas as a lamp. It hints that tomorrow’s smart home might rely less on flat screens and more on small, characterful devices that quietly broadcast information and vibe at the same time.

OPSODIS 1 Compact 3D Audio Speaker

Surround sound has usually meant either a ring of speakers around the room, a big soundbar that leans on wall reflections, or headphones that lock you into a bubble. OPSODIS 1 is a compact desktop 3D audio speaker that tries a different route, using Kajima’s OPSODIS technology to project a 360-degree sound field from a single box. The 6-channel, 3-way, 6-driver array delivers natural spatial cues without depending on walls or ceilings, making it as at home on a desk as in a small living room.

OPSODIS, developed with the University of Southampton’s Institute of Sound and Vibration Research, uses optimal source distribution, crosstalk cancellation, and a symmetrical layout with high-frequency drivers near the center axis to send precise sound to your ears. Multiple inputs, from Bluetooth and USB-C to optical and 3.5 mm, plus listening modes like Narrow, Wide, and Simulated Stereo, adapt to different setups. It hints at a shift where immersive audio is moving beyond headphones and multi-box systems, toward single, research-driven speakers that create convincing 3D soundstages from one spot on your desk.

ASUS ROG NeoCore WiFi 8 Router

Most routers are still anonymous black slabs you hide behind a monitor or under a TV, even as they quietly run more and more of the home. ASUS ROG NeoCore takes the opposite approach, turning next‑gen Wi‑Fi 8 hardware into an object you actually want on the desk. The faceted polyhedral shell, somewhere between a gaming dice and a sci‑fi artifact, replaces the usual antenna farm with a sculptural form that can sit flat or be wall‑mounted without looking like infrastructure.

That shape is not just for show. A rigid exoskeleton frame wraps a ventilated inner core, giving the router plenty of airflow while keeping ports and heatsinks tucked into one face. The multifaceted body helps distribute antennas in three dimensions, supporting the tri‑band Wi‑Fi 8 radio stack that pushes more data, more efficiently, to many devices at once. NeoCore ends up feeling like an early glimpse of networking gear designed as part of a performance‑focused setup, where the box handling low‑latency gaming, 4K streaming, and dense device loads finally looks as intentional as the hardware it supports.

LEGO SMART Brick

LEGO has flirted with electronics before, but usually in the form of obvious hubs or screen-tethered experiences. LEGO SMART Play shifts that by hiding a custom chip smaller than a stud inside the new SMART Brick, along with sensors, a sound engine, and wireless charging. Paired with SMART Tags and SMART Minifigures, it lets familiar builds react to swoops, crashes, and docking maneuvers with lights, motion-aware sounds, and contextual behaviors, while still feeling like pure, open-ended brick play on the table.

This platform quietly turns the entire LEGO System-in-Play into a canvas for responsive, screen-free interaction. Instead of asking kids to stare at a tablet, the SMART Brick listens through its sound sensor, feels through accelerometers, and responds through an onboard synthesizer, making ships, turrets, and throne rooms hum, fire, and react as they are moved. Because it is fully compatible with existing bricks and anchored in more than 20 patented world-first technologies, it feels like the early layer of a long-term platform that hints at everyday building blocks quietly carrying embedded intelligence.

LG CLOiD Home Robot

Home robots that can actually do chores are finally edging out of concept videos and into real homes. Robot vacuums are now background noise, and companies are quietly testing machines that can sort laundry or help in the kitchen instead of just answering questions from a speaker. LG’s CLOiD feels like the next step in that progression, a full-body home robot that does not just connect to appliances; it moves through the house and physically uses them.

CLOiD can take milk from the fridge, slide a croissant into the oven, start laundry cycles, and fold and stack clothes after drying. A tilting torso, two seven-degree-of-freedom arms, and five-finger hands ride on a wheeled base tuned for stability around kids and pets. LG’s AXIUM actuators give its joints compact, high-torque behavior, while a Vision Language Model and Vision Language Action system trained on tens of thousands of hours of household tasks lets it recognize appliances and coordinate with the ThinQ ecosystem, making housework automation feel less like science fiction.

iPolish Color-changing Press-on Acrylic Nails

Fashion and beauty are quietly becoming the next frontier for consumer tech, from smart fabrics to LED-laced festival fits, but nails have mostly stayed analog. iPolish is a set of smartphone-driven digital press-on acrylics that behave like reprogrammable cosmetics, with wearable electronic nails that can display hundreds of rich colors on demand. You apply them like regular press-ons, then pair the iPolish app with the Magic Wand over Bluetooth to send your chosen palette, turning color changes into a quick gesture instead of a full removal and repaint.

The interaction is simple: you choose colors in the app, the Magic Wand stores them, and each nail cycles through options when inserted, pausing with a green blink at one of your selections so you can stop at the exact shade you want. Colors can last minutes, hours, or days, and if your outfit or mood changes, you just reselect and reinsert rather than soaking off layers of polish. Because the system works with accessories and fashionwear as well as nails, it feels like an early glimpse of where beauty tech is heading, where digital finishes become as swappable as makeup.

The post Yanko Design’s Best Emerging Technologies at CES 2026: Hints at Tomorrow first appeared on Yanko Design.

The World’s Smallest Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum Just Hit $191 for Black Friday

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Most people think of smart home technology in terms of basics like plugs and lightbulbs, but the real innovation is often found in devices that solve unique, tangible problems. SwitchBot has built its entire brand on this idea, developing a reputation for creating gadgets you might not have known you needed. From a small robot that can push any button to a motor that automates any curtain track, the company’s portfolio is filled with clever engineering designed to add convenience to the analog parts of a home.

Now, for its Black Friday 2025 sale, SwitchBot is making a strong push to get this unique hardware into more homes with discounts reaching up to 58%. The promotion covers a wide range of its product ecosystem, including the highly practical Curtain 3, the impressively compact K11+ robot vacuum (which hits a sub-$200 price), and the brand’s new, eye-catching AI Art Frame. It’s an aggressive sale that highlights the company’s confidence in a product lineup that continues to be one of the most creative in the smart home market.

SwitchBot AI Art Frame (20-38% off)

SwitchBot is making its first serious play in the digital art display space, and they’re doing it with a product that feels genuinely different from what’s already out there. The AI Art Frame represents a departure from the company’s usual smart home automation gadgets, bringing together E Ink Spectra 6 technology with Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash Image model (internally codenamed NanoBanana) to create something that sits somewhere between a traditional digital photo frame and an AI art generator. The display itself uses the same color e-paper technology you’d find in high-end electronic shelf labels and specialty e-readers, which means it produces images with a matte, paper-like finish that doesn’t emit light or cause eye strain. With six primary colors (black, white, red, yellow, blue, green) rendered through microcup ink particles, the Spectra 6 panel delivers surprisingly vivid color at up to 200 PPI, though it won’t match the brightness or contrast of an LCD display. The frame comes in three sizes: a compact 7.3-inch version at 800×480 resolution, a mid-sized 13.3-inch model, and a statement-making 31.5-inch option that approaches the scale of traditional wall art.

What makes this more interesting than just another e-paper display is the integration with generative AI. Through the SwitchBot app, you can feed the frame text prompts or upload your own photos and have the Gemini model transform them into stylized artwork, apply different artistic treatments, or generate entirely new images from scratch. The conversational nature of Google’s image model means you can refine results iteratively, asking it to adjust colors, change compositions, or blend multiple images together without needing any design software. The frame is housed in a premium aluminum body and supports both portrait and landscape orientation, with compatibility for standard IKEA frame sizes if you want to swap out the exterior. Perhaps the most practical feature is the battery life, which SwitchBot claims can reach up to two years on a single charge thanks to E Ink’s ultra-low power consumption. The display only draws power when it refreshes to show a new image, and can maintain the current picture indefinitely without electricity. That eliminates the cord clutter that typically comes with wall-mounted digital displays and gives you far more flexibility in placement.

Why We Recommend It

At $119.99 for the 7.3-inch model during Black Friday, SwitchBot is undercutting the digital art frame market by a significant margin. Netgear’s Meural Canvas, which has long been considered the benchmark for premium digital art displays, starts at around $600 for a 21.5-inch screen and doesn’t include AI generation capabilities. Even the 31.5-inch SwitchBot at $799.99 (down from nearly $1,300) is positioned well below what you’d typically pay for a large-format digital display in this category. The real value proposition is the combination of genuinely useful AI features, exceptional battery life that makes it practical for any room without worrying about outlets or cable management, and E Ink technology that looks more like actual printed art than a glowing screen. For anyone who has been curious about AI art generation but didn’t want to deal with desktop software or subscription services, or for those who simply want a smart photo frame that doesn’t need constant charging, this represents a surprisingly accessible entry point into a product category that has traditionally been either expensive or gimmicky.

Click Here to Buy Now $120 $149.99 ($29.99 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Curtain 3 (2-Pack) & SwitchBot Remote (24% off)

The Curtain 3 represents SwitchBot’s third iteration of its flagship curtain automation system, and the upgrades this time around address nearly every complaint users had about previous generations. The most significant improvement is the motor, which now delivers double the thrust force of the Curtain 2, handling curtains up to 15 kg on rod-type tracks and 16 kg on U-rail systems. That’s a substantial leap in capability, opening the door to heavier blackout curtains and layered window treatments that would have overwhelmed earlier models. The second major upgrade is QuietDrift mode, a dual closed-loop motor control system that operates below 25 dB while moving curtains at a deliberately slow 5mm per second. This was engineered specifically to solve one of the most common frustrations with automated curtains: the jarring mechanical noise that defeats the purpose of gentle, sunrise-simulating wake-ups. The addition of Matter 1.4 support also brings native Apple HomeKit compatibility when paired with a SwitchBot Hub 2, which puts it on equal footing with more expensive systems from Lutron or Somfy in terms of ecosystem flexibility.

Installation remains tool-free and works with most standard curtain rails and rods, which continues to be one of SwitchBot’s strongest selling points against competitors like Aqara or IKEA’s Fyrtur system. The built-in light sensor allows for intelligent automation based on ambient brightness, closing curtains as daylight fades or opening them when morning light reaches a certain threshold, all without requiring scheduled timers or manual intervention. Battery life on a single charge typically lasts several months depending on usage frequency, but the real game-changer is the optional Solar Panel 3, which SwitchBot claims has doubled the charging efficiency of the previous generation. With just three hours of direct sunlight daily, the system can theoretically run indefinitely without ever needing to be removed for charging. The bundle being offered includes two Curtain 3 units plus a dedicated Bluetooth remote, which is particularly useful for anyone who doesn’t want to rely solely on voice commands or smartphone apps for basic open/close operations.

Why We Recommend It

The two-pack pricing at $137.69 makes this one of the most cost-effective ways to automate a bedroom or living room with paired curtains, especially when you consider that competing solutions like Aqara average over $860 for similar coverage and require perfectly smooth curtain rods to function properly. SwitchBot’s design works with telescoping rods and less-than-perfect tracks, which matters in real homes where curtain hardware isn’t always pristine. The quiet operation is the feature that really sells the practicality here, because nobody wants to be jolted awake by a grinding motor at 7 AM, and the light sensor automation means you can genuinely set it once and let it handle morning routines without constant schedule adjustments as the seasons change. When you add in the solar panel option (sold separately but worth it), you get a truly hands-off curtain system that doesn’t need charging, doesn’t need manual operation, and doesn’t announce itself every time it moves. For the Black Friday price, you’re getting a mature product from a company that’s been iterating on this exact use case for years, and it shows in the thoughtful details.

Click Here to Buy Now: $137.69 $179.99 (24% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Air Purifier Series (41-56% off)

The air purifier market has become fiercely competitive in recent years, with established players like Levoit, Coway, and Winix dominating recommendations lists with their $150-300 offerings. SwitchBot is entering this space with a targeted pitch focused squarely on pet owners, and the engineering choices reflect that priority. The filtration system uses a three-stage approach with a washable pre-filter for larger hair particles, an H13 HEPA filter rated at 99.97% efficiency for particles down to 0.3 microns, and an activated carbon layer specifically designed to tackle pet odors. The company claims 93.45% removal of floating pet hair and 98.18% reduction of pet odors within 30 minutes, which puts it in the conversation with dedicated pet-focused units like the Levoit Core P350. With a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 400 m³/h (236 CFM), it’s positioned for small to medium rooms, roughly on par with the Coway AP-1512HH Mighty in terms of throughput. The standout feature is the claimed 20 dB operation on its lowest setting, which would make it one of the quietest units in its class if that measurement holds up in real-world use. The inclusion of ambient lighting with 10 RGB color options and an optional fragrance diffuser suggests SwitchBot is thinking about this as a visible piece of living room furniture rather than a utilitarian appliance you hide in a corner. At $94.99 during Black Friday (down from over $200), the standard Air Purifier undercuts most comparable HEPA-rated units by a significant margin.

The Air Purifier Table takes the same core filtration system and wraps it in a functional side table with a tempered glass top, adding 15W wireless charging for phones and other Qi-compatible devices. This is where SwitchBot’s approach diverges most sharply from traditional air purifier manufacturers. Instead of making a device you need to find space for, they’ve created furniture that happens to clean the air, which solves one of the most common complaints about air purifiers in smaller apartments: they take up valuable floor space without contributing anything aesthetically or functionally beyond air cleaning. The table stands at a height that works as a bedside table or end table next to a couch, and the wireless charging pad means you’re effectively getting two useful functions bundled into the air purification. At $159.99 with the Black Friday discount (down from $270), it occupies a price point where it’s competing less with other air purifiers and more with the question of whether you’d rather buy a standalone air purifier plus a separate side table, or consolidate both needs into one device. The Matter 1.4 support means it integrates with Apple Home, Google Home, and other major platforms for scheduling and automation, which matters more in a bedroom context where you might want it to ramp up before you go to sleep and dial down to whisper-quiet levels overnight.

Why We Recommend It

The standard Air Purifier at $94.99 represents one of the sharpest discounts in the entire Black Friday sale at 56% off, positioning it as an impulse purchase for anyone who has been curious about air purification but balked at spending $200-300 on a Levoit or Coway. At that price, it’s cheaper than many budget units that lack smart home integration or true HEPA filtration, making it an easy recommendation for pet owners dealing with shedding season or anyone living in areas with seasonal air quality issues. The Air Purifier Table at $159.99 is the more compelling value proposition from a feature-per-dollar perspective, bundling furniture, wireless charging, and air purification into a single footprint at a price that’s still well below what you’d pay for Dyson’s premium units or even mid-range options from Blueair. The pet-specific focus also addresses a genuine pain point in the market, where most air purifiers treat pet hair and dander as just another particle type rather than optimizing the entire filter stack around that specific use case. For anyone with cats or dogs who are tired of constantly vacuuming or dealing with lingering pet odors, either of these represents a practical entry point into automated air quality management without requiring a major financial commitment or sacrificing valuable living space.

Click Here to Buy SwitchBot Air Purifier: $94.99 $119.99 (21% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

Click Here to Buy SwitchBot 4 in 1 Air Purifiers Table with Matter: $159.99 $193.74 (17% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Floor Cleaning Robot S20 (58% off)

The robot vacuum and mop category has become increasingly crowded at the premium end, with flagships from Roborock, Dreame, and Ecovacs routinely pushing past $1,500 with their most advanced docking stations and AI-powered navigation systems. The S20 enters this market with a feature set that closely mirrors what you’d find on those top-tier models, but at a price point that traditionally belonged to basic vacuum-only robots without mopping capabilities. The signature feature is RinseSync, SwitchBot’s implementation of continuous mop roller cleaning during operation rather than only at the dock. This means the roller mop is being scrubbed and rinsed with fresh water as it moves across your floors, addressing one of the fundamental problems with single-pass mopping systems where the mop pad gets progressively dirtier. The 10,000Pa suction puts it on par with last year’s Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and current mid-range flagships from Dreame, which is substantial power for dealing with embedded dirt in carpet or debris along baseboards. The dual anti-tangle rubber brushes are designed specifically to handle hair without the constant maintenance that plagued earlier robot vacuum generations, and the AI-powered obstacle avoidance uses visual recognition to navigate around cables, pet waste, and other common floor hazards without getting stuck or requiring rescue missions.

The MultiClean Base Station is where SwitchBot has clearly studied the competition and incorporated the features that matter most. Automatic dust collection with 90-day capacity means you’re only dealing with bag changes roughly four times a year, and the heated mop drying system prevents the musty odor problem that’s common with damp mop pads sitting in enclosed docks. The station comes in two versions: a standard tank model with separate 2.7L clean water and 2.5L wastewater tanks, and an auto-fill and drain edition that connects directly to household plumbing for genuinely hands-off water management. That plumbing-connected option puts it in rare company, as most manufacturers still rely on manual water tank filling even on their most expensive models. The Matter 1.4 integration is particularly well-implemented here, with direct section cleaning control in Apple Home, which means you can tell Siri to clean specific rooms without needing to open the SwitchBot app or rely on less-reliable voice assistant workarounds. The system can also automatically refill SwitchBot’s Evaporative Humidifier, showing how the company is thinking about cross-device automation within their ecosystem rather than treating each product as an island.

Why We Recommend It

The 58% discount brings the S20 down to $339.99, which fundamentally changes the calculation for anyone who has been watching the robot vacuum market and waiting for premium features to become affordable. To put that in context, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra with comparable 10,000Pa suction and self-cleaning dock currently sells for around $1,000 on sale (down from $1,800 at launch), the Dreame L50 Ultra hovers around $900-1,100, and the Eufy Omni S1 Pro sits at $1,000 during promotional periods. All of those are excellent machines that score well in independent testing, but the S20 is offering the same core feature set, continuous mop cleaning during operation (which most don’t have), and optional plumbing connectivity at literally one-third the price of the competition. This isn’t a budget robot pretending to be premium; this is a legitimately capable machine with flagship specifications being sold at a price that makes it accessible to people who would normally be shopping for basic Roomba alternatives or entry-level Roborock models without mopping capabilities. For anyone with hard floors who wants genuinely effective mopping rather than just a damp pad being dragged around, or for pet owners dealing with constant hair and dander, the combination of strong suction, anti-tangle brushes, and continuous mop maintenance addresses the specific pain points that cause people to abandon their robot vacuums after a few months of use.

Click Here to Buy Now: $339.99 $559.99 (39% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Robot Vacuum K11+ (50% off)

Where the S20 is built for comprehensive floor care with its mopping system and hefty base station, the K11+ takes the opposite approach by prioritizing compactness and affordability while maintaining the features that matter most for vacuum-only cleaning. At 24.8 cm in diameter, SwitchBot is billing this as the world’s smallest self-emptying robot vacuum, and that measurement puts it noticeably below the industry standard of around 35 cm for most competitors. The 9.2 cm height is equally significant, allowing it to slip under furniture and into spaces where standard-sized robots simply can’t reach. This isn’t just marketing spin; apartments with low-clearance sofas, bed frames with minimal ground clearance, or densely furnished rooms with narrow pathways between furniture legs represent genuine use cases where a smaller robot can clean areas that would otherwise require manual vacuuming. The 6,000Pa suction is roughly 60% of what the S20 offers, but it’s still competitive with popular models like the Eufy RoboVac series and significantly more powerful than older Roomba models that many people are still using. The dual anti-tangle brushes carry over from the S20, addressing the hair-wrapping problem that plagues cheaper vacuum-only models, and the 360-degree LiDAR navigation ensures it’s mapping rooms and planning efficient paths rather than bouncing randomly like budget robots.

The self-emptying base with a 4L dust bag capacity maintains the 90-day hands-free operation that makes robot vacuums genuinely practical rather than just novelties that need constant attention. Quiet Mode at 45dB is particularly relevant for this size category, as smaller robots in studio apartments or compact homes are operating in closer proximity to living and sleeping areas where noise becomes more intrusive. The Matter 1.4 support matches the S20’s smart home integration capabilities, which is notable given how many budget-tier robot vacuums still rely on proprietary apps or clunky voice assistant workarounds. The K11+ can be controlled natively through Apple Home, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa without requiring SwitchBot’s Hub as an intermediary, putting it on equal footing with premium models in terms of ecosystem flexibility. For anyone living in a space where a full-sized robot vacuum feels like overkill or physically won’t fit, or for those who already have a mopping solution and just need competent vacuuming, this represents the core robot vacuum experience stripped down to essentials without sacrificing the automation features that make these devices worthwhile in the first place.

Why We Recommend It

The $199.99 Black Friday price for a self-emptying robot vacuum with LiDAR navigation and Matter support would have seemed impossible even two years ago, when that combination of features was firmly in the $400-600 range. Most robot vacuums under $250 are either basic bump-and-run models without smart navigation, or vacuum-only designs without self-emptying capability that require manual dustbin emptying after every cleaning session. The K11+ delivers both advanced navigation and automatic dust collection at half the price of comparable options from established brands like Shark or even Roborock’s budget line. The compact size also solves a specific problem that doesn’t get enough attention in robot vacuum reviews: many people who live in smaller spaces or have furniture arrangements that create tight corridors simply can’t use standard-sized robots effectively, leading to frequent manual interventions or large sections of floor that never get cleaned. For $140 less than the S20, you’re giving up mopping capability and 40% of the suction power, but if you’re primarily dealing with hardwood or low-pile carpet and don’t need wet cleaning, those trade-offs buy you a smaller footprint that can actually reach everywhere in a compact living space. This is the robot vacuum for studio apartments, small condos, or anyone who wants automated floor cleaning without dedicating significant floor space to a large docking station or dealing with a robot that’s constantly getting wedged under furniture.

Click Here to Buy Now: $191.99 $399.99 (52% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

The post The World’s Smallest Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum Just Hit $191 for Black Friday first appeared on Yanko Design.

SwitchBot Air Purifier Table includes a wireless charger for health and convenience

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Air quality at home has become a key concern among homeowners in the past few years, finally raising awareness that the air we breathe indoors might be just as bad as the pollution-filed air outdoors. Pet owners have it especially bad, with fur and pet hair adding to their list of worries. While air purifiers are becoming more popular because of that situation, very few of them can be considered to have the same aesthetic maturity as more common appliances that have been around for decades. Many are not only uninspiring but also take up space that could have been otherwise given to more functional and appealing furniture. Venturing into the home appliances market, SwitchBot is launching an air purifier that looks a tad more interesting and definitely more useful thanks to its multi-functional design, doubling as a table you can also use as a phone charger.

Designer: SwitchBot

Many air purifier take on a cylindrical shape that maximizes air intake and output, but that means putting their less than attractive bodies in the middle of spaces where they stick out like a sore thumb. The new SwitchBot Air Purifier Table admittedly does have that cannister design, but it takes steps to set itself apart from the crowd and elevate your living space as well.

In addition to its minimalist style, this air purifier puts a flat oval on top that can be used as a table to hold your things while you sit back and relax for a bit. The wood-like finish gives it a bit of visual flair and helps make it match the other furniture in your living area or bedroom. It also encourages you to put the air purifier in places that get a lot of human presence, usually beside couches or beds or maybe even in the middle of the room, allowing it to have a better impact on the quality of the air people breathe.

Its “extra” functionality doesn’t stop there, however. That tabletop is also a wireless charger, supporting 15W charging for Android devices and 7.5W for iPhones. Simply place your phone there and let it charge while you read, watch, or just chill with friends. The Air Purifier Table has configurable lighting between the air purifier itself and the tabletop, allowing you to set the mood you want or be informed when the air quality in its immediate vicinity worsens.

Of course, the SwitchBot Air Purifier Table is an air purifier, first and foremost, and it boasts plenty of street cred for that. It’s also pretty proud of its ability to remove pet hair and prevent it from contaminating the air that humans breathe, all without stressing out the pet in the process. The SwitchBot Air Purifier Table, available now for pre-order, will set you back $269.99, but there’s also a simpler $219.99 version that trades the wireless charging table top for a smaller bowl-like structure that cats might love to sit on.

The post SwitchBot Air Purifier Table includes a wireless charger for health and convenience first appeared on Yanko Design.

SwitchBot Prime Day Sale lets you Upgrade your Home into a Smart Home on a 40% Discount

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A lot of people think a smart home is all about being able to turn lights on with a voice command, or telling your smart speaker to let you know what the weather’s like – but the definition of a smart home has changed a lot since the earlier days. You can now have your home intuitively do things like maintain a consistent temperature/humidity in all rooms, unlock your door when you come home from work, lock all your doors before bedtime, alert you when intruders approach, or even do obscurely brilliant things like draw the curtains in the morning when you need to wake up, and draw them shut if the house gets too warm with all the sunlight. Your home has the ability to adjust itself in ways that benefit you and also help you be energy and money-efficient. That’s the kind of smart home that really makes life feel different, and we’re here for it. We’ve spoken at length about how SwitchBot’s IoT gadgets make your smart home more useful, with their curtain bot that can close-open curtains on command, WiFi door lock that can open/lock doors through your phone or Apple Watch, or even the all-famous Button Pusher, a bot that attaches to manual switches to turn them into smart ones – SwitchBot’s range of home gadgets really help upgrade your regular home into an internet-powered smart one. With Prime Day rolling up, SwitchBot’s products go on sale seeing discounts as high as 40%, so if you’re looking to automate your home in clever, meaningful ways, this might just be your day… Head down to SwitchBot’s Amazon store, or just scroll down to see our three favorite picks from their exhaustive IoT lineup.

SwitchBot S10 Robot Vacuum Cleaner with Matter Support

Launched in May 2024, the S10 has a few tricks up its sleeve like its ability to auto-drain and refill its water container for the mopping function. For starters, it looks and functions exactly like a top-notch robot vacuum. It uses LiDAR to scan your house, creating a map that allows it to navigate your space with ease and efficiency. It avoids obstacles, stays away from no-go zones, and can both suck and mop to keep your house clean. 6500Pa suction allows the S10 to effectively clean any dust and dirt lying around the house, while the self-cleaning RevoRoll™ Roller Mop head wet-wipes your floor while RinseSync™ tech automatically rinses the mop head with each spin. What’s more, the mop head actually retracts into the S10 when it climbs onto carpets, so that your rugs and floor linen don’t get wet – the S10 scrapes the water off the mop too, ensuring it’s dry at all times. Dust automatically gets dumped in a 4-liter dust tank which you can clean every week or so, and for the dirty water from the mop cleaning, the S10 comes with a water refill/drain station that attaches to your plumbing. Every time the S10 needs a water-change, it goes to the station, dumping the dirty water into the drainage and taking fresh water from your house’s water supply. Here’s the best part though – if you’ve got a SwitchBot Humidifier in your house, future updates will allow the S10 to travel to the humidifier, dock into it, and fill up its water supply so you don’t have to! It operates on voice commands, integrates into your smart home when paired with SwitchBot’s Matter-enabled Hub 2 or Mini Hub, and can even be controlled through the SwitchBot smartphone app. Now isn’t that a smart home worth living in?!

Click Here to Buy Now: $739.99 $1199.99 ($460 off, use coupon code “5OFFYKDSSB” to get additional 5% discount). Hurry, deal end in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Universal Remote

Not everyone enjoys voice-operated smart homes, and that’s absolutely understandable. It’s much easier to press a button rather than tell Alexa to switch on the AC in the living room… but what do you do when you’ve got multiple devices in your house and multiple remotes to work with? Yep, that’s right – remote fatigue can be a thing. A separate remote for your TV, your streaming box, your soundbar, AC, and maybe even the slew of apps on your smartphone to control smart devices like lights, fans, thermostats, etc. It can get much, and SwitchBot’s Universal Remote hopes to change that. A single gadget for all your infrared-controlled devices and SwitchBot devices too, the Universal Remote lets you directly control practically every device around you, from TVs and Air Conditioners to every single SwitchBot IoT appliance. With support for more than 80,000 IR codes, the Universal Remote works with a whole host of existing devices from TVs to projectors, fans, and even your Apple TV and Fire TV box/dongle. A control panel and a color display dominate the Universal Remote’s design, giving you an interface is both traditional and intuitive. The device replaces the need for multiple remotes, and for fishing out your phone every time you want to open the SwitchBot app to control your curtains, vacuum cleaner, thermostat, or smart bulb. Moreover, when paired with the Matter-enabled SwitchBot Hub 2 or Hub Mini, you can use the Universal Remote to control all the Matter-compatible smart devices in your home!

Click Here to Buy Now: $44.99 $59.99 ($15 off, use coupon code “5OFFYKDSSB” to get additional 5% discount). Hurry, deal end in 48-hours!

SwitchBot WiFi Smart Lock Pro Bundle

When you think of a smart home, you rarely think of smart locks, and it’s time that changed. Locks and keys have existed for centuries, and in a time of biometrics, passcodes, and authenticated devices, it makes sense that our locks upgrade too. The Lock Pro does just that by attaching to your existing deadbolt-style door-lock in just a matter of minutes, and giving you a staggering 15 ways to unlock your door while still being absolutely secure. Sure, the Lock Pro supports keys… but in the event you end up forgetting them, you’ve got a biometric scanner and numeric keypad included in the bundle that lets you use your fingerprint or a passcode to enter your home. The fingerprint is ideal for residents, while the passcode can be set up for guests or house help (with notifications of entry going to your app in real time). The Lock Pro interfaces with your smartphone or Apple Watch via Bluetooth, so you can open your door through your phone or watch just by being near the lock and hitting a button on the app. Better still, the bundle also includes SwitchBot’s Matter-supported Hub that gives your Lock Pro WiFi connectivity, allowing you to remotely lock your door (just in case you’re outside the house and you’re paranoid about whether you locked up properly before you left)… or perhaps the most impressive feature – voice control, so you can give Siri/Alexa/Google a command (through a secure device) to unlock the door when guests or the DoorDash guy shows up. The Lock Pro runs on 4 AA batteries, lasting 270 days on a full charge, with the ability to hot-swap battery packs while the lock’s still running. Plus, AES 128-bit encryption brings server-grade security to your home so nobody ever breaks through – physically OR digitally.

Click Here to Buy Now: $129.99 $199.99 ($70 off, use coupon code “5OFFYKDSSB” to get additional 5% discount). Hurry, deal end in 48-hours!

The post SwitchBot Prime Day Sale lets you Upgrade your Home into a Smart Home on a 40% Discount first appeared on Yanko Design.

Upgrade Your Home with SwitchBot’s Innovative Solutions for Smart Home Savings This Spring

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SwitchBot is known for its high-quality and innovative smart home solutions. The brand is currently offering significant discounts on six of its products. When paired with the SwitchBot Hub, all devices within the SwitchBot ecosystem are connected. This allows the devices to work seamlessly together through the SwitchBot app. Once connected to the hub, users can control their devices remotely or set up complex scenarios and schedules within the app. If you need to monitor indoor or outdoor temperature and humidity, SwitchBot offers a device called the Outdoor Meter that’s ideal for this purpose. An outdoor security camera is also available. Imagine using the Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ to clean your home’s floor or controlling your curtains with a simple voice command with the Curtain 3. You can automate your blinds with the Blind Tilt or manage your appliances with the Bot. Designed to simplify your life, these products transform how you interact with your home. They are perfect for tech enthusiasts and smart home beginners, integrating effortlessly into everyone’s lifestyle. The spring sale, saving up to 35% from March 20th to March 25th, provides an excellent opportunity to upgrade your home.

SwitchBot Outdoor Meter

The SwitchBot Outdoor Meter is a versatile device designed to monitor indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity accurately. Compact in size and equipped with advanced features, it has an IP65 waterproof rating, making it a reliable solution for various environments.

Supporting Dewpoint and VPD readings along with traditional temperature and humidity measurements, the Outdoor Meter has a broad application, allowing it to be used in different settings and for various purposes. When connected to the SwitchBot Hub, it offers real-time push notifications if any preset values are exceeded. This immediate alert system enables quick responses to environmental changes such as refrigerators, greenhouses, nurseries, and pet houses. The value lies in its versatility and precision. It provides users with invaluable data about their environment, assisting in maintaining optimum conditions in various settings. It also contributes to the smart home ecosystem, working seamlessly with other SwitchBot devices for a comprehensive smart home experience.

Click Here to Buy Now: $9.76 $14.99 (30% off. Use Coupon Code “5MQSPRING” to get an additional discount). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam 1080p

The SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam 1080P is a high-quality home security solution offering complete coverage. This compact yet feature-rich device provides a 360-degree view of your space, ensuring no corner is overlooked. Its primary features include sharp 1080p video quality for clear recording and motion detection that alerts you to any home activity. The device’s unique feature is its 360-degree motion-tracking ability, distinguishing it from typical security cameras. Paired with expandable storage, you can store hours of footage without concern for space limitations.

The SwitchBot Pan/Tilt Cam 1080P provides exceptional value, offering advanced features typically found in higher-priced models. This makes it an excellent choice for those seeking to enhance their home security without breaking the bank. The device is highly recommended for its ease of use, innovative features, and dedication to keeping your home safe and secure.

Click Here to Buy Now: $17.66 $39.99 (52% off. Use Coupon Code “5MQSPRING” to get an additional discount). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+

The SwitchBot Mini Robot Vacuum K10+ is a compact yet powerful cleaning solution, ideal for homes of any size. Despite being 50% smaller than its competitors, it boasts up to 90% more cleaning efficiency. Its compact design allows it to maneuver through tight spots and corners, making it perfect for small living spaces. Equipped with `vacuuming and mopping capabilities, the K10+ is designed to handle spills and stains as easily as dust and pet hair. It has a suction power of 2,500 Pascals (Pa), effectively picking up dirt, dust, and debris from various types of flooring. In addition to its powerful suction, the K10+ features an intelligent navigation system that precisely maps rooms and avoids obstacles, ensuring smooth navigation around household items. Known for its user-friendly features, it can be easily controlled and scheduled for cleaning, spot cleaning, and edge cleaning, tailored to address specific cleaning tasks effectively.

The K10+’s slim design allows it to clean under most furniture, expanding its reach and ensuring no spot is missed. With smart connectivity, the K10+ can be easily scheduled via a smartphone app. It’s a smart, powerful, and versatile cleaning tool, making it an invaluable addition to any smart home ecosystem.

Click Here to Buy Now: $314.99 $499.99 ($150 off. Use Coupon Code “5MQSPRING” to get an additional discount). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Curtain 3

The SwitchBot Curtain 3 is a smart device designed to automate curtain operation. It’s simple to install, requiring only placement on a curtain rod and a quick calibration via the SwitchBot app. It offers improved performance with a “QuietDrift™” mode, making it operate below 25dB, as quiet as a whisper, ensuring a peaceful environment. Its high-performance built-in motor and reduction gear set provide a maximum thrust of up to 36 pounds or 16 kg, which is twice as powerful as its predecessor. This increased power makes it capable of managing heavier curtains effortlessly.

One of the key features of the SwitchBot Curtain 3 is its long battery life. It comes with a 3350 mAh Lithium-ion battery that can last up to 8 months on a single charge. When paired with the newly designed SwitchBot Solar Panel 3, the Curtain 3 has unlimited battery life by using solar power. The solar panel’s charging performance has increased by 100%, especially in low-light conditions. It includes a hanging bracket that allows for optimal positioning in sunlight and a customizable tilting angle on the panel surface for perfect reception of direct sunlight. Offering a broad range of control methods to cater to everyone’s usage habits, the Curtain 3 supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit (via Matter), IFTTT, and SmartThings. Control methods include app control, voice control (with SwitchBot Hub 2), SwitchBot remote control, Touch & Go, sunrise and sunset modes, timers, Apple Watch, and light-sensor control (when paired with SwitchBot Solar Panel 3). Its user-friendly design and wide range of control options make it a perfect fit for tech enthusiasts and those new to smart home technology.

Click Here to Buy Now: $58.95 $89.99 (20% off. Use Coupon Code “5MQSPRING” to get an additional discount). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Blind Tilt

The SwitchBot Blind Tilt is a super cool gadget that’s all about turning your old-school horizontal blinds into smart home whiz kids – and it’s not as complicated as it sounds. This battery-operated controller affixes easily to your blind’s wand, allowing for a quick, tool-free installation. There’s no need for professional help or dismantling your current blinds, making it a hassle-free retrofit solution.

Once installed, the Blind Tilt connects to the SwitchBot App, providing users with many control options. From scheduling opening and closing times to align with daily routines to setting timers for automatic adjustments, the app puts complete control at your fingertips. Its Sunrise & Sunset mode also utilizes a built-in light sensor to adjust blinds based on ambient light conditions, ensuring optimal lighting and privacy while potentially enhancing energy efficiency.
The device’s advanced motor allows for fine-tuning the angle of blind slats with a precision of up to 2 degrees. This gives users precise control over sunlight filtering, enabling them to create the perfect balance between natural light and shade in their spaces. Additionally, including a solar panel accessory completes your home blinds’ automation. The easy installation, versatile app-based control, precise adjustment capabilities, and sustainable power options make the SwitchBot Blind Tilt a perfect addition to any smart home ecosystem.

Click Here to Buy Now: $46 $69.99 (20% off. Use Coupon Code “5MQSPRING” to get an additional discount). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

SwitchBot Bot

SwitchBot’s Bot is a handy gadget that pushes buttons and flicks switches around your house. It easily attaches next to switches and buttons, using a motorized arm to interact with them. Compatible with a wide range of switches, it’s perfect for managing household devices like lights, TVs, and coffee makers. The Bot operates in various modes and can be controlled through the SwitchBot App, enabling scheduling and remote control.

It also integrates with smart home ecosystems, allowing voice commands through assistants like Alexa and Google Home when used with the SwitchBot Hub Mini. Moreover, compatibility with the Matter Supported Hub 2 enables integration with Apple HomeKit, enhancing its smart home functionality. The device’s straightforward installation and adaptability make it an innovative solution for upgrading home devices without needing replacements.

Click Here to Buy Now: $20.23 $29.99 (25% off. Use Coupon Code “5MQSPRING” to get an additional discount). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

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SwitchBot K10+ Mini Robot Vacuum Review: Small Wonder, Big Benefits

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PROS:


  • Compact size makes cleaning tight spaces a breeze

  • Replaceable mop wipes are convenient and hygienic

  • Packs plenty of smart features despite the size

CONS:


  • Light and limited mopping function

  • Can't vacuum and mop at the same time

  • Disposable wet wipes can be wasteful and expensive over time

RATINGS:

AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY

EDITOR'S QUOTE:

The SwitchBot K10+ mini robot vacuum cleaner challenges the status quo to deliver the same smarts and power in a compact and agile package.

They predated the craze that is now known as smart homes, but robot vacuums have only really caught on in the past few years as people started to appreciate the time and effort these intelligent machines save them. As time goes on, the humble giant pucks that were robot vacuums have evolved into more advanced species with more features and more intelligence to make life more convenient for humans and sometimes even pets. That said, all these smart robot vacuums have embraced the motto of “bigger is better,” which is definitely not the case when these rolling circles start bumping into corners or get stuck in between furniture. The SwitchBot K10+ tries to attack that problem from a different angle by offering a robot vacuum that’s smaller yet still just as smart, so we take it for a roll to see if size does matter or not.

Designer: SwitchBot

Aesthetics

When seen in isolation, it’s hard to point out what makes the SwitchBot K10+ robot vacuum cleaner special. Yes, it has a clean and minimalist design, but so do most machines in this market. Available only in white, the K10+ makes no effort to hide the sensors in front and on top, though it does give the otherwise plain appearance some visual flair.

When you put it in the context of other things in your house, however, that’s when you really appreciate the design of the SwitchBot K10+. It’s significantly smaller than other robot vacuum cleaners in all aspects, from the robot itself to its auto-emptying base station. The size difference is even more apparent when you compare it with a regular robot vac and see how much smaller it is. With small black markings on its face and on the top of its head, it almost looks like a cute toy.

That diminutive size isn’t just for show, of course. We’ll get to the performance aspects later, but even just in terms of appearance, the K10+ has an edge over the competition. Its compact size makes it easier to place the vacuum and its base station almost anywhere, whether it’s in plain sight, hidden in corners, or in between shelves. Whether you want to show it off or have it disappear in the background, the SwitchBot K10+ gives you the choice and doesn’t force you like some behemoth robot vacuum cleaners and their overgrown stations.

Ergonomics

Some say big is better, but being small has plenty of benefits as well. It’s a size that’s often associated with agility and manageability, and the SwitchBot K10+ definitely checks those boxes off. At only 2.3kg, you can easily pick up the robot, and you’ll actually do that a lot if you want to mop the floor with it. That’s because the K10+ doesn’t have an independent mopping component and you’ll have to turn it over every time to put on or remove the mop wet wipes we’ll get to in a bit.

You might also want to bring it up or down stairs, in case you want to vacuum other floors. While the SwitchBot app can indeed store maps, the robot can’t climb stairs on its own. Because of its small size and lightweight design, you won’t break a sweat carrying the machine where it can do its job. Of course, you won’t be carrying the charging station with it, so you’ll have to be more attentive to the robot’s battery levels.

Operating and managing the robot vacuum is also easy as pie. Of course, most of the action happens on the SwitchBot mobile app, but there are still some things you have to do manually. The dustbin is automatically emptied, but you should clean it after a few months at least. You’ll have to also maintain the brushes, which is where the vacuum’s lightweight body comes in again. Most importantly, there’s a manual on/off switch under the top lid that you do have to flip to get the ball rolling. Fortunately, getting to all these parts is a walk in the park thanks to the K10+’s simple and smart design.

Performance

It’s easy to dismiss the SwitchBot K10+’s power after hearing that it’s the world’s smallest robot vacuum cleaner, but that would definitely be playing into the size trap. There is a saying that also goes “small is terrible,” but in this case small is a lot better in things that the big guys can’t even handle. This is especially true for the many areas you take for granted in your house, like between the legs of chairs, underneath low furniture, or that narrow space between the wall and the couch.

The SwitchBot K10+ possesses excellent LIDAR vision and silicon smarts to make short work of these cramped spaces. After the initial navigation of the floor’s layout, you are given a visual map where you can merge or separate areas, in the rare cases that the robot got it wrong. That same vision and intelligence is also what allows the K10+ to easily navigate the “in-betweens” with agility and precision, correcting itself if it does bump into a leg or corner wall. In other words, the small robot has plenty of brains to get around without a hitch and insert itself in places that regular vacuum cleaners wouldn’t even dream of fitting.

When it comes to the actual act of vacuuming, the SwitchBot K10+ is a bit of a mixed bag that’s leaning more toward the positive. Despite its size, its 2,500Pa suction power is plenty strong, able to handle most tasks on hardwood floors. Yes, it will fail on very thick and tall carpets, but short ones are no problem at all. It even has automatic carpet detection so that it knows to apply stronger suction when rolling over a mop. It’s not a complete clean on the first pass, but you can program it to do two passes every time. Interestingly, when it is programmed that way, it will alternate between horizontal and vertical routes to make sure that every inch of the floor is covered.

All of the robot’s functions can be reached from the SwitchBot smartphone app, which you need to set up before you can even use it. It has everything you need to control the K10+, from mapping to setting no-go zones to switching between four levels of suction strength. You can also schedule when and where the robot will do the cleaning as well as how many passes it makes in each area. The app, however, has also a few features you rarely find in other robot vacuums. For example, you can download a voice package to change how the robot sounds when it reports to you, personalizing the experience to some degree. There’s also an “accessory usage life” that uses a time-based counter to remind the owner to clean or change out certain parts to keep the robot performing at its best.

With a size this small, there are bound to be some limitations, and, objectively speaking, there are quite a few. As mentioned, 2,500Pa is not enough to handle tough dirt and thick carpets, but the SwitchBot K10+’s biggest weakness is its mopping function. There is no separate water tank or roller for mopping, and you have to use disposable wipes (included in the package) every time you want to wipe the floor. The upside is that you don’t have to deal with washing mop heads and the risk of gathering germs along the way. You simply remove the wet wipe and throw it away. The downside is that the cost of these wipes will accumulate over time, making it a rather expensive function.

The mopping function isn’t that great either, since there are no rollers or mop heads to really do a proper moping. It’s basically doing the equivalent of simply wiping off the floor with a damp cloth and nothing more, so tougher stains won’t go away using this method. Given the way it works, you can’t even vacuum and mop at the same time and have to switch between modes. It’s a very basic feature that you probably wouldn’t miss if it weren’t there in the first place, but SwitchBot seems to have decided to put it there just for the sake of having it on marketing material.

Sustainability

Although it’s quite unique in its size, the SwitchBot K10+ is very typical in its design, including its abundant use of plastic. That makes the product less eco-friendly, but there is another aspect that further pushes its sustainability grade down. The wet wipes for mopping, while convenient and hygienic, are pretty wasteful and environment-unfriendly. More advanced robot vacuum cleaners have automated washing and drying to solve the problem of cleaning mops, but there just isn’t enough room for the small K10+ for this feature. For some households, it’s not going to be a deal-breaker, just something they have to take into account when computing the total cost of ownership.

Value

The SwitchBot K10+ is a rather unique product that is full of surprises but also leaves potential buyers even more undecided about its value. With a standard $499.99 price tag, it’s not exactly the most affordable robot vacuum cleaner, despite its smaller size. It almost sounds like a niche product, but you might be surprised at how common that niche turns out to be.

The world’s smallest robot vacuum really shines in small places like apartments, one to two-bedroom suites, and similar residential spaces. Individuals and small families have long felt left out by the mainstream market because of large robot vacuums that couldn’t properly navigate their cramped floors. The K10+ surprisingly offers pretty much the standard set of features for robot vacuums, including decent suction power for most kinds of dirt and particles, so it gets the job done even when it involves squeezing into tight spaces. Yes, it might have been better off not offering any mopping functionality at all, but it’s at least there if and when you need it.

Verdict

Robot vacuum cleaners are becoming as common as smart home speakers and security cameras, providing the convenience of technology in a very palpable and almost mundane way. There’s a great deal of uniformity in the design of these smart machines, which means there’s very little variety in terms of style and form. The SwitchBot K10+ breaks free from those conventions by offering a smaller robot, but its small size isn’t just for show nor is it a disadvantage.

Thanks to its smaller radius, the K10+ can squeeze into tight spaces and reach floors that its larger rivals couldn’t. Despite its size, it has enough power to really suck the dirt off even from some short and light carpets. Sure, the mopping function is disappointing and wasteful, but you don’t always have to use it if all you need is a dirt-less floor. Even with just the basics, which it delivers with skill and proficiency, the SwitchBot K10+ can shave off hours from your busy day, freeing you to do the more important things in life like spending time with others or even with yourself.

The post SwitchBot K10+ Mini Robot Vacuum Review: Small Wonder, Big Benefits first appeared on Yanko Design.

Best of Tech Design – Yanko Design Awards 2023

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It’s that time of year again when we take stock of the past 12 months and reflect on the ups and downs in order to get a brief glimpse of what lies ahead. It has been a pretty active year for the tech industry in many segments, from companies recovering or folding from the events of the past 3 years to the explosion of AI-powered services. Of course, there has also been a torrent of new designs and product types, such as the gaming handheld fever that’s gripping the PC market. In other words, there has been a great storm swirling in the tech and consumer electronics world, and now that the dust has finally settled, we’re taking a look at some of the best product designs that you can grab today or in just a few months.

Best Mixed Reality Headset – Apple Vision Pro

After years of speculation and waiting, Apple finally revealed its hand and showed the world its vision for its mixed reality platform. Of course, that includes the hardware that will become the gateway to that reality, the Vision Pro. In typical Apple fashion, the headset isn’t just a rehash of any old VR/AR gear and is specifically designed not only to showcase the power of Apple’s Spatial Computing but also to provide convenience and comfort in all aspects.

Designer: Apple

Why it’s noteworthy

As expected from any Apple product, the Vision Pro has a minimalist, understated design where every part is made with meticulous attention to detail. In addition to luxurious, comfortable materials, the headset is designed to be lightweight and well-balanced, allowing for long hours of use without straining the head. It was also made to immerse the wearer in a virtual world without taking them away from the real world, especially when communicating with others by making eye contact. Apple’s visionOS platform is carefully tailored to mix the real and the virtual seamlessly. Admittedly, the pricing for the Vision Pro is going to be high, but that’s also on par with any high-quality product that Apple makes.

Best Gaming Handheld – Lenovo Legion Go

Although some manufacturers have been churning out portable gaming PCs for years now, things really heated up when the big names in the industry started jumping in. Valve got the ball rolling with the Steam Deck, followed closely by the ASUS ROG Ally. Lenovo may just be the latest to jump on board, but thanks to both its expertise and the advantage of hindsight, the Lenovo Legion Go is pretty much ahead of the game not just in terms of specs but also in design.

Designer: Lenovo

Why it’s noteworthy

Yes, the Legion Go looks big, but mostly because it has the biggest screen among handheld gaming PCs in the market today. Its removable controllers give the perfect Nintendo Switch vibe, but the FPS mouse mode also delivers a new and unique way to play games. The high-performance hardware leaves few complaints, aside from the usual battery life, and the built-in kickstand removes the need for a separate accessory. There’s definitely still room for improvement, so it’s actually exciting to see what Lenovo has planned next for this device category.

Best Foldable Phone – OPPO Find N3

Foldable phones are becoming mainstream to the point that there might be too many to choose from at this point. While Samsung still has the lion’s share of people’s attention, it has long relinquished being the best in this market. It has easily let its rivals pass it by, and OPPO, who is relatively new to the scene, has just produced what is pretty much the best foldable phone you can buy (depending on where you are).

Designer: OPPO

Why it’s noteworthy

The OPPO Find N3 combines not just the best specs but also the best designs currently available in this category. It folds flat, has stylish color options, and has a more normal, wider shape that makes it more usable as a regular phone when folded. And it doesn’t skimp on the cameras, which is something that most foldable phones still have a hard time getting right. This particular model might not be available in all markets, but the OnePlus Open is a dead ringer and might be available in countries where the OPPO Find N3 isn’t.

Best Laptop/Portable PC – HP Envy Move

When thinking of “portable computers,” most will probably think of laptops since those are the most common designs available. They’re not always the best, though, especially when you consider the ergonomics involved. Desktop PCs, however, are just too large and bulky to be portable, even the thin all-in-one PCs are firmly rooted to desks. HP is challenging that status quo with a unique PC that is as portable as a laptop yet as usable as an all-in-one desktop.

Designer: HP

Why it’s noteworthy

The HP Envy Move is, for all intents and purposes, an AIO or All-in-One PC that was designed to be carried around, especially thanks to a built-in foldable handle and a pocket for storing a wireless keyboard. Its large 23.8-inch screen has plenty of room for work and entertainment, and you won’t have to crane your neck down every time you use it. Yes, it’s probably going to be awkward to carry it with you everywhere, but when you have a few fixed places to set up work or sit down for a movie, this computer will give you the full desktop experience in no time flat.

Best Portable Power Station – Bluetti AC500 + B300S

A stable supply of electricity has almost become a luxury these days. Power grids can go down without prior notice, or you might find yourself spending days and nights outdoors. Gas generators no longer cut it and are dangerous liabilities rather than assets, but there’s, fortunately, a large selection of safer and greener battery-powered generators now available today. Perhaps too many, in fact, since they come in all sizes and capacities, but Bluetti’s latest modular AC500 inverter and B300S expansion batteries offer the perfect flexibility for all your power needs.

Designer: Bluetti

Why it’s noteworthy

The modular design of the Bluetti AC500 means that you can stack as many as four of these 3,072Wh batteries if you need to, enough to power a home for a day or two. Or you can only bring the inverter and one battery module if you just need to go camping over the weekend. Best of all, you can charge the batteries using solar power, so you don’t even have to worry about power outlets in case of emergencies or being stuck outside. It’s a great way to enjoy the conveniences of modern life by having access to safe and sustainable power at any time.

Best Powerbank – Anker 737 GaN Prime 24K

Our dependence on computers and smartphones becomes pretty obvious when we start scrambling for a charger and find no power outlet available. There’s a variety of portable batteries, a.k.a. power banks, available today, but not all of them deliver the power you need to charge multiple devices, let alone a power-hungry laptop. Anker is one of the leading brands in this space, and it has a solution that addresses that need without forcing you to carry a veritable brick in your bag.

Designer: Anker

Why it’s noteworthy

The Anker 737 GaN Prime 24K offers portability and power in a compact package. It has enough output and battery capacity to charge a MacBook, for example, which means smartphones, accessories, and even drones are no sweat at all. GaN (Gallium Nitride) technology makes charging not only faster but also safer, while a helpful LCD display shows all the necessary stats you need to keep tabs on the power bank itself as well as the devices it’s charging. The block is admittedly chunky, but compared to power banks of similar capacity, it’s surprisingly compact and light, making it the perfect all-around partner for any mobile worker.

Best Smart Speaker – Sonos Era 300

The hype around smart speakers may seem to have died down, but that’s mostly because they have become almost too common. Every modern Bluetooth-enabled speaker these days has some smarts now, leaving manufacturers more freedom to explore other designs. Sonos is one of the pioneers in the wireless speaker space, and it continues to push through with new designs even in the face of unrelenting competition. Its new Sonos Era 300 this year makes an impact not only with its design but also with its commitment to the environment.

Designer: Sonos

Why it’s noteworthy

The Sonos Era 300 has a distinctive shape that almost looks like a flattened speaker icon, with a front half that flares out and a back that is more or less uniform in size. That shape isn’t accidental, as it allows the multitude of woofers and tweeters to be positioned for maximum efficiency and performance. What really makes the Sonos Era 300 extra special, however, is the attention that it gives to sustainability, picking materials, lowering power consumption, and encouraging quick repairs in order to reduce its negative impact on the environment.

Best Wireless Earbuds – Sony WF-1000XM5

Apple may have made wireless earbuds popular, but it is far from being the only game in town. When it comes to design and especially sound quality, the AirPods are easily eclipsed by products from more experienced brands. Reclaiming its foothold in this audio space, Sony has launched a new pair of high-end buds that truly immerse you in your favorite music, regardless of your environment.

Designer: Sony

Why it’s noteworthy

The Sony WF-1000XM5 boasts one of if not the best noise canceling experiences that tiny buds can offer. It even uses some AI special sauce to also reduce noise interference when you’re making calls, allowing for clear and crisp audio on both ends of the line. Best of all, its minimalist design doesn’t call attention to itself, but its stylish appearance won’t embarrass you if people do notice.

Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner – SwitchBot S10

We have long gone past the days when robot vacuum cleaners only vacuumed floors and still left everything else to humans. Now they can dump their dirt into bins on their own and even wipe the floor with a mop when needed. Human intervention can’t be removed completely, like in taking out the dust bin or refilling water in the tank, but the SwitchBot S10 further reduces the need for manual interaction by making the robot smart enough to dump its own dirty water and stock up on clean water all by itself.

Designer: SwitchBot

Why it’s noteworthy

The small and narrow auto-emptying station of the SwitchBot S10 is rather deceptive, making you think it’s less capable than its larger competitors. But that’s because the exciting action happens away from that bin and at the separate water station that lets the robot vacuum exchange dirty water for clean one using the same pipes that you already have for drains and faucets. It can even refill a humidifier’s water tank on its own, presuming it’s SwitchBot’s humidifier, of course. These almost completely automated processes reduce the need to get your hands dirty, literally, and reduce the risks of getting contaminated and sick from handling waste materials.

Best Smartwatch – Apple Watch Ultra 2

Just like with smart speakers, the smartwatch market has more or less normalized by now after a long struggle in trying to carve out its niche. Designs may no longer be changing drastically, but innovation hasn’t stopped completely either. Now it’s a race to put the best health sensors you can cram in such a small space, but Apple has long been ahead of the race and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 cements its lead even further.

Designer: Apple

Why it’s noteworthy

The Apple Watch Ultra series delivered what users have been asking for a long time, more space to see the information they need at a glance without having to tap their way through screens. It also adds a new double tap gesture so you won’t even have to use your other hand for basic actions like stopping a timer, ending a call, or better yet, taking a photo from your iPhone. It also introduces Apple’s first carbon-neutral products, offsetting the negative impact the production of its smartwatches has with “carbon credits” from nature-based projects and parts.

The post Best of Tech Design – Yanko Design Awards 2023 first appeared on Yanko Design.

SwitchBot K10+ Mini Robot Vacuum cleans narrow, hard-to-reach places with ease

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Robot vacuum cleaners are quite the fad these days, offering peace of mind by keeping your floors clean without getting your hands dirty. They come with a wide range of advanced features and a variety of designs, but they all have one thing in common. The majority of robot vacuum cleaners come with very large bodies, often justified by the power they pack inside. Bigger isn’t always better, though, and size can even become a liability rather than an asset when dealing with small, cramped areas or difficult corners. That’s no problem for the world’s smallest robot vacuum cleaner, sneaking into tough corners and narrow paths in order to provide a more efficient cleaning experience in a compact and portable package.

Designer: SwitchBot

Click Here to Buy Now: $399.99 $499.99 (Use coupon code “UP50MRCS” to get $100 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

With it’s compact design K10+ can reach smaller spaces to clean better.

The SwitchBot K10+ honestly looks too cute to be true. At only 248mm in diameter and 92mm tall, it’s only half the size of run-of-the-mill robot vacuums and might easily be mistaken for a toy. In fact, you can easily lift it with one hand and carry it upstairs or anywhere, which means you can easily move it to rooms that need cleaning in a snap. Despite that diminutive size, however, the K10+ is no slouch, and it’s exactly thanks to its size that it is able to offer more for less.

K10+ features a design that can blend in with any home, making it even less intrusive.

LiDAR Navigation.
K10+ allows you to achieve AI level precise mapping and quickly plan cleaning range at a speed of 2080 pts/sec.

K10+ returns to its base station for charging when battery is low, and returns to the last place it cleaned to finish up.

With its smaller diameter, the SwitchBot K10+ can easily navigate narrower spaces without breaking a sweat, deftly reaching the floor between the wall and a closet, underneath the couch, or in between the legs of a side table. Because it’s able to clean areas that most robot vacuums steer clear of, it offers 90% more coverage and significantly increases its cleaning efficiency. Of course, it’s not enough to simply be able to roll where no robot vacuum cleaner has gone before, and this little wonder surprisingly packs quite the assortment of cleaning features that puts it on par with its larger rivals.

Use the app to control the K10+

You might be surprised that the smallest robot vac actually boasts a suction power of 2500Pa, which means that even kitty litter and small pieces of food are no match for this wonder of technology. Even with that much action going on, it is able to keep quiet while it does its job, down to 50dB or 50% quieter than the industry average. It can also mop the floors after it has sucked them clean, and the disposable cleaning pads free you from the hassles and risks of dealing with dirty mops after each cleaning session. Best of all, the large 4-liter dustbin can collect dirt for up to 70 days before you need to take out the trash.

The SwitchBot K10+ is also equipped with plenty of smarts, from SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) self-navigation to obstacle and no-clean zone detection to scheduling cleaning sessions. It can also integrated with smart home platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Siri, and even IFTTT for hands-free voice control. With the SwitchBot K10+, you never have to worry about missing those hidden corners and spots ever again and dedicate more of your time to the more important things in life.

Click Here to Buy Now: $399.99 $499.99 (Use coupon code “UP50MRCS” to get $100 off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!

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