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Shelly announced the Presence Gen4, a $84.99 mmWave radar sensor that can detect up to 10 people without using a camera. It supports configurable detection zones and several smart-home platforms; its stated coverage is up to 650 square feet. The device is available through Shelly’s online store, with broader retail availability expected.
Shelly has announced the Presence Gen4, a smart-home sensor that uses mmWave radar to detect up to 10 people without a camera, according to the product report. The device is priced at $84.99 and is available through Shelly’s online store, offering a way to trigger room-based automations without recording images of occupants.
The Presence Gen4 detects presence, movement and activity among people and pets, according to the product details reported by The Verge. Shelly says it can monitor spaces of up to 650 square feet, using a 140-degree horizontal field of view. It can sit on a shelf or table with its built-in stand, or be mounted on a wall.
The sensor supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Zigbee, as well as Matter. The report lists compatibility with Google Home, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant. It connects to power by USB-C, so placement depends on having access to a suitable power source; the report does not describe it as battery-powered.
Users can configure up to 10 detection zones independently. That could let an automation respond to a person in one part of a room without reacting to someone elsewhere. The report gives examples such as switching on a desk lamp when someone sits at a desk or powering a home theater when someone settles on a sofa. Automations can also be set to turn devices off after people leave.
Camera-Free Room-Level Automations
The sensor’s appeal is that it offers occupancy-based automation without a camera feed. In a room where visual monitoring is unwanted, radar detection could let smart-home systems respond to whether people are present, rather than relying only on a motion sensor that may stop registering someone who remains still. That distinction may matter for routines involving lights, heating, cooling or music.
Its multiple detection zones could also make automations more selective. A user might configure a response for a particular seating or work area instead of treating an entire room as occupied whenever movement occurs anywhere inside it. These are potential uses described in the product report, not independent tests of accuracy or performance.
For shoppers, the price and platform support are practical factors. At $84.99, the Presence Gen4 is an additional powered device to place and configure, while its listed support for several major smart-home systems may help it fit into existing setups. The report does not establish how well it performs in different room layouts or how reliably it distinguishes people from other moving objects.
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Shelly’s New Smart-Home Accessory
The Presence Gen4 follows Shelly’s launch of a $50 subscription-free security camera the previous month, according to The Verge’s report. The new product serves a different purpose: it is described as a presence sensor for automations, not as a camera or security-recording device.
Radar-based sensing is the basis of the product’s camera-free detection. Shelly’s report says the sensor can include pets in detection or adjust sensitivity to ignore objects close to the floor, such as a robot vacuum. That gives users settings to tailor what triggers an automation, though it does not establish that the sensor will identify every type of movement correctly in every home.
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Performance and Retail Details Pending
The product details reported so far do not establish how accurately the sensor counts or tracks people in different conditions, or how its detection performs through furniture, walls or other obstructions. The report also does not provide independent testing, a detailed privacy or data-handling account, or information about whether radar-derived activity data is stored or processed locally.
Shelly’s stated 650-square-foot coverage is a product specification, not a guarantee for every room shape or installation. The report does not specify how detection zones are set up, whether any features require an app or account, or what the product’s software update and support terms are. Those details may affect how well the device fits a particular smart-home system.
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Broader Retail Launch Expected
The Presence Gen4 is available through Shelly’s online store at the reported launch price of $84.99. The Verge says the sensor is expected to reach other retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy, but the report gives no dates for those listings.
Readers considering the device can check retailer availability and confirm compatibility with their existing smart-home hub or platform before buying. Further hands-on testing and product documentation would be needed to clarify real-world detection accuracy, setup requirements and how the sensor handles occupancy data.
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Key Questions
What is the Shelly Presence Gen4?
It is a smart-home presence sensor that uses mmWave radar to detect people, pets and movement without a camera, according to the product report.
How many people can it detect at once?
Shelly’s product announcement, as reported by The Verge, says the sensor can detect up to 10 people. The report does not say whether it detects them simultaneously or include independent accuracy testing.
How much does the Presence Gen4 cost?
The reported launch price is $84.99. It is available through Shelly’s online store, with Amazon and Best Buy availability expected but not dated in the report.
Which smart-home systems does it support?
The report lists Google Home, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant, along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Matter support.
Does it need a power connection?
Yes. The report says the Presence Gen4 uses a USB-C cable, so it needs to be installed near an appropriate power source.
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