Beatbot builds some of the most sophisticated—and the most expensive—robot pool cleaners on the market, and it’s once again raising the stakes at CES 2026 with the introduction of its AquaSense X. This doesn’t look like just an incremental advance over the TechHive Editors’ Choice-winning AquaSense 2 Ultra, it’s Beatbot’s first foray into self-cleaning technology, courtesy of a key component that lives on land. The Beatbot AquaSense X AI Robotic Pool Cleaner looks and feels a lot like 2025’s Ultra, but the addition of the new Beatbot AstroRinse Cleaning Station is an entirely new concept, not just for Beatbot but for the industry as a whole. This box-like docking station is a sizeable device atop which the AquaSense X robot rests when not in use. Once placed on top of the device, the AstroRinse gets to work, flushing the AquaSense’s filter during a three-minute cycle. Debris is captured in the 23-liter basket underneath; Beatbot says for a typical pool owner, the disposable AstroRinse debris bag will need to be replaced only once every two months (based on a cycle of two cleanings per week). The AstroRinse also recharges the unit after the cleaning cycle is complete. The Beatbot AquaSense X, sitting atop its self-cleaning station. Beatbot As for the Beatbot AquaSense X robot itself, while it looks familiar, many of its systems have been upgraded under the hood. Its AI vision detection system now recognizes 40 types of debris (up from 20 on the Ultra), allowing the unit to search for debris on the pool floor instead of simply traversing the area on a preset path. The new detection system can also search for debris on the surface of the pool: Like its predecessor, the AquaSense X can rise to the surface and float, operating in a skimmer mode as part of its cleaning cycle. The unit also has improved detection of permanent pool features, such as steps and ledges, thanks to dual ultrasonic sensors on the underside of the robot. Lastly, the unit now integrates with various smart home environments—including Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant—allowing for voice-activated operation in addition to control via Beatbot’s mobile app. The AquaSense X will be available on January 5, 2026 at a price of $4250. The first 500 customers who preorder a unit will receive a $250 discount. If you’re attending CES in person and would like to see the AquaSense X in action, the robot will be on display at Beatbot’s booth: Venetian #53852. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robotic pool cleaners Read...

Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Plus processor has the same goal as its predecessor: to provide a slightly stripped-down, leaner alternative processor for midrange Windows on Arm laptops. But there’s a slight difference. While last year’s X Plus chip came in two flavors: a 10-core and an 8-core offering, Qualcomm is offering customers either a 10-core or 6-core Snapdragon X2 Plus chip instead. Qualcomm is eyeing Intel’s Core Ultra 200-series chips as well as the AMD Ryzen AI 300 series as potential targets. Qualcomm’s Plus series of processors essentially fill the same role as a Core i5: Qualcomm uses the same CPU architecture, plus the same GPU (adjusted for power, which lowers the speed) and the same NPU. But Qualcomm is being way more aggressive in terms of the performance comparisons. Eighteen months ago, Qualcomm was claiming that its X Plus chip offered 28 percent faster performance at the same power. This time, it claims that the top 10-core chip in the X2 Plus family delivers over three times the performance of the competition, the Core Ultra 7 265U. Qualcomm’s first-generation Plus processors appeared in the Acer Swift 14 AI, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, and the Dell Latitude 7455, among others. The company will disclose more customers here at the CES show in Las Vegas. Executives said to expect the X2 Plus to land in the same price range as the X Plus, or devices costing about $799. Essentially, the mission of the X2 Plus is the same as Qualcomm’s first generation, “to really get the same technology advantages to more and more users,” said Mandar Deshpande, senior director of product management for the compute business at Qualcomm, in a press briefing with reporters. How fast is the Snapdragon X2 Plus? Officially, the two Snapdragon X2 Plus chips are known as the 10-core X2P-64-100 and the 6-core X2P-42-100, reflecting Qualcomm’s impenetrable naming scheme. Typically, you’ll see both chips referred to as the 10-core X2 Plus and the 6-core X2 Plus. The 10-core X2 Plus will run at speeds up to 4.0GHz, with an X2-45 GPU that Qualcomm hasn’t disclosed the speeds of. The 6-core X2 Plus also runs at that same clock speed and features that same GPU as well. Both chips also include identical NPUs with 80 TOPS. Why six cores? Deshpande shrugged off the question. “Fundamentally, we’re not really tied to core counts, frequencies, or [power],” he said. Qualcomm’s current list of processors does not reflect the new additions, but you can see how they’ll fit in: probably a touch below the older Snapdragon X Elite, and with similar specifications to the first-gen Snapdragon X Plus chips, at least on paper. Those chips also included an additional two processors with some variations in clock speed; Deshpande declined to comment when asked if Qualcomm would do the same with the X2 Plus. We also don’t know the clock speeds of the GPUs. Though the Snapdragon X2 Plus and the Snapdragon X1 Plus look similar on paper, the numbers may be deceiving. Like the Snapdragon X2 Elite, the X2 Plus is built on updated third-generation Oryon CPU cores, which increase performance. While the Snapdragon X Elite included a pair of cores that could run at a faster “turbo speed” to accomplish high-priority tasks quicker, the X Plus did not, and the X2 Plus does not either. On the other hand, the X2 Plus base clock speed is as high as the turbo speed was in the X1 Plus, a Qualcomm representative noted. One of the key improvements for Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X2 Elite was its inclusion of “performance” and “prime” cores, also tuned for high-performance work. Those, the X2 Plus has. The ten-core X2 Plus has six prime cores and four performance cores, while the six-core X2 Plus includes six prime cores, the representative added. Still, comparing the X1 Plus to the X2 Plus, performance improves significantly: 35 percent more single-threaded CPU performance, and up to 39 percent more GPU performance, using 43 percent less power. (Qualcomm used Geekbench and 3DMark’s Steel Nomad tests for the comparisons.) Qualcomm is projecting significant gains over the other mobile processor platforms competing against it, which it classifies as some of Intel’s Core Ultra 200 7-class processors as well as the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350. Like the Snapdragon X2 Elite, the X2 Plus chips run at full speed on battery power as well when the laptop is plugged in, a key differentiator from the competition. Naturally, Qualcomm is comparing itself to the existing “Lunar Lake” and “Strix Point” platforms from Intel and AMD; Intel has already announced its next-gen “Panther Lake” mobile platform, and AMD is expected to debut its “Gorgon Point” mobile platform at CES. None of these chips have shipped, however, so Qualcomm can’t test against them. Qualcomm didn’t quote any battery-life estimates for Snapdragon Plus notebooks; the company said that it is still working with customers to optimize those products. A big question mark continues to be the utility of the NPU, and how receptive applications partners and customers will be to using local AI on the PC. Since the X2 Plus includes the same 80 TOPS NPU as the X2 Elite, that will allow more NPU-powered features from Microsoft Windows, Da Vinci Resolve, and other apps to run simultaneously, much in the same way that a powerful CPU or GPU allows multiple apps to be run simultaneously. The chip’s memory bandwidth is also up to 152Gbps, which gives enough headroom for LLMs. If and when an NPU-powered AI future comes to pass, Qualcomm will be ready. As far as games, Deshpande said that the company has tested 1,400 games on the Snapdragon platform, and that they’re running “really good” — where that means at 60Hz on a 1080p resolution. Microsoft published an update to its Prism emulator in mid-December, which provides some additional support. While Qualcomm is encouraging its partners to write native Arm code that can boost performance, the updated Prism emulator will allow a wider range of applications to simply run on Windows on Arm, without specifying exactly what. Qualcomm is exploring in other ways, too. “One thing now that we’re working closely with the OEMs is really now innovating on the form factor front, right?” Deshpande said. “So we’re trying to make the PCs thinner and lighter. We’re looking at panelist devices. We’re looking at desktops, which can be made more portable. So all of that form factor innovation is very exciting, and you should expect those types of devices coming in the market very soon.” Read...

In 2026, it’s time to say goodbye again—to popular programs that we’ve been working with day in and day out. Microsoft is discontinuing several versions of Windows, Office, and other products this year. Here’s what you need to know if you’re still using these products. Windows 11 24H2 Microsoft is discontinuing support for Windows 11 24H2—both Home and Pro editions—according to this support page, with the end date slated for October 13th, 2026. That’s when the next major Windows 11 update will be released. (This was also the case in 2025 when support for Windows 11 23H2 ended in the fall.) On October 13th, 2026, expect to receive the very last update for Windows 11 24H2. After that, you should update to a newer Windows version, which will likely be Windows 11 25H2. (Windows 11 25H2, which released last fall, will receive updates until October 12th, 2027.) Windows 11 24H2, which brought several new features to the operating system, also caused headaches for many users. For some, the installation failed; for others, there was a hail of error messages and crashes; for others yet, the taskbar kept freezing, frame rates dropped drastically in some video games, and some Office apps stopped working. Windows 11 SE The end of support for Windows 11 24H2 has a side effect: Windows 11 SE is also finally coming to its end. Microsoft touted Windows 11 SE as an alternative to Google’s Chrome OS back in November 2021, but Windows 11 SE was unable to establish itself in the market. SE was primarily intended for inexpensive notebooks for school use. We reported on this discontinuation last year: Windows 11 SE was announced in late 2021 and launched in January of 2022, explicitly designed for the education market. While it shares most of the codebase and features of Windows 11, it’s also far more locked down, with standard users unable to install third-party 32-bit apps or even apps from the Windows Store without admin assistance. Windows 11 SE lacks widgets and some Snap Layout options for the sake of being “distraction-free,” it’s even more insistent upon Microsoft applications like Office and Edge, and it needs to be managed via the Intune system. Windows 11 SE was meant to be a successor to Windows 10 S, which didn’t make a particularly big splash, either. It’s easy to imagine how school administrators, used to standard Windows 10/11 or Google’s popular and cheap Chromebook education setup, wouldn’t be keen on sacrificing advanced features. Microsoft will provide updates for the last time in October 2026, as explained on this support page. Afterwards, there will be no more support or updates for Windows 11 SE. Windows 11 23H2 November 10th, 2026 also marks the end of support for Windows 11 23H2 Enterprise, Education, and IoT Enterprise, according to this support page. Meanwhile, Windows 11 23H2 Home and Pro were already discontinued back in November 2025. Microsoft Office 2021 Microsoft Office 2021, which was released back in October 2021 and is the predecessor to the now-current Office 2024, will also be discontinued on October 13th, 2026 alongside Windows 11 24H2. That includes discontinued support for Office LTSC 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 for Mac, as reported by Windows Latest. Although you can continue to use Office 2021 after the end of support, the software won’t be getting new updates, which means any newly discovered security vulnerabilities will remain unfixed. In other words, it’s a security risk to keep using Office 2021 post-support. Affected customers should therefore switch to either Microsoft Office 2024 (a non-subscription one-time payment with only security updates) or Microsoft 365 (a subscription payment that includes both feature and security updates). Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn’t offer a discount for upgrading from Office 2021 to Office 2024. Not sure which way to go? Learn more about whether you should subscribe to Microsoft 365 or buy Microsoft Office 2024. Various Windows features In addition to the above products being discontinued, Microsoft has also removed several features from Windows over 2025. Here are the most notable ones worth knowing about: Location History (API for Cortana) Line Printer Daemon (older printer protocol) Windows UWP Map Control and Windows Maps Platform API (replaced by Azure Maps) Windows Maps (replaced by Bing Maps) Device Metadata (partially replaced by INF) Dev Home (partially moved to Settings) Windows PowerShell 2.0 (newer versions still available) Windows Management Instrumentation Command-Line (has been replaced by Windows PowerShell for WMI) Legacy Web Components (partially replaced by WebView2) What features will be removed from Windows in 2026? Well, that remains to be seen. Read...

Never one to stand still for long, Anker’s Eufy Security brand unveiled three new smart home products at CES in Las Vegas today: a smart lock with 3D facial recognition, a battery-powered wall light with an integrated 4K security camera and a detachable solar panel, and a video doorbell with a 3K camera. Eufy Smart Lock E40 Eufy Security The Eufy Smart Lock E40 is outfitted with a 2K HDR camera with radar-powered motion detection and AI that renders it capable of recognizing familiar faces and then unlocking the deadbolt as they approach. With a 135-degree, head-to-toe field of view, the camera can focus on figures approaching from as much as 16 feet away and recognize people at 10 feet. The lock is powered by a rechargeable 15,000mAh battery that should last six months on a charge, with a second 800mAh serving as backup. Eufy says the lock is rated IP65 for protection from the elements, meaning it’s impervious to dust ingress and resistant to water jets sprayed from any direction (just short of a pressure washer). The certified BHMA/ANSI-Grade 2 deadbolt (ANSI Grade 2 is for commercial locks on a scale of 1 to 3, with 1 being the highest) is Matter compatible for integration with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings and other Matter-certified smart home ecosystems, according to Eufy. The lock can connect directly to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks. Anker expects to fetch $299.99 when it launches the Eufy Smart Lock E40 in the first quarter of 2026. Eufy Video Doorbell S4 Eufy Security As you’ve probably guessed, the new Eufy Video Doorbell S4 also features onboard AI, this time powering a 3K camera with a 180-degree field of view and a 1:1 aspect ratio that shows visitors from head to toe. In this case, AI is used to detect and follow visitors as they move around the camera’s field of view, automatically keeping them centered in the frame. The camera can detect people up to 78 feet (24 meters) away, and it can recognize familiar faces as far as 26 feet (8 meters) out. Video is recorded at 24 frames per second to its 64GB of built-in eMMC storage (with the option of 24/7 recording). Both radar and passive infrared motion detection are onboard, giving the camera the ability to distinguish between the movement of humans and other sources. In addition to faces, the camera can also recognize packages and alert you accordingly. The Eufy Video Doorbell S4 can be powered by a removable onboard battery (with the option of solar charging) or low-voltage power if your home has it (or you’re willing to install a transformer). It has a dual-band Wi-Fi adapter onboard, so it can connect to either 2.4- or 5GHz wireless networks. Like the new smart lock, it can be integrated with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and similar smart home ecosystems. The Eufy Video Doorbell S4 is set to launch later in the first quarter, with a suggested retail price of $279.99. Eufy Solar Wall Light Cam S4 Eufy Security Eufy has combined security cameras and smart lighting before, but the Solar Wall Light Cam S4 features a twist: It’s powered by a 10,000mAh battery that’s expected to run for a full 40 days on a single charge, and that battery is automatically recharged by 2-watt solar panel on top of the light. What’s even more interesting is that the solar panel can be detached from the light and mounted in a secondary location that might get better exposure to the sun. The fixture is rated IP65 for protection from the elements, meaning no amount of dust ingress can destroy it, and that it can withstand water projected in jets from any direction. The lighting element comes from RGBWW LED diodes (red, green, blue, and warm white) that can produce either full color or white light tunable from a warm 2700 Kelvin to a very cool 6500K. An integrated 4K camera with radar and passive infrared motion detection can distinguish between people, pets, and vehicles, and it can record video to both its 32GB of internal eMMC storage or to one of Eufy’s HomeBase NAS (network-attached storage) boxes. Support for two-way audio allows you to speak to visitors, and there’s a 120dB siren onboard to deter prowlers from hanging around. Eufy didn’t mention Matter compatibility for the Eufy Solar Wall Light Cam S4, but does maintain that it will be compatible with most smart home ecosystems, including other Eufy products. The device is expected to be later in the first quarter for a suggested retail price of $199.99. This news is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage the best smart locks, the best video doorbells, and the best smart lighting. Read...

Litheli, best known for its cordless power tools, is jumping into the robot lawn mower market with two new models on display at CES. The Eyeon 500 and Skope 800 are part of the company’s broader push into autonomous outdoor systems powered by its Infinity Power Share (IPS) interchangeable battery platform. The Eyeon 500 is positioned as an accessible, boundary wire-free mower for first-time buyers, emphasizing simplicity and core automation features. For users seeking more intelligence, the Skope 800 steps up with Litheli’s NEO-FSD navigation logic and a multi-camera AI-VISION system. Unlike many advanced mowers that depend on satellite-based RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) systems for precise mapping, the Skope 800 operates RTK-free. Instead, it uses cameras and onboard AI to understand its surroundings, enabling it to navigate complex terrain and recognize boundaries without the need for perimeter wires or base stations. The Litheli Skope 800 robot lawn mower uses cameras and AI to understand its surroundings.Litheli Both mowers draw power from Litheli’s IPS battery system, which now supports not only handheld tools but also autonomous machines. The company says its updated LERA Power System 2.0 enables cross-device energy sharing, allowing the same batteries to power tools, lawn mowers, and even serve as portable power banks for devices like phones and laptops. Lithelli has not yet announced pricing or availability details for its new robot lawn mowers. If you’re attending CES in person, Litheli is exhibiting its wares at the LVCC Central Hall, booth #15430. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot lawn mowers. Read...

The so-called “lifestyle” TV is a fast-growing category in the smart TV market, particularly those that can mimic works of art when they’re otherwise not in use. Samsung kicked off the lifestyle TV with The Frame, followed by LG and its new Gallery TV and Wallpaper TV, and now Amazon is entering the fray with its latest Fire TV-enabled set.  Taking the spotlight at CES just as LG’s Gallery TV and Wallpaper TV make their debut in Las Vegas, the Amazon Ember Artline is a 1.5-inch thick 4K QLED TV with such typical bells and whistles as Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support, along with Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. But like Samsung’s and LG’s fine art-oriented TVs, the Ember Artline is designed to look good even when you’re not actively watching it. Slated to go on sale this spring starting at $899 in 55- and 65-inch sizes, the Ember Artline comes with a matte screen designed to cut down on glare, ideal for making artwork (a collection or roughly 2,000 works of art will be available for free via Amazon Photos) and digital snapshots displayed on the TV look more lifelike. You’ll also get your pick from one of 10 snap-on magnetic frames, available in colors ranging from walnut and ash to teak and black oak.  Amazon Just how lifelike they’ll look is a key question; I haven’t seen either the Ember Artline or LG’s Gallery TV in person yet, but I have seen Samsung’s The Frame models, and they look startlingly real when they’re displaying paintings. During one demo, I had to reach out and touch the screen to be sure.  Aside from displaying art and photos, the Ember Artline can also help pick which images to show. Just feed up to four photos of the room where the TV is hanging and the AI-powered set will suggest the on-screen art that would best match the decor.  Other features on the Ember Artline include far-field microphones for chatting with Alexa+ from across the room, while the presence-sensing Omniscense tech can fire up the artwork or your photos when people enter the vicinity.   Naturally, the Amazon Ember Artline boasts Amazon’s Fire TV interface, which is getting yet another makeover. This time, the Fire TV UI is getting a “more modern” design with rounded corners, a new typeface, and “optimized” spacing and layouts. Amazon is also promising a peppier interface experience—up to 20- to 30 percent faster, the company says—thanks to a rebuilt code base.  Amazon Alongside the new look and speed gains comes the ability to pin more app to the homescreen—you can now pin up to 20, up from just six—while pressing the menu button will surface controls for games, art and photos, and the Fire TV Ambient Experience. Long-pressing the home button brings up a panel of shortcuts for oft-used audio and display settings, your Ring camera feeds, and smart home controls.  Finally, the revamped Fire TV mobile app will let you browse shows and movies, customize your watch list, and play selected titles on your Fire TV device.  The new Fire TV interface is set to launch in the U.S. next month on the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max, and the Fire TV Omni Mini-LED TV series. The redesigned UI will roll out to more countries and devices in the spring, including on the Ember Artline at launch, Amazon says. Read...

Kwikset has unveiled the Aura Reach at CES, a smart lock designed for homeowners seeking a flexible, connected security solution that’s easy to install and use. The Aura Reach supports both Matter and Bluetooth, enabling broad compatibility with smart home ecosystems including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home (lacking NFC technology, however, it does not support Apple Home Key). As with other locks in Kwikset’s portfolio, the Aura Reach features the company’s patented SmartKey technology, which allows users rekey the lock in seconds using an existing Kwikset key and a simple tool. Once that’s accomplished, the same key can be used to unlock every other Kwikset SmartKey lock in the home. It also protects against advanced break-in techniques like lock bumping and picking. The smart lock includes several practical features aimed at simplifying daily access. The LED-backlit keypad lights up when users approach, while geofencing and Bluetooth technology enable automatic unlocking for a hands-free experience. Users can also manage up to 250 access codes, review entry history, and receive alerts via the Kwikset app. The Aura Reach uses Kwikset’s patented SmartKey Security system. Kwikset The lock’s Matter compatibility includes support for Matter-over-Thread, the low-power mesh networking protocol that helps extend battery life and improve responsiveness. You’ll need a Matter-to-Wi-Fi bridge or a Thread border router to bridge this lock to your Wi-Fi network, but most modern smart speakers (Amazon Echo, Apple HomePod, and Google Nest models, as well as the Apple TV 4K) that fulfill that role. Installation is designed for DIYers, requiring only a screwdriver and guided by step-by-step instructions within the Kwikset app. Should you experience range issues with the lock’s Thread radio, Kwikset says a Signal Range Boost setting in its mobile app will boost the radio’s output by a factor of two. The Aura Reach is ANSI/BHMA Grade 2 certified and is available in Satin Nickel and Matte Black finishes. Kwikset has set an MSRP of $189 for the lock, and is available now at Kwikset, Amazon, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and other retailers. This news story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Read...

Google thinks AI can solve the problem of needing to wade through complicated TV settings menus. With a forthcoming update to its Gemini AI assistant on Google TV, you’ll be able to adjust TV settings with voice commands. For instance, you can say things like “the screen is too dim” to increase brightness, or “the dialog is lost” to turn on subtitles. That’s one of several new AI features that Google plans to roll out to its TV platform in the months ahead. The company also announced more image-driven responses to basic queries, a “Deep Dives” feature that provides a narrated summary of complex topics, and some new ways to look up and interact with Google Photos libraries. Google says these features will arrive on “select TCL devices” first, followed by other Google TV devices in the coming months. Tweaking TV settings The big question with Gemini’s settings controls will be how deep they’ll go. If all you can do is control basic things like brightness or volume, that’ll only be of marginal use. On the other hand, imagine asking to turn off motion smoothing on your TV (or your parents’ TV), or to turn off the ACR features that monitor what you watch and then sell the data to marketers. I’ll be asking Google about these possibilities and others in an upcoming interview. Other AI features Google The other Gemini TV features that Google is announcing at CES 2026 range from useful to gimmicky. If you ask what to watch next based on a show you liked, for instance, Google will now show cover art for its recommendations instead of just answering with text. (It’s unclear, however, if you’ll be able to click on the art to load the recommendations directly.) Google Gemini will also provide visual responses for more general queries, so you can ask about things like Van Gogh paintings or the Northern Lights and get images in return. For more complex queries, Gemini will also show example follow-up questions to dive deeper into the topic. Google Gemini will be able look up pictures from Google Photos in response to voice commands (something the previous Google Assistant was already able to do) and turn images into slideshows on the fly. Google seems to think you’ll want to create content on your TV as well, as it’s adding a way to make AI-generated images and videos with its Nano Banana and Veo AI models. Some of this stuff feels a bit forced, as if there’s a mandate to stuff AI features onto TVs regardless of whether users are asking for it. But Google does believe that the TV will evolve from just a place to watch videos into an AI-driven hub for information. I still have my doubts about that, but at least it’ll make controlling your TV settings a little easier in the meantime. Read...

Lockly has introduced the Affirm smart lock series at CES, its first line of smart deadbolts and latches with native Matter-over-Thread support, Wi-Fi connectivity, and an integrated doorbell. Available in both deadbolt and latch configurations, the Affirm line is designed for homeowners and rental operators seeking platform-agnostic smart locks that don’t necessarily require a dedicated hub. The Affirm series can be integrated with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, and Samsung SmartThings. Thread’s low-power design helps extend battery life versus Wi-Fi–only connections. While a Thread border router is needed for full functionality, Affirm smart locks can also connect via their built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi adapters using the Lockly Home app. For access, users can enter PIN codes on a backlit keypad (featuring Lockly’s unique PIN Genie technology) or unlock via NFC cards or fobs, smartphones, or wearables. Physical keys are also available as a fallback option. The system can store hundreds of codes, suitable for families or short-term rentals. Lockly An integrated doorbell in the lock’s exterior housing allows visitors to announce their presence without additional hardware. When paired with Lockly’s TapCom platform, the NFC tag on the lock can initiate audio or video calls, depending on configuration. Software features include scheduled auto-locking, offline-accessible codes, and a “welcome mode” for unlocked periods. Real-time updates, activity logs, and remote controls are available via the Lockly app. LocklyOS supports property-wide lock management for multi-unit installations. Lockly’s Affrim smart lock comes in deadbolt and latch configurations. Lockly The Affirm series is rated IP65 for weather resistance, runs on eight AA batteries (rated for up to 8 months), and includes a USB-C port for backup power. Designed for DIY installation, it fits most standard doors and backsets. Both versions of Affirm will launch in matte black, with pricing starting at $179.99 and availability expected in late Q2 2026. If you’re attending CES in person, Lockly is exhibiting its wares at Venetian Suite 29-318, where it is also showing its new Smart Safe XL, OwlGuard IPC100 home security camera, and TapCon access-control system for short-term rentals. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Read...

Lockly has unveiled TapCom, a wireless, app-free video intercom system aimed at streamlining guest access for short-term rentals and managed properties. It’s designed to eliminate common pain points—such as app downloads, account creation, and Wi-Fi access—during guest check-in. Targeting Airbnb-style rentals, multifamily housing, and student residences, TapCom allows guests to initiate interaction by tapping the wall-mounted device with mobile device that supports NFC, or by scanning a QR code on their smartphone. Depending on host preferences, this can trigger a video or audio call, provide access instructions, or unlock a supported smart lock on the door–even if the smart lock isn’t connected to the internet. Notably, TapCom requires no app or Wi-Fi access on the guest’s side. The compact, wireless device operates without hardwiring, aiming to simplify access for travelers who arrive late, face connectivity issues, or are unfamiliar with smart lock apps. TapCom allows guests to initiate interaction by tapping the wall-mounted device with NFC or scanning a QR code. Lockly TapCom integrates with Lockly’s own smart locks and supports select third-party models, including brands like Schlage, Yale, and August. Full compatibility varies by lock type and installation, and some integrations are reserved for higher subscription tiers (on the part of the host). The card itself is priced at $19.99 and includes a 6-month subscription with support for compatible Lockly smart locks, after which the subscription can be renewed based on three tiers: Free Tier: One-time access codes, audio-only intercom, and 90-day activity history. TapCom Blue ($1.99/month): Adds video intercom, recurring codes, and extended history. TapCom Pearl ($3.99/month): Enables control of compatible third-party locks and expands history retention to one year. A built-in community feature allows hosts to broadcast property announcements, house rules, and local tips, reducing reliance on messaging apps or email. Lockly notes that some features and compatibility options may evolve ahead of the product’s full launch. If you’re attending CES in person, Lockly is exhibiting its wares at Venetian Suite 29-318, where it is also showing its new Affirm Smart Lock series, Smart Safe XL, and OwlGuard IPC100 home security camera. This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart locks. Read...