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Shelly has brought its Presence Gen4 occupancy sensor to the US for $84.99. It uses mmWave radar rather than a camera, supports up to 10-person tracking according to The Verge, and offers configurable detection zones and smart-home connections.
Shelly’s Presence Gen4, a camera-free occupancy sensor that uses radar to detect people in a room, is now available in the US for $84.99. The device can support room-specific smart-home automations without recording video, and The Verge reports it can track up to 10 people at once.
The sensor uses mmWave radar to detect people and pets, including occupants who are sitting still. Its reported coverage is up to 42 square metres, with a 140-degree horizontal field of view. The unit can be placed on a shelf or table using its built-in stand, or mounted on a wall; either setup needs to be close to power for its USB-C cable.
Users can configure as many as 10 detection zones independently, allowing automations to respond to particular areas rather than treating the entire room as occupied. For example, a system could turn on lights or adjust heating when someone is at a desk, then switch them off after that area is empty. Sensitivity controls can include or exclude pets and ignore objects close to the floor, such as a robot vacuum.
A built-in light sensor can report whether a room is dark, at twilight or bright, so lighting rules can account for daylight as well as occupancy. Shelly lists Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 LE, Zigbee 3.0 and Matter over Wi-Fi among the device’s connectivity options. The company says it works with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Home Assistant and Samsung SmartThings. The Presence Gen4 is sold through Shelly’s US online store; in the UK, The Pi Hut lists it for £67.10.
Radar Adds Room-Level Smart Controls
The Presence Gen4 addresses a common trade-off in occupancy sensing: cameras can show whether someone is present, but some households do not want video monitoring in private rooms. A radar-based sensor produces no camera footage, making the product an option for spaces such as bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices where video may be unwelcome.
Its potential value is not limited to detecting whether a room is occupied. Configurable zones could let a smart-home system react to where someone is, while the light sensor can prevent lighting automations from relying on presence alone. Those functions may make it useful for comfort and energy-management routines, though actual results depend on how users configure the sensor and their connected devices.
The device’s support for several smart-home standards and platforms may also help it fit into existing setups. Compatibility does not, by itself, establish that every feature works identically across every platform; the available control options may depend on the user’s system.
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From European Launch to US Sales
The Presence Gen4 had been on sale in Europe since April before its US arrival. Shelly’s US price is $84.99, equivalent to about £63 at the conversion cited by The Ambient; the UK retailer price reported by the publication is £67.10. Those figures refer to different markets and are not a like-for-like price comparison.
The US release follows Shelly’s launch there last month of a $50 subscription-free security camera, according to The Ambient. That product includes a camera, while the Presence Gen4 is an occupancy sensor built around radar. The two releases are separate products and should not be confused: the Gen4’s camera-free design means it detects presence rather than providing video surveillance.
“The Presence Gen4 can track up to 10 people at once in a single space.”
— The Verge, as reported by The Ambient
Performance Details Still Unreported
The provided reports do not explain how reliably the sensor distinguishes 10 people at once in different room layouts, or how walls, furniture and other sources of movement affect detection. The stated coverage and tracking capacity are product specifications and reported claims; no independent performance results are included in the source material.
It is also not clear from the reports whether every listed connection method and automation feature is available in the same way across all supported smart-home platforms. The sources do not provide detailed information about data handling, cloud requirements or whether any occupancy data leaves the home. A camera-free design means the sensor does not record video, but that alone does not answer every privacy or connectivity question.
Availability and Compatibility Checks
The Presence Gen4 is available now from Shelly’s US online store, while UK shoppers can find it through retailers including The Pi Hut. The next practical step for buyers is to check Shelly’s current product documentation for setup requirements, supported platform features and the best placement for their room.
Further testing and user reports could clarify how well multi-person detection, pet filtering and zone-based automations work in everyday homes. The reports provided do not give a date for additional retailer availability or describe any planned software updates.
Key Questions
How much does the Shelly Presence Gen4 cost in the US?
It is listed at $84.99 in the US through Shelly’s online store.
Does the Presence Gen4 use a camera?
No. It uses mmWave radar to detect presence and does not record camera footage.
How many people can it track?
The Verge reports that it can track up to 10 people at once in a single space. The supplied reporting does not include independent testing of that capacity.
What smart-home systems does it support?
Shelly lists compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Home Assistant and Samsung SmartThings, along with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 LE, Zigbee 3.0 and Matter over Wi-Fi. Feature availability may differ by platform.
Can it trigger automations in part of a room?
Yes. The sensor supports up to 10 independently configurable detection zones, which can be used to trigger automations based on activity in a specific area.
Source: rss
