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Shelly announced the Presence Gen4, a camera-free mmWave radar sensor that the company says can detect up to 10 people at once. It is available from Shelly for $84.99 and supports customizable detection zones and integrations with several smart-home platforms.
Shelly has announced and begun selling the Presence Gen4, a smart-home sensor that uses mmWave radar rather than a camera to detect people, movement and activity in a room. The company says it can track up to 10 people simultaneously; the device costs $84.99 and is intended to trigger home automations without recording video.
The Presence Gen4 can sit on a shelf or table using its built-in stand, or be mounted on a wall. Shelly says its 140-degree horizontal field of view can cover spaces up to 650 square feet. The sensor needs a power source connected through its USB-C cable, so placement depends on access to an outlet or other suitable power supply.
Users can configure as many as 10 detection zones and customize them independently. That could let an automation respond to someone sitting at a desk or sofa rather than to movement anywhere in the room. The sensor can also include pets in detections, while sensitivity settings can be adjusted to ignore low-to-the-ground objects such as a robot vacuum.
Shelly lists support for Google Home, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant, along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Matter. Possible automations include switching lights, heating, cooling or music on when someone enters a defined space and turning them off after the space is empty. The device is available now from Shelly’s online store for $84.99; the company expects it to reach Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers soon.
Camera-Free Detection for Home Automations
The sensor offers another way to make smart-home actions depend on whether people are actually in a space, rather than relying only on a timer or a motion sensor that may stop detecting someone who is sitting still. Shelly’s claim that the device can track multiple people and use separate zones could make automations more specific in shared rooms, where a single broad detection area may switch on equipment unnecessarily.
Its radar-based approach also gives buyers an option that does not require a camera to observe a room. That distinction may matter to people who want presence-triggered lighting or climate control but do not want video capture. Radar detection is not the same as a guarantee about privacy or data handling, however; the supplied product information does not detail what data the sensor stores or transmits. At $84.99, it also sits above the cost of many basic motion sensors, making its multi-person detection and platform support central to its appeal.
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Shelly Adds a Radar Sensor
The Presence Gen4 follows Shelly’s recent launch of a $50 subscription-free security camera, according to The Verge’s report. The two products address different smart-home tasks: the camera provides security monitoring, while the new sensor is designed to detect occupancy and movement for automations without using a camera.
Presence sensors can be useful where ordinary motion detection is insufficient, such as a room where someone may remain seated for a long time. Shelly’s product information describes customizable zones and sensitivity controls as ways to tailor detection to particular areas and reduce triggers from pets or floor-level devices. Actual results can depend on room layout, installation and settings; no independent performance testing is included in the supplied report.
“The sensor can simultaneously detect up to 10 people.”
— Shelly, as reported by The Verge
Performance and Data Practices
The supplied report does not include independent tests of the claimed 10-person capacity, the stated 650-square-foot coverage or how reliably detection works in different room layouts. It also does not explain how the sensor distinguishes people from pets in every setting, or how factors such as walls and furniture affect its range.
Details about data processing, retention and transmission are not provided, so camera-free operation alone does not answer every privacy question. Shelly has said other retailers are expected to carry the product, but the report gives no specific dates for those listings. The stated platform and protocol support is reported product information, not a guarantee that every feature works identically across all compatible systems.
Retail Listings and Real-World Tests
The Presence Gen4 is available through Shelly’s online store, with wider availability at retailers including Amazon and Best Buy expected later. No firm retail dates are given in the supplied report. Prospective buyers will also need to check the device’s requirements and compatibility with their existing smart-home setup, including power placement and the automations supported by their chosen platform.
Further product testing and documentation may clarify detection reliability, privacy and data handling, and how well the sensor performs in different homes. Until then, the multi-person count, coverage area and automation capabilities should be treated as Shelly’s stated specifications.
Key Questions
How many people can the Shelly Presence Gen4 detect?
Shelly says the mmWave radar sensor can detect up to 10 people simultaneously. The supplied report does not include independent testing of that claim.
Does the Presence Gen4 use a camera?
No. The product is described as using mmWave radar instead of a camera to detect presence, movement and activity. The report does not provide details on data storage or transmission.
How much does it cost, and where can I buy it?
The Presence Gen4 is listed at $84.99 through Shelly’s online store. Other retailers, including Amazon and Best Buy, are expected to carry it, but no dates are specified.
What smart-home systems does it support?
Shelly lists compatibility with Google Home, Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant, as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Matter support. Buyers should confirm which functions are available through their specific setup.
Does it need to be plugged in?
Yes. The report says installation requires access to power for the sensor’s USB-C cable. It can be placed on a shelf or table or mounted on a wall, subject to power access.
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