Shelly Launches Presence Gen4 Radar Sensor
The new occupancy sensor provides privacy-focused motion detection using millimeter-wave technology.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Consumer Electronics
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Shelly released its Presence Gen4 radar sensor in North America in October 2026. The device offers a camera-free alternative for occupancy monitoring to enhance user privacy.
Why it matters
By relying on radar instead of cameras, the sensor allows for presence detection in sensitive areas without capturing visual data. This provides a privacy-conscious solution for users looking to automate home systems based on occupancy.
The Presence Gen4 sensor features 10 customizable detection zones and operates via a USB-C power connection. The hardware supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 LE, Zigbee 3.0, and Matter over Wi-Fi.
The players
Shelly
Shelly is a technology company specializing in smart home automation hardware and IoT connectivity solutions.
The details
The sensor detects human presence using millimeter-wave radar technology while allowing users to configure sensitivity to ignore pets or robot vacuums. It supports local control, enabling operation without the need for cloud connectivity.
Timeline
Shelly launched the Presence Gen4 sensor in North America in October 2026.
The Tech Race
This release marks a shift toward local, privacy-first sensor hardware that competes with legacy camera-based monitoring systems. By prioritizing local processing and universal protocols like Matter, the device attempts to replace cloud-dependent smart home architectures.
At an $84.99 price point, users can implement room-specific automation without the privacy concerns of traditional cameras. The inclusion of local control means home automations will continue to function even if the internet connection is interrupted.
The takeaway
Privacy-focused radar sensors are becoming a viable alternative to camera-based monitoring for smart home automation. Users should focus on calibrating sensitivity settings to ensure the radar effectively distinguishes between human movement and household pets.
Further reading
For more information on the latest smart home hardware, visit Consumer Electronics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TWICE.
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Do you trust radar-based sensors more than camera-based systems for home occupancy tracking?
