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Shelly’s Presence Gen4 radar sensor is now available in the US for $84.99. It can detect people and pets without recording video, and The Verge reports it can track up to 10 people in one space. Its detection zones, smart-home connections and installation requirements may shape how well it fits different homes.
Shelly has made its Presence Gen4 sensor available in the US for $84.99, bringing a camera-free way to detect occupancy to the company’s smart-home lineup. The device uses mmWave radar rather than video, and The Verge reports it can track up to 10 people in one space; Shelly’s listed features also include detection zones and connections to several major smart-home platforms.
The sensor’s mmWave radar is designed to detect people and pets even when they are sitting still, according to the product details reported by The Ambient. Unlike a security camera, the Presence Gen4 does not capture footage. That makes it a possible option for rooms where residents may want occupancy-based automations but prefer not to install a camera, such as a bedroom, bathroom or home office. It does not, however, remove the need to consider what occupancy data a connected smart-home setup may collect.
The Presence Gen4 has a 140-degree horizontal field of view and is specified to cover areas of up to 42 square metres. It supports as many as 10 independently configured detection zones, allowing automations to respond to a particular area rather than the entire room. For example, a user could set lights, heating, cooling or music to respond when someone occupies a desk area. The sensor also has sensitivity controls, including options for pet detection and ignoring 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, giving lighting automations another input besides occupancy. The compact unit can sit on a shelf or table using its stand, or be wall-mounted, but it needs to be close enough to a power source for its USB-C cable. Shelly lists Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 LE, Zigbee 3.0 and Matter over Wi-Fi connectivity, with compatibility that includes Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Home Assistant and Samsung SmartThings.
Camera-Free Room Automations
The Presence Gen4 targets a gap in smart-home monitoring: people may want lights or climate systems to react to occupancy without placing a video camera in every room. Radar-based detection offers a way to trigger automations while avoiding recorded images, which may be especially relevant in private rooms. The distinction is practical, but it should not be read as a guarantee that the sensor or its connected services collect no data; the source report does not detail data storage or privacy settings.
Its independent detection zones could also make automations more specific than a simple room-wide motion trigger. A system might respond to someone sitting at a desk while ignoring activity elsewhere in the room. How reliably that works in different layouts, and how much setup it requires, will depend on the home and configuration. At $84.99, the sensor is a dedicated occupancy device rather than an inexpensive motion detector, so the value will depend on whether its still-person detection and platform support address a user’s needs.
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European Launch and US Arrival
The Presence Gen4 went on sale in Europe in April before reaching the US months later, according to The Ambient. The US launch follows Shelly’s introduction of a $50 subscription-free security camera in the country the previous month, though the products serve different purposes: the camera captures video, while the Presence Gen4 is designed to detect occupancy without it.
The Ambient reported that the sensor is available through Shelly’s online store in the US. UK shoppers already have access through retailers including The Pi Hut, where the report listed a price of £67.10. The US price is $84.99, described in the report as around £63; prices and availability can vary by retailer and market.
“The Presence Gen4 can track up to 10 people at once in a single space.”
— The Verge, as cited by The Ambient
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Detection Performance and Data Practices
The supplied reporting does not explain the conditions behind the 10-person tracking figure, such as room layout, distance, interference or how accurately the sensor distinguishes people from one another. It also does not include independent tests of detection range, false triggers, pet settings or performance across different home environments. Buyers may need to rely on product documentation and their own setup experience for those details.
Details about data handling and privacy are also absent from the source material. The sensor has no camera and produces no video footage, but the report does not specify what occupancy information is stored, whether processing occurs locally, or what information may be shared through connected services. The source also gives no warranty terms or explanation of whether every listed smart-home platform supports all features in the same way.
radar motion detector for smart home
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Availability and Setup Details
The Presence Gen4 is available now from Shelly’s US online store, while it has already been on sale in Europe since April. The next practical details for prospective buyers are the final local price, shipping and stock status, along with Shelly’s setup instructions for configuring detection zones and connecting the device to a chosen smart-home platform.
Further hands-on testing or additional product documentation could clarify how accurately it tracks multiple occupants, how it behaves around pets and moving devices, and what privacy controls apply. Until those details are available, the confirmed selling points are its radar-based occupancy detection, listed platform connections, and lack of camera footage—not a guarantee of performance in every room.
smart home automations with occupancy detection
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Key Questions
How much does the Shelly Presence Gen4 cost in the US?
It is listed at $84.99 and is available through Shelly’s US online store, according to The Ambient.
Does the Presence Gen4 record video?
No camera is included, so the sensor does not produce video footage. It uses mmWave radar to detect occupancy. The source report does not specify what non-video occupancy data is stored or shared.
How many people can it track?
The Verge, as cited by The Ambient, reports that the sensor can track up to 10 people at once in one space. The supplied reporting does not give the conditions or accuracy behind that figure.
Which smart-home systems does it support?
Shelly lists compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Home Assistant and Samsung SmartThings. The sensor also supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5 LE, Zigbee 3.0 and Matter over Wi-Fi.
Does the sensor need to be plugged in?
Yes. It can sit on a shelf or table or be mounted on a wall, but it needs to be near a power source for its USB-C cable.
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