Smart Home

Xiaomi unveils new S Mini LED TVs, Mijia washers

Smarter home appliances as ecosystem continues to expand

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Xiaomi continues to expand its smart home ecosystem, launching the new Xiaomi TV S Mini LED 2026 Series and two new Mijia washers.

Xiaomi’s latest entertainment lineup is available in sizes from 55 to 98 inches. They are built around Xiaomi’s QD-Mini LED technology to deliver deep blacks, vivid colors, and high contrast.

TVs under the lineup feature up to 512 independent backlight zones and 120Hz Game Boost mode. Meanwhile, the 85-inch and 98-inch models offer native 144Hz refresh rates and up to 288Hz under Game Boost with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).

Across the entire series are 94% DCI-P3 color gamut, 1.07 billion colors, HDR10+, HLG, and Filmmaker Mode, as well as Dolby Vision. The visual experience is complemented by Dolby Audio, DTS:X, and Dolby Atmos on the larger models.

Price:

  • 55-inch: PhP 39,990
  • 65-inch: PhP 51,990
  • 75-inch: PhP 64,990
  • 85-inch: PhP 91,990
  • 98-inch: PhP 140,990

Smarter Mijia washers

On the smart laundry care end are two new washers: the Mijia Front Load Washer 9kg and Mijia Top Load Washer 13kg.

The first offering combines a spacious drum with features designed for a more thorough and convenient washing.

The steam washing function achieves up to 99.99% bacterial removal. This washer can also be connected to the Xiaomi Home app for seamless management.

And for even larger laundry loads, there’s the Mijia Top Load Washer 13kg. It features a 4-stage 3D water flow for improved washing performance.

Users can also utilize 20-minute quick wash, tub cleaning, fabric softener support, and long-lasting fragrance care.

Price:

  • Mijia Front Load Washer 9kg: PhP 20,999
  • Mijia Top Load Washer 13kg: PhP 14,999

Lifestyle

This pop-up sauna brings the steam room experience into your home

HAZEMOR’s Instant Sauna sets up in about a minute and folds into a closet

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A home sauna no longer needs a dedicated room or a permanent spot in your house.

HAZEMOR’s new Instant Sauna is designed to bring the steam room experience into smaller spaces. It comes with a pop-up frame that sets up in about a minute and folds away when the session is over.

The portable indoor steam sauna uses the brand’s QuickFlow semi-automatic frame, which opens without tools or separate poles.

Once the frame is locked and its four support legs are raised, the sauna is ready for its steamer. The 1,300-watt unit has a 3-liter stainless-steel tank. It produces steam in about two minutes with hot water or six to eight minutes with cold tap water.

Inside, the temperature reaches up to 131°F (55°C), with adjustable steam levels and a timer for customizing each session. A remote control lets users change the settings without stepping outside the enclosure.

The design takes a brighter approach to the traditional steam tent. Finished in warm beige and champagne tones, the HAZEMOR Instant Sauna has two transparent ceiling panels under its SKY TOP WINDOWS design, which let natural light into the space.

Its three-layer insulated fabric pairs a water-resistant exterior with a heat-retaining middle layer and a soft interior surface.

With interior dimensions of approximately 43 × 43 inches and 71 inches of headroom, the sauna leaves room to sit comfortably.

It comes with a folding chair and floor mat, along with the steamer, steam hose, remote control, squeegee, and carry bag.

Price, availability

For those looking to expand their setup, HAZEMOR also offers a Red & Near-Infrared Light Kit for an additional US$ 149. It includes three 10-watt tubes that combine 660nm red light and 850nm near-infrared light.

Storage is factored into the design as well. Folded, the sauna measures approximately 41 × 12 × 12 inches, small enough to tuck into a closet or bedroom corner. Assembled, it needs about 47 × 47 inches of floor space and access to a standard household outlet.

The HAZEMOR Instant Sauna is available now in the United States through the brand’s website for US$ 425. An early-bird price of US$ 319 runs from November 3 to 16, 2026.

Each purchase comes with a one-year limited warranty and a 30-day return window from delivery.

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News

Amazon updates its Echo lineup for 2026

Say hi to the new Echo Dot, Echo Studio with Home Camera, Echo Show 16, and Echo Time.

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Amazon is refreshing its Echo catalog once again. This time, besides updating the Echo Dot and the Echo Show, the lineup now includes the new Echo Studio with Home Camera and the Echo Time.

Amazon Photo Frame

Featuring a 10-inch anti-glare touchscreen display, the Amazon Photo Frame is the smartest way to display your photos.

The frame integrates with Amazon Photos, with its unlimited photo storage, so you can display all your photos in one hub. Plus, Alexa+ automatically selects the best shots, preventing bloopers and duplicates from showing up.

Echo Dot

Still one of the most iconic speakers in the entire lineup, the Echo Dot gets a modest upgrade with the new AZ3 chipset. On-device processing and more natural conversations are now possible on the Echo Dot.

Plus, with a fourth microphone, the new Dot can now hear better and can even detect who’s speaking. Once it detects who’s speaking, the device can tailor its functions depending on the speaker. For example, if the Dot detects that you’re speaking, it can play your playlists, rather than your partner’s.

It also has Omnisense which can detect your immediate surroundings. For example, it can detect if the temperature is changing so it can adjust the thermostat. It can also detect if someone enters the room so it can open the lights.

Echo Studio with Home Camera

Technically not a new device, the Echo Studio with Home Camera upgrades the old speaker with new tricks and a home camera.

The Echo Studio is the lineup’s most powerful speaker, built with a high-excursion woofer, three full-range drivers, and Dolby Atmos. The new version upgrades this system with an improved Advanced Room Adaptation and Adaptive Volume. The speaker can automatically tune its sound according to the room’s acoustics. It can also change its volume depending on where you are, so the volume stays the same for you.

Finally, the home camera adds a layer of intelligence to the speaker. You can check up on the room while you’re out. Plus, the camera, armed with Alexa, can answer queries for you.

Echo Show 16

As the name hints, the Echo Show 16 features a 16-inch screen that’s set in a 40 percent thinner frame. The new model reengineers the audio system with eight custom micro woofers and two tweeters. It also has the Advanced Room Adaptation of the Studio and the Omnisense of the Dot.

The new version has a 13-megapixel camera for better video quality when dropping in on someone else in the house. With this camera, Visual ID is better and can detect users from 17 feet away.

Finally, the 16-inch frame comes with Fire TV built-in, so you can enjoy your favorite content right on the screen. It also has a Nanomatte display option that reduces glare for uninterrupted viewing.

Echo Time

Rounding out this latest lineup, the Echo Time packs in the power of Echo inside an alarm clock.

The alarm clock as the lineup’s iconic circular form factor with a 3.2-inch touchscreen. Users can customize this further with a variety of faces from your favorite franchises like Batman or The Powerpuff Girls.

Touting the National Sleep Foundation’s SleepMark, the Echo Time uses smart alarms that can wake you up at the perfect time within 10 to 60 minutes of your set alarm. If it detects that you’re in a lighter sleep phase, the clock can start waking you up, so you don’t feel groggy in the morning.

Around the time you wake up, the display will also begin mimicking the lights of a sunrise. Then, before you sleep, it changes to a gentler light to help you sleep.

With Alexa+, users can better tell the clock what they want in the morning. For example, telling the clock to remind you to pick up your lunch before heading out sets a reminder for the morning.

Price, availability

The Alexa Photo Frame is available in Black for US$ 199.99. Meanwhile, a real Birch and Walnut framed version costs US$ 229.00.

The Echo Dot is available now in Graphite, Glacier White, Agave Green, and Coral Pink for US$ 99.99.

The Echo Studio with Home Camera is available in Graphite for US$ 249.99.

Shipping later this year, the Echo Show 16 sells for US$ 499.99

Finally, the Echo Time is available now in Graphite, Glacier White, and Coral Pink. It sells for US$ 199.99.

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Luxury Smart Home

Samsung brings smarter cooling to older buildings

Smarter building cooling

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Samsung cooling

Replacing an entire building to improve its efficiency isn’t practical. Hotels, offices, and shopping centers can instead upgrade existing systems to improve comfort and manage operating costs.

Samsung is targeting this opportunity with its heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) solutions. The company combines AI-powered cooling systems with connected building management tools to help businesses modernize existing properties.

Cooling more spaces with fewer outdoor units

Samsung’s DVM S2 Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system sits at the center of its commercial cooling lineup.

A single outdoor unit can connect to as many as 64 indoor units, allowing one system to cool multiple rooms or areas. Samsung says this setup can reduce the need for additional piping and structural work when businesses upgrade existing buildings.

The system also supports more than 10 types of indoor units, giving building operators flexibility when choosing equipment for different spaces.

This flexibility can benefit older properties in particular. Hotels, for example, need to keep rooms and shared spaces comfortable while minimizing disruptions to guests during upgrades.

AI helps manage energy use

Cooling systems can account for a substantial share of a commercial building’s energy consumption. Samsung combines the DVM S2 with SmartThings Pro, its connected management platform for businesses, to help operators monitor and manage their systems.

The DVM S2 uses AI to adjust cooling performance based on operating conditions. SmartThings Pro adds remote monitoring, automated scheduling, energy analytics, and centralized management across multiple sites.

Samsung says the DVM S2 can reduce compressor energy usage by up to 15% under specified internal test conditions. Actual savings depend on installation, building conditions, and usage patterns.

Together, these technologies aim to help businesses maintain comfortable indoor temperatures while avoiding unnecessary energy use.

Modernizing existing buildings

Samsung points to Bali Beach Hotel Sanur as an example of how its cooling solutions can support upgrades to existing properties.

The hotel adopted Samsung’s DVM system to cool areas such as its lobbies, spa rooms, and fitness centers. The installation aimed to improve comfort while preserving the property’s heritage character.

Samsung also sees opportunities for connected cooling systems in offices, shopping centers, and mixed-use developments.

As building operators look for ways to manage energy consumption and operating costs, upgrading existing HVAC systems offers an alternative to major renovations.

Samsung combines flexible cooling hardware with AI-driven controls and connected management tools to help businesses modernize their properties. For operators across Southeast Asia and Oceania, these solutions offer another way to improve building efficiency while keeping indoor spaces comfortable.

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