Do you long for the advanced possibilities of Home Assistant but are put off by complex installation, Linux, and programming? We tested the hot new LinknLink ISG SE Box, which promises a revolution. This "Plug & Play" device combines a Zigbee gateway, an Android TV box, and a unique function for local control of Tuya devices completely without the cloud or registration. Read our review, where we discuss AI integration, pre-installed HACS, and what to watch out for with this new solution.

The final Home Assistant update of 2025 is here! Version 2025.12 brings not only holiday cheer but also major changes to automation building, a new "Labs" section for testing features, and long-awaited dashboard improvements.

Optimize your EV charging by linking your Smart Wallbox to your Photovoltaics (PV) system via Home Assistant. The system uses solar prediction data to dynamically adjust charging rates (often via Tuya Local integration), ensuring your EV primarily charges with free, self-generated solar energy, especially crucial for managing unpredictable energy spikes on partly cloudy days. This creates a truly smart, self-optimizing energy system for maximum savings.

The new Home Assistant 2025.11 brings accelerated automations, an innovative "pie" consumption overview, and easier dashboard customization. Discover everything this smart home platform has to offer in the latest version!

Have you recently encountered a problem adding a new device to the Tuya or SmartLife app? Then read on, because this is probably a huge problem and it's probably time to stop using the Tuya app.

The October update of Home Assistant 2025.10 brings significant improvements that make working with automations easier and expand artificial intelligence capabilities. The main features include undo/redo functionality in the automation editor, AI image generation, and smarter entity suggestions for dashboards.

At the beginning of September, we, as Homebrainz, went to Berlin to the largest European trade fair for consumer electronics and smart homes - IFA 2025. The main goal of our trip was to discover the latest trends, look for unique products, establish new business contacts, and expand cooperation with suppliers in the smart home sector.

With version 2025.9, Home Assistant comes with major updates that take smart home control to a new level. The user interface has a new experimental Home dashboard, making it faster and more intuitive to get an overview of your home. In addition, the automation editor has been significantly improved and the capabilities of the familiar dashboard cards have been expanded. New integrations and other improvements bring even more practical features and comfort to managing your smart home.

The August Home Assistant 2025.8 update brings a lot of improvements, new features and integrations that will delight all smart home users - especially the integration of artificial intelligence into the system. For this, we have prepared an overview of the most important new features that will make your daily use and expansion of your home automation easier.