ZemiSmart is rolling out two new infrared smart home gadgets aimed at people who want to bring older, remote-controlled gear into modern apps like Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa. One focuses on controlling all kinds of IR devices through a Zigbee hub, while the other is a WiFi thermostat-style controller made just for air conditioners. Both tie into Matter, so they can show up across multiple smart home platforms, but they handle that in different ways.
The first product is the Zigbee Smart IR Blaster, sold as the “Smart Zigbee IR Bridge.” This one is meant to sit in a room and control almost anything that uses an infrared remote, including TVs, air conditioners, fans, projectors, audio systems, heaters, air purifiers, and set‑top boxes. Once paired with a compatible ZemiSmart Zigbee hub, such as the M1 or M6, it gets exposed to Matter and then appears in apps like Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings, and Home Assistant through the Tuya ecosystem. AC units controlled through it can show up with proper climate controls in Apple Home, while other devices appear as basic on/off accessories that you can label as a plug, fan, or lamp.
One of the more practical touches on the Zigbee IR Blaster is its built‑in 700 mAh rechargeable battery. That means you are not locked to a wall outlet and can place the unit wherever its infrared beam can “see” your devices. ZemiSmart claims an infrared range of about 9 meters (29.5 feet) and a 120‑degree transmission angle, which should be enough for most living rooms or bedrooms if the device is aimed correctly. The mounting angle is adjustable, so you can fine‑tune placement to reach multiple appliances in the room.
ZemiSmart also says the blaster supports more than 200,000 infrared remote codes. That broad library is meant to cover most consumer products that still rely on IR, from mainstream TV brands to more generic fans and heaters. For anyone with a mix of older gear that is not natively smart, this blaster can act as a central bridge, pulling them into a Matter‑based setup without replacing the appliances themselves. Since it uses Zigbee and a hub, it may appeal more to people who already run ZemiSmart or Tuya gear and want one more tool in that same system.
The second device targets a narrower use case but goes deeper on features for that one job. ZemiSmart’s new IR AC controller is built specifically for infrared‑controlled air conditioners and connects directly over WiFi with native Matter over WiFi support. That means there is no need for a Zigbee hub or Matter bridge. You set it up in the Tuya app and then share it to Matter platforms like Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, Homey, and Home Assistant.
Beyond sending IR commands to your AC, this controller doubles as a small thermostat and comfort monitor. It includes built‑in temperature and humidity sensors, and it shows both on a 1.8‑inch segment LCD display on the front of the unit. The screen also shows WiFi status and a simple comfort indicator, so you can see at a glance how the room feels without opening an app. That makes it work like a basic wall thermostat that just happens to talk to your AC with infrared instead of wires.
A clever part of the design is how ZemiSmart handles the temperature and humidity sensor. Instead of locking the sensor inside the main body that must face the AC, the company puts the sensor inside the included USB‑C power cable. This lets you run the cable to a better spot in the room and get readings that represent the space where people actually sit, not the hot or cold air right in front of the unit. The controller attaches to surfaces with a magnetic base so you can adjust the angle easily to keep the infrared signal aimed at the AC receiver.
ZemiSmart lists the temperature sensor range from ‑10°C to 60°C, with a stated accuracy of ±0.3°C between 10°C and 50°C. Humidity readings cover 0% to 99.9% relative humidity, with ±4% RH accuracy between 20% and 80%. The AC controller is currently up for pre‑sale, so actual shipping dates will depend on when production ramps up. It is priced at US$34.95 plus shipping, which puts it in the same ballpark as many standalone smart thermostats that lack infrared support.
The Zigbee Smart IR Blaster is available to order now. Between the two, the choice comes down to how you plan to upgrade your home. If you want one gadget that can pull multiple legacy IR devices into Matter, the Zigbee blaster paired with a ZemiSmart hub is the more flexible route. If your main goal is tighter control of an older air conditioner, especially with room comfort data on a small screen and no hub required, the Matter over WiFi AC controller is the more focused option. Either way, both products are aimed at people who want to keep using the gear they already own while tying it into newer smart home platforms.
View the original press release.
