A network-free smart home? The Emerson brand is doing just that (without a hub!)

3 days ago 19

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.

ZDNET's key takeaways

Emerson just launched its SmartVoice technology at CES 2026.
Smart home devices using SmartVoice don't require Wi-Fi or a hub to function; instead, they utilize on-device voice control.
Each device features a built-in microphone, in addition to its buttons, and a speaker to respond to your commands.

While smart home devices are a major focus of CES, most of the tech we see often follows a pre-established pattern of requiring a hub or Wi-Fi to utilize its features. Emerson, an American electronics company, just launched a new line of smart home devices that does something different.

The SmartVoice line of products enables you to control your Emerson devices with just your voice, eliminating the need for Wi-Fi or a hub. These products feature on-device voice control, which includes a built-in microphone and speaker that respond to a wake word and a preset list of prompts.

Also: CES 2026 live: Biggest news & weirdest gadgets

Although this may sound a bit plain, I was very impressed with the SmartVoice technology. Many dumb devices, such as fans, lamps, and space heaters, come with small remote controls that often get lost. SmartVoice lets you control them by talking to them, without bringing Alexa, Siri, or Google Gemini into your home.

The new lineup of Emerson SmartVoice devices includes Tower Fans in 30-, 40-, and 42-inch heights, Fan-Heaters in 24- and 32-inch, Electrical Plugs and power strips, and Air Fryers in 5.3- and 10-quart capacities. The air fryers feature over 1,000 voice commands, including 100 cooking presets; the rest of the devices can understand over 40 voice commands.

These types of devices have many applications in a crowded and complex market. Having to connect a space heater or fan to Wi-Fi and download an app for the device sounds excessive, because it is.

Also: The best and most useful smart home tech I've seen at CES 2026

I don't want to overwhelm my Wi-Fi network with dozens of smart devices, and even if there are smart home hubs that solve this problem, I also don't want to buy five different hubs.

The SmartVoice line includes air fryers, plugs, power strips, a heater, fans, and more -- each one with a specific wake word, such as "Fan," "Heater," "Emerson," or "Fryer." You can say, "Hey, heater, turn on" or "Hey, heater, set a 30-minute timer." The air fryers come with preloaded recipes, so you can ask one to cook a baked potato, and it'll set the temperature accordingly.

Also: Best of CES 2026 Awards: Official Winners List (CNET)

After testing the tech myself, Bluetooth is the only thing I wish the Emerson SmartVoice line had. It'd be more convenient if I could also use an app to control the tech via Bluetooth, in addition to using my voice or the device's physical buttons. That way, I could turn off the space heater from my bed if my husband is already asleep or turn up the fan in my kids' room without waking them.

Read Entire Article