Homey, the Dutch smart home platform owned by LG, has launched the Homey Portal, a touchscreen controller designed to simplify smart home management by replacing multi-step app interactions with direct physical control. The device stands out for its broad compatibility, reportedly supporting over 70,000 devices from more than 2,000 brands via Matter, Zigbee, Z-Wave and Thread, positioning it as a rival to devices like the Echo Show or Google Nest Hub, though with a more focused, uncluttered interface.

The Portal is a 2.8-inch round touchscreen with a stainless steel dial, usable on a desk or wall-mounted, and powered by USB-C; users tap icons to control lights, speakers, thermostats and shades, and twist the dial to adjust settings. It has no microphone, relying instead on Alexa, Google Home or Siri Shortcuts for voice control, and works with Homey's Flow automation engine for scenes such as doorbell livestreams triggering a smart lock prompt. Preorders open now at an introductory price of $249/€249 (rising to $299/€299), shipping in December, though the device requires a separate Homey hub or cloud subscription, meaning a full multi-room setup could cost close to $900.