New Shelly Products at IFA 2026: Matter Controllers, Native Thread, Hörmann Garage Integration & Smart Partnerships
At IFA 2026 in Berlin, smart home automation powerhouse Shelly demonstrated why they remain a favorite among DIY enthusiasts, smart home installers, and prosumers alike. Known primarily for their ultra-reliable smart relays and energy monitoring modules, Shelly used this year's show to unveil major architectural expansions across protocols, hardware form factors, and brand collaborations.
Reporting straight from the bustling Shelly booth, Smart Home Tested sat down with Shelly’s Heinz for an exclusive guided walkthrough. From the Shelly Wall Display acting as a standalone Matter controller and the debut of Thread on Gen 4 hardware, to a plug-and-play Hörmann garage motor controller and new smart locks, Shelly showed off a forward-thinking, open-ecosystem vision.
Shelly Wall Display: Direct Matter Controller Functionality
Historically, Shelly hardware integrated into third-party ecosystems via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Matter bridge capabilities. At IFA 2026, Shelly turned the tables with a major firmware advancement for the Shelly Wall Display:
Standalone Matter Controller: The Shelly Wall Display is no longer just an endpoint device. In the settings, users can now access a native Matter Controller menu to commission and manage any standard third-party Matter device directly.
Vendor-Agnostic Control: Without opening a smartphone app or pulling out a tablet, users can tap the wall-mounted screen to toggle lights, smart plugs, or appliances made by other manufacturers, seamlessly blending third-party Matter products into Shelly’s local ecosystem.
The Protocol Leap: Native Thread on Gen 4 Hardware
A significant technical milestone announced at the booth is the introduction of Thread communication into Shelly Gen 4 devices.
While Shelly has long mastered robust Wi-Fi and Bluetooth mesh communication, Thread was the missing piece in their connectivity stack. Gen 4 products will now offer the option to run on Thread mesh networks, providing low-latency local communication, reduced Wi-Fi network congestion, and extended battery life across compact sensor endpoints.
Plug-and-Play Garage Intelligence: The Hörmann Collaboration
Automating garage doors has traditionally been a clunky DIY process: wiring a dry-contact relay (like a Shelly 1) across the motor's push-button terminals. While this triggers the door to move, it leaves the system blind to the actual physical state of the door—you can toggle the motor, but you cannot verify whether the garage is fully open or closed without adding external magnetic reed switches.
Shelly revealed a dedicated Hörmann direct controller prototype that solves this completely:
RJ11 Direct Connection: Plugs straight into the diagnostic port on compatible Hörmann garage motors via a standard RJ11 interface.
Two-Way Real-Time State Telemetry: Because it communicates directly with the motor’s internal logic board, the Shelly app receives genuine status data (fully open, closed, or opening percentage) just like a Shelly Plus 2PM, eliminating the guesswork and the need for messy secondary sensors.
Appliance & Shutter Partnerships: Miele, Rademacher & Ventilation
Rather than attempting to reinvent established household appliances, Shelly emphasised deep engineering partnerships:
1. Dynamic Energy Optimisation with Miele
Expanding on cloud-to-cloud energy integrations, Shelly showcased a partnership with premium appliance maker Miele. Using dynamic day-ahead electricity pricing feeds, Shelly algorithms calculate the optimal start window for heavy-load cycles. If a 4-hour washing cycle starts at a cheap hourly rate but extends into an expensive peak-demand window, the system automatically shifts the schedule to ensure the entire run completes during the cheapest average tariff block.
2. Strap Shutter Automation with Rademacher
For European homes with manual fabric/strap roller shutters that lack internal tube motors, Shelly partnered with Rademacher to debut a motorised surface-mount belt winder. This allows renters and homeowners to fully automate manual window shutters without cutting into masonry or replacing window frames.
3. Smart Indoor Air Quality & Ventilation
In partnership with ventilation specialist Renson, Shelly demonstrated an integrated ventilation module. Paired with upcoming ambient CO2 and air quality sensors, the module automatically exhausts stale indoor air and brings in filtered outdoor air whenever indoor particulate or carbon dioxide thresholds are breached.
Hardware Spotlights: Compact HD Camera & Modular Smart Lock
Ultra-Compact Local HD Security Camera
Shelly showcased a miniature, highly portable HD security camera available in clean black and white finishes:
Local-First RTSP Streaming: Built for privacy-conscious users, the camera supports direct RTSP streams for local NVR and Home Assistant recording without forced cloud accounts.
Onboard Storage: Includes an integrated MicroSD card slot for local clip backups.
Flexible Mounting: Features a magnetic base plate and physical hardware power switches, making it popular for discreet home monitoring, temporary setups, or travel security.
The Modular Shelly Smart Lock 2
Shelly also unveiled the second generation of their smart door lock. Unlike the original version that required manipulating or replacing the existing door handle, the new model attaches directly to standard European lock cylinders for an effortless retrofit. It operates wirelessly via phone authentication or physical Shelly buttons, with optional modular keypad and fingerprint accessories available for exterior installation.
Final Verdict
Shelly’s showing at IFA 2026 underscores their reputation for practical, user-focused automation. By adopting native Thread, unlocking Matter controller capabilities on their Wall Display, and working directly with major industrial brands like Hörmann, Miele, and Rademacher, Shelly is eliminating the hassle of custom wiring while keeping local, cloud-optional control front and center.
Watch the Full IFA 2026 Booth Walkthrough
To see the Hörmann RJ11 connector demonstrated up close, watch the Shelly Wall Display control third-party Matter devices live, and view the compact HD camera in action, check out the full show floor video from Smart Home Tested below:
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