U.S. Bans Foreign Robovacs & How Z-Wave is Staying Relevant in 2026 with Guest Avi Rosenthal

In this episode, Andrew sits down with Avi Rosenthal, chair of the Z-Wave Alliance, to explore the future of smart home technology, the role of open standards, and why Z-Wave still matters in a world of Matter, Thread, and Wi‑Fi. They also dig into recent government restrictions on smart devices, the rise of Z-Wave Long Range, and what true interoperability looks like in the connected home.

Topics covered:

• The new ban on foreign robotics to the U.S. • New rumors on Apple's smart home timeline • A new circulator fan from SwitchBot • Homey's new Matter 1.5 certification • Why Z-Wave is still worth considering in new and existing smart homes

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Apple's smart home rollout timelineHomey's Matter 1.5 certificationSwitchBot Circular Fan 2 Pro Those interested in sponsoring the show can reach out to us at: andrew@appleinsider.com