Chinese smart home maker ZemiSmart launched two infrared control devices on July 3 that give aging air conditioners, televisions, and fans a path into Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa without replacing a single piece of hardware. Both cost $34.95. The catch is in the cloud.
The two devices take different architectural approaches to reaching Matter ecosystems, and that difference has practical consequences for how you control your gear.
Two Devices, Two Different Smart Home Paths
The Zigbee Smart IR Blaster (model ZBCIR01) is a Matter-over-Bridge device. It communicates over Zigbee and can’t talk directly to Matter controllers. You need a ZemiSmart M1, M1 Pro, or M6 Zigbee hub to bridge it into Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, Homey, or Home Assistant.
Price: From $34.95
Where to Buy: Zemismart
That means two wireless hops: Zigbee from the blaster to the hub, then Matter over Wi-Fi from the hub to your platform. No existing hub? Factor in that extra cost.
The (model ZMCIR01) takes the opposite route: it connects directly to Wi-Fi and joins the Matter fabric natively. No hub needed. It presents itself as a standard thermostat device, giving you full AC control from any Matter-compatible platform. Currently up for pre-order at $34.95 with shipping dates still to be confirmed.
What Matter-over-Bridge Actually Changes
Matter is the smart home industry’s attempt at a universal language. It’s an application-layer standard built on IPv6, backed by Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung through the Connectivity Standards Alliance. Devices describe their capabilities using a cluster-based model: a thermostat, a plug, a fan, a light. Commands travel locally with end-to-end encryption, and authenticity is enforced by cryptographic attestation certificates.
When a Zigbee device like the ZBCIR01 reaches Matter through a bridge, it hits a practical limit. Matter’s device type roster doesn’t include a generic “IR blaster” category. Your television, fan, or set-top box shows up in Apple Home as a generic on/off entity. Only air conditioners get full thermostat controls.
This is a Matter spec constraint, not a ZemiSmart limitation, but it shapes what you can actually do inside your smart home app versus the richer controls available in the Tuya app directly.
The AC controller avoids that ceiling because a thermostat is a device type Matter already understands, so it slots right in. Going straight to Wi-Fi also drops the Zigbee hub and the extra hop it adds, though you’re now leaning on home Wi-Fi instead of a dedicated low-power radio band.
Price: $28.99
Where to Buy: Amazon
Battery Power and a Clever Sensor Trick
The ZBCIR01 IR blaster is battery-powered with a 700mAh rechargeable cell, which is uncommon for this product category. Most IR blasters need a wall outlet or USB cable. You can place this one anywhere within 9 meters and a 120-degree angle of your appliance’s IR receiver, no cable routing required. It draws on a manufacturer-reported database of over 200,000 infrared remote codes and includes a DIY learning mode for older or less common equipment.
The ZMCIR01 AC controller goes further. It packs temperature and humidity sensors alongside the IR controls, displayed on a 1.8-inch segment LCD. The clever detail: the USB-C power cable houses the sensor component separately, letting you position it away from the controller body.
Why that’s important: the controller needs to face your AC unit’s IR receiver, which may sit near a window unit or wall-mounted head that generates heat and would skew room temperature readings. The separable cable sensor avoids that problem entirely. A magnetic base makes aiming straightforward.
The Cloud Question You Can’t Ignore
Setup and remote access for both devices lean on Tuya’s cloud. Tuya is based in Hangzhou, which puts it under China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law, a statute that obligates any organization on Chinese soil to cooperate with state intelligence work on request. Where your data physically sits doesn’t change that, because the obligation follows the company, not the server.
Tuya states that US and European user data is stored on AWS and Google Cloud servers outside China, and that it operates seven global data centers. What it can’t disclaim is the structural legal obligation that comes with being a Chinese-domiciled company.
Matter’s local control model provides a partial mitigation: routine commands travel device-to-device on your local network without hitting the cloud. But initial pairing, firmware updates, and remote access all involve Tuya’s infrastructure. Practical steps include placing the devices on a dedicated IoT VLAN and using Home Assistant’s local Tuya integration once paired.
Where ZemiSmart Fits in the IR Blaster Market
ZemiSmart enters a market with established players. Broadlink’s RM MAX launched in early 2026 with coverage of over 98% of IR and RF appliance brands, plus RF 433MHz control for motorized blinds. The Aqara Hub M3 bundles Zigbee, Thread, Matter bridging, and a 360-degree IR blaster into one multi-protocol hub. TP-Link’s Tapo H110 took a similar all-in-one approach in 2025.
ZemiSmart’s differentiation is specific: the ZBCIR01’s battery-powered design offers placement flexibility that hub-style IR blasters can’t match. The ZMCIR01’s separable sensor addresses a real accuracy problem. Both are narrower tools than the multi-protocol hubs, which suits households that already have a Zigbee hub and want targeted additions.
Both devices are compatible with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Homey, and Home Assistant once configured through the Tuya app.
The ZMCIR01 AC controller is currently pre-order only with no confirmed shipping date. The ZBCIR01 Zigbee IR Blaster is available now for $34.95, factoring in the cost of the required ZemiSmart Zigbee hub.
Price: From $34.95
Where to Buy: Zemismart
The Bottom Line
Both devices deliver real utility for households with functioning legacy IR appliances at a competitive $34.95 price point. The ZMCIR01’s hub-free design, native Matter support, and separable temperature sensor make it the easier recommendation for controlling a specific AC unit. The ZBCIR01’s battery-powered flexibility is a clear advantage for multi-room IR coverage, contingent on owning the required Zigbee hub.
The Tuya cloud dependency isn’t ZemiSmart-specific. It applies to the entire Chinese smart home device ecosystem at this price tier. Buyers who accept that condition get solid hardware at a fair price. Buyers who need a cleaner line between their home network data and Chinese-jurisdiction cloud infrastructure should be explicit about that requirement before choosing any Tuya-platform device.
![[MINI SIZE. ULTRA PORTABLE CHARGER]: Roughly the size of an AirPods Pro case, this smallest power bank packs 10,000mAh of long lasting power into a tiny, nano footprint. Easily slide this ultra slim, credit card size charger into your skinny jeans, a...](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41rATpm6dyL._SL160_.jpg)
Now retrieving an image set.
INIU Portable Charger, Ultra Mini 10000mAh 45W Fast Charging with Detachable Cable, Flight-Safe Travel USB C Power Bank External Phone Battery Pack for Xiaomi iPhone 17 16 Samsung S26 Google iPad etc
(as of July 13, 2026 18:57 GMT -05:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Now retrieving an image set.
