You are probably comfortable with your home the way it is. It’s a living space you withdraw to at the end of the day, recline and chill and maybe raise a family. You don’t want to change anything about it. But the home is changing just like everything around you. It’s converging and merging with your smartphone which is now many things in one including entertainment hub, social media graph, work tool and now a device to control your home.
The smart home is an attempt to make your life easy — at least on paper. You shouldn’t be opening doors, or manually switching off lights or turning up/down the thermostat or any of the things you now do manually. A combination of sensors , a central gateway or hub and your itnernet-connected smartphone should help save you some time and even money by automating some of these mundane tasks you perform everyday in your home. That’s the idea of a smart home.
As a tech enthusiast, I jumped on the Smart home bandwagon which has been a rollercoaster ride for the past two months at my humble abode which I now share with my 2-year old and my wife. They are not as geeky as I am, so what motivates me isn’t the same as what drives them. They just want to get into the room and switch on the lights, not look for a smartphone app and fidget around with unpolished and unfamiliar user interfaces. But there’s always room for experimenting even with those that aren’t as curious.
So to kick off my Smart home journey, I turned to Aliexpress for any affordable Tech I was willing to lose money on. Luckily for me, I landed on the Xiaomi Smart home ecosystem of devices. Xiaomi is a 10-year old Chinese company that has built a reputation for producing absolutely great tech for cheap. After some research, I decided to a Smart home bundle which included;
- Xiaomi Mijia Smart Home Multifunctional BLE Gateway ($24)
- AQara Smart Window Door Sensor ($11)
- Aqara Body Sensor & Light Intensity Sensors($15)
- Xiaomi Yeelight Smart LED Bulb Colorful ($17)
The Xiaomi Mijia Smart Home Multifunctional BLE Gateway works like a wireless router for all Xiaomi smart home devices. Just like you need a wireless WiFi router to share the internet across your devices, you also need this Gateway to connect and run commands across connected devices. However, not all smart home devices need a gateway. The Yeelight smart lights for instance don’t need the gateway to work. The window/door sensors, body sensors won’t work by themselves. They need to connect to a central gateway to send data signals.
Smart home standards: Bluetooth, Zigbee and WiFi
Xiaomi Mijia Smart Home Multifunctional BLE Gateway
If you are going to invest in building a Smart home using the Xiaomi ecosystem of devices, then start here. The Xiaomi Mijia 3 gateway doesn’t do anything by itself. Instead it connects all your other Smart devices together and links to the internet via the Mi Home App .
The Xiaomi Mijia 3 gateway supports WiFi 4, Zigbee 3.0 and Bluetooth 5.0. As you can tell, the Smart home industry is still heavily divided on what wireless Technology to use. Some devices only Support Zigbee while others support WiFi, so it’s helpful to have a gateway that supports all the smart home wireless standards to increase chances of supporting a wide variety of devices.
Xiaomi Mijia Gateway 3 Specs
Brand: Xiaomi Mijia Product Model No. : ZNDMWG03LM Rated input: 5V == 1A Product size: Medium 90 x 25mm Operating humidity: 0% -95% RH, non-condensing Support system: Android 5.0 or ios 12.0 and above Number of sub-devices ：32 Working temperature : -5 ° C ~ 50 ° C Wireless connection: Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz, Zigbee 3.0, Bluetooth 5.0
The first thing you want to do is download the Mi Home App from Android and iOS stores and then connect the gateway to your WiFi router. Note that at this time only WiFi 4 on 2.4Ghz is supported, so it’s important that your router supports the 2.4GHz band, otherwise it won’t connect. The Mijia gateway 3 can connect upto 30 devices.
Xiaomi Yeelight Smart LED Bulb Colorful
If you are looking to test the smart home waters without committing too much in this unknown, then I would recommend getting yourself the Xiaomi Yeelight smart LED bulb . Why it is an easier route is because it doesn’t need a Hub or Gateway such as the Mijia or Aqara hub I have just discussed to work. And you can just use it as a regular light bulb without all the bells and whistles of smart home such as automation and voice controls.
The Yeelight comes in two versions; the colored one and the white version. The colored one has over 1 million colors you can change to via smartphone App while the white version just has white light. We have already done a thorough review of the Yeelight smart bulb. Summarily, you can control the bulb via the usual ordinary on/off switch or via the Yeelight App, Mi Home app or using Google voice assistant. The light supports schedules and a timer , so you can program it to turn on/off at your preferred times. I actually have one as a security light turning on at 7:00 pm at sunset and then off in the morning at 7:00 am at sunrise.
If you want fancy automation features such as turning on the bulb when you enter the bathroom or passing through corridor for instance, then this is where the Mijia Gateway/Aqara Hub comes in. With a combination of door/window sensor and Body motion sensor, the bedroom and bathroom Yeelight can automatically be turned on when you enter the room and off when you leave. All this is done via the Mi home app through automation “scenes”. We shall talk about these in subsequent posts.
AQara Smart Window Door Sensor
If you really want to start making serious sense of the smart home experience, then you need a couple of sensors. These sensors simply pick data signals from the environment and then send feedback to a central hub which can be setup to perform certain tasks accordingly such as switching on/off lights, turning up the lights, turning up the thermostat, recording video on smart camera etc.
The Aqara smart window/door sensor is a great starter sensor to have. I have two of these and I basically use them to control lights in the bedroom and bathroom. With the Mi Home App, I setup an automation “scene” to turn on the bedroom Yeelight bulb when the door is opened and then turn off the lights when the door is closed. This way I don’t have to manually turn on the lights via switch. The Aqara smart windows/door sensor simply detects when the door opens and shuts and I set up automation scenes for each action. It communicates with the Gateway/Hub via Zigbee wireless connection.
The sensor powered by an internal removable battery that lasts at least 2 years due to its low energy consumption. No special installation is required, just use paste to stick it to a surface.
Aqara Body and Light Intensity Sensor
Another good sensor you should definitely have in your Smart home setup is the Aqara Body and Light intensity sensor. This sensor will detect human body movements using across 170 degrees angle. Aqara Motion Sensor adopts Japanese infrared sensor to detect human motion through heat and US Polyolefin Fresnel lens for high precision detection.
The motion sensor comes with a sensor stand that you can mount anyway. You can rotate it 360 degrees around the vertical axis and 90 degrees downwards.
This sensor is also able to detect light illuminance and provide smart lightning information. You can use it to tell if a room is dark, dim or brightly lit and then perform certain actions based on that information. For instance you can create an automation scene that turns up the Yeelight bulb lights when the room is dark.
Personally I use the Aqara body sensor to turn on the Yeelight bedroom light when somebody moves into the room. Also I set it to turn on the corridor lights when someone is passing through.
The sensor powered by an internal removable battery that lasts at least 2 years due to its low energy consumption. No special installation is required, just use paste to stick it to a surface.
Xiaomi says it has 15ms response time, but unfortunately according to my tests, I found it really wanting. The response times were really slow for me.
Xiaomi Mijia Smart Socket/Plug
To top it all up, you probably want to have the Xiaomi Mijia Smart Socket or the Aqara Smart plug (I suggest you go with this instead). The Smart socket or Plug lets you remotely control lights, fans, and other ordinary appliances from your smartphone.
With this plug, you can also create schedules, timer and automation scenes using the Mi Home App or Aqara Home App if you have the Mijia version to help you automate daily routines around the house.
Depending on the version, you can also monitor the power consumption of connected appliances to help you save more energy.
I didn’t purchase any of this because I couldn’t find one that has a UK plug which is what we use in Uganda, so I skipped it. However, if you live in China or the U.S, they definitely have compatible plugs.
The smart socket needs the Mijia Gateway or Aqara Hub depending on what you’ve gone for to work. This is in order to enable the automation for switching on/off appliances, settings schedules and timers.
Final word
I have been living in a “smart home” for over two months now here in Kampala. Liquid home unlimited internet has been my primary driver despite its issues. Generally the experience hasn’t been noticeably groundbreaking for the most part. Some of the automation doesn’t really work sometimes such as automatically turning on lights when motion is detected. The benefits of investing in all these gear never mind setting up don’t really outweigh the costs yet. However, it’s likely to change as the Tech gets improved. For instance having home appliances and lights that automatically turn on/off without your intervention could save you on your power bill. For now, if you are quite adventurous and don’t mind spending at least $200, then dive in.
Feature image: Pixabay
David Okwii is the Editor-in-Chief of Dignited.com and a seasoned tech enthusiast whose journey began in the early 2000s. He started blogging while at university, diving deep into mobile apps, smartphone reviews, and operating systems—from testing Linux distros to tweaking Windows machines. David also explores Chromebooks, experiments with Raspberry Pi projects, and brings hands-on curiosity to every review. With vast experience in Uganda’s tech ecosystem and deep knowledge of Africa’s startup landscape, he offers informed, grounded perspectives on consumer technology. When he’s not writing or tinkering, David enjoys connecting with nature and exploring the outdoors.
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Talkio Mobile , Uganda’s newest telecommunications service provider, is excited to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Banana Life Investments, a leading chain of mobile phone and retail shops. This strategic alliance aims to bring Talkio’s innovative telecom services closer to Ugandans.
This collaboration will leverage Banana Life Investments’ extensive retail network of 26 stores strategically located across Uganda in major malls, towns, and cities to provide customers with unparalleled convenience. Through this partnership, Talkio Mobile will offer its full suite of services, including SIM cards, airtime, and exclusive product offerings at any Banana Life Investment location.
This partnership is more than a business initiative—it’s a shared commitment to transforming lives. By integrating Talkio Mobile’s forward-thinking services & nationwide reach with Banana Life Investments’ retail footprint, the two brands are setting a new standard for customer convenience and inclusivity.
READ ALSO: 5 Things You Need to Know About Talkio Mobile: New Telecom Company in Uganda
“This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission of connecting Ugandans to innovative and transformative telecom solutions,” said Vianne Allan Ahura, CEO of Talkio Mobile. “By leveraging Banana Life Investments’ trusted presence and nationwide footprint, we are not only expanding our agent network but also bringing our services closer to the communities we serve. This collaboration ensures that our online customers can now enjoy a seamless offline experience right at their doorstep. Together, we are empowering Ugandans with the tools they need to stay connected, grow their businesses, and unlock new opportunities.”
Solomon Ssemuyaba, the assistant general manager at Banana Life Investments, echoed this sentiment: “We are proud to join hands with Talkio Mobile to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions. This partnership represents our shared vision of fostering a connected future for Uganda. Together, we are redefining what convenience and accessibility mean for our customers.”
The partnership goes beyond retail distribution, introducing joint initiatives aimed at value addition and personalized service. Customers can expect seamless access to:
- SIM Card Sales : Available at all Banana Life Investments locations.
- Talkio phone number bookings : Book your preferred Talkio number at any Banana Life Investments location.
- Airtime Services : Recharge easily through in-store purchases.
- Customer Support : Friendly and knowledgeable staff trained to assist with Talkio Mobile products and services.
Additionally, the two companies plan to launch promotional campaigns and expand services to even more locations, ensuring no Ugandan is left behind in the digital transformation.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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The Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona , the world’s largest exhibition for the mobile industry, has just concluded. This annual event gathers leading technology brands to unveil groundbreaking mobile, AI, and digital solutions innovations. At MWC 2025, TECNO showcased a range of AI-driven products, reinforcing its commitment to cutting-edge technology.
The key launches included:
- CAMON 40 Series – AI-powered smartphones with One-Tap FlashSnap and advanced mobile imaging features.
- MEGABOOK S14 – The world’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring AI-enhanced multitasking and Snapdragon® X Elite.
- MEGABOOK T14 Air & K15S – Lightweight ultrabooks with AI capabilities and extended battery life.
- TECNO AI Glasses Series – Smart eyewear integrating AI imaging, translation, and AR display.
Jan Stryjak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, shared, “In the past year, we have observed significant advancements in the field of AI. AI will continue to drive transformative changes in our daily lives. In this critical period for the economic development of emerging markets, TECNO’s AI technologies are unlocking potential for diverse needs.”
“The application of AI technologies is crucial and urgent in emerging markets. We’re committed to bridging the digital gap between emerging and mature markets,” said TECNO CMO, Laury Bai. “TECNO is taking a practical approach to make AI more accessible, ensuring users in emerging markets can access AI and cutting-edge technologies.”
Laury Bai, TECNO CMO
Driven by its commitment, TECNO has forged a robust partnership with MediaTek, establishing a joint AI laboratory dedicated to accelerating advancements in AI. At the event, James Chen, Vice President of Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek, emphasized, “The synergistic R&D efforts between TECNO and MediaTek are set to democratize AI technology. Our collaboration powers a seamless, interconnected AI experience, bringing users a future of truly connected intelligence.”
James Chen, Vice President, Product and Technology Marketing at MediaTek
CAMON 40 Series Powered by AI One-Tap FlashSnap Revolutionizes Smartphone Snapshot Photography
TECNO’s Global Product Launch Officer, Olivier Mas, officially unveiled TECNO’s next-generation AI-driven products. Attendees at TECNO’s launch event witnessed the highly anticipated debut of TECNO’s new CAMON 40 Series, a device that embodies TECNO’s legacy of excellence in mobile imaging. Featuring One-Tap FlashSnap Mode and TECNO AI, the series sets a new benchmark in smartphone photography, delivering exceptional snapshot capabilities and AI-enhanced user experiences.
Olivier Mas, TECNO Global Product Launch Officer
The CAMON 40 Series exemplifies a commitment to innovation that transcends hardware and software, extending into strategic partnerships that deliver cutting-edge AI solutions to emerging markets. Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud, remarked, “Our collaboration with TECNO on the CAMON 40 Series is a standout example. Leveraging Google Cloud’s capabilities, we’ve introduced groundbreaking features such as Ask Ella, AI Image Generator, AI Writing, and AI Translate. I am particularly impressed by the industry-leading and competitive edge of some of these innovations. For instance, TECNO’s AI supports text translation in 136 languages, voice translation in 44 languages, and photo translation in 51 languages. We are excited to further strengthen our partnership with TECNO, unlocking limitless potential to bring advanced yet practical AI capabilities to emerging markets in a convenient and secure manner.”
Matt Waldbusser, Managing Director of Global Solutions and Consumer AI at Google Cloud
The CAMON 40 Series’ innovative One-Tap FlashSnap leverages AI to enhance imaging capabilities, revolutionizing mobile photography. AI optimizes camera startup and continuous shooting for instant captures, while AI-powered multi-frame processing intelligently reduces noise and enhances details, delivering sharper, more refined images. Additionally, the BestMoment algorithm analyzes motion patterns, automatically selecting the optimal frames for precise, high-quality shots in dynamic scenarios, ensuring users an unparalleled mobile imaging experience.
TECNO CAMON 40 Demonstrates the Cutting-Edge FlashSnap Capability
To delve deeper into the imaging prowess of the CAMON 40 Series, TECNO invited Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK, to share the image performance of CAMON 40 Pro. Frédéric highlighted, “The CAMON 40 Pro 5G has demonstrated exceptional imaging and performance capabilities in our rigorous evaluations. We’ve been particularly impressed with photo performance being the best for devices under 600$, and the 1st eligible device to our Smart Choice Label.”
Onsite photo of Frédéric Guichard, CEO of DXOMARK
Beyond its advanced rapid-capture functionality, the integration of TECNO AI further enhances the device’s capabilities. Intelligent imaging, a 360° AI Call Assistant, and productivity tools elevate creativity and efficiency. Powered by MediaTek’s latest chipsets, the series ensures smooth performance, fast processing, and extended battery life. With a sleek, durable, and water-resistant design, it seamlessly blends style with practicality for modern users.
MEGABOOK S14, the World’s Lightest 14-inch OLED Laptop, Inspires Creators and Game Lovers
The MEGABOOK S14 is TECNO’s first OLED laptop and the industry’s lightest 14-inch OLED laptop, featuring a 2.8K OLED display and incredibly weighing only 899g (31.7oz). The laptop is equipped with the outstanding power of the Snapdragon® X Elite compute platform, the flagship chipset for AI PCs from Qualcomm Technologies, and integrates TECNO’s world’s first self-developed edge-side large-scale AI model, to achieve AI-enhanced multitasking.
World’s Lightest 14-inch Laptop MEGABOOK S14
Specifically designed for next-gen AI productivity, TECNO AI enhances the Ella AI Assistant, AI-powered PPT generation, AI-driven image search, smart albums, and offline meeting transcription with multilingual support. The External Graphics Dock, equipped with a powerful NVIDIA graphic card, delivers scalable, high-performance capabilities for design, gaming, and content creation. The laptop’s 2.8K OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate ensures exceptional visuals, while DTS:X Ultra dual 2W speakers, Wi-Fi 6E, fingerprint login, and PC Manager optimize connectivity and user experience.
TECNO’s strategic partnership with Qualcomm Technologies was a highlight of the TECNO AI Ecosystem Product Launch event, demonstrating a shared vision for the future of AI PCs. Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm, took the stage to discuss the integration of Qualcomm’s cutting-edge PC chipset into the new MEGABOOK S14 laptop, underscoring TECNO’s commitment to delivering high-performance computing solutions.
Kedar Kondap, SVP & GM of Compute and Gaming at Qualcomm
In addition, TECNO also introduced several standout new products. The featherlight 999g (35.2oz) ultrabook MEGABOOK T14 Air, features high-speed storage and LPDDR5 memory, while the ultra-thin, all-metal MEGABOOK K15S, equipped with a powerful 70Wh battery and supported by a 65W PD GaN charger, offers a smarter and more long-lasting user experience. Both devices are empowered by TECNO AI with advanced AI capabilities such as AI Album and AI Voice Assistant, making them perfect companions for all aspects of life.
The Next Game-Changing Tech Innovation: See the World with the TECNO AI Glasses Series
TECNO’s new AI Glasses Series also took center stage with the introduction of TECNO AI Glasses Pro and TECNO AI Glasses, reimagining eyewear with cutting-edge imaging, intelligent interactions, and a sleek aesthetic. The TECNO AI Glasses feature an aviator design, while the Pro model showcases a browline style, both embodying timeless elegance and modern fashion.
TECNO AI Glasses Redefine the Way People See the Future
Equipped with a 50MP high-definition camera, the series integrates an OV50D sensor, a 100° ultra-wide-angle custom lens, and an AI ISP imaging chip, forming a mobile-grade imaging system. This system lets users capture stunning, high-resolution photos with advanced AI noise reduction and HDR capabilities. With real-time translation supporting over 100 languages, TECNO AI’s Ella empowers accurate translation even for less common languages, as well as voice control, AI-powered object recognition, and intelligent information summaries for ultimate convenience.
Additionally, the AI Glasses Pro features a MicroLED display with 7th-gen resin waveguide technology, offering a 30° field of view, over 1,500 nits of brightness AR display, and a lightweight, ultra-thin design. The AR display allows users to effortlessly enjoy features like translation display, navigation, information prompts, and teleprompting.
Equipped with a 250mAh battery, these glasses offer over 11 hours of music playback and 8 hours of mixed use with just 30 minutes of charging. An advanced ultra-linear speaker, bass enhancement, and spatial sound deliver an immersive audio experience, while Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 ensure seamless connectivity.
With these innovative launches, TECNO is setting new standards in mobile imaging and AI-enhanced technology, shaping a more connected and empowered future for consumers in emerging markets. Once again, TECNO has showcased its cutting-edge innovation on the global stage at MWC. With the brand essence of “Stop at Nothing”, TECNO’s relentless pursuit of innovation is making AI-powered technology more accessible, allowing consumers to experience the future ahead of time.
Solomon Obwot is a tech writer based in Kampala, Uganda, with extensive experience in the local tech startup ecosystem. He covers the latest news and analysis on consumer tech, writes in-depth smartphone reviews, and conducts insightful interviews with industry experts. Solomon is also a passionate podcaster, sharing his knowledge and engaging in discussions about Africa’s rapidly growing tech landscape. Send emails to [email protected]
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