New Home Assistant Device Aims to Smarten Up 'Dumb' Houses

The Verge says a new gadget called the Home Assistant Connect Aux-2 can take an older, non-connected house and make it work like a modern smart home, according to the outlet's Installer newsletter, published Nov. 14, 2026. The newsletter is written by David Pierce, who is listed as editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host. The item appears in Installer No. 152, a weekly roundup Pierce writes covering gadgets, apps, shows, and other things he and readers are using that week, per the newsletter itself.

What is the Home Assistant Connect Aux-2?

The device takes its name from Home Assistant, a home-automation platform, and is described in the newsletter's headline as something that "makes your dumb house a lot smarter," according to The Verge. The underlying webpage address for the item references a tabletop installer and tripod, suggesting the hardware is meant to sit on a surface rather than mount permanently, though the newsletter text provided does not spell out installation steps.

Why call a house 'dumb' in the first place?

In smart-home shorthand, a "dumb" house is one without connected lighting, sensors, or hubs — just standard switches and outlets. The framing in The Verge's headline suggests the Aux-2 is positioned as a bridge for homeowners who have not already bought into a smart-home ecosystem, letting existing wiring or fixtures connect to Home Assistant's software without a full rewiring job. The source material does not list specific protocols, price, or release date for the hardware.

Who is reporting this, and when?

The item comes from Pierce's weekly Installer column at The Verge, dated Nov. 14, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. UTC. Pierce's bio in the newsletter notes he has "over a decade of experience covering consumer tech" and previously worked at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. The same edition of Installer also touches on unrelated topics that week, including a space-history audio project, an Apple TV heist film, and a Wikipedia podcast, giving a sense of the newsletter's broader, roundup format.

What details has The Verge not published yet?

The material reviewed by HTT News does not include a price, a ship date, compatible smart-home standards, or a hands-on verdict for the Aux-2. The Verge's own ethics disclosure on the page notes that the outlet may earn a commission if readers buy a product through a link in its coverage, standard practice for its gadget write-ups, but no purchase link or retailer was specified in the text available for this report.

Where can readers see the full review?

Anyone wanting the complete writeup, including any images, specs, or purchasing information The Verge has published, should go directly to the original Installer No. 152 newsletter at The Verge. HTT News was unable to independently verify pricing or availability beyond what the newsletter's headline and introduction describe, and will update coverage if additional on-the-record details become available from Home Assistant or The Verge.