Meross’ presence sensor ditches the cord and adds Thread support

Meross has announced a new version of its MS600 presence sensor that’s now battery-powered, so installation isn’t limited to places where you can camouflage a power cord.

A single CR123A battery powers the new MS605 presence sensor for up to three years. Battery life may be reduced in high-traffic areas if the sensor is activated more frequently. It’s available for preorder now through Meross’ online store and discounted to $34.99 for a limited time.

The switch to battery power is made possible by another new feature: support for Matter over the low-power Thread protocol. The MS605’s year-old predecessor was also Matter-compatible, but over Wi-Fi. You’ll need to make sure you have a Thread-capable hub somewhere in your home to use the MS605 with Google Home, Apple Home, or Alexa, but it doesn’t have to be a Meross hub.

The MS605 has a similar design to the older MS600 and carries forward its articulated mounting plate, allowing the sensor to be angled up to 90 degrees and rotated 360 degrees. It’s been upgraded with an IP67 waterproof rating so it can now be used outdoors. It also offers the same combination of light, passive infrared (PIR), and 24GHz mmWave radar sensors used to detect people in motion or standing still, and to differentiate inanimate moving objects, like a window curtain, from humans. The only real downside to the battery is that the MS605’s range has been reduced to 6 meters (from 12) for motion and 4 meters (from 6) for presence detection.