Meross MS605: Battery Power for When Wi-Fi Just Won’t Spy Right

KEY POINTS

•Meross has unveiled the MS605, a battery-powered upgrade to its MS600 presence sensor, now lasting up to three years on one CR123A battery.
•The device supports the Matter protocol over low-power Thread, requiring a compatible hub for integration with Google Home, Apple Home, or Alexa.
•It retains the MS600’s adjustable mounting plate, now with an IP67 waterproof rating for outdoor use, and uses combined light, PIR, and 24GHz mmWave radar sensors.
•Sensor range was reduced in exchange for battery operation, down to 6 meters for motion and 4 meters for presence detection from 12 and 6 meters respectively.

Meross decided that hey, why chain their MS600 presence sensor to the wall with power cords when you can slap a single CR123A battery in the new MS605 and pretend it will last three years (unless you live in a busy house—it’s a presence sensor, not a magic wand). Priced at a tantalizing $34.99 during preorder, this gizmo sports the latest in Matter-friendly Thread protocol tech, so it can whisper secrets across your Google Home or Alexa—assuming your hub supports Thread, because why wouldn’t you have a hub just lying around? Durability got a glow-up too, boasting an IP67 rating for those rainy stalking sessions outdoors, and it refuses to be fooled by your twitchy curtain theatrics thanks to mmWave radar, PIR, and a fancy mounting plate with 360-degree arrogance. Sure, range took a hit (half the old model), because batteries are hard work apparently.