Hisense used IFA 2026 in Berlin to unveil "Companion Living," its vision for weaving AI into everyday household routines, shown under the show theme "Innovating a Brighter Life." The centrepiece is V AIOS, described by Hisense as the next evolution of its existing VIDAA smart TV operating system, built around four AI capabilities the company calls Sense, Think, Communicate, and Execute. Around that platform sits an AI Companion Suite covering three everyday areas — cooking, laundry, and air & energy — with a device called the UR9 positioned as the hub for the air and energy side. Hisense hasn't given a release date, UK availability, or pricing for any of this; it's a platform and concept reveal rather than a shipping product line, so treat it as a roadmap signal rather than something you can buy today.
What is Hisense V AIOS?
V AIOS is Hisense's next-generation operating system, built as an evolution of VIDAA OS — the software that already runs Hisense's smart TVs — extended across a wider range of connected devices. Hisense says it rests on four core AI capabilities: Sense (detecting people, devices, and the surrounding environment), Think (understanding context and intent behind a request), Communicate (enabling natural interaction across devices and users), and Execute (coordinating content, devices, and services to act on a user's behalf). In practice, that's Hisense's framing for a system that's meant to move beyond app-by-app control toward the appliances themselves anticipating what's needed, though the company has not detailed which devices will ship with V AIOS first or when.
What does the AI Companion Suite actually do?
The AI Companion Suite is Hisense's name for three connected-appliance experiences built on top of V AIOS. In the kitchen, the system is designed to coordinate fridges and ovens, suggesting meals based on ingredients on hand and a household's stated food preferences. For laundry, Hisense describes fabric recognition feeding into coordinated wash and dry cycles, so settings are matched to the load automatically rather than picked manually. The third area, Air & Energy, is where the UR9 device comes in — Hisense positions it as a gateway for the connected home that adapts airflow and comfort settings around who's in a room and current conditions, aiming to balance comfort against energy use rather than running heating, cooling, or ventilation on a fixed schedule. As with V AIOS, Hisense hasn't published detailed specs for the UR9 or confirmed which markets will get it first.
Does the Hisense UR9 replace a smart thermostat?
Not based on what Hisense has said so far — it's described as a coordinating hub for comfort and energy rather than a direct swap for an existing smart thermostat. Hisense's own description focuses on monitoring occupancy and adjusting airflow across connected devices, which sounds closer to a whole-home orchestration layer than a single point-of-control thermostat. Until Hisense confirms compatibility with existing heating systems, radiator valves, or third-party platforms, it's best read as a concept for how Hisense wants its own ecosystem to behave, rather than a product UK buyers can plan a heating setup around yet.
How does this fit with the rest of IFA 2026's smart home news?
Hisense's Companion Living reveal lands alongside a wave of AI-branded smart home platform news from IFA 2026, including Samsung's SmartThings Spatial AI preview, LG's ThinQ Claw conversational agent, and Haier's Home of Intelligent Possibilities ecosystem — all pitching a similar idea of ambient, less manually-configured automation layered on top of existing appliances. None of these, including Hisense's V AIOS, have confirmed shipping dates or UK pricing yet. For a broader look at how competing ecosystems compare on what's actually available to buy and set up today, our Home Assistant vs SmartThings guide covers established platforms rather than IFA concept reveals. IFA 2026 also had smart home news outside appliances and hubs — furniture brand Amada used the show to unveil an app-controlled Smart Comfort Home range of beds, mattresses and a recliner sofa.
