Z-Wave Long Range Gains Momentum as Certified Device Count Hits 125 at CES 2026
Key Highlights
- Z-Wave Long Range supports direct hub-to-device communication over distances up to 1.5 miles, reducing network complexity and improving reliability for large properties.
- The technology enables a single hub to support up to 4,000 devices, with battery life approaching 10 years, making it ideal for large-scale IoT deployments.
- Security features include Z-Wave S2 encryption and secure key exchange, ensuring robust local control without excessive reliance on cloud services.
- Certified products now include security panels, smart locks, sensors, lighting controls, and gateways, demonstrating ZWLR's versatility across a range of use cases.
Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) is rapidly moving from emerging capability to mainstream IoT backbone, as the Z-Wave Alliance used CES 2026 this week to highlight a growing roster of newly certified devices that underscore the technology’s expanding reach beyond the traditional smart home.
The Alliance announced that 125 Z-Wave Long Range–certified products are now commercially available, spanning more than 30 device categories across the U.S. and EMEA markets. Even more telling: roughly 80 percent of products currently moving through the Alliance’s certification pipeline are targeting ZWLR, signaling strong manufacturer commitment to long-distance, scalable, and privacy-focused wireless connectivity.
Originally designed to extend Z-Wave’s utility beyond single-family homes, Z-Wave Long Range is increasingly positioned as a foundational technology for multifamily properties, hospitality, campus environments, and light commercial deployments. By supporting direct hub-to-device communication over line-of-sight distances of up to 1.5 miles, ZWLR enables reliable coverage for outdoor sensors, remote buildings, and hard-to-reach endpoints without the complexity of repeaters or dense mesh networks.
“Manufacturers are clearly seeing Z-Wave Long Range as a platform for rethinking what smart home and building automation can look like at scale,” said Bettina Roll, certification program manager at the Z-Wave Alliance. “With 125 certified devices already in market and strong momentum in the certification pipeline, we’re seeing how open standards and long-range performance are reshaping deployment models across residential and commercial environments.”
Why Z-Wave Long Range Is Resonating
Several technical attributes are driving the surge in adoption. Unlike traditional Z-Wave mesh networking, ZWLR uses a star topology in which each device communicates directly with the hub. This approach reduces latency, simplifies network behavior, and improves reliability—particularly in larger properties.
ZWLR also dramatically expands network capacity, allowing a single hub to support up to 4,000 devices. Combined with dynamic power management that can deliver battery life approaching 10 years for many sensor types, the specification is well-suited to large-scale deployments where maintenance costs and battery replacement cycles are critical concerns.
Security remains a central differentiator. Z-Wave Long Range incorporates the Z-Wave S2 security framework, providing strong encryption, secure key exchange, and device authentication—features that resonate with homeowners and property operators seeking local control without excessive reliance on third-party cloud services.
A Cross-Section of the Expanding Ecosystem
The latest wave of ZWLR-certified products reflects the breadth of use cases now being addressed. New certifications include advanced security panels, life-safety devices, smart locks, lighting controls, sensors, gateways, and developer platforms.
Among the highlights:
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2GIG (a Nice brand) introduced the GC Touch Security Panel, pairing a modern touchscreen interface with Z-Wave 800 Series and ZWLR support to deliver whole-property coverage for security and automation in single-family, MDU, and light commercial settings.
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Aeotec earned a milestone with SmokeShield, the first Z-Wave Long Range–certified device available in Europe. Designed to integrate with existing Ei Electronics smoke detectors, SmokeShield extends life-safety communications up to one kilometer without rewiring.
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Alfred, ULTRALOQ, Rently, and Yale/ADT all expanded their smart lock portfolios with ZWLR-enabled products aimed at professional installers and property managers who need reliable access control across larger footprints.
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SmartRent Alloy SmartHome showcased its Alloy Fusion Gen 3, combining a smart hub and thermostat with a built-in touchscreen and multi-network connectivity options, including Z-Wave Long Range, for streamlined multifamily deployments.
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Shelly, Jasco, Zooz, and FireAvert demonstrated how ZWLR is being applied across lighting, energy monitoring, sensing, and fire-prevention categories, reinforcing the protocol’s versatility.
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On the development side, Trident IoT achieved certification of its Z-Way Thin Gateway Controller SDK, accelerating the creation of lightweight, ZWLR-enabled gateways and controllers.
Privacy and Local Control as Market Drivers
Beyond range and scalability, the Alliance notes growing consumer and integrator interest in keeping smart home data local. As concerns mount over cloud dependence and data sharing, Z-Wave and Z-Wave Long Range are benefiting from their ability to deliver robust automation and security without sending unnecessary data to third-party platforms.
With thousands of certified devices already on the market and ZWLR-enabled products rapidly increasing, the Z-Wave Alliance sees long-range connectivity as a key enabler for the next phase of IoT growth—one that stretches well beyond the smart home and into broader residential and commercial environments.
More information on Z-Wave Long Range–certified products is available through the Z-Wave Certified Product Catalog at the Z-Wave Alliance website.
About the Author
Steve Lasky
Editorial Director, Editor-in-Chief/Security Technology Executive
Steve Lasky is Editorial Director of the Endeavor Business Media Security Group, which includes SecurityInfoWatch.com, as well as Security Business, Security Technology Executive, and Locksmith Ledger magazines. He is also the host of the SecurityDNA podcast series. Reach him at [email protected].