The ultimate foundation for your smart home Want a single central hub where all your smart devices converge, without cloud lock-in or subscriptions? With the Smart Home Server B4 Ultra (based on the BMAX B4 Ultra hardware) and fully pre-installed Home Assistant OS, you get a compact yet powerful home automation hub, specially optimized for Dutch smart home users. What problem does this Smart Home server solve? Many consumers start with separate bridges and apps (Hue, Tado, Homey Bridge, Ikea, Tuya) and quickly lose track. With this mini PC as a central Home Assistant server, you can bundle all your devices, protocols, and automations in one place , completely under your control within your own network. Key Benefits Modern Intel N150 processor : 13th generation (Twin Lake), 4 cores / 4 threads, up to 3.6 GHz turbo frequency and 6 MB cache with only 6 W consumption for 24/7 use – lightning-fast and energy-efficient. Super-fast LPDDR5 memory : 12GB of latest-generation LPDDR5 RAM that is significantly faster than DDR4, perfect for intensive Home Assistant configurations with dozens of integrations. 512GB NVMe SSD : Over 16x more storage than Home Assistant Green, lightning-fast load times, and reliable storage for databases, snapshots, backups, and add-ons like Zigbee2MQTT, ESPHome, and Docker containers. 4x USB ports for maximum expandability : 2x USB 3.0 and 2x USB 2.0 ports – ideal for Zigbee dongle (ZBT-2), Z-Wave stick (ZWA-2), Coral TPU and reserve for future expansion. USB 2.0 ports prevent interference that USB 3.0 can cause with Zigbee signals. Integrated Bluetooth 5.0 : Directly connect BT sensors such as Xiaomi thermometers, Govee air quality meters and RuuviTag sensors without additional dongles – ideal for temperature, humidity and plant monitoring. Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity : Stable 1000Mbps wired connection for reliable 24/7 operation of Home Assistant OS. VESA mounting bracket included : hang the server neatly out of sight in the meter cupboard, behind a monitor or in a patch cabinet – ideal for a tidy installation. Compact and silent design : dimensions only 125×112×44mm, about 243 grams light with active cooling that is barely audible during normal use. Open-source freedom : Home Assistant OS gives you complete control, local data storage, and the freedom to customize your smart home without vendor lock-in. Comparison with Home Assistant Green The Home Assistant Green is ideal as an entry-level model, but its capacity fills up faster with larger home automation setups. See the differences below: Specification Smart Home Server B4 Ultra Home Assistant Green Processor Intel N150 (13th gen), 4C/4T, 3.6 GHz Rockchip RK3566 ARM, 4 cores, 1.8 GHz RAM Type 12GB LPDDR5 (latest generation) 4GB DDR4 Storage 512GB NVMe SSD 32GB eMMC Graphic Intel UHD Graphics, 4K capable ARM Mali-G52 Network Gigabit LAN + Bluetooth 5.0 Gigabit LAN (wired only) Video outputs 2× HDMI + USB-C (for setup/diagnosis) None (headless) Wall bracket VESA bracket included Not included USB ports 4× USB (2× USB 3.0, 2× USB 2.0) 2x USB Power consumption Approx. 6W (idle), energy efficient Approx. 5W Conclusion : The Green is a solid starter, but the B4 Ultra offers 3× more RAM of the latest DDR5 generation , 16× more storage , more powerful x86 processor, double the USB ports and more extensive connectivity – a future-proof investment. USB connectivity: Built for advanced smart home setups With 4 USB ports (2x USB 3.0 and 2x USB 2.0), the B4 Ultra offers significantly more expansion options than the Home Assistant Green. Here's why that's important: USB 2.0 for Zigbee : The 2× USB 2.0 ports are ideal for Zigbee dongles such as the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2, as USB 2.0 does not cause RF interference in the 2.4 GHz Zigbee signal (a known issue with USB 3.0). USB 3.0 for high-speed devices : The 2× USB 3.0 ports are perfect for Z-Wave sticks (such as the HA Connect ZWA-2) and Google Coral TPU for local AI object detection in cameras. Future-proof : after Zigbee, Z-Wave and Coral TPU you still have a free port for SSD backups, an extra dongle (Matter/Thread) or other expansions. Practical example of a complete setup: USB 2.0 port #1 for Zigbee dongle (ZBT-2), USB 2.0 port #2 spare/backup, USB 3.0 port #1 for Z-Wave stick (ZWA-2), USB 3.0 port #2 for Google Coral TPU – and you still have space! Technical specifications (complete) Processor: Intel N150 (13th generation Twin Lake), 4 cores / 4 threads, up to 3.6 GHz turbo, 6MB cache, 6W TDP (energy efficient for 24/7 use). Memory: 12GB LPDDR5 RAM (soldered, faster than DDR4). Storage: 512GB NVMe M.2 2280 SSD (expandable with SATA 2.5" HDD/SSD). Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics, 24 execution units, up to 1000MHz, 4K@60Hz support. Network: 1× Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45, 1000Mbps), Bluetooth 5.0 for sensors and devices. Connections: 2× HDMI 2.0 (4K@60Hz, for setup/diagnostics), 1× USB-C (full-featured, data + video), 2× USB 3.0, 2× USB 2.0 , 1× 3.5mm audio jack, 1× RJ45 Gigabit LAN. Power
