You demonstrated the iHost Gen2 at IFA 2026. When will it be released? What are the specifications?
The question is a good one. Assuming it isn’t just a display mock‑up, this prototype suggests a few things purely from its appearance and the ports visible on the enclosure. Judging by the layout, the device looks like a shelf‑style hub meant to sit next to a monitor, especially with the presence of HDMI. That strongly implies a local UI or dashboard rather than anything intended for a technical room or control cabinet.
The RS485 port, on the other hand, points toward Modbus RTU support = something normally found in boiler rooms, electrical panels or equipment cabinets. With this kind of enclosure, running Modbus cabling across a flat to reach a device sitting on a shelf would be impractical, so the form factor doesn’t really match typical Modbus installation environments.
The USB‑C port is almost certainly intended for power, since no other power connector is visible. That’s actually a sensible choice: it keeps the device easy to place, easy to power, and avoids bulky barrel jacks.
The single USB 3.0 port likely exists for mass‑storage use - external drives, recordings, backups, or similar consumer‑grade tasks. If it’s functional, Sonoff must have taken some care with placement and shielding to avoid the usual 2.4 GHz interference that USB 3.0 can cause, especially with Zigbee/Matter radios nearby.
In short: if this unit is real and not just a showpiece, Sonoff seems to be combining a living‑room‑friendly hub (HDMI, USB‑C power, USB 3.0 storage) with a nod toward integrators (RS485), even though the physical design doesn’t naturally fit typical Modbus installation scenarios. Could turn out clever or could miss the mark, it’s hard to say right now.
nice, but where is the sd-card slot?
I don’t see an SD/TF slot either. It may still be hidden somewhere on the prototype, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the new iHost doesn’t have one at all.
The USB 3.0 port suggests a somewhat different approach to storage compared with the current iHost. Perhaps the new hardware has more substantial internal storage, with USB 3.0 available for external SSDs or other storage when needed.
Personally, I also wouldn’t consider a microSD card an ideal primary storage medium for a device that is essentially a small server. They’re cheap and convenient, but not exactly famous for long-term reliability under continuous read/write workloads. So I wouldn’t necessarily see the lack of an SD slot as a disadvantage.
true, but external disks means more cables, devices around ihost, that’s ugly :). but a slot for a NVMe M.2 2230 on the bottom would be magical 
Practical, no magical 
Anyway, it’s too early to draw any conclusions about the design of the iHost Gen 2. Maybe the slot is already there? All you’d need to do is open the case and plug it in where it belongs.
Hello,
Thank you for your interest. Due to certain circumstances, this project cannot be brought to market as quickly as we had hoped. We will share any updates in the forum as soon as there is news. Thank you again for your understanding and support.
Thanks for the update, Miao. We understand that projects sometimes take longer than expected, and we’ll be happy to wait for further news.
Since the project is still at the development stage, perhaps this could also be a good opportunity to discuss some aspects of the new iHost with potential users while the prototype is still being worked on. There is clearly a lot of interest, and the community also has quite a bit of experience with the current iHost.
Of course, to have that kind of discussion, you would need to reveal at least a little more about the new hardware and its direction. But it could be worthwhile: feedback from people who have been using the original iHost can help identify things that could be improved or avoid some of the limitations that became apparent only after the product was released.
I think that kind of early dialogue would be a very welcome and reasonable gesture towards Sonoff and eWeLink users. It could also make the final product better before some design decisions become difficult to change.
If I remember from a tour by another channel, there is one at the bottom of the unit.
I just want 64 bit CPU and docker support
Well said Jam. Mieo, this would be an ideal spot to start an IHOSTv2 suggestions thread. Can you start one Mieo or do you want a member to start it. Big opportunity.