Hardware
What to buy for Ren
Ren is software. It runs on a Mac you already own. Everything below is optional — buy only what you want Ren to hear, see, or control. Affiliate-style search links; we do not sell the hardware.
Get Ren Host (Founders) Buy Founder — $49
Minimum to run
This is enough to chat, remember, and drive any smart home you already have.
| Item | Why | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Mac with Apple silicon | Runs Ren Host — the brain. A Mac mini that stays awake is ideal. | You may already own one |
| Anthropic API key | You pay Claude usage directly. Ren never resells tokens. | Usage-based |
Recommended next
Closes the highest-value gaps: presence, voice, and IR/RF without a full remodel.
| Item | Why | ~Price |
|---|---|---|
| Aqara FP2 presence sensor | Room occupancy for lights and automations that follow you. | ~$60–83 |
| ReSpeaker USB mic array + speaker | Hands-free voice on the host (STT / TTS / wake). | ~$35–70 |
| Broadlink RM4 Pro | One box unlocks IR blasters and Somfy-style RF shades. | ~$40 |
Optional always-on box
| Item | Why | ~Price |
|---|---|---|
| Beelink / N100 mini PC (16GB) or Pi 5 | Always-on host if you do not want Ren on your daily Mac. | ~$150–200 |
Local radios
Only if you want cloud-free Z-Wave / Matter. Otherwise Home Assistant can bridge the long tail.
| Item | Why | ~Price |
|---|---|---|
| Zooz 800 / Aeotec Z-Stick | Local Z-Wave locks and sensors. | ~$30–50 |
| HA SkyConnect / Thread dongle | Matter / Thread when you want local mesh without a cloud hub. | ~$25–35 |
Devices Ren controls
Not “Ren hardware” — ecosystems you may already own. Ren speaks to them by name.
| Ecosystem | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Philips Hue | Lights via native Hue connector. | Bridge + bulbs |
| Sonos | Speakers, including zone grouping. | Per speaker |
| Roku / Chromecast | TV and cast targets. | Per device |
| Apple TV / HomePod | HomeKit hub for HomeKit accessories. | Per hub |
| ONVIF / RTSP camera | Vision look + optional ambient vision. | Per camera |
Ren Micro (multi-room voice)
Software already supports room-aware voice over the LAN. Room arrays are how you get always-listening, Josh-style coverage — with a mute you can see.
| Item | Why | ~Price |
|---|---|---|
| ReSpeaker / mic array per room | Far-field “Ren Micro” edge — streams to the hub over the LAN. | ~$35–80 |
| Pi Zero 2 W + array (optional) | Always-on room satellite with a hardware mute. | ~$40–80 |
Skip for now
Do not wait on mobile. Talk to Ren from the browser chat on your Mac. The iPhone app is paused until Host ships.
See the manual for connectors, and Ren Host for the Founder offer.