Tuya Inc.: Difference between revisions
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Elaborated on why not being able to install alternative firmware on Tuya devices is a bad thing. Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Visual edit |
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Tuya Inc. is | {{StubNotice}}{{InfoboxCompany | ||
| Name = Tuya | |||
| Type = Public | |||
| Founded = 2014<ref name="about">https://web.archive.org/web/20241108102537/https://www.tuya.com/about</ref> | |||
| Industry = Smart electronics, platform-as-a-service, artificial intelligence | |||
| Official Website = https://tuya.com | |||
| Logo = Tuya.svg | |||
}} | |||
[[wikipedia:Tuya_Inc.|'''Tuya Inc.''']] is a Chinese IoT platform developer and provider<sup>[clarify?]</sup><ref name="about" />. Tuya's technology is included in many consumer devices, from cheap dollar-store electronics to high-grade designer lamps. | |||
It is often not visible from a product's description that Tuya components are used. In the majority of cases, Tuya-equipped devices require online registration before the smart device will connect to WiFi. As customers of the platform can rebrand Tuya's ''Smart Life'' cloud-connecting app, only by inspecting the chips on the circuit board can customers know whether Tuya components have been used. | |||
Tuya started out with devices built on the more common ESP8266 and ESP32 chips, but later switched to their own line of chips. Tuya's chip line is designed to be drop-in pin-compatible to ESP chips, but differs in its API. Tuya thus prevents users from installing ESP-compatible custom firmware, which is needed to use Tuya-equipped devices independently, without reliance on Tuya's servers. | |||
Not being able to install custom firmware means that the owner of such devices is totally reliant on controlling the devices via Tuya’s cloud service which means 1) risking monitoring, by Tuya, of appliances, 2) relying on the security of Tuya’s cloud services to prevent access to your in-home devices, 3) losing functionality if Tuya withdraws the cloud service or introduces new T&Cs with which you do not agree (see note below about the T&Cs update in February 2025). | |||
Being able to install alternative software (as was possible on early Tuya devices) allows the owner of the devices to be able to control those devices independently of Tuya’s corporate cloud servers. For example, it is possible to install new firmware and control early Tuya devices with, for example, ESP-Home / Home Assistant, without requiring access to Tuya cloud services. | |||
February 2025 - Tuya Life Android app, when opened, presented updated terms and conditions. Failure to accept the terms and conditions exited the app, thus rendering it impossible to access the app to control Tuya devices, which require the app to operate as described on the Tuya product packaging. To continue to be able to control Tuya devices it is mandatory to accept the unilaterally modified Tuya terms and conditions. | |||
[https://smart-life-app.com/smart-life-app-compatible-device-list/ comprehensive but still incomplete list of manufactures using Tuya] | ==External links== | ||
*[https://www.tuya.com Tuya company website] | |||
*[https://docs.libretiny.eu/ LibreTiny (formerly LibreTuya) - arduino compatible open source firmware (mainly) for Tuya chips] | |||
*[https://esphome.io/components/libretiny ESPHome does incooperate LibreTiny and allows full local control over supported MCU's from Realtek and Beken] | |||
*[https://github.com/tuya-cloudcutter/tuya-cloudcutter Tuya Cloudcutter - A tool that disconnects Tuya IoT devices from the cloud, allowing them to run completely locally] | |||
*[https://smart-life-app.com/smart-life-app-compatible-device-list/ comprehensive but still incomplete list of manufactures using Tuya] | |||
<references /> | |||
Latest revision as of 06:15, 1 March 2025
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| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014[1] |
| Type | Public |
| Industry | Smart electronics, platform-as-a-service, artificial intelligence |
| Official website | https://tuya.com |
Tuya Inc. is a Chinese IoT platform developer and provider[clarify?][1]. Tuya's technology is included in many consumer devices, from cheap dollar-store electronics to high-grade designer lamps.
It is often not visible from a product's description that Tuya components are used. In the majority of cases, Tuya-equipped devices require online registration before the smart device will connect to WiFi. As customers of the platform can rebrand Tuya's Smart Life cloud-connecting app, only by inspecting the chips on the circuit board can customers know whether Tuya components have been used.
Tuya started out with devices built on the more common ESP8266 and ESP32 chips, but later switched to their own line of chips. Tuya's chip line is designed to be drop-in pin-compatible to ESP chips, but differs in its API. Tuya thus prevents users from installing ESP-compatible custom firmware, which is needed to use Tuya-equipped devices independently, without reliance on Tuya's servers.
Not being able to install custom firmware means that the owner of such devices is totally reliant on controlling the devices via Tuya’s cloud service which means 1) risking monitoring, by Tuya, of appliances, 2) relying on the security of Tuya’s cloud services to prevent access to your in-home devices, 3) losing functionality if Tuya withdraws the cloud service or introduces new T&Cs with which you do not agree (see note below about the T&Cs update in February 2025).
Being able to install alternative software (as was possible on early Tuya devices) allows the owner of the devices to be able to control those devices independently of Tuya’s corporate cloud servers. For example, it is possible to install new firmware and control early Tuya devices with, for example, ESP-Home / Home Assistant, without requiring access to Tuya cloud services.
February 2025 - Tuya Life Android app, when opened, presented updated terms and conditions. Failure to accept the terms and conditions exited the app, thus rendering it impossible to access the app to control Tuya devices, which require the app to operate as described on the Tuya product packaging. To continue to be able to control Tuya devices it is mandatory to accept the unilaterally modified Tuya terms and conditions.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Tuya company website
- LibreTiny (formerly LibreTuya) - arduino compatible open source firmware (mainly) for Tuya chips
- ESPHome does incooperate LibreTiny and allows full local control over supported MCU's from Realtek and Beken
- Tuya Cloudcutter - A tool that disconnects Tuya IoT devices from the cloud, allowing them to run completely locally
- comprehensive but still incomplete list of manufactures using Tuya