Home Assistant Yellow Australia: EOL and Alternatives (2026)
Home Assistant Yellow was a pre-built smart home hub designed for users who wanted the power of Home Assistant without building a Raspberry Pi setup from scratch. However, the Yellow reached end-of-life in October 2025, and stock has sold out in most regions including Australia.
This guide explains what happened to the Yellow, whether you can still buy one, and which alternatives suit Australian smart home builders in 2026.
What Was Home Assistant Yellow?
- Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 (CM4) with 4GB RAM and optional eMMC storage
- Built-in Zigbee and Thread radios via Silicon Labs chip
- M.2 slot for NVMe SSD storage
- Power over Ethernet (PoE) support
- DIN rail mounting for installation in electrical cabinets
The Yellow was designed as a mid-range option between the entry-level Home Assistant Green and DIY Raspberry Pi builds. It offered better storage options and integrated radios that would otherwise require USB dongles.
Why Did Yellow Reach End-of-Life?
Home Assistant announced on their blog (October 2025) that Yellow production had ended. The official reasons included:
- Raspberry Pi Compute Module shortages: CM4 supply issues made production inconsistent and expensive.
- Overlap with Green and Pi 5: The Yellow sat between the cheaper Green and more powerful Pi 5 builds, creating a confusing product lineup.
- Cost vs performance: By the time users added CM4 and storage, Yellow cost nearly as much as a Pi 5 setup with better specs.
Home Assistant shifted focus to the Green (entry-level, plug-and-play) and supporting Raspberry Pi 5 as the DIY enthusiast option. The Yellow became redundant in this lineup.
Can You Still Buy Home Assistant Yellow in Australia?
- Official distributors: No remaining stock. Core Electronics (Australian distributor) sold out in late 2025.
- Used market: You may find used Yellow units on eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree. Expect to pay $180-$280 AUD depending on configuration (with or without CM4, storage).
- International imports: Some overseas sellers may have leftover stock, but shipping and import costs make this uneconomical.
If you’re considering a used Yellow, confirm the CM4 configuration (RAM, storage) and whether it includes a power supply. Yellows without CM4 modules are cheaper but require sourcing a CM4 separately, which is still difficult in 2026.
Home Assistant Yellow vs Green vs Raspberry Pi 5
| Feature | Yellow (EOL) | Green | Raspberry Pi 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | CM4 (1.5GHz quad-core) | CM4 (1.5GHz quad-core) | 2.4GHz quad-core |
| RAM | 4GB | 4GB | 4GB or 8GB |
| Storage | M.2 NVMe slot | 32GB eMMC (fixed) | microSD or NVMe HAT |
| Zigbee/Thread | Built-in | None (add USB dongle) | None (add USB dongle) |
| PoE | Yes | Yes | Via HAT |
| Price (AUD) | $250-350 (used) | $160-180 | $180-250 (+ accessories) |
| Availability | Used only | In stock (Core Electronics) | In stock |
When Yellow Made Sense (2023-2025)
Yellow was ideal for users who wanted integrated Zigbee/Thread and NVMe storage without DIY assembly. The DIN rail mount also suited professional installers working on electrical panel builds.
Why Green or Pi 5 Are Better Now (2026)
Green offers plug-and-play simplicity at a lower price. Pi 5 offers better performance and flexibility. Neither has built-in Zigbee, but USB dongles (Sonoff, Conbee, SkyConnect) cost $30-50 and work just as well.
Best Alternatives in Australia (2026)
Home Assistant Green
- Pre-installed Home Assistant OS
- No assembly required
- PoE support
- Compact, fanless design
- Fixed 32GB eMMC storage (no NVMe expansion)
- No built-in Zigbee (USB dongle required)
- Less powerful than Pi 5 for large setups
Green suits small to medium smart homes (up to 100 devices). For larger setups or heavy automation, Pi 5 is better.
Raspberry Pi 5 (4GB or 8GB)
- Faster CPU than CM4-based devices
- 8GB RAM option for complex automations
- NVMe support via official HAT
- Large community support and guides
- Requires assembly (Pi + case + power + SD or NVMe)
- No built-in Zigbee (USB dongle required)
- Larger physical footprint than Green
Pi 5 is the go-to for users comfortable with DIY assembly. Pair it with a quality Zigbee stick and NVMe SSD for best performance.
Used Home Assistant Yellow
Best for: Users who specifically want DIN rail mounting or built-in Thread support.
- Built-in Zigbee and Thread (no dongle needed)
- M.2 NVMe slot for fast storage
- DIN rail mount for electrical panel installs
- End-of-life product (no warranty or official support)
- Overpriced compared to new Green or Pi 5
- CM4 availability issues if unit lacks one
Only buy used Yellow if you need DIN mounting or already own one and need a spare. Otherwise, Green or Pi 5 offer better value.
Where to Buy Home Assistant Hardware in Australia
Core Electronics is the official Australian distributor for Home Assistant products. They stock:
- Home Assistant Green
- Home Assistant SkyConnect (Zigbee/Thread USB dongle)
- Raspberry Pi 5 and accessories
- Little Bird Electronics
- Adafruit AU
- PiShop
For Zigbee dongles, consider Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 Dongle-E or Conbee II, available from Amazon AU or AliExpress.
Cross-check compatibility, safety and local rules with official sources before you buy. Australian 240 V wiring, RCM labelling and hub protocols change with firmware updates, so confirm details against manufacturer docs and a licensed electrician when mains power is involved.
Migrating from Yellow to Green or Pi 5
If you already own a Yellow and want to upgrade or replace it:
- Backup your Home Assistant config. Settings → System → Backups. Download the backup file.
- Set up the new device (Green or Pi 5) with Home Assistant OS.
- Restore from backup. Upload your backup file during initial setup or via Settings → System → Backups → Restore.
- Re-pair Zigbee devices. If your Yellow had built-in Zigbee, you’ll need to pair devices to a USB Zigbee stick on the new setup. Thread devices may require re-pairing depending on network configuration.
Migration takes 1-2 hours for a typical setup. Complex automations and integrations may need manual adjustment after restore.
Is Home Assistant Yellow Still Supported?
Home Assistant OS continues to support Yellow hardware. Software updates and security patches will work as long as Home Assistant OS supports the CM4 platform.
- No hardware warranty on used units.
- No spare parts if the board fails.
- Community support only – official support shifted to Green and Pi.
Existing Yellow owners can continue using their devices for years. Just don’t expect hardware replacements or official troubleshooting help.
Cross-check compatibility, safety and local rules with official sources before you buy. Australian 240 V wiring, RCM labelling and hub protocols change with firmware updates, so confirm details against manufacturer docs and a licensed electrician when mains power is involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Home Assistant discontinue Yellow?
CM4 supply issues and overlap with the Green and Pi 5 product lineup made Yellow redundant. Home Assistant simplified their hardware offerings to focus on entry-level (Green) and DIY (Pi 5).
Can I upgrade Yellow’s CM4 or storage?
Yes, Yellow supports CM4 swaps if you can source a replacement module. The M.2 slot accepts standard NVMe SSDs. However, CM4 availability remains difficult in 2026.
Is Home Assistant Green powerful enough for a large smart home?
Green handles 100-150 devices comfortably. Larger setups (200+ devices, heavy camera integration, complex automations) benefit from Pi 5’s extra CPU and RAM.
Do I need built-in Zigbee, or is a USB dongle fine?
USB dongles work just as well as built-in Zigbee. Quality sticks like Sonoff Dongle-E or SkyConnect perform identically to Yellow’s onboard radio. The convenience of built-in Zigbee doesn’t justify Yellow’s used-market price premium.
Where can I find used Yellow in Australia?
Check eBay, Gumtree, and Facebook Marketplace. Search for “Home Assistant Yellow” or “HA Yellow”. Confirm the seller includes CM4 and power supply. Prices range from $200-350 depending on configuration.
Should I buy a used Yellow or new Green?
Buy new Green unless you specifically need DIN rail mounting. Green is cheaper, has warranty support, and performs similarly to Yellow for most use cases. Spend the savings on a quality Zigbee dongle and NVMe SSD for a Pi 5 if you need more power.
How much does smart home gear cost over five years?
Sticker price is only part of the story. Hubs, repeaters, replacement batteries, cloud subscriptions and electrician call-outs can add up quickly on Australian 240 V installs. We compare total ownership cost in our reviews and link to primary references such as the Home Assistant documentation and the Matter specification when protocol compatibility matters. Budget for at least one spare sensor or switch when you standardise on a hub — mixed-vendor kits often need extra repeaters.
Cross-check compatibility, safety and local rules with official sources before you buy. Australian 240 V wiring, RCM labelling and hub protocols change with firmware updates, so confirm details against manufacturer docs and a licensed electrician when mains power is involved.
Which protocol should you standardise on?
Wi-Fi devices are easy to buy but noisy on your network. Zigbee and Thread/Matter devices usually need a compatible hub or border router, yet they tend to behave better when the internet drops. Before you bulk-buy sensors or switches, decide whether Modern Home Tech readers should prioritise local control, Apple Home, Google Home or Home Assistant — then pick products that match that path instead of mixing three ecosystems by accident. Thread border routers in Australia must still meet RCM requirements for radio equipment.
Which smart home news topics matter most for owners?
Protocol changes, security advisories and tariff updates affect real households more than launch-day hype. We prioritise Matter and Thread compatibility notes, recall notices, and energy price shifts that change whether automations still save money. Firmware regressions that break local control also rank above minor app redesigns — those are the updates worth reading before you buy more gear.
Cross-check compatibility, safety and local rules with official sources before you buy. Australian 240 V wiring, RCM labelling and hub protocols change with firmware updates, so confirm details against manufacturer docs and a licensed electrician when mains power is involved.
