So it’s a dimmer, big deal you might think. It’s a bit more than a dimmer, however, and with the right additions, you can take it a fair bit further, which is partly aided by the rather nice (albeit small) LED display. If this is of interest to you, read on…

PACKAGING | CONTENTS

In China, Orvibo is seen as a higher-end brand, and this is somewhat on display with the packaging, which is pretty decent, and quite Apple-like. The front is all ‘product’, whilst the back is all about the specs, which I’ll list below;

• Model – V7OX
• Product Size – 4.12*1.75*1.80in
• Operating Voltage – 100~120V AC, 60Hz
• Load Range –
  • Max 250W Incandescent/Halogen
  • Max 120W LED/Compact Fluorescent Lamps
  • Max 250W Magnetic Low Voltage/Electronic Low Voltage
• Communication Mode – 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2
• Operating Environment – Temperature 32~113°F / 0ºC~45ºC, humidity <90%Rh
• Storage Environment – Temperature -4~158°F / -20ºC~70ºC, humidity < 95%Rh

the sides of the box give you a strong hint as to what the switch is capable of, and the diagram at the bottom of the box gives you an overview of how the switch is fitted.

In the box, aside from the D1 of course, you get four wire nuts, a couple of screws, an inner and outer wall plate, and a really detailed manual that goes to great lengths to explain how to wire the switch up, and what the requirements are, with 22 pages dedicated to installation alone! It also goes into the details on how the switch and its features work (13 pages in total…).

THE MIXPAD D1

The MixPad D1 is essentially a single dimmer switch that uses a colour LED display to allow for control not only of the lights, but settings, other Orvibo switches, and more. At the bottom of the display is a physical button that has two uses, which I’ll get into later. In terms of size and dimensions, this is essentially the same as any other US single gang switch, although as is usually the case with smart switches, it’s much deeper.

As you can see, this switch requires a neutral wire and a ground wire, neither of which happen to be generally available where I live, so I had to test it in a slightly more ‘laboratory-style’ way. The Inner and outer wall plates are standard too, so you can also fit this alongside other switches if required. Physical installation simply requires you connecting the relevant wires using the wire nuts, and securing the switch in place.

Once that’s done, and the power is back on and supplying the switch with electricity, you’ll need to add the switches via the Orvibo Home app. This does require you to set up an account, as there are many settings which simply aren’t available via any of the platforms it’s already compatible with. The switch uses Bluetooth for initial pairing, which allows the app (via your phone’s Bluetooth) to detect the switch and begin pairing. You can also add the switch manually if you prefer, which requires you to scan a QR code generated on the screen of the switch. This allows you to ‘see’ the switch and pass on your WiFi network details for setup.

As you can see from the screenshots above, Orvibo has a fair amount of devices, including 16 different variants of MixPad (one not shown), although many of those are for China only – at least for now.

THE MIXPAD D1 SCREEN

The main screen, when the switch is not in use, shows one of three displays, which you can set yourself in the settings page. The first screen’s main feature is weather, with time, day and date, with the graphic for the weather changing based on the local weather conditions. the second one is a digital clock, with date, day, and a small weather graphic, whilst the third is an analogue clock with the same date, day and weather layout at the bottom. There’s a screen to set one of the three displays, and have them rotate on a daily basis, but to save time, you can also long press on the main screen, whereby it’ll bring up the three options directly for you to choose.

To access the basic function of the switch – light control – you swipe left/right with your finger across the screen, much like you would on any smartphone screen. If you only have one MixPad, you’ll just see a slider for the dimmer, along with a power icon underneath. You have to turn the switch on before the dimmer slider will function. You won’t see this slider if you’ve gone for non-dimmable bulbs, however, which is something you specify when first setting up the switch. This highlights a very important distinction of the MixPad, as pretty much most smart dimmers on the market are just that – dimmers – you can’t use non-dimmable bulbs in them, just as you can’t use dimmable bulbs with a standard switch. The MixPad does away with this and allows you use a dimmable or non-dimmable bulb, as long as you specify when setting the D1 up, which type of bulbs you’ll be using.

If like me, you have two or more of these switches, you can actually display and control the other light from these screens. Long pressing on one of the lighting tiles allows you to then access the dimmer slider for the relevant light, with a tiny arrow to take you back a step.

The switch also offers two lighting features, one called ‘Vacation’ and another called ‘Automatic’. The former turns on your lights at random times, to make it appear you’re at home, as opposed to on vacation. The latter turns the lights on when the built-in ambient light sensor detects that it’s too dark, or turns the lights off when it’s sufficiently bright. In addition to these two options, users can create their own lighting presets, which are limited to brightness levels.

Many of the settings for the MixPad can actually be accessed on the device itself, so you have settings for WiFi networks, language/region, device info, updates, and more. For the lights the Mixpad is connected to, you can set preferred maximum and minimum brightness levels, so if you slide the dimmer to its lowest level, and you’ve set the minimum brightness to 15%, that’s as low as it’ll go. You can also set a preferred brightness level when turning the light on. When it comes to the display brightness, this can also be set to one of five different levels, with an option to turn the display off between certain times.

One set of features I like, and think others will get some use from, does require at least two of these switches. These are called Intercom and Broadcast. Intercom allows for two-way audio between two switches, hence the name. Broadcast (mislabeled Intercom on the device) is for one-way audio only, so it’s basically used to ‘broadcast’ announcements, like “dinner’s ready”, or “The taxi’s here” for example. For both of these functions, you can set which switches can be ‘called’ or ‘broadcast to’, so if you have a room where you don’t need audio to be sent to, you can disable both of these features on a switch-by-switch basis.

You can also set ‘do not disturb’ periods for each switch, and if you really don’t want to be disturbed, you can long press (really long press in fact) the physical on/off switch at the bottom, and it’ll set the switch to muted, showing a red circle with a line through it to indicate its muted state.

For the intercom feature, you can also set a switch to automatically answer, if for example you’re in the kitchen with your hands full, and can’t accept the call with your hands. Broadcast doesn’t require you to answer, as such, so you’ll just hear what is broadcast as it happens.

One thing to note is that the Broadcast feature will only work if you’re on the same network, which also includes any subnets you may have, so even if you have one router, and other routers with separate sub-networks, unless they’re using the same SSID, it won’t show up as an option.

Whilst you can set up lighting presets with one switch, if you have more than one, you can create scenes in the Orvibo app that’ll allow you to control all or some of your switches, allowing you to set different brightness levels per switch. In addition, if you have other devices from Orvibo, like the Magic Cube IR blaster, you can create scenes that trigger turning a fan, AC or TV on or off, and add those scenes to the MixPad, thereby allowing control of devices beyond lighting. Although I don’t have other Orvibo devices here to test, this should be the case with their smart lights (strips, downlights, wall lamps etc), and even door locks, power outlets, and curtains. You can check out the video below to see the MagicPad working with the Magic Cube (starting at 4’28”);

SIRI SHORTCUTS

Now that Matter support has arrived, although if you want, you can still use Siri Shortcuts. This functionality is baked into the Orvibo app and allows you to trigger scenes that are then converted to Shortcuts. Only scenes can be converted to Shortcuts, however, you can create an automation, that can then be activated or deactivated.

You have to select the device that’ll be controlled, which thankfully also includes devices controlled by the Magic Cube IR blaster. From there you can choose what tasks are performed on the device, which in the case of a MixPad would be turn off/on, set to a specific brightness level, as well as add a time delay if required. You then simply select ‘Add to Siri’ whereby a Shortcut will be created. Even though the Matter update has now been delivered, this feature will still be of use with devices that won’t be exposed to HomeKit (i.e. Magic Cube).

MATTER | HOMEKIT (NEW)

This is a new section to this review, which was originally published on Jan 26th, as at the time the MixPad D1 was not actually HomeKit compatible. With the latest update (v3.4.4), the switches are now Matter compatible, which in turn means they can now be added to Apple HomeKit, as well as the other platforms they were previously compatible with via the legacy cloud connection.

As you can see from the screenshots above, the D1 is installed in the Apple Home app and was added without a hitch once the device got the required update. The Matter QR code is revealed on the screen in the Settings section under ‘Add to App’ where the Matter option will appear. Once you scan the QR code, it’ll add to Apple Home just like any other HomeKi device. As expected, you get a dimmer slider, but the options for controlling scenes from the switch, as well as the Intercom and Broadcast functions are absent.

MY EXPERIENCES WITH THE D1

Having come from testing out three Aqara versions of this kind of product, it’s fair to say that the Aqara models are better, although I should qualify that with some specific reasons. First, the Aqara models (Scene Panel S1, MagicPad S1, Magic Switch S1E) all have larger displays. This is simply because they’re 86-type switches, which are square. US Switch dimensions are such that screen ‘real estate’ is severely limited, so for Orvibo to still make something that I’ve enjoyed testing out, is a small miracle in some ways. Part of this pleasant experience is down to aesthetics; the buttons, icons, and overall graphic design are very pleasing to my eye, which goes some way to making something more intuitive, and therefore more enjoyable. Like the Aqara devices, this is limited (with the exception of using the Magic Cube) to controlling other Orvibo devices. There are other companies, like Brilliant, and Orro, that make similar products, that also allow you to control devices from other manufacturers. However, they’re around three times the price, and these controls are separate from HomeKit, not a part of it.

All that said, now that the Matter update is available, this can be added to HomeKit like any other switch, and in essence, for the price, it’s a more useful option than a standard smart dimmer in my opinion, even if you take the intercom/broadcast feature into account alone.

There were a couple of issues when it came to the app, but relatively minor, fortunately. For example, in order for a MixPad to show the on/off and dimming controls for another MixPad, you initially have to set them so they’re both in the same room, or you won’t see the other MixPads on the screen of the MixPad you’re setting up. Once you add them to the same room (via the app, not physically), they’ll appear on the display, and you can then place them back in the room they were originally located in. Hopefully, that’s a bug the company is aware of that’ll be addressed with the Matter update.

The fact that this can be set to work with dimmable or non-dimmable bulbs should also not be underestimated in terms of its usefulness, so that’s another plus for the D1.

Whilst there are still many houses in the US that don’t have a neutral wire, I think this is decent enough for the price, although to get the most benefits, you do need at least two, as the Broadcast/Intercom features require this – obviously. Hopefully, Orvibo will expand the availability of their other devices, as they do look very stylish.

The post Orvibo MixPad D1 Smart Dimmer Switch (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

PACKAGING

Considering the S1E is a budget device, the packaging is decent, and assuming you can read Chinese, it gives you most of the basic information you need. The S1E, perhaps surprisingly, uses 2.4GHz WiFi as opposed to Zigbee 3.0, which is the norm for a lot of Aqara devices. Although on the surface this may seem odd, it’s possible that there are future updates due for this that could include video streaming from Aqara cameras, which would require WiFi, as Zigbee just doesn’t have the bandwidth for this. We’ll have to wait and see on that, however. Video streaming is a feature on the Aqara MagicPad S1.

As it uses WiFi, there’s no requirement for a hub, although assuming you purchased one of these, it’s highly likely you already have some Aqara products, and therefore a hub. Even though no hub is required, there are plenty of reasons why a hub is going to be useful, chief among them is going to be automations based on the state of other devices.

The S1E comes in five different colours (that’s to say the colour of the frame around the switch), although so far I’ve only seen the white one (in this review) and a dark grey model as seen in the accompanying video for this product.

The S1E is designed for 86-style switch boxes, so it’s fine for Chinese homes, but not for the round-shaped EU switch boxes. It may work with UK switch boxes, but this switch also requires a neutral wire, which many UK (and European) homes don’t have.

One final thing to note is that this is ostensibly designed for use with 220-240V AC @ 50Hz, although like all of their other panels that I own and have been using, this also seems to work fine on 110-120V.

CONTENTS | SWITCH

The contents are pretty sparse, with the S1E, a manual in Simplified Chinese, and a couple of screws for use when fitting to a switch box.

The S1E has an LED screen that’s surprisingly low resolution (480*480px), although it’s not as noticeable as you might think. When using an iPhone, you may well be closer to the screen than say a switch, and speaking of which, it should be noted this is indeed a switch, so you get wires not only for powering the S1E, but also three light switches.

So, you get the neutral (N), and live (L) ports, as well as the Loads (L1, L2, L3) for three switches. The Aqara Scene Panel S1 is also a triple switch, and although you can actually set the Scene Panel S1 to display/control one, two, or all three switches, the S1E is fixed at three, and cannot be changed. If like me, you’re using the S1E as a control panel more so than a switch, you can just use the state of these switches as triggers, and not have to wire them up at all.

The display panel can also be removed from the back section and connects via a proprietary 8-pin connector. This, amongst other things, allows the user to connect the back section to special spacer brackets that Aqara sell, which allows you to place up to four panels or switches side by side, allowing them to be nicely lined up and held together. Aqara offers these brackets in two, three, or four-panel configurations, and in three colours.

Considering this is priced in the US$40-50 price range, the quality of the S1E feels great, which is something I’ve generally come to expect from Aqara products these days, and doesn’t feel cheap or loosely put together.

INSTALLATION

The S1E, whilst compatible with Apple Home/HomeKit, doesn’t come with a QR code on the device, or the manual. Instead, the QR code appears once the device has been powered and booted up. You also get a QR code for Android users. This is where I should point out that as the S1E is officially for use in China only, all menus and text are in Simplified Chinese, with no option to change them to western characters. That said, you can change the name of devices that can be accessed from the S1E, along with the switches within it, using western characters.

SCREENS

Seeing as it’s Chinese Lunar New Year as I write this, I chose to use a specific theme or ‘skin’ – one of many available for the S1E – which in this case is Year of the Rabbit, hence the rabbit theme and red overall colour. When the S1E is in standby mode, you get a screen that shows the time and date, along with an image befitting the theme. This screensaver can be changed on the device only, not in the app for some reason. Most of the other options for this screen are based on time or date, but aside from the ‘themed’ version you see above, the other options have a design independent of the chosen theme.

From there, you have a choice of up to six further screens that you access by swiping your finger left or right across the display. Each of these screens can be customised to show a variety of (Aqara) devices, as well as the three wired switches as part of the S1E, and the six buttons that are exposed to HomeKit. In addition, the sections that make up a particular screen can have sections designated to one of three options. So in the second screenshot, the top section is designated as a ‘service’, with a service currently only offering weather or time, or sometimes both, whilst the bottom section is reserved for the three wired switches. The third screenshot is set up with the six buttons exposed to HomeKit, with the larger top right panel being a ‘service’ once again, and an accessory taking up the bottom right corner, in this case, an Aqara ceiling lamp (L1-350).

If you replace a Service with an Accessory, you get more detailed control of the accessory selected. In the first screenshot, I have an Aqara light strip as the accessory, and along with power, I have access to the brightness levels and four default preset colours. The icon for the light changes depending on the theme, so as this is a specifically Chinese (new year) theme, the light is shown as a lantern. The bottom section is once again more accessories, which in this case only offer on or off. The second screenshot is for an AC controller (Aqara P3 AC companion). You get access to power and temperature, but strangely no option for the relevant mode (cool, warm, auto). The third screenshot has an accessory in the top right section, and a service in the top left (clock), with scenes taking up the three tiles at the bottom. Scenes are the third of the three options originally mentioned – Services, Accessories, and Scenes.

IN THE AQARA APP

In the first settings page for the S1E, you’re presented with two options – one for ‘Screen Configuration’, and another for ‘Switch’. In the former, you get access to the different themes, and the screens that you’ve set up, as well as ones you can add, with the total amount of screens possible being six. Tapping to add another screen then presents you with eleven different layout options.

The switch options allow you to name them, as well as choose an icon. There’s also energy monitoring, although it’s for all three switches collectively, not monitoring for each individual switch.

When it comes to themes, there are a fair few choices, with two themes – Picasso and Tetris – offering five colour options apiece. With each theme, the tiles and layouts you set up all remain the same, so nothing will move around, and everything will be the same except for the overlay, essentially.

In the example above, you can see four sections, with one in black. This black portion is designated for either an accessory or a service. When choosing an accessory for this section, you generally get access to more controls, although it does depend on the size of that portion. For services, you only get a clock or local weather options.

The grey portions allow you to once again add an accessory, although in cases like this, it’ll be trimmed to on/off controls. You can also choose to assign an Aqara scene to these portions.

IN THE HOME APP

In the Home app, the S1E is exposed as two devices. By default, the three wired switches are grouped under one tile, with the 6 wireless buttons also grouped under one tile, much like any wireless button, essentially. Tapping on the wired switches tile reveals toggle switches for each of the three actual switches. If you scroll further down, you’ll also see that the switches show three accessories, which is where it gets odd! Clicking on the Accessories, you then get to see the same three switches, along with a tile for the same six wireless buttons that are already exposed separately. Tapping on the ‘buttons’ tile reveals six individual programmable buttons, each with just the single press option. There’s definitely some sort of bug here, as when you ungroup the three wired switches so that they show in the Home app as individual tiles, access to the six wireless buttons vanishes! This is not the case in third-party HomeKit apps, thankfully, so if having the switches show up as individual tiles is a must-have, then just use something like Eve for HomeKit or Controller for HomeKit to program the six (hidden) buttons.

COMPARISON WITH SCENE PANEL S1 AND MAGICPAD S1

So, what exactly are the differences between the three different devices? They all have their unique selling points, and so each have something of value in my opinion.Starting with the…

• Scene Panel S1: This is primarily a triple wired switch that also allows you to access other Aqara devices via it’s display. each device it’s able to control gets a full screen display to itself, so ACs (Aqara P3) get’s all the controls you need to make adjustments, lighting gives full control over colour and colour temperture, roller shade and curtain motors can also be controlled via their own screen, in addtion to adding sensors that then get their current readings shown on the display. The three switches can be adjusted so that they show just one, or two if preferred, and the unit itself uses Zigbee 3.0, so a hub is required. There are also two separate themes you can apply, and the unit also has a proximity sensor to turn on the screen when someone approaches. You have a screen that holds a maximum of six Aqara scenes, for quick access, and finally, you have the option to set all menus and settings to English.
• MagicPad S1: I’d consider this to be the best of the three, as it can do pretty much all that the Scene Panel S1 can do, and more. However, it isn’t actually a switch, so if you were to use this as a replacement for a regular switch, you’d lose control of said switches essentially, although you could just add smart bulbs. It’s also a Zigbee 3.0 hub, with both an ethernet port for wired connectivity, as well as the option to use 2.4 or 5.0GHz WiFi. You can also stream live video footage from any Aqara camera (G2H, G3, G2H Pro) to the MagicPad, although whether this will also include the forthcoming Video Doorbell G4, I’m not certain. If you can speak and understand Chinese, the MagicPad also comes with Aqara’s own voice assistant – XiaoQiao. You can control other wired switches from the MagicPad S1, including the Scene Panel S1, although strangely not the switches on the S1E
• Magic Switch S1E: The S1E Uses WiFi, and although it can also display a variety of devices in your Aqara setup, it doesn’t come with all the features you need to control it like the Scene Panel and MagicPad do. Still, it’s the only one of the three that exposes six buttons to HomeKit, so that counts for something. Like the MagicPad, you can also control other wired switches via the S1E, including those on the Scene Panel S1, and switches like the H1 and H1M series. The options to customise each of the six panels is also great, giving you a lot of choice as to how things are laid out, not to mention the themes.

WRAPPING UP

I would argue that even though you still can’t control other HomeKit devices in the way you can with something like a wall-mounted iPad, for example, with the six smart buttons, this gets about as close as you’re going to get, especially in such a small form factor, that also acts as a wired switch. For the price, I’d argue you get a lot, and with all the customisation options, it’s hard to complain. It’s just a shame they don’t make it so it fits EU switch boxes, but I’ve heard a reliable rumour there could be a version on the way for Europe anyway. As for North America, you would think the form factor of US-type switches would make it a non-starter, but if there was a way to make the interior fit a US box, but still keep a square outwardly facing display, that could make such a device a bit of a gamechanger, although you’d be limited to using one where there was only a single switch. The requirement for a neutral is also going to be a point that will limit its appeal, but if like me you plan to mount it somewhere other than as a replacement for a switch, it’s still a great device. For me, it’s yet another great product from Aqara that hits all the right notes, assuming you’re listening to the right tune…

The post Aqara Magic Switch S1E (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Strangely enough, there aren’t a lot of uses for dimmers in our home, which is usually taken care of with smart bulbs that also offer colour, but the one place where it’s specifically required is the bathroom. More on that later, but today we’re looking at the Wemo Dimmer to see why I consider it a great option, despite one seemingly large downside. Read on…

PACKAGING

Wemo has gotten their look down when it comes to presentation, with the signature luminous green ever-present, although more subtly featured on the inside of the box in this case. The front of the box features the switch, along with the ‘Built on Thread’ and ‘Works with Apple HomeKit’ badges. The top corner states this will only work with Apple HomeKit, so no Amazon or Google option here, which is in line with their other Thread-enabled devices – the Wemo Smart Plug (review HERE), and Wemo Stage Scene Controller (video HERE, review HERE). The rear of the box highlights the features of the dimmer, whilst one side goes into a little more detail, with the other side giving you the basics – it works with or without a neutral, but is not 3-way compatible. You don’t get a lot in the box, just a fold-out manual in English and French, the switch itself including a faceplate, and a jumper wire for those using neutral, that comes with a wire nut.

THE SWITCH

The Wemo Dimmer comes with a faceplate as standard, although like was the case with the Stage Scene controller, they don’t quite match visually, with the switch utilising matte white plastic, and the plate glossy plastic. It’s not the end of the world, however, as the size of the switch will fit any standard decora plate. Removing the plate is easy enough, which reveals the two standard screws for securing it to your switch box, as well as a HomeKit code.

For the particular location this switch was destined, I found that the screws were a little on the short side, although that may not be the case for you. I simply used my existing screws, so it wasn’t an issue.

I already have some Aqara wall switches in the home, which have actually been great (video HERE, review HERE). The only issue with them – which to be fair is a problem for many other switches as well – is that they come with their own wires connected to the switch, that then have to be connected to the wires in the switch box with the use of wire nuts or similar. With space in the switch boxes already at a premium, along with smart switches being deeper than a standard switch, these wire nuts take up valuable room. Not so with the Wemo, as you can fix the wires in the switch box directly to the switch. Not only that, but you have two ways in which to connect the wires – either via the screws on the sides, by winding the ends of your wires around them, or via the holes in the back of the switch, that are secured with the aforementioned screws as well. These options (I went with the latter) make fitting the switch a lot less finicky, so I’m really happy they offered both solutions here.

The Main part of the switch has two dimpled buttons that turn the light on or off with a simple short press. A long press dims or brightness the lights depending on which button you press. A double press on either button sets the lights to custom brightness levels, which I’ll go into in a bit.

There are two buttons underneath the main switch, although only one of them is an actual button. The one directly above the HomeKit code is actually a tab that can be pulled out. This is for times when you want to disconnect power going to the bulb sockets when swapping bulbs out. The switch itself stays connected, however, but is non-functional until you reseat the tab.

Even though you can adjust the brightness of the lights by long pressing on either button, you can actually set a custom brightness level for both minimum and maximum brightness. This might sound like an odd feature, but for bulbs that might be brighter than needed at their highest level, or even too dim at their lowest, you can set your own limits, which can still be overridden by long-pressing anyway.

To do this you utilise the small left-hand side button below the main switch in combination with the up or down switches to set the relevant levels. Once these levels are set, you can then activate them by double pressing on the top (on) button to get to the custom maximum level or the bottom (off) button for the custom minimum level.

This brings me to the reason for specifically wanting the dimmer in the bathroom; At night if either my wife or I need to take a ‘trip’ to the bathroom, I prefer to have some light, but low, whereas my wife prefers no light on at all. Because the motion sensor can’t possibly detect who’s who when one of us enter the bathroom, the light has to be manually operated, so if I’m there I can double tap on the ‘off button’ to get to the dim level I’m happy with, whilst my wife doesn’t need to do anything at all. If for any reason she needs to turn the light on, when she presses ‘on’, it’ll still be at a low level due to a previously set up automation. This essentially allows us to have individual brightness levels at night – my preferred brightness when double pressing the ‘off’ button, and a low (but different) brightness level when my wife presses the ‘on’ switch.

These custom presets can only be set up on the device itself, as the switch isn’t compatible with any Wemo apps, and as it only works with Apple HomeKit, the framework to set this kind of thing up via software isn’t available in HomeKit.

Installing the switch does require a basic understanding of electricity and switch wiring, so I’m not going to cover this, as it would be better to consult a professional if you’re not sure, but in Taiwan, switches don’t come with either a neutral wire or even earth, so for me, it was very straightforward to fit, with just two wires to contend with.

IN THE HOME APP

Adding the Dimmer to HomeKit is easy, as expected, so I won’t be going into the details here, but as the switch uses Thread, you don’t need to be on a specific WiFi band in order to add it, seeing as it doesn’t use WiFi. When adding, you can tap in the HomeKit code although you can’t scan it, as the order of the numbers isn’t laid out in the standard two rows of four digits, and there’s no QR code, but it also has NFC pairing, which works great if your phone supports it.

The Wemo dimmer, as already mentioned, is exclusive to HomeKit, so there’s no third-party app to concern yourself with, or set up an account for. This means any future firmware updates will appear directly in the Apple Home app. This has already been the case when Wemo issued an update for the Stage Scene Controller that added Thread support.

As of iOS16, you no longer have to long-press the tile to access the dimmer slider. To turn the light on or off, you tap the icon within the tile itself, whilst tapping the tile anywhere else opens up the slider control, and by extension, the automations section and any settings.

SUITABLE BULBS

The Wemo dimmer needs dimmable ‘dumb’ bulbs in order to work effectively. You can’t use smart dimmable bulbs, and standard non-dimmable bulbs won’t work either. It’s also important to note that whilst it can work with dimmable bulbs, they’re not all the same. dimmable bulbs aren’t impossible to find here, but they’re not that common either. Luckily (or so I thought at the time…) Ikea sells dimmable bulbs made by Osram. However, soon after these were fitted it became clear they weren’t suitable. The brightness, at 1100lm, was great, but the difference between the lowest level they could reach and the brightest level was not impressive at all. I would say at the lowest level available, it looked like the lights were at 70% brightness, which is garbage, to put it mildly. On top of that, for whatever reason, the lights (there are two in the bathroom), would occasionally strobe really wildly until I turned the switch off and on again. It was clear there was a problem which I hoped was the fault of the bulbs – which turned out to be exactly the case, I’m glad to say.

After watching Shane Whatley’s review of this switch, I could see he was able to get much lower brightness levels, and after speaking to him, I decided on the same GE bulbs he tested, which have been a LOT better (I would say, the difference was ‘night and day’, but that would be corny, right…?). Needless to say, it’s best to shop around or better still stick with the brands and models recommended by Wemo themselves, based on their tests.

THREAD…NO MATTER

We’ve not gotten into Thread yet, but this does indeed use the ‘new protocol on the block’ and works really well. To check that the switch is using Thread (as opposed to Bluetooth, which is the fallback connection method), you can use the Eve for HomeKit app. In the Settings, there’s a section specifically for your Thread network. As you can see in the second screenshot, my Dimmer is listed (‘Dimmer W’), and in the settings for the switch, you can see that it’s using Thread as its method of transport. It’s also interesting to note that it can act as a Thread Router, which allows it to both spread the reach of your Thread network, as well as act as a relay for Thread devices that aren’t near enough to a Thread border router. For a switch without neutral to be able to perform such a function was a pleasant surprise, as Zigbee switches without neutral, like those by Aqara, can’t be used as Zigbee repeaters.

I mentioned at the start of the review that there’s a “seemingly large downside” to the switch. This is the fact that whilst it uses Thread, Wemo has stated from the outset, that this switch will not be able to work with Matter, and any firmware updates won’t include such support. I for one am not phased by this; even though Matter is on the cusp of finally becoming a reality, I am pretty certain that we won’t see anything even remotely close to a changed landscape, where everything – or even a fraction of current devices – magically become Matter compliant. Notable exceptions might be products by Eve, who’ve made sure they’re ready for Matter’s arrival. The reason I’m not phased is that from my perspective, Matter is largely going to do for Amazon and Google users, what HomeKit already does to a large extent – local control. On top of that, even though I do have a couple of Google smart assistant devices around the house, and can make use of Alexa built into my Ecobee SmartCamera, I’m pretty much firmly in the HomeKit camp, and as such this switch not having Matter isn’t going to make any real difference to me and my setup.

Of course, there may be a time when Matter becomes more of a requirement, but then I’ll wait for that day to come, and take the appropriate action. On the flip side, if you want to be ‘futureproof’ to some extent, which I can understand, then Wemo has also stated that a Matter version will come, although when it will arrive and whether it’ll cost more, we simply don’t know.

PERFORMANCE

Simply put – once I was able to fit decent dimmable bulbs, the switch has been excellent. Prior to fitting the switch, I was using two Hue bulbs in combination with a Runlesswire wireless dimmer switch (Friends of Hue and HomeKit compatible) and a Hue motion sensor, along with a standard Hue Dimmer switch on the outside of the bathroom. You wouldn’t be surprised to figure out that with all of these working in Hue, and motion sensor automations all programmed in the Hue app, things would be snappy. They were, and I’ve no complaints there, but I was surprised to find how fast the Wemo dimmer worked in combination with the Hue motion sensor, and the Hue dimmer switch – they were extremely fast and responsive! The reaction times for the Hue wireless dimmer turning on the Wemo dimmer switch in particular were excellent. I didn’t expect them to be as fast as an ‘all Hue’ setup, but they seem easily as fast to me, so I really have no complaints. Is this due to iOS 16, Thread, or a combination of the two? I don’t know, but I’m more than happy with the snappy response times.

as it’s sort of a toggle switch, it’s not the same as an Aqara switch, where you press it wherever and it’ll turn on and off, so in the case of the Wemo dimmer, you do have to press the right ‘dimpled’ button to turn it on or off, but given that I’m using a motion sensor to do this anyway, it’s actually a non-issue for the most part.

Do I like the design? Yes, it’s certainly uncluttered, and I was a fan of the aesthetics of the Stage Scene Controller, so as this follows the same design language, I’m quite happy with it. The only thing I would question is why they went with glossy plastic for the face plate when the switch is matte plastic.

Although I’m probably going to stick with just the one dimmer for now, as we have a second bathroom, I am tempted to get another one, and I’m not concerned about the lack of Matter support either. Instabuy!

The post Wemo Smart Dimmer with Thread (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

You can also watch the same video already mentioned, but starting with a look at the switches;

PACKAGING/CONTENTS

ZemiSmart, for better or worse, seems to focus on low prices over presentation and to be fair, this was also the case with Aqara a couple of years back. With that in mind, the box for the switches, whilst adequate, is largely uninspiring, if it were trying to catch your eye on a shelf. It does the job though, and although there’s very little information on the box, it does show the product in the form of a line drawing. Note that the same box is used for the single, double, and triple switch variants, so don’t panic if you bought a double switch, when you see a single switch on the front!

Aside from the basic box and image, it has the logos for Amazon Alexa and Google Home, although no HomeKit logo, probably due to these being made before the HomeKit hub that these work with, to being ready at the time. They are indeed HomeKit compatible though.

ZemiSmart sent one each of these switches, all of which don’t require a neutral, and don’t come with an earth/ground terminal either. The size and design are the same throughout, with the front being split into 1, 2 or 3 segments, depending on the one you have. Each switch has its own LED that will show in blue, although this can be adjusted, which I’ll mention in the next section.

As you can see, unlike many switches designed for North American switch boxes, the ZemiSmart ones use up the whole space for the buttons. This means you can’t really have a couple of these side by side in a double gang box, for example, unlike say, the Aqara US switches. The rear of the switches are fairly standard, and as the basic internals are much the same for all three variants, the back section where the wire terminals connect to are all the same, so in the image above, with a two switch variant, you can see that some of the terminals are blocked off, as they’re not needed.

The back section of the switch that sits in the switch box isn’t especially deep and is slightly less deep than Aqara’s offerings. As with many other switches, there are screws above the terminals to secure the wires once they’re in. I do prefer this design over ones that have wires already fixed, as they don’t require those large screw-on wire connectors to bind the wires from the wall and the switch together, as they take up the limited space you have. So, the wires from the wall go directly into the switch.

The switches come in two parts, so there’s a separate plate that screws to the outside of the switch box (top), with the switch itself clipping into that plate. It’s all fairly straightforward, although this internal plate has a lip at the top and bottom that I think is designed to help you keep the switch lined up with the wall recess, although if your builder was a bit sloppy with the plastering at the time your boxes were fitted, you may find yourself having to chip away at the plaster a little to make these sit properly.

The dimensions for the front part of the switches are;

• 118mm/4.65in (w),
• 74mm/2.91in (h),
• 11mm/0.43in (d).

The rear part of the switch that sits inside the switch recess uses the standard US dimensions;

• 71.5mm/2.81in (w)
• 48mm/1.89in (h)
• 25mm/0.98in (d)

As regards the specs for these, as mentioned, they don’t require a neutral wire, although neutral versions are available. They can work with 110-240V AC at 50/60Hz, which is great news for people in the Philippines for example, where US switches and sockets are used, but at 220-240V. The rated current is 15A max, and the maximum load for each gang is 1000W, which I would understand to be 1000W divided between each switch, as all of these switches represent one ‘gang’ regardless of whether it’s a single, double, or triple switch.

THE HUB AND TUYA SMART APP

As these switches use Zigbee 3.0, you’ll need a hub for them to work, regardless of whether you want them in HomeKit or not, but if your aim is for HomeKit, then you’ll need the ZemiSmart Zigbee hub, which we review separately HERE. This hub gets the switches into HomeKit although you also need the Tuya Smart app to do so initially.

If you’re familiar with how to add Aqara devices, the process is not dissimilar, although as the Tuya app is designed to work with many brands, it can sometimes be a bit confusing to find your particular product, and in the case of these switches, I couldn’t see them listed. However, it doesn’t matter, as you simply have to press and hold one of the buttons to get into pairing mode once you’ve got the app open and the hub also into pairing mode. From there, the switch is discovered, and you simply need to set up a few things like the name, the room and home it’s located in, and you’re done.

The Tuya app isn’t great in some ways, but it’s useful enough for set-up and a few settings you won’t find exposed to HomeKit. For example, the LED lights that are on the switches show in blue when the switches are off, so you can see them in the dark, and turn off when you turn the light on. In the settings for the switch in the Tuya app, you can set the opposite behaviour, so the LEDs are off when the lights are off. yu can also turn the LEDs off totally, so they never show.

The Tuya app also offers a section for logs, so you can see when the lights were operated. You can also set schedules as well as countdown timers if you wish. Much of these can be done in HomeKit of course, so aside from the options for the state of the LEDs, you may as well use the Home app.

HOME APP

In HomeKit and the Home app, things are pretty straightforward, so in the case of the double rocker I installed, there’s are two separate tiles to control each switch individually. Each switch has its own toggle when you long press on the tile, and there are separate settings and automations available for each switch.

As you can see in the screenshots above, the hub can be found in the settings for the Home app, showing any devices connected to it, which also reveals that the hub is certified (it would state it’s not certified otherwise). The Switch and a Zigbee light strip I’ll be reviewing in the new year are listed as connected to the hub.

PERFORMANCE / IN USE

As you might expect, with these being Zigbee devices, reaction times are pretty fast, and so in this respect, there are really no complaints. As for the feel and construction of the switches, they don’t feel especially premium in terms of the materials used, but then they are fairly competitively priced compared to much of the competition. The buttons are a little ‘soft’ when pressing, but nothing out of the ordinary. Add to the useful option to control the LED behaviour to your liking, and it does make these a compelling product. However, for those invested in ecosystems with a Zigbee hub like Aqara, it does of course mean another hub, at least if you’re going down the official route, so it may not appeal so much to users in this ecosystem. Besides that, if you are an Aqara user in the US, then their own switches will fit any decora plate without any issues, which means that if you have a two-gang set of switches, you can have them side by side, which you can’t with the ZemiSmart ones, due to their design. The one positive here against the Aqara option is that you have a triple switch in one gang option, which not many other companies offer in terms of a smart switch, especially with no neutral.

All in all, I’m more impressed with these switches than expected, and for the price, it’s hard to see a downside apart from the aforementioned issues when compared to decora compatible switches. If you don’t mind another hub (assuming you already have one or more) and are excited at what else ZemiSmart may bring to HomeKit, then this seems like an easy commitment for the cost.

Full disclosure: ZemiSmart provided HomeKit News with the ZemiSmart hub and switches for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was made, requested or has not in any way influenced our opinion of this product.

The post ZemiSmart Smart Wall Switch – No Neutral (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

• Turns regular lights into smart lights: Supports LED, CFL, halogen, and incandescent bulbs and works with dimmable lighting.
• Installs in minutes with no additional hubs, ugly wires, batteries, or programming required.
• Connects to Sonos, Ring, Google Nest, Hue, SmartThings, and many more.
• Great for spouses, kids, family, friends, and guests.
• Personalizable touchscreen: Display photos, art, or weather forecasts.
• Amazon Alexa is built-in: Ask for home control, weather, sports, and more.
• Video intercom: Includes a microphone and camera with privacy shutter.

The post Brilliant Smart Home Control appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Eventually I was able to also get a couple of switches sent to me from Aqara themselves, so many thanks to Filipp and Michell as well. I’ve now had a couple of switches running for a few months now, and I’m in a good position to give my thoughts on these products.

PACKAGING

As already stated, these switches have been around for about a year now, so the packaging in this case still sports the old Aqara logo, that has been superseded by a newer design, that’s slowly making its way across the Aqara range. Needless to say, putting aside the logo, the packaging is pretty decent, and protects everything inside. The front shows the unadorned product, along with a ‘post print’ sticker that warns the use that an Aqara hub is required. The rear has a hero shot, and a warning sticker that is relevant to Californian residents.

The sides show off some of the feature – or rather the capabilities – of the switch, including remote control (via your phone), voice control (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant), schedules, automations, overheat protection, and in this particular case, no neutral wire required. The base has the specs for the switches, listed below for the single switch;

• Model: WS-USC01
• Dimensions: 120 x 74 x 46.5mm / 4.72 x 2.91 x 1.44in)
• Wireless protocol: Zigbee 3.0
• Input: 120V AC 60Hz
• Min. load: 3w (incandescent) 5w (CFL/LED) typical load
• Max. load: 600w (incandescent) 200w (CFL/LED), 1/4 HP
• Operating temperature: 0~40ºC / 32~104ºF
• Operating Humidity: 0~95% RH, non-condensing
• Contents: smart wall switch, manual, 4 x screws, 2 x wire nuts

The absence of the HomeKit logo shouldn’t alarm you, as only the hub, that the switch connects to, is HomeKit compatible, so this is the same scenario as all other Zigbee-based child devices. Even though this is a Zigbee 3.0 certified product, it will work with the first Aqara hub (now dubbed the M1 in many circles), even though this hub doesn’t use Zigbee 3.0 itself, so Aqara have wisely made sure these switches are backward compatible, at least with their own hubs, which also includes the Aqara G2H camera, as it also contains a Zigbee 3.0 hub.

PACKAGE CONTENTS

The manual comes in American English and Spanish, and is quite comprehensive, although if you’ve never wired up a switch before, it can still be a little daunting. Just remember, if you’re not comfortable with jobs like this, always consult a professional first, and possibly get them to carry out the work for you. Aqara also thoughtfully include a series of stickers for you to label up your wires, to avoid potential confusion. There seems to be little consideration for using the right coloured wires at times, so these labels are very helpful if you ever have to change a switch out in the future. These stickers in my don’t include a neutral sticker, as the switches are ‘sans neutral’ of course. The rear of the booklet comes with a QR code specifically for installing the switch via Zigbee, although I’m not entirely sure why it’s required, as the switch is added to the Aqara app without the need for scanning, or at least it was the case for me. Maybe someone can enlighten me perhaps.

The switch itself is a lesson in understatement in my opinion. I know that people swear by their Lutron switches, and I’ve got no doubt at all that they are rock solid performers, but I’ve never been a fan of the switch design. The Aqara really appeals to my taste, with little adornment aside from a small blue LED at the bottom of the switch that is active when the light is on, and off when the light itself is off. As with most smart switches, you’ll probably find the back part of the switch is deeper than a non-smart switch, but the Aqara is not really any deeper than other smart switches on the market.

In terms of the materials used, they used a matt style plastic so it doesn’t look cheap and ‘plasticy’ like some switches can do, so combined with the modern, minimalist look, these do look the part, and a resistant to fingerprint marks.

The most basic of faceplates tend to have the screws visible on the front, and only come as one piece. The Aqara faceplates come in two parts, with an inner part that fits just like the basic plats would, by attaching to the switch with the small screws provided. The out plate, then clicks onto the inner plate, so that no screws are visible. This really makes the switch look so clean and simple, so no complaints there at all. In addition to the switch, the stickers and the manual, you get three wire nuts, two small screws for the inner plate to connect to the switch, and two larger screws to attach the switch to the recessed box in the wall. Whilst I’m nowhere near very knowledgeable with electrical stuff like this, I was quickly able to get a couple of switches fitted in no time at all. In fact it took me longer to figure out which circuit to turn off than it did to fit the switch.

FITTED AND ADDED TO HOMEKIT/AQARA

After the switches were fitted – one in the bathroom, and another in the laundry room – they were a cinch to add to my US Aqara hub. In Taiwan, for reasons unknown, switches and sockets are fixed horizontally for some reason, compared to vertically in the US, but it also shows that the switch can be placed with the LED either side, not that it matters really.

The bathroom switch is no more than 7ft or just over 2 metres away from the hub, and in ‘direct line of sight’, as you’d expect, results in excellent Zigbee signal strength (which you can view in the Aqara app). the other switch, located in the laundry room, is separated from the hub by around 4 metres, and a couple of walls, one of plasterboard, and the other brick, but as you can see from the screenshots above, it still does really well at keeping the signal strength at ‘Good’ for 98.6% of the time. Impressive.

As it’s just a switch for the most part, the controls in the Home app are pretty standard, and uncluttered, so you can turn the switch on or off from its tile, or a long press will reveal the toggle switch for the same functionality. The settings for the switch are similarly basic, although you do get to choose your preferred icon to represent the light, or light it controls.

The tiles in the Aqara app are rather large, and in all honesty, could easily be reduced down to three tiles per row without any issue. Still, it depends on whether you use the Aqara app beyond adjusting any settings.

One cool feature in the Aqara app, is the ability to set an alert trigger for when the switch’s state is changed or is in a specific state, that then allows the app to send you a push notification, that can include a custom message, if required. Additionally, the tile or card for the switch will glow with the colour you set within the app, as a visual indication. You can then turn off the visual notification if you want. This does not trigger the alarm on an Aqara hub, although with automations that’s easy enough to achieve if you want this option.

The app also offers a basic countdown timer for the switch which can be set for as little as one minute or up to 23 hours, 59 minutes. You also have three ‘quick select’ options for 10, 30, or 60 minutes. This countdown timer can’t be set up in advance, so it can only be initiated from within this panel, although similar countdowns can also be set in the automations section.

IN DAY TO DAY USE

Ever since getting into HomeKit, I’d pondered the the pros and cons of wired switches and dumb bulbs, versus wireless switches combined with smart bulbs (or dumb lamps connected to a smart plug even), and I can see the benefits of both, with smart bulbs having the advantage of colour and colour temperature control, that presently isn’t a option I’m aware of, at least in HomeKit. Smart switches have the advantage of being able to use cheaper and brighter dumb LED bulbs, along with the option to dim the lighting if you use the Lutron system. What’s undeniable, is the ability for these switches to work just like regular physical controls, even if something happened to your hub. This physical control option is especially relevant to members of your household who just prefer to switch lights of manually, and have little to no interest in your smart home (no matter how much you might try to convince them…). On balance, I think for day to day usage, on balance, wired switches are a generally better option.

Does Aqara do this job well with their switches? Without a doubt, and I’ve been so happy with their day to day operation, the ease of use for other household members, not to mention the light touch of the controls themselves, and the great visual design, I really can’t fault them, especially on price. The Zigbee component makes them an obvious choice over bluetooth switches, of which I’ve also tried out a couple of local versions, which simply aren’t responsive enough. Maybe that’ll change when someone comes out with a Thread connected light switch, but these Zigbee switches are here for a while yet, and aren’t going away anytime soon. Add to the equation that Aqara offer both neutral and no-neutral option, and it’s hard to not appreciate what the company have been able to offer. If there was room for improvement, then maybe a triple switch, or an option for three-way functionality, but these are best left to future dreams for now.

I really do like them a lot.

Full disclosure: Aqara provided HomeKit News with a single and double Rocker Switch for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was made, requested or has not in any way influenced our opinion of this product.

The post Aqara US Rocker Switch (review) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

• NOTES: Aqara Hub is required and sold separately. Requires a secured 2. 4 gigahertz WiFi network connection. One Aqara Hub can connect up to 32 Aqara devices.
• CONTROL FROM ANYWHERE: Convert your old light bulbs and fixtures into smart lights. The Aqara Smart Wall Switch enables you to remotely control existing lights and other electronics from your smartphone.
• HOME AUTOMATION: Tailor it to your personal needs and simplify your life through smart home automation. Supports schedule, timer, and scenes set through the Aqara Home app to automatically turn your Aqara Smart Wall Switch on and off while you’re home or away.
• VOICE CONTROL: Compatible with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Alexa for a hands-free experience. Ask your favourite voice assistant to control the lights in different rooms.
• OVERHEAT PROTECTION: When the wall switch detects high-temperature limit, it will automatically turn off the power supply.
• MULTIPLE SAFEGUARDS, SAFE AND REASSURING: Adopts V-0 grade flame-retardant panel and withstands high temperature.
• INSTALLATION INSTRUCTION: Live, Load wires are required to power the switch. You can purchase the product if there is no neutral wire. Works with any one-way connection light switch (not compatible with 3-way). Be sure to turn off the power to the switch at the main circuit breaker or fuse panel before you begin the installation.

The post Aqara Smart Wall Switch (double rocker) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

• NOTES: Aqara Hub is required and sold separately. Requires a secured 2. 4 gigahertz WiFi network connection. One Aqara Hub can connect up to 32 Aqara devices.
• CONTROL FROM ANYWHERE: Convert your old light bulbs and fixtures into smart lights. The Aqara Smart Wall Switch enables you to remotely control existing lights and other electronics from your smartphone.
• HOME AUTOMATION: Tailor it to your personal needs and simplify your life through smart home automation. Supports schedule, timer, and scenes set through the Aqara Home app to automatically turn your Aqara Smart Wall Switch on and off while you’re home or away.
• VOICE CONTROL: Compatible with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, and Alexa for a hands-free experience. Ask your favourite voice assistant to control the lights in different rooms.
• OVERHEAT PROTECTION: When the wall switch detects high-temperature limit, it will automatically turn off the power supply.
• MULTIPLE SAFEGUARDS, SAFE AND REASSURING: Adopts V-0 grade flame-retardant panel and withstands high temperature.
• INSTALLATION INSTRUCTION: Live, Load wires are required to power the switch. You can purchase the product if there is no neutral wire. Works with any one-way connection light switch (not compatible with 3-way). Be sure to turn off the power to the switch at the main circuit breaker or fuse panel before you begin the installation.

The post Aqara Smart Wall Switch (single rocker) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

The wall light switch MSS510HK can be controlled from anywhere (Internet Required) with your Meross app (iOS 9.0 or higher, Android 4.1 or higher). It allows you to turn the connected lights or fans on and off, and to set schedules or auto-off timer routine around your daily needs. Additionally, after pairing with Amazon Alexa or Google Home, you can simply control the connected devices with voice commands.

• Input: 100-125V~, 60Hz, 15.0A
• Output: 100-125V~, 60Hz
• Button: On/Off Button
• Antenna: One Internal Antenna
• Wireless Standards: IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4GHz, 1T1R
• Wireless Security: Support 64/128 bit WEP, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK
• Package Contents: 1 x Smart Wi-Fi Wall Switch, Quick Installation Guide
• System Requirements: iOS 8 or higher, Android 4.1 or higher, Existing Wi-Fi network
• Environment: Operating Temperature: 0℃~40℃ (32℉~104℉)
• Storage Temperature: -40℃~70℃ (-40℉~158℉)
• Operating Humidity: 10%~90% non-condensing
• Storage Humidity: 5%~90% non-condensing
  
• Neutral wire is required for the installation.
• Internet connection required.

The post Meross Smart Light Switch appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.

Heading out of town? Your home hub – HomePod or Apple TV – will let you control Eve Light Switch from anywhere in the world while safeguarding your private data. Scenes enable you to control multiple accessories with a single command. Combine your living room ceiling light with floor lamps connected to Eve Energy, and turn them on all at once. Better yet, add a rule that lets you do so only when you physically press Eve Light Switch. Thanks to an external input, Eve Light Switch accepts commands from regular light switches. So you can make almost any lighting setup smart, even a hallway with several switches, simply by replacing one switch in the circuit. Eve Light Switch accepts commands from regular light switches, like switches used in an existing alternating or cross-connection. Naturally, Eve Light Switch can also be used as a single switch.

Do you want to use your existing single or multi-switch frames? No problem. Simply use Eve Light Switch and the included 55 mm switch plate with the 55 mm frame of your choice. Switchplates and frames compatible with other designs are sold separately here. Set scenes in a flash via Siri, your Control Center, or Apple Watch. Easily engage accessories using the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. And to see concise records, gain insights, and enjoy full control of your connected home, look no further than the Eve app. Eve accessories are exclusively HomeKit-enabled. Your personal data is under no circumstances captured, saved to a cloud, or sold. Even when accessing your home remotely via your home hub, all data is end-to-end encrypted and stored on your iPhone or iPad. Superior privacy, advanced security, and absolute peace of mind – it’s all here.

Equipped with Bluetooth low energy technology, Eve accessories ensure reliable operation independently of bridges. Setup is quick and easy. Energy consumption is minimal. And accessory response time is snappy. Straight out of the box, Eve accessories work with your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch. Your HomePod or Apple TV will serve as a home hub, seamlessly automating your accessories and keeping you connected while out and about.

Requirements:

• Phone or iPad with iOS/iPadOS 13.4 or later
• Controlling this HomeKit-enabled accessory automatically and away from home requires a HomePod or an Apple TV with tvOS 13.4 or later as a home hub

The post Eve Light Switch (EU) appeared first on Homekit News and Reviews.