SwitchBot
Folks with venetian blinds can use this clever gadget from SwitchBot to add automation and remote controls. Provided you have horizontal blinds with a rotary control rod, you can fit the SwitchBot Blind Tilt yourself, but I recommend watching the instructional video, as it can be fiddly. You get a solar panel in the box that can go behind the blinds to keep the battery topped up. It connects to the SwitchBot app on your phone via Bluetooth to set the Blind Tilt function up and to set your preferred positions and schedules. There is a built-in light sensor, so you can have the blinds close automatically when the sun is shining.
If you want to use voice commands or control your blinds remotely, you need to buy a SwitchBot Hub Mini ($36) or Hub 2 ($60). With your blinds linked to a hub, you can use all the major smart home ecosystems (only the Hub 2 supports Matter and Apple HomeKit). You can also buy a SwitchBot Remote ($25) if you want a simple programmable button for opening or closing the blinds. The SwitchBot Blind Tilt works quite well and gives you fine control over the angle of your blinds with a slider.
The SwitchBot Blind Tilt is quite chunky and only comes in white, which is fine if your blinds are white, but stands out like a sore thumb otherwise. You also have to run a cable from it to the solar panel, which doesn’t look great from the outside of your chosen window. Normal operation is speedy and not terribly loud (around 50 decibels), but there is a quiet mode that moves slowly and keeps the volume under 35 decibels. Because Bluetooth is a bit slow and flaky, a hub is advisable for the best performance, but that adds to the cost.
Photograph: Simon Hill
SwitchBot
Combining drapes and shades is a great way to achieve total darkness in a bedroom, and you can automate your curtains too. The SwitchBot Curtain 3 comes in a few varieties for rod or U-rail curtains. I tested the rod version with my bedroom curtains and was surprised to find how well it works. You can chart SwitchBot’s progress in our reviews from the original Curtain (4/10, WIRED Review) through the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 (7/10, WIRED Recommends). The third time's the charm with the SwitchBot Curtain 3, which addresses all my complaints about the earlier versions.
Installation is easy, but take your time and make sure to fit the curtain beading for spacing and the magnetic stickers that mark the endpoints for your curtains to be closed. If your curtains open in the middle, you will need two SwitchBot Curtain 3 devices. I tested them with the new solar panels ($26), which clip into place (the old ones relied on adhesive and tended to fall off after a short time). Other improvements with the Curtain 3 include “QuietDrift,” which keeps the volume below 25 decibels (I can sleep through this).
As with the Blind Tilt, you need some extras to get the best from the Curtain 3. I recommend a SwitchBot Hub 2 ($60) to open up support for Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, Siri Shortcuts, IFTTT, and also Matter for Apple HomeKit. You can also schedule your curtains and add a SwitchBot Remote ($25) if you want a physical remote control. The Curtain 3 is a bit slimmer than previous versions and sits unobtrusively behind the curtains. Unfortunately, the solar panel attachment looks a bit weird from the outside, but it's worth it since I don't have to recharge. Without this, you'll have to charge it every couple of months via USB-C.
What Do You Need to Know Before Buying Smart Shades?
Tailor-Made vs. Off-the-Shelf: Few things look smarter than perfectly fitted shades in a window frame, and few things look worse than shades that don’t quite fit. If you’re lucky enough to have window sizes that match the exact proportions of off-the-shelf shades then go for it, but most folks will be better served by going the made-to-order route. The downside is that tailor-made options are always going to be more expensive.
Measure Properly: Look at your chosen manufacturer’s website to find their measuring guide and take your time. You should measure, measure, and measure again, then ask someone else to measure and compare your results. The only way to avoid unsightly gaps or the horrible discovery that your shade is just a bit too wide for the space is to measure up properly. This is less of an issue if you decide to go the outside mount route.
Inside or Outside Mount: For the cleanest look, you should install your shades or blinds in the window frame. Measure the depth and account for window handles or anything else that might collide with the shade. Think about where you can drill holes to fit the mounting brackets and whether your chosen spot can handle the weight of a shade. An outside mount doesn’t look as good, but it is easier to install and can cover the window completely to block more light. Inside-mounted shades always have small gaps that light can get through. If you are after a pitch-dark bedroom, combining inside mount shades with curtains is the best way to go.
Material and Finish: You can get shades and blinds in so many different styles. Take your time choosing the material and color you want and think about the opacity. If you just want a privacy shade for a street-facing living room, then choose something that lets a lot of light through. If you’re trying to conserve or block heat or reduce noise, a thicker shade can help. For the neatest look, it’s worth thinking about a valance that will cover the top of the shade (some manufacturers offer these as an added extra).
Power: Smart shades and retrofit smart blinds and curtains all require power. Most come with a rechargeable battery and they can generally be charged in situ with a long enough cable (if you don’t have an outlet close, use a power bank). Some shades take standard batteries you can swap in and out, though we recommend rechargeable batteries for these. Small solar panels are another common option that will keep your shades topped up, but you might not like how they look from the outside. In any case, always fully charge the battery before installation.
Connectivity: Most shades come with a remote control. But to put the smart in smart shades you need a hub that your shades can connect to. This will allow you to control the shades from your phone or using voice commands. Think about your current smart home setup and preferred voice assistant when you are shopping for shades to ensure compatibility. You can sometimes connect to shades via Bluetooth, but it is flaky, low range, and slow compared to Wi-Fi or Zigbee.
Automation: The number one reason to get smart shades is automation, so make sure you research what is possible when shopping. While any smart shade can be automated to open and close at set times, some can adjust to close at sunset and open at sunrise. You can also have motion sensors to trigger some shades to open when you walk into the room in the morning, or have your shades close automatically when a certain temperature is reached in the room. You may need some extra gadgets for more complex automation.
Smart Shade Brands
Having tested several smart shade brands now, it’s clear that many have virtually identical designs, use the same internal motors and control systems, and give you the same choice of fabrics and styles. SmartWings, Yoolax, Kincmo, Weffort, and Bringnox have a lot in common. Sometimes all that’s different is the brand name and software. I recommend running through the customization process for each brand to find out how much your tailored shade will cost and then just go with the best price.
We have tested a few other smart shades and retrofit devices. Here are a few that narrowly missed out on a place above.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Kincmo Motorized Blinds With Remote for $116: A reasonable alternative to our top pick, Kincmo’s choice of styles and finishes, motor functionality, and smart home connectivity was virtually identical, though you must opt for the Matter over Thread motor or hub if you want scheduling and voice-command support. I tried a long blackout shade for a doorway, and it worked very well. It is slow to open and close but also quiet, never breaking 40 decibels.
Weffort Motorized Roller Shade for $120: Another brand that offers smart shades very much like our top pick, Smartwings. The Weffort shade I tried for my office window worked in exactly the same way, with a simple remote and a Matter over Thread motor that enabled me to add it to Google Home and control and schedule through the app. The operating noise level is around 40 decibels.
Bringnox Motorized Blinds with Remote for $118: With a very similar range of options to SmartWings and some of the other brands above, I found Bringnox shades to be on par. You’ll need the Matter over Thread motor if you want smart home control and scheduling (or a separate hub), but you get a wee remote with every shade. I regret not opting for a better valance and bottom bar, because the shade I tested looks very blocky, and the top section covers part of the window. One interesting option Bringnox offers is no-drill shades with a kind of adjustable and lockable spring section at one end that could be very handy for installing a shade inside the frame of a window where drilling holes is a problem.
Courtesy of Ryse
Ryse SmartCurtain for $150: Another retrofit device for your window coverings, the Ryse SmartCurtain is super easy to fit. It works fine with rod rail curtains and is reasonably quiet at around 36 decibels, but you will need two if you have a pair of curtains, and it’s relatively expensive. Consider also that you need the Ryse SmartBridge ($50) hub to schedule, connect smart home devices for voice control, or even control multiple devices. Without the hub, you can only connect via Bluetooth to one curtain at a time. The two rechargeable 18,650 Li-Po batteries are supposed to last up to eight months. There’s no charger in the box, though you can apparently request one for free. While it’s a decent product, it’s also more expensive, less versatile, and generally inferior to the SwitchBot Curtain 3.
Aqara Curtain Driver E1 for $80: With separate models for rod or track curtains, this is very much like the SwitchBot Curtain 3 above, but not quite as good. It is bigger, which leaves more room for a larger battery, so you can expect up to a year of battery life. Unfortunately, it is also louder (over 50 decibels), more expensive, and requires an Aqara hub to unlock voice commands and smart home automation.
Courtesy of Ryse
Ryse SmartShade for $200: This is a retrofit gadget to convert any roller shade with a beaded chain into a smart shade. It’s easy to fit, but you will need a roller shade with an uninterrupted chain because a plastic spacer joining the two ends of a chain can cause problems (my chain came apart), and it’s noisy in operation. The removable battery pack is a smart idea, but if you want to remote control the shade from your phone, you must be in Bluetooth range. To get scheduling and voice controls, you need to buy the Ryse SmartBridge ($50), and I had issues with connectivity dropping in and out. After testing a couple of these retrofit designs for the beaded chain roller blinds (I also tested the Aqara E1) and having problems both times, I can’t recommend them. This one is also way too expensive.
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