Smart Switches & Dimmers

Discover the Best Switches & Dimmers for Your Smart Home.

If you are a smart home enthusiast, you already know several ways to automate your home lighting. You can use switch modules, wall switches, wireless scene switches, and buttons, or opt for the easy way and simply replace your light bulbs. Each approach has pros and cons outlined in our individual Best Buy Guides.

Unlike switch modules, which are simple relay control boards you can install anywhere and control almost anything, wall switches are smart devices that entirely replace your current light switch or dimmer. Choosing a wall switch can directly impact the aesthetics and looks of your living space. 

This Best Buy Guide shares the best wired wall switches and dimmers compatible with Homey, focusing on reliability, looks, installation requirements, and additional features. 

Choosing a Light Switch

Since smart wall switches aim to achieve the same thing, which is to automate your lights, there is usually minimal technical variation between models. Still, there are differences that separate brands and models from each other. Even though subtle, these extra features can be valuable and make you lean more towards one model than the other. Here are five things to consider when choosing a light switch.

Connectivity

Choose a switch with a reliable mesh networking protocol like Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Thread. Light switches that need a neutral wire usually double as network repeaters, boosting and extending your network.

Neutral Wire Requirement

Confirm if the switch needs a neutral wire for installation. This can affect compatibility with your existing wiring. Always choose switches that use the neutral wire, as they are more reliable than those that do not.

Design and Aesthetics

Since you are replacing your existing wall switches, consider the design and finish of the smart switch to ensure it complements your home decor and adds to the overall ambiance of the room.

Extra Features

Consider the added value of features such as multi-switch compatibility, dimming, energy metering, or motion sensing that enhance the light switch’s functionality.

Price

Consider the light switch’s cost and ensure it aligns with your budget while providing the desired features. Expenses can add up fast if you automate multiple lights or devices, especially with pricier devices.

Brand	Model	Protocol	Dimmer	Works without Neutral	Price
Aqara	H1 Wall Switch	Zigbee			€34.95
EcoDim	LED Dimmer Switch	Z-Wave			€69.95
Fibaro	Walli Dimmer	Z-Wave			€59.95
Niko	Double Switch	Zigbee			€89.00
Qubino	Luxy Smart Switch	Z-Wave			€98.80
Shelly	Wall Switch	Wi-Fi			€7.20
Sonoff	SwitchMan M5	Matter			€17.99
Sunricher	Wall Dimmer Switch	Z-Wave			€65.00

The Aqara H1 is a sleek, minimalist smart switch in one or two gang variants. It won the 2020 RedDot design award for its clean design, durable zinc alloy frame, and satisfying acoustic feedback of its buttons.

The H1 is compatible with square and round European switch boxes, supporting single- or two-way wiring setups. You can also remap the switch’s button, providing additional “wireless switch” functionality while controlling the light through Flows.

This popular model by Aqara has an energy meter to monitor the power consumption of the connected light(s). It integrates well over Zigbee with Homey Bridge and Homey Pro, allowing you to toggle the device and use the meter in Flows to save energy.

You can wire the Aqara H1 with or without a neutral wire, which makes it suitable for all wiring setups. The downside of using the no-neutral versions is that the device will not operate as a network router. Further, the H1’s overload protection mechanism works only on the with-neutral version.

If you're in the market for a reliable dimmer switch, EcoDim should be on your shortlist. This Netherlands-based company produces one of the most dependable, durable, and versatile dimmer switches using Zigbee, Z-Wave, and now, Matter as communication protocols.

EcoDim dimmers come without a faceplate, allowing you to reuse switch cover plates and maintain aesthetic consistency throughout your home’s rooms. The company also offers compatible dimmer faceplates should you choose to replace them.

EcoDim offers various models, primarily distinguished by their maximum load capacity and communication protocol. Regardless of your chosen model, each is optimized for precise dimming control and stable lighting performance, eliminating LED light flickering and dimmer buzzing.

You can monitor the power draw of your connected light in Homey Energy, which provides a comprehensive overview of its energy consumption. Should you exceed the rated load capacity, EcoDim dimmer switches’ overload and overheat protection mechanisms will keep you in check.

The newly released Matter version is compatible with the Homey Pro, while their Zigbee and Z-Wave line-up can work with both Homey Bridge and Homey Pro.

Their top-tier build quality and reliable performance come at a premium, as EcoDim dimmer switches are among our list’s top three most expensive devices.

The Fibaro Walli Dimmer is a beautiful wall-mounted dimmer switch compatible with Homey Bridge and Homey Pro. Like most Fibaro devices, it is known for its quality build, sleek design, and Z-Wave communication protocol. 

Equipped with a dynamic LED indicator, the Walli Dimmer changes color based on the light’s on/off state. You can adjust these colors to your preference or use them as actions in Homey Flows. 

The indicator also gives users a dynamic overview of energy consumption, cycling through colors from cool blue to warm red, allowing you to monitor power consumption from a distance. 

Despite resembling a dimming knob, you control the Walli Dimmer by pressing the top or bottom of the round switch, adjusting the brightness of the attached light bulb as long as you hold the switch. 

The Fibaro Walli dimmer is compatible with incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, and LED bulbs. While the Walli can handle most bulb types easily, using low-power LED lights requires the Fibaro Bypass 2, a special add–on used to prevent flickering.

If you want to showcase your wall switches to your guests, the Niko Smart Switch line-up could be just what you need. Niko, a Belgian manufacturer of smart devices, offers a comprehensive range of products, including switches, dimmers, sockets, sensors, doorbells, and intercoms.

The Niko Double Switch is a two-gang smart switch that can handle loads of 10 amperes per channel or a maximum of 16 amperes for both. It connects via Zigbee to Homey or Homey Pro, allowing toggle control and the creation of schedules or Advanced Flows.

This switch can replace conventional switches or be used with multi-way or intermediate setups. Additionally, you can disconnect the terminals and utilize the button events as triggers in Homey, providing direct control over smart light bulbs.

Each switch features a small LED indicator for easy status checks from a distance. The sleek and minimalistic design is crafted to be showcased, seamlessly complementing modern rooms and interiors.

It’s worth noting that Niko Wall Switches are more expensive than similar devices, especially since you need to purchase the switch and faceplate separately.

The Qubino Luxy Smart Switch is a premium light switch with a touch glass panel and an interesting feature set. It uses Z-Wave to connect to your Homey Bridge or Homey Pro, operating as a network repeater and extending your network.

The switch doubles as an ambient light, illuminating your room without toggling your main ceiling light. Through its semi-transparent switch frame, Luxy can output sixteen million colors in four different lighting effects – all controllable through Homey. For example, This LED backlight can change the atmosphere in your room with a single touch or illuminate your stairs during the night.

The Luxy front-facing glass panel has five touch zones, each controlling a separate aspect of the light switch. Touching the top zone toggles the Luxy light, while the center controls the attached ceiling light. It’s important to note that while you can dim the Luxy light either through Homey or manually, the connected light switch can only be toggled but not dimmed.

Qubino highlights that the Luxy Smart Switch can also manage water heaters, fans, or IR panels, further enhancing its utility. While this elegant light switch is durable, reliable, and crafted with quality, it does come with a very high price tag, nearly matching that of the Eve.

Unlike most wall switches on our list that directly control lights through wiring, the Shelly Wall Switch is a button presser with different Shelly modules. Instead of manufacturing wall switches with similar features to their modules, Shelly created a wall switch holder, allowing users to choose the right module from their product portfolio.

Shelly Wall Switches are available in one-, two-, and four-button variants, compatible with the following Shelly modules:

• Shelly Wall Switch 1: Shelly 1, Shelly 1PM, Shelly Plus 1, Shelly Plus 1PM, Shelly 1L, Shelly Dimmer 2
• Shelly Wall Switch 2: Shelly 2,5, Shelly Plus Series, Shelly 1L, Shelly Dimmer 2
• Shelly Wall Switch 4: Shelly Plus i4

If you’ve ever installed switch modules inside a switch box, you’re familiar with the challenge of fitting each wire behind the switch plate. The Shelly Wall Switch securely holds the module, resulting in a cleaner and simpler installation process.

Their dated design might not appeal to everyone, but it’s worth noting that all Shelly Modules are compatible with Homey and Homey Pro through the official Shelly App.

The Sonoff SwitchMan M5 is the company’s latest Matter-enabled smart switch, available in US, UK, and EU variants. It connects to your network using Wi-Fi and seamlessly integrates with your Homey Pro over Matter.

You can buy the SwitchMan M5 in one, two, or three gang versions, suitable for covering most multi-gang light switch scenarios. It also supports multi-way switches, proving its utility as a smart light switch.

This light switch has a very clicky push button for each gang, offering audible feedback to the user. The small LED indicator installed near the bottom displays the status of each connected light, allowing for visual confirmation when you control them remotely.

The Sonoff SwitchMan M5 requires a neutral wire for installation, allowing it to handle a maximum load of 10 amperes or 2200 watts. In case of potential issues, it also has an overload protection feature and a flame-retardant shell.

The primary drawback of the Sonoff SwitchMan M5 is its reliance on a proprietary app for accessing certain advanced features, such as restore state and inching mode.

Sunricher Wall Switches offer a versatile range of switches and dimmers for controlling lights, curtains, shutters, and other devices. These products are white-labeled and sold by Vesternet, Namron, and ROBB Smarrt. Each vendor provides its own Homey App, enabling Sunricher devices to work seamlessly with Homey.

Their wall dimmer switch line-up consists of Zigbee and Z-Wave devices capable of handling loads of up to 600 watts per channel. Each mains-wired device acts as a network repeater, relaying packets from neighboring devices back to Homey Bridge or Homey Pro.

The Sunricher Rotary Dimmer is convenient and easy to use. You turn the knob, and the light follows your input, brightening or dimming the light level. It supports setting the minimum brightness level of LED lights, which solves the problem of some LEDs not being able to be turned back on if they are dimmed too low.

The Rotary Dimmer has an implemented algorithm for intelligently detecting the light source, automatically adjusting the transition times, and setting an appropriate control mode. It also has an active energy meter, which measures the power draw of your connected light.

Its appearance resembles a standard wall dimmer; guests won’t know it’s a smart device unless you showcase it through Homey. However, the faceplate of Sunricher devices is bulkier than most, which makes it stick out more from the wall.

Final Thoughts

Depending on your interior design and ambiance, you can either showcase your wall switches for all to admire or opt for a more discreet approach with switches that seamlessly blend into your décor. Homey has you covered whether you prefer Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Matter-certified switches.