The Amazon basics Smart Switches has landed on the Amazon website, bringing the Amazon branded smart home gadgets count up to 7. It includes the new smart thermostat and the smart indoor air quality monitor. It is the big leap from the one lonely Amazon Smart Plug and the company had left after discounting its indoor smart security cameras last year.
The 4 smart switches launched on November 11th and include, the single pole switch and the single pole dimmer both for controlling one lighting circuit and the 3 way switch and the 3 way dimmer that can control one circuit from the 2 locations. Smart switch turns existing hardwired lighting into the smart lighting and adding app and voice control. It is the good alternative to smart bulbs, when the users want to automate lighting in the room with lots of light bulbs or decorative fixtures.
The advantage of the Amazon own smart home devices is that, they work with the Amazon frustration free setup and certified for the Humans programs and which means that they should be simple to set up. Especially when the users have already Echo smart speaker in their homes. The downside is that, these switches will not work with any other smart home system or voice assistant and they are only Alexa compatible. These smart switches need to be hardwired into the home wiring and require the neutral wire.
If users having the older home with no neutral then the Lutron Caseta or GE lightning Cync neutral wire free options will be better fit. If having right wiring these are good value for the smart prices for which generally range from, around $25 to upwards of $60. New Amazon switches do not require the smart home hub to connect to the internet for automation and will work with Alexa for voice and app control. At this time, the Amazon devices are simply designed. Single pole switches look just like regular paddle switch, and have small status light LED at the bottom. Amazon starting on the product page, that these smart switches are for exclusive use with Alexa, and will not support other voice assistants or smart hubs.
