In addition, most smart light switches will require some installation, as they'll replace your current switch. Some smart switches will also need a neutral wire, which is installed in the wiring of most modern homes. If installation sounds difficult, you can also have an electrician install it for you.

With geolocation your smart home will know if you are in or away from your home. This means you can easily trigger events based on your location. If for example you are on your way home from work, once you enter a preset distance around your home your smart light switches will activate a scene and turn your lights on. So when you arrive home your porch and hallway lights can be on ready for you. Automated control features! Once you add this switch into your lighting system, you can create scenes and routines, set timers and automate your lights. We've tested plenty of smart light switches and dimmers on the market, so we used our expertise to guide you through finding the best one for your needs. Our list should have something for different needs and budget.

Product Range Selector (V-TAC - Wireless Switches)

Safe and premium-quality! It’s constructed from fire-retardant materials with an aluminium shell suitable for heat dissipation. Also, the tempered glass touch screen is waterproof, so you don’t need to worry even if you touch them with wet hands! You can also create lighting scenes, at the touch of a button or through voice control you can turn multiple lights on to different light levels in one go. This is great for kitchens and larger rooms with multiple lighting circuits, no need to press 10 switches to set the scene! GEOLOCATION & HOLIDAY MODES NO NEUTRAL WIRE NEEDED - Unlike many other brands, this Smart Wi-Fi Touch switch does not need any neutral wiring hence can be retrofit into any application. Suitable for old houses as well as new construction The Lutron companion app on Android and iPhone has a lot of features that help with home lighting, as well. This includes remote access, geofencing, and more. If you already have Hue lights, then all you'll need to do is go to the Hue app, set up an accessory, and choose which lights you'd like the switch to control. With the app, you can have the Smart Dimmer Switch trigger custom scenes, as well.

Some switches work off Wi-Fi and don’t need a smart hub, while others are Z-Wave or Zigbee compatible. It replaces your existing light switch and can be paired with the Lightwave Link Plus to control your lights from anywhere. You can set schedules, create timers, and adjust the mood of your home room by room. The dimmer switch is compatible with dimmable LED bulbs and requires a Wi-Fi router with broadband internet connection. I hope this guide was useful in helping you choose a smart light switch for your UK or Irish home. Installing a smart light switch UK is an easy way to modernize your home and control lighting with just a tap.That said, if you’re looking for a very simple and portable switch for Wiz lighting, this is what you’ll need. We can see it being particularly useful if your traditional wired light switches are poorly located, perhaps behind some furniture, and you want a replacement switch that is easy to install (providing you also have some Wiz smart bulbs, of course). Holiday timers mean you can turn lights on and off at preset times to make it look like you are home, preventing the risk of burglaries. The button itself is small and feels like a high-quality Hue accessory. It’s wireless and attaches to the included wall plate magnetically. You can use either the larger, square plate or a much smaller circular plate that is the same size as the button itself. Both attach to the wall with adhesive strips, or the larger plate can be mounted with screws if you prefer. Now for something a bit different. The Bot by SwitchBot is a little gadget with a robotic arm designed to press (or pull) just about any button or switch around your home. It’s a little bit fiddly to set up, as the moving arm is quite small and you need to position it just right, but once you’ve put the effort in it works really well, at least on the standard single-gang light switch we tried it with. Yes, but only some can. As you may have seen from the above products, some are designed to work only with certain smart lighting systems, like those by Wiz or Philips Hue. Others, however, like the Tapo Smart Switch by TP-Link, are designed to control your existing, non-smart lights. They replace your existing light switches and operate just like a manual switch, but with the added ability to be controlled remotely with a smartphone app, voice assistant, or pre-programmed schedule.

But like many smart home products on the market, there is a wide range of smart light switches to choose from, and not all of them are going to suit your needs. So what should you look for? A switch specifically for Wiz smart lighting systems, the Smart Button is a simple controller that comes with a magnetic plate that can be mounted to the wall using screws or included adhesive strips. The button itself is battery powered and has two buttons for turning the lights on or off. They work great for those who want to automate their regular light fixtures. Smart plugs on the other end tend to be more flexible as you can plug them with whatever device you want – great for lamps! The Verdict We experimented with using the switches in different rooms and with different combinations of lighting fixtures. With wired switches, it was a case of removing an old switch and wiring up the smart one, ensuring we carefully turned off the power and fitting the wires to the correct terminals of the new switch.With the Lightwave app, you can also create what they call “Magic Buttons” to trigger multiple Lightwave devices with a single press. You can also set up a gentle wake-up call in the morning by automating your lights. The device is available in white metal and is compatible with iOS and Android devices. Which type of switch you buy depends on what you want from your lighting. Do you want color-changing bulbs, or do you just want remote control of your existing bulbs? If it’s the latter, then a smart switch like the Tapo will be perfect for your needs. Are smart light switches hard to install?