Overview of Amazon Has Released Four New Smart Switches
Amazon Basics launched four Alexa-only smart light switches (single-pole and three-way, each with regular and dimmer versions). They require a neutral wire, no hub, and work with Alexa voice, the Alexa app, Routines, and schedules. They are simple in design and priced from $17.99 to $20.99, offering good value if your home wiring supports them.
Quick Solutions to Questions related to Amazon Basics Alexa-Only Smart Switches:
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Do these Amazon Basics smart switches work with voice assistants other than Alexa?
No, the switches are compatible exclusively with Alexa and will not operate with other voice assistants or smart home systems. -
Do the Amazon Basics smart switches need a smart home hub to function?
No, they do not require a smart home hub to connect to the internet for automation; they work with Alexa directly. -
Do these switches require a neutral wire for installation?
Yes, the smart switches require a neutral wire and must be hardwired into your home's wiring. -
Can the dimmer versions have brightness adjusted by voice or app?
Yes, the dimmer switches allow brightness adjustment using voice via Alexa or through the smartphone app. -
Will these switches work in older homes without a neutral wire?
No; for homes without a neutral wire, neutral-wire free alternatives like Lutron Caseta or GE Lighting Cync are suggested.
These Alexa-compatible smart lighting controls from Amazon Basics function ‘exclusively’ with Alexa.
Spotted by Dan Wroclawski of Consumer Reports, the four smart switches launched on November 11th and include a single-pole switch ($17.99) and a single-pole dimmer ($19.99) both for controlling one lighting circuit, and a three-way switch ($18.99) and a three-way dimmer ($20.99), which can control one circuit from two locations.
Existing hardwired lighting becomes smart lighting with the addition of app and voice control via a smart switch. When you want to automate lighting in a room with a lot of lightbulbs or decorative fixtures, it’s a good alternative to smart bulbs.
One advantage of Amazon’s smart home gadgets is that they are compatible with Amazon’s Frustration Free Setup and Certified for Humans programs, making them straightforward to set up, especially if you already have an Echo smart speaker. The problem is that these switches are only compatible with Alexa and will not operate with any other smart home system or voice assistant.
More: 4 Amazon-Exclusive Smart Home Gadgets You Didn’t Know You Wanted
You must also set them up. These smart switches require a neutral wire and must be connected into your home’s wiring. If you have an older home with no neutral, the neutral-wire free alternatives from Lutron Casetaor GE Lighting Cync will be a better choice. However, assuming you have the proper wiring, these are an excellent value for a smart switch, which may cost anywhere from $25 to $60.
The new Amazon switches will function with Alexa for voice and app control and do not require a smart home hub to connect to the internet for automation. They can be used as a typical light switch once they’ve been installed, with the extra functionality of being able to ask Alexa to turn them on and off with an Echo speaker, add them to Alexa Routines in the Alexa app, and create schedules for them. The brightness of the two switches with dimming capabilities can also be adjusted using voice or smartphone control.
As is the theme with Amazon Basics devices, these are simply designed. The single-pole switches look just like a regular paddle switch and have a small status light LED at the bottom. The dimmer options have a plus or minus button above the paddle to adjust the brightness and a row of green LEDs up top for a visual indicator of brightness level.
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