Does the sound of custom light control in each room of your house from anywhere in the world sound awesome to you? Check out our list of the Best Smart Home Dimmer Switches for 2021.
Upgrading your lights to include a Smart Home Dimmer Switch is a great way to get better control of how each room in your home is lit. The best smart home dimmer switch can save electricity and allow you to adjust the lighting to fit your mood.
Dimmer switch technology has come a long way over the years. Dimmers can even be controlled by many of the most popular voice control devices like Google Home & Amazon Alexa. In this article, we will try to help you better understand your options so you can make an informed decision before upgrading your light switches.
In our review, we will be comparing 5 of the highest user-rated Smart Home Dimmer Switches.
Today’s list includes:
- Lutron Caseta Smart Home Dimmer Switch
- TP-Link Kasa Smart HS200 Light Switch
- Leviton DW6HD-1BZ Decora Smart Wi-Fi Dimmer
- Gosund Smart Dimmer Switch
- TECKIN Smart Dimmer Switch
In order to show you the best smart home dimmer switch, we focused on these main factors.
App Control: The most advanced smart home dimmer switch enables you to control your lights anywhere in the world from your smart device.
Voice Control: Each dimmer switch can be connected to a wide range of voice control devices like Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
Switch Style: For some people, the manual operation of the switch is a big factor in their purchasing decision. There are a few different styles from 1-way to 3-way and manual dimmer switches that have many steps.
Neutral Wire: Not every house is wired with a neutral wire and you should keep this in mind before trying to upgrade your switches. Most new homes should be wired with a neutral wire by code. Older homes are much less likely to have a neutral wire to the existing switch and would require you to hire a professional to run new wires.
Central Hub: Some devices can connect and operate on their own but others require a central hub to connect to. A lot of smart home devices will not operate without being connected to a central hub.
Let’s dive into our list of the top 5 Best Smart Home Dimmer Switches for 2021!
Lutron Caseta Smart Home Dimmer Switch
The Lutron Caseta Smart Home Dimmer Switch is a top choice for people who may have older style wiring in their homes. This switch can be installed without a neutral wire which means you won’t need to upgrade your wiring to use it.
There are a bunch of different ways to control these dimmer switches, including an app that works on both Android & iOS. There is also an option to purchase a remote for folks who don’t want their lights to be fully connected.
To access all of the smart features of this switch, you need to purchase a central smart hub. You do have to purchase this hub separately, but it adds the ability to control the switches with your smart devices over a wireless connection.
The Lutron Caseta Smart Home Dimmer Switch can be controlled through all of the latest smart home devices, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Homekit, and more.
The main critique most testers had was about the app. Based on the latest version, it can be a little frustrating to initially set up. Also, the voice controls can be a little hit or miss when paired with certain smart devices.
TP-Link Kasa Smart HS200 Light Switch
The Kasa Smart HS200 Light Switch by TP-Link is a great device for folks who don’t want to purchase extra devices to run their smart light switches. The Kasa Smart HS200 connects directly to your home’s WiFi and gives you instant access to each switch through the app.
If you already have an Amazon Alexa or Google Home installed in your house, you will now be able to control your lights through voice commands. There are a lot of great features built into the Kasa Smart App, including light status, on/off controls, dimmer settings, and timer functions for lights you need on a schedule.
The main issue people run into when buying these devices is the wiring in their own house. You require a neutral power connection wired to the switch to operate the switch. Older houses were not wired with a neutral power connection so you will need to hire an electrician to run that for you. Some people have also reported issues with the devices not staying connected if their wifi signal isn’t the strongest.
Leviton DW6HD-1BZ Decora Smart Wi-Fi Dimmer
The Leviton DW6HD-1BZ Decora Smart Wifi Dimmer is one of the most expensive switches on our list. The plus side is that these switches do not require a central hub to connect.
All you have to do is install, connect to WiFi, and you’re ready to start controlling lights with your smart device! There are a ton of great scheduling and staging features built into the app that work on both Android and iOS.
Schedule the lights to come on in the evening and shut off before dawn via the app. If you’re looking to change the mood of your room with a quick voice command, you can control these devices with Alexa and Google Assistant.
Buyer beware that these do require a neutral power line to operate and older homes may not have this already installed to your switch’s location. Some users have noted that the switches can be a little tough to install as they are quite big. They also run a little hot due to the WiFi always being connected so they can sometimes feel warm to the touch.
Keep scrolling for our comparison chart of the Best Smart Home Dimmer Switch for 2021!
Gosund Smart Dimmer Switch
The Gosund Smart Dimmer Switch is a great budget pick. For the price, it boasts all of the features of the more expensive models. You can control your light schedule and settings from anywhere with the iOS or Android app.
If your home is set up with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, you can also control your switches by voice commands. One of the most interesting features of the app is the ability to share access to the lights with other family members or friends.
Also, these switches do not need a central hub to connect. They can connect directly to your home’s Wi-Fi via the app. However, the Gosund Smart Dimmer Switch does require a neutral power connection to work with your home’s lights.
One of the biggest complaints from testers is the amount the light dims at each stage of the dimmer. There’s also a small light on the switch that stays on constantly so it wouldn’t be great in a bedroom if you like total darkness.
TECKIN Smart Dimmer Switch
Our final recommendation is the TECKIN Smart Dimmer Switch that connects via WiFi. No need to fuss around with any central connection hub! Just install these switches where your old ones were and connect them to your WiFi network.
The iOS & Android apps allow you to utilize all of the functions of these dimmer switches. Enjoy being able to create custom lighting schedules for different areas of your house. Share access to your lights with other family members’ devices and easily control the lights via voice commands with Alexa or Google Assistant.
Keep in mind that The biggest downfall to these devices is that they do feel a little cheap when you touch them. There’s also a fairly large logo right on the front of the faceplate that’s not the most pleasing to the eyes.
And finally, a warning for those looking for a new bedroom light switch: This switch has a small light that is constantly illuminated and cannot be turned off.
Disclaimer: Before you embark on a journey to upgrade your light switches, remember that messing with the electricity in your house can be very dangerous. It’s best to consult a professional before fiddling with the wires in your walls.
Here’s a recap of our Top 5 Best Smart Home Dimmer Switches for 2021:
App Control | Voice Control | Style of Switch | Neutral Wire | Central Hub | Critiques | |
Lutron Caseta Smart Home Dimmer Switch | iOS & Android | Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit, Google Assistant & More | 3-Way | No | Required & Sold Separately | Setting up the switches on the app can be a little frustrating |
Kasa Smart HS200 Light Switch by TP-Link | iOS & Android | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | 1-Way | Required | No | Small constant light can be annoying in bedrooms |
Leviton DW6HD-1BZ Decora Smart Wi-Fi Dimmer | iOS & Android | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | 3-Way | Required | No | The switches can be a little tough to install |
Gosund Smart Dimmer Switch | iOS & Android | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | Multi-step Dimmer | Required | No | Could use a little more power for larger spaces in the house |
TECKIN Smart Dimmer Switch | iOS & Android | Amazon Alexa & Google Assistant | 1-Way | Required | No | Toggles feel cheap & the plate has a large logo on the front |