Home automation is centered around enhancing convenience and security. For me, automating motorized shades is a game-changing upgrade that greatly improves daily life. Rather than having to manually adjust them each day, automation lets in just the right amount of light effortlessly. Recently, SmartWings unveiled a new collection of Matter-enabled shades featuring Power over Ethernet (PoE) support, which removes the hassle of charging. While the option for PoE exists, it’s not mandatory, making these shades one of the top smart home solutions available.
HomeKit Weekly is a series dedicated to smart home accessories, automation strategies, and all aspects related to Apple’s smart home framework.
My Usage Experience
Over the past few years, I’ve experimented with various SmartWings shades, and to be honest, they are the favorite among my family. Their stylish designs blend seamlessly without appearing as smart shades, and the automation functionality is truly impressive. After spending two years with manual shades in our bedroom, we upgraded to SmartWings. Although it may seem like a minor issue, the convenience is remarkable. Previously, we were required to raise them in the morning and lower them at night—it only took a few minutes, but it felt like an additional chore. Now, we’ve programmed them in HomeKit for automation during weekdays, as we wake up at the same time. On weekends, we easily adjust them using a remote control.
PoE and Matter Support
A significant drawback of battery-operated shades is their reliance on batteries, which inevitably require recharging at inconvenient moments. Utilizing a PoE networking setup means this concern is negated, as it provides both power and data through a single Ethernet cord. No need for wall adapters or battery replacements—just a reliable wired connection. If your setup lacks PoE switches, a PoE injector can provide the same benefits, ensuring your motor remains constantly charged. Additionally, the Ethernet switch can be easily concealed behind curtains.
Similar to other SmartWings products, these models are fully compatible with Matter, ensuring seamless integration with HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, and Home Assistant. Within a HomeKit setup, you can incorporate them into scenes and automations, control them via Siri, and monitor their status through the Home app.
Thanks to the Ethernet capability, these shades can communicate through a stable wired connection, resulting in quicker response times, dependable automation, and reduced dependency on a strong Wi-Fi signal. This is particularly advantageous in environments with crowded wifi, such as apartments, where PoE allows for uninterrupted connectivity without competing for RF bandwidth.
Installation
Though I’m not particularly handy, I found the installation process manageable. Using a tape measure, mark the spots on the top of the shades to indicate where to drill above your windows. Pre-drill holes to secure the brackets. I started with one hole per bracket for accuracy, returning to add the second one once double-checked. Fortunately, the shades provide some margin for error, so precision isn’t critical.
After mounting, plug in the Ethernet cable and scan the Matter code, which you can find on the top of the shades and the motor. They will then register as shades in the Home app. You can operate them using the slider and incorporate them into scenes. Because the shades can be adjusted to various levels, you can program them to lower to 50% at dusk and fully close at bedtime.
Conclusion
As I’ve stated before, I’m a huge fan of these shades. They operate silently and are compatible with HomeKit. The included remote can control all the shades in my bedroom simultaneously. If I had to choose just one smart home gadget to keep, it would definitely be the SmartWings shades.
You can purchase the new PoE shades directly from SmartWings.
