For the past seven years, GearBrain has been testing all types of smart home devices, systems, and automation in real homes. Our mission is to simplify all this new technology for you so you can be a more informed consumer. One company that caught our eye years ago was Shelly. It is an Allterco Robotics, Ltd.-owned company and one of the smart home platforms in Europe that had not yet made it to the USA at the time. However, this fast-growing IoT brand has made it to our shores and brought its comprehensive suite of smart home automation solutions that are user-friendly, reliable, and innovative for anyone wanting to raise their home’s IQ. We got a chance to meet with Shelly at CES and here is what we saw at the show.
What is Shelly Smart Home?
When it comes to smart home systems, you usually find devices like switches, lights, and smart plugs that can control any appliance. Over the years, we’ve seen smart home systems morph into smart home security systems which monitor your home and keep you safe 24/7. But a new feature we have seen emerge with smart home systems is its ability to monitor your connected devices’ energy usage. And Shelly, who has been successful in Europe in providing energy-efficient devices and systems for homes and businesses, is now here in the US offering new smart home intelligent devices and systems which help monitor your energy usage and provide intelligence at the point of control.
The company has two popular series of smart devices, Shelly Plus and Shelly Pro. These devices can be used as Wi-Fi network extenders for other IoT devices or Bluetooth gateways ensuring a more stable, reliable connection with immediate scene response. Bluetooth-connected devices can also connect to Shelly Pro and Plus devices to trigger actions and scenes.
And if you are a techie, Shelly Plus and Pro devices do support mini-Java scripting, allowing customers to add customized functionalities and extend device features. All Shelly devices have enhanced API over HTTP/MQTT/UDP, allowing smooth and easy integration of Shelly devices to any third-party home automation system. So, users or even home builders can create their own personalized smart home automation with Shelly Plus and Pro devices.
Shelly Plus Smoke Detector is a next-generation smoke sensor for your home.Shelly
And what smart devices does Shelly offer?
Shelly offers smart lighting, switches, smoke detectors, plugs, door and window sensors, plugs, leak detectors, gas detectors, motion sensors, and temperature sensors which are all very easy to set up and connect. The company also offers UL-certified smart relay switches, transformers, and energy metering products which you might need an electrician to set up if not handy with electrical wires
All Shelly products work on a Wi-Fi connection without the need for a hub. Devices can also be controlled locally without connecting them to an external cloud or server. They use open protocols which allow you to easily add your own smart devices to their ecosystem. And for users who like to use their voice as the controller, Shelly devices work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice platforms. Users can set up routines and activate certain products with simple voice commands using their smart speakers or displays.
Shelly is also compatible with the Samsung SmartThings platform.
At CES this year, Shelly introduced 8 new devices including smart home automation solutions in the Shelly Pro and Plus series. These new devices offer innovative and intelligent features that cater equally to professional installers and DIY homeowners. We got to see three new products: a smoke sensor, a Wi-Fi smart energy meter, an Android Wall Panel, Bluetooth Door/Window Sensor, and a new Bluetooth button that can execute pre-set routines or actions. Here is a deeper look at each of these four new devices.
Shelly Plus Smoke: a next-generation smoke sensor that sounds an alarm and sends a notification to your smartphone, with embedded webhooks for executing pre-set smart scenes. Set an “Emergency Scene” that automatically opens your blinds, starts your home ventilation system and cuts power to appliances.
Shelly Pro 3MShelly
Shelly Pro 3EM: A Wi-Fi-operated, DIN-mountable three-phase energy meter with WiFi, Bluetooth, and LAN connectivity with a measurement accuracy of 1%. Allows users to individually monitor the consumption of any home appliance, electric circuit, or piece of equipment, with 60 days of on-device historical data.
Shelly Blu Button1 – The first device of Shelly’s upcoming line of Bluetooth-operated devices offers Bluetooth connectivity signaling other Shelly devices to execute pre-set actions. With no need for WiFi and extremely low battery consumption, the Shelly Bluetooth Button allows you to control your other smart devices with a simple push of a button.
Shelly Plus Plugs (S, UK, and IT) – Wi-Fi smart plugs with Bluetooth connectivity and adjustable multicolor LED indication (available for EU and UK versions). Shelly Plus Plugs are equipped with an energy meter for monitoring power consumption and can control the power to a wide range of home appliances and office equipment. Shelly Plus Plugs are enhanced with scripting functionalities, allowing customers to add customized features and extend device capabilities. The smart plugs are specifically designed for customers in Europe, the UK, and Italy.
Shelly Plus Plug (UK version)Shelly
Shelly’s Android Wall Panel and Bluetooth Door/Window Sensor will be available later in the year.
Besides these new smart home devices, Shelly also announced new features for their Plus and Pro series. Here is a quick recap of each of these new features:
SHELLY 1 One Relay Switch Wireless WiFi Home Automation iOS Android Application + 2 pack UL
These newly added advanced features along with the new functionality of Shelly’s latest devices assist the company in remaining true to their brand’s core benefits of affordability, interoperability, accessibility, energy efficiency, and ease of installation.
“At Shelly, we believe that the most advanced smart home automation technology should be available and affordable for all, making it easy to customize and automate a home or business – and save energy in the process,” said Svetlin Todorov, CEO of Allterco Robotics U.S., the maker of Shelly products.
GearBrain is in the process of testing Shelly devices in a real home and will be reporting back on how well they performed in a US home. Be on the lookout for our reviews. In the interim, you can use our product find engine, The GearBrain to see if any of your existing smart home devices are compatible with Shelly’s devices and system, like Samsung SmartThg. Or you can learn how Shelly can help solve interoperability in your home.
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