I recently moved into a new apartment, and since I’m trying to live in three smart home ecosystems at once – Apple Home, Google, and Amazon Alexa – this was an opportunity to reset my smart home a bit, sort out some things, and add some new smart devices.
My new apartment has a lot of windows, which is a huge advantage for natural sunlight, but also a lot of classic blinds that use a metal bead design to raise and lower. That’s when I realized: wouldn’t it be cool to open or close them with a tap of an app or at the command of a smart assistant?
That’s how I came across Ryse, the maker of SmartShade controls that brings plastic or metal beaded string lights into the 21st century. Yes, it’s not exactly a necessary purchase, but while it’s expensive, it makes for compelling home automation… and, yes, a cool party trick.
Wired or battery operated
I’ve tested two SmartShades with battery packs, essentially the self-powered version of the controllers that need to be charged at some point. I think they’re probably the better option for renters, as you don’t have to hunt for an outlet to keep the controller powered at all times.
However, Ryse offers both options – priced at $149.99 for the wired variant or $199.99 for the battery-powered variant. The SmartBridge, which allows control from outside the home and enables integration with Alexa, Google Home, or Apple Home, costs $80. So it’s not the cheapest upgrade in the world, but it does the job of doing what it’s supposed to.
A simple setup, but you want it to be secure
The price isn’t exactly low, but the SmartShade Controller is a pretty well-built, if heavy, piece. It’s a rectangle with a pairing and power button on the top, an up and down arrow on the front for raising or lowering the window shade, and a place to configure the plastic or metal bead chain on the back.
People with these types of sunglasses probably know they can be finicky, so make sure you install them correctly. Fortunately, the Ryse app for iOS and Android does a good job of walking you through the process for the most part, and the included printed instructions fill in the missing gap.
Getting started is easy, though: create an account, connect to the SmartShade, and set your open and closed positions. This pairing is manual, but once set, the Ryse system is smart enough to know the various intermediate levels, so you can easily set it to 50%, 75%, or even 18% opening.
In my experience, the SmartShade takes about 5-10 minutes to set up, so the pair takes about 20 minutes. After that, they’re pretty quick to use the SmartBridge, enable advanced control options, and set it up with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, or Google Home. This is where the real magic begins, as Ryse offers some light automation, but integrating it with your preferred system is a little easier.
Whether using the Ryse app or integrating it into a smart home ecosystem, the blinds responded quickly to commands – be it fully raising or lowering – and even stopped at a more user-defined location. Plus, they don’t make much noise, as the motor inside is less than a few decibels; I mostly heard the slight ding of the moving metal chain.
I only had one major problem: the chain on my top left shade actually broke when Ryse moved it up and down. This shows that the units need to be secured pretty well. The SmartShade box includes a mounting bracket with screws. You should definitely use these because the controller cannot wobble around or stand freely while you pull the chain. This would also make it heavier and cause additional strain.
If you don’t want to drill, renters can also use heavy-duty adhesive strips or a similar adhesive, but make sure it’s tight. I ended up being able to repair the metal chain easily, but it’s still not a pleasant experience. Thankfully, it hasn’t happened again since then with this repaired unit or my upper right blind.
So yes, the Ryse SmartShade is an expensive but really handy smart home device. It’s a bit of a niche market to chain blinds to smart controls, but it’s probably cheaper than going out and upgrading a full blind or shade system. I’d also say it’s really handy to be able to go into Apple Home or Google Home and quickly adjust the blinds, close them in bed, or even set the ambiance for a movie night. Equally cool is being able to ask Siri to do the same.
If you’re looking for one and can stomach the cost, the Ryse controller and bridge are an excellent combination. I just wish there were some built-in smarts included with the SmartShade, but that’s pretty standard with smart home devices.