Soma HomeKit Smart Shades - Review

These smart shades from Soma Smart Home work with both HomeKit, and Amazon Alexa. They can be scheduled, automated, and controlled remotely.

~Gear I use~

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Soma HomeKit Smart Shades - Review

iDB

[mamba]

I've owned this for over a year now, ask me anything. I'll try to address the questions from the comments section:

Sound: They are fairly loud. If you can imagine a children's wind up toy, it sounds pretty much like that - like a high pitch gearing. I think it's for the torque required to pull up the shades, they are very strong. I have roller blinds with an aluminium hem (like a metal piece that keeps the shades weighted down and flat) and it's strong enough to pull that. And because it's a higher-pitched noise, it will be noticed even if you have the TV going and some loud fans or even the AC, it kind of pierces through everything. But in terms of *noisy* noise - you'll hear it as a background noise and not as a "I can't hear anything else" noise. Sometimes it's even a nice reminder like "Oh the blinds are closing, it must be 8pm already."

Setting up: Like someone mentioned about constant recalibration, I haven't had to do that. I set it up on day 1 and after a year it's been functioning the same ever since, I haven't even touched it to readjust anything. Haven't had any bugs so far. Set up via app to control open/close schedules, very straight forward. I don't have the module for Alexa so I can't speak for that. I haven't played around with Raspberry so I can't comment on that either.

Speed: Yeah it's slow, but honestly what's the problem here? If you start up a movie and start lowering the blinds, they will be down before all the movie openings finish or the lion stops roaring or whatever. It's not like it suddenly turns dark in a snap and you need to immediately shut the blinds or the zombies will be out to get you.

Price: Not over-priced, probably *the* cheapest option out there for motorizing your blinds with *solar*. All other products require outlet or separate expensive solar modules. You want to see expensive? Head over to your local Home Depot and see what they're offering - you'd have to completely replace your shades altogether. Also what is the price for convenience for you? We have 7 windows in the living room, 1 is above the stairs going down to the basement so closing/opening the blinds is difficult to get to and dangerous if you lose your footing. They can be close at night and when you walk downstairs in the morning and see all the windows completely open bringing in the morning sunshine... it always gets me. It's a beautiful sight. You don't want to be the first one awake and have the job of "open the blinds to 7 damn windows".

Summary: Honestly what's $150 per window to make your house will feel like a million bucks? We have Insteon lights so while the blinds are automatically going down the lamps turn on automatically as well. Even in our tiny home, it feels like *so lux*.

[Vgp-rpiu]

Ok so every single product like this I see the person doesn't have the most common blinds. The ones we have are 2 inch wood blinds that are rather heavy. You said it can be used to actually raise and lower them as well? How can that happen with the typical pull cord blinds that lock when you pull them up? I have honestly never been into anyone's house that had blinds that didn't have the typical pull cord that you have to move to the side to close them. My blinds have 2 cords that flip the blinds. I would have to cut the pull knobs off and tie them together for it to work?

[jacobhenson]

are you still using these and are they Apple approved for HomeKit yet ?

[TheMusicMyEars]

How noisy is it? Why does every reviewer talk over the noise that is supposed to be a part of the review?

[michaelzoradi]

Absolutely love that you reviewed this product!  I was convinced that I was only person on the internet who knew of this product and was so curious about how well it worked and how it's integration with HomeKit worked.  Thank you for highlighting this company/product Andrew... keep up the great work!!  

One question... Any idea what happens if a user needs/wants to use more than 10 of these?  Is a second hub required?  Can two hubs connect up with HomeKit without issue?

[razoredge]

Their website states they support all horizontal blinds, can you tell us if you think there would be any issues with vertical blinds? I would think if the chain fits into the mechanism of the Soma there shouldn’t be a compatibility issue.

[dylanmurphy]

If I wanted this do I need to buy the raspberry pi hub and the blind adaptor to control it with Alexa? Could I use my own raspberry pi if you need a raspberry pi? Thanks.

[JasonJohnson]

Will the motor spin if you pull the chain? I'm curious if you can still choose to open and close them manually or do you have to use the app and let the motor do it?

[dillonnoller]

Having trouble finding blinds with a continuous beaded loop. Where did you get yours?

[dannyhcang]

Hey Andrew, how do yout hink this is different from Axis and Teptron?

[bradconicello]

I had these for a while and had to constantly recalibrate them because the shades either wouldn’t fully open or close. Have you experienced this at all? I was using them via their app since the connect wasn’t yet available.

[cjoe_]

What kind/brand are these exact blinds in the video? I cannot find horizontal slat blinds with the beaded string? Please help!

[shaulishamay]

If I want to buy 2 will I be able to send one command to the two devices at once?
How about the noise...is it noisy?

[zicull]

Hey Andrew,
Do you find the unit to be noisy at all?

[krazygreekguy]

anyone have any experience with these? any bugs? how have they been long term? considering getting for HomeKit, but not many reviews out there

[marclamproye]

Hi, MichaelKB95
I am also living in Belgium and interest in this homekit. Please explain why this device will never make in Belgium market?

[robert]

What if my blinds open with a stick....?

[davidbarnes]

Great video I will be putting these on my list to get. Question I have I am Canadian and I would like to support you when buying goods what is the best way to do that. I like to try to buy in Canada do you have links for that.

[MarUlberg]

It is a wifi controlled electrical motor. Why is it so expensive? :/

[cesarp]

I tried the new 'ROD'' version .. disappointed in many ways.. first, neither the 3 connectors will fit in my blinds (canada).. second the thing will uncalibrate and I need to keep calibrating .. 'down' will not go all the way down, neither 'up'.. the way I originally set it up (re-calibrating wipes the whole module and need to re-pair, configure and re-create ALL schedules) .. the app is really dated and gimmicky .. (If you dont buy the connect module) you have to swipe on the 'blinds' image.. and 'guess' how 'open/close' will it be.. there is no way to know if it is 10, 20, 30, 40% open.. so you have to be 'sliding' (which is super sensitive) and keep adjusting till you get it right.. same with scheduled options.. a simple 'slider' 1-100% would be easier (like the homekit version) to know exactly where you want to set the blind.. add this to the calibration issue and you will never be in the same 'spot' of open/close again.. great concept.. buggy implementation.. support response 'fast' on the first emails.. good luck in other emails after.. I DID like the solar charger..I was going to buy the 'alexa/CONNECT' (raspberry) adapter.. but now, I dont like this product.