I recently moved into a new apartment and since I’m trying to live within three smart home ecosystems at once – Apple Home, Google and Amazon Alexa – this was a chance to completely reset my smart home, weed out some things and also some adding new smart gadgets.
My new place has a lot of windows, which is a big win for natural sunlight, but also a lot of classic shades that use a metal bead design to raise and lower. Then I realized: wouldn’t it be cool to open or close them with a tap on an app or ask via a smart assistant?
That led me to discover Ryse, the manufacturer of SmartShade controllers that brings plastic or metal bead necklaces into the 21st century. Yes, it’s not necessarily a necessary purchase, but while pricey, it does make for attractive home automation… and, yes, a cool party trick.
Wired or battery powered
I tested two SmartShades with battery packs, essentially the self-powered version of the controllers that eventually need to be recharged. I think they’re probably the better option for renters, since you don’t have to hunt for an outlet to keep the controller powered all the time.
Ryse, however, makes both options: $149.99 for wired or $199.99 for battery. The SmartBridge, which enables out-of-home control and integration with Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home, costs $80. So it’s not the cheapest upgrade in the world, but it does what it’s supposed to do.
A simple installation, but you want it to be safe
The price isn’t cheap, but the SmartShade Controller is a pretty well-built, albeit sturdy piece of equipment. It’s a rectangle with a pairing and power button on the top, an up and down arrow on the front to raise or lower the window treatments, and a place to configure the plastic or metal bead chain in the back .
People with these types of shades probably know they can be finicky, so make sure you install it properly. Fortunately, the Ryse app for iOS and Android usually walks you through this well, and the included paper instructions fill the missing gap.
Onboarding is simple though: create an account, connect to the SmartShade, and set your open and closed positions. That pair is manual, but once set, the Ryse system is smart enough to know the different phases in between, so you can easily set it to 50%, 75%, or even 18% open.
In my experience, the SmartShade takes about 5-10 minutes to set up, so it should take about 20 minutes for the pair. They’ll then move on pretty quickly to the SmartBridge, which allows for more advanced control options and setup with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, or Google Home. That’s where the real magic happens, as Ryse offers some light automation, but integrating it with your system of choice is a bit easier.
Whether they used the Ryse app or integrated with a smart home ecosystem, the blinds responded quickly to commands – whether fully raised or lowered – and even stopped in a more appropriate spot. It also doesn’t make much noise, thanks to the fact that the motor inside is less than a few decibels; I especially liked the slight sound of the moving metal chain.
I only encountered one major problem: my left upper shadow chain actually broke while the Ryse was moving it up and down, and it speaks to the need to secure the units fairly well. The SmartShade box comes with a mounting bracket with screws; you have to be sure you’re using it because the controller can’t rock around or stand freely while pulling the chain. It will also add weight and cause extra stress.
If you’d rather not drill, renters can use heavy-duty command strips or a similar adhesive, but make sure it’s secure. I was eventually able to repair the metal chain easily, but it’s still not a fun experience. Thankfully, it hasn’t happened to that fixed unit or my upper right shadow since.
So yes, the Ryse SmartShade is an expensive but really useful smart home gadget. Adding smart controls to chain curtains is a bit of a niche market, but it’s probably cheaper than going out and upgrading an entire curtain or blind system. I will also say that it’s really handy to be able to click into Apple Home or Google Home and quickly adjust the curtains, close them while you’re in bed, or even set the scene for a movie night. It’s also cool to ask Siri to do the same.
If you’re looking for it and can afford the cost, the Ryse controller and bridge are excellent together. I wish there were some built-in smarts native to the SmartShade, but that’s more common with smart home gadgets.