New HomeKit Switches From Homesense revealed

Even though Australasia is relatively starved of a decent selection of Smart Home devices, especially Homekit compatible ones, there has been a recent flurry of activity for this market, with this year seeing companies like HPM/Legrand, iKeon, M-Elec and even LiFX, announcing products either specifically, or initially for Australian consumers. So, it’s great to see yet another Australian company – Homesense -revealing their new in-wall, wired light switches for this market, with the range collectively referred to as the Homesense Smart Switch. These new switches work exclusively with Apple HomeKit and are available in two colourways, as well as four configurations.

Available as one, two, three or four button switches, in either Frost White or Jet Black, these touch-sensitive switches feature no physical buttons as such, instead relying on what appears to be capacitive touch technology. They’re certified to Australian and New Zealand standards (AS/NZS 60669.2.1:2013), and as such are designed to be used with 240v lighting.

Although the switches offer up to a four-button model, none of these switches is designed to be used as replacements for three-way switches, as they’re only single-pole. However, the company states on its website, that via automations with HomeKit, you can replicate the effect of three-way lighting quite easily.

Homesense also states that these switches can control ceiling fans, although only to the extent that the fan can be turned on or off, with no option to control the speed of the connected fan.

As already mentioned, these light switches only work with HomeKit, so currently Alexa and Google integration isn’t available, although the company are open to this if enough customers show interest.

You can find out more about these products on the company’s website. homesense.com.au

Thanks to Bing Feng Yeh for the tip off