ZemiSmart Release First WiFi Curtain Motor for HomeKit
In the last 8 months or so, ZemiSmart has come from a virtual unknown entity with HomeKit users, to reasonably wide recognition, thanks in large part to its Zigbee 3.0 HomeKit hub. This pretty much exposed a ton of the company’s Zigbee devices to HomeKit where previously they were restricted to Amazon and Google users. Still, when it comes to hubs, there’s a large portion of smart home users that aren’t too keen on yet another hub (I’m not one of them). Now ZemiSmart has taken the first step in providing products that don’t require a hub, whilst also being HomeKit compatible, with the WiFi version of their smart Curtain motor.
To be clear, this is not a WiFi version of their battery-powered curtain driver we reviewed a while back, that travels along your curtain rail or rod, but in fact, a complete curtain system that includes the mains-powered motor and tracking, plus hooks for your curtains. this means that it’s a more involved installation.
The benefits of this are that the motor is consistently quieter than the aforementioned drivers, at below 30dB, faster opening and closing operation, due to mains electricity powering the motor, and the option to control two curtains with one motor, as opposed to the two drivers required for a pair of curtains. ZemiSmart already offer a Zigbee version of this product, for those that want to make use of a hub they already have, or just want to keep WiFi devices to a minimum, but they essentially do the same job.
The only issue with a mains-powered device of this type is having a power outlet within reach of the power cable, which itself is only 750mm/28.15in long. The good news is that the company offer a power cable for the US, the UK, Australia, and Europe. Different lengths of rail are also offered that come in sections, and there’s even the option to have rails that curve at 90º if necessary.
Curtain motors of this type aren’t new of course, with Aqara offering a Zigbee and WiFi version of their own, one of which even comes with a rechargeable and removable battery. However, the WiFi version, of which a new one has just been launched in China, is not either HomeKit nor even Aqara Home compatible, only working with Mi Home.
Pricing for the WiFi ZemiSmart Curtain motor starts at US$149.69 for a 2.1 metre/82.6 inch long curtain track. You can check out the WiFi model on the ZemiSmart website, as well as check out all of the company’s other HomeKit compatible Zigbee devices.
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Now this is interesting to me.
There has been a large number of options for blinds – both vertical and horizontal, and even some options for plantation shutters but hardly any curtain solutions aka ‘drapes’ and zero until recently in the UK.
I had seen the previous battery power Zemismart curtain solution but this would have required two units for a paired curtain solution and there is a solution in Europe that is good but not available in the UK and still not yet HomeKit compatible and there have been some Aqara options but they are a confusing product line and difficult to get in the UK.
This looks a lot more straight forward and can open a pair of curtains and even copes with curved tracks.
My only issue now is that I am waiting for confirmed Matter support.
Based on previous conversations with my ZemiSmart contact (who hadn’t even heard of Thread), I suspect Matter would be a way off for ZemiSmart right now, given that HomeKit is all new and shiny to them. That said, they’ve long been compatible with Amazon and Google, so you would think they’ve been following along to some degree.
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👏 Great. Are we going to see a video review? ☺️
Thanks a lot.
Hi, I’ve got the Zigbee version here, so I’m trying to find a place to install it, as I’ve already got blinds for all windows. If I do, then I’ll be testing the WiFi version too, as the motor is the same as the Zigbee one.