EveLight Switch – Connected Wall Switch (Apple HomeKit), Single, Alternating & Cross switches, Compatible with Multi-Location setups, schedules, no Bridge Required, Bluetooth,Thread

I don't know why some reviews of Eve's Light Switch take points away (or whatever) because it's a simple on-off switch across the entirety of the decora-panel insert. For me, that's a selling point. Yes, I bought this because it's a smart switch, but if I want to do fancy things (automations, etc) with it, I'm going to use my phone and the Eve app or my computer and Home app. But when I'm physically near the switch, it's a boon to just sort of be able to vaguely tap it without looking, secure in the knowledge that I won't be inadvertently activating some other function or missing the switch entirely. It's a BIG contact area, that's the whole point. Best of both worlds, frankly: plenty of finesse available from your device, but physically couldn't be easier - or more unobtrusive - to turn on. The green LED can also be set to be on when the switch is on, or on when the switch is off (if you need it for nighttime, etc), or always off.The only drawback I found was the size of the unit - it can be quite tricky to fit it PLUS all the hard Romex wiring that occupies the switch area already into the same place. But it can be done, and once it is, you won't have to worry about it again.Worth mentioning that this switch does not function as a dimmer or adjust the light's color output; it's a switch.

When you start out with a small Homekit-over-Thread network, these work well. However, as the Thread network grows with more devices, Matter-over-Thread devices join and add Matter controllers / clients from other smarthome systems to the shared Thread network - then these switches start to become increasingly unreliable. I believe this is more of a Homekit-over-Thread protocol scalability problem as other Homekit devices suffer too, but these Eve switches also develop a tendancy to *hard lock up*.They stop responding to local control, and the two-finger reset mechanism does not work. At this point the only recourse is to cycle the circuit breaker for the room. My photo in this review is from a switch in this locked-up state. It is on and cannot be turned off locally or via remote control. A breaker flip was required in this case.The unfortunate thing is that they do have a firmware fix for this but they only give it to a select few people. They had Matter-over-thread firmware (which fixes this particular problem) certified in March 2024, and again in August 2024. But no, you cannot have it.Their support is near useless. When you have problems like this, they'll reply with boilerplate responses about how they're rushing to get everything out, but nothing that actually helps.It's hard to not be bitter at this point. The products had so much promise as a premium product line. But for now, I'm avoiding them at all costs. The company desperately needs to solve its release cycle problem. Withholding certified firmware that fixes actual bugs for 6-12 months is absurd.If anyone else is looking for an alternative, I am very happy with the Inovelli matter-over-thread switches.[Original review, 4 stars]I bought these for several reasons, including to fill in some gaps in a Thread network. They work well and the Homekit support is solid.I'd love to give them a 5 star review, but I have challenges with installation due to their size.1) They are not small switches. Fitting them in junction boxes can be quite a challenge.2) The pigtails require wire nuts or wago connectors. This compounds the size issue and makes it even harder to fit them in a box. It would have been quite a bit easier to fit it all in the box if they had screw terminals instead of pigtails.3) As a result of space constraints, it can be a challenge to get the surfaces lined up so that they look presentable. I've been able to do it, but it hasn't been fun at times.They are hyper sensitive to touch. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but they can be triggered by the brush of an elbow through thin clothing when walking close by. This is something that can be accommodated for and isn't much of an issue for us. Some might find it irritating.For me, I still miss the Insteon switchlinc style rocker panel controls - even though they were unreliable. I had hoped that these might win over my heart but they're not quite there for me. The Eve touch controls definitely feel like they will stand the test of time.In other words: a solid, reliable switch that feels like it will last, but installation can be a bit of a pain.

If you're fully invested in a Thread-based smart home setup with eero routers, HomePods, and an Apple TV, this product is a perfect fit. It integrates seamlessly with that ecosystem, delivering fast responsiveness and reliable performance without any issues so far.

Addendum 8/21/2023: We purchased two more of these Eve Smart Light Switches recently, and love them! We used these two for our front and back outdoor light switches, and they work great when you program them to go on at sunset, and off and sunrise. It's so nice to not have to manually turn these lights on or off anymore. I'm really impressed that these switches have been adjusting themselves to the ever-changing sunrise and sunset times, without us having to do anything. Highly recommend! They might be more expensive than other smart switches, but we think it's worth the cost.***********Finally got these installed today and set up with Apple HomeKit. (I did not use the Eve app.) Two of the three switches were a little stubborn during the set up process, but I restarted my iPhone, and turned the switches off and then on again, and it was easy after that.I knew these switches were not dimmer-capable, but that's okay. I love that they are thread devices. And I love the green LED that tells when a switch is turned on.Very happy with them so far.