I recently moved into a new apartment and given that I try to live within three smart home ecosystems at once – Apple Home, Google and Amazon Alexa – it was a chance to have a little reset with my smart home, removed some things out and also add some new smart devices.
My new place has a ton of windows, which is a huge win for natural sunlight, but also a ton of classic shades that use a metal bead design for lifting and lowering. That’s when I realized: wouldn’t it be nice to open or close them with the touch of an app or ask via a smart assistant?
This led me to discover Ryse, the maker of SmartShade controllers that brings plastic or metal bead chains into the 21st century. Yes, it’s not necessarily a necessary purchase, but while it’s pricey, it makes for compelling home automation… and, yes, a cool party trick.
Corded or battery operated
I’ve tested two SmartShades with battery packs, essentially the self-powered version of the controllers that will eventually need a recharge. I think they are the best option for renters as you don’t have to search for an outlet to always power the controller.
Ryse makes both options, though – priced at $149.99 for the cable or $199.99 for the battery. The SmartBridge, which enables out-of-home control and lets them integrate with Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home, costs $80. So it’s not the cheapest upgrade in the world, but it aims to do what it’s meant to do.
A simple setup, but you’ll want it to be secure
The price isn’t cheap, but the SmartShade Controller is a well-built, if bulky, piece of kit. It’s a rectangle with a pairing and power button on top, an up and down arrow on the front for raising or lowering the window shade, and a place to configure the chain with plastic or metal beads on the back.
People with these types of shades will likely know that they can be difficult, so make sure you install it properly. Fortunately, the Ryse app for iOS and Android mostly guides you through this well, and the instructions included in the paper fill in the missing gap.
Onboarding is easy, though – create an account, connect to SmartShade and place your open and closed positions. This pair is manual, but once set, the Ryse system is smart enough to recognize the different phases in between, so you can easily set it to be 50%, 75% or even 18% open.
In my experience, the SmartShade takes about 5 to 10 minutes to set up, so it takes about 20 minutes for the pair. They then go to SmartBridge very quickly, enabling more advanced control options and setting it up with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa or Google Home. This is where the real magic begins, as Ryse offers easy automation, but integration with your favorite system is a little easier.
Whether using the Ryse app or integrating with a smart home ecosystem, the shades respond quickly to commands – whether raising or lowering completely – and even stopping at a more personalized spot. It also doesn’t make a lot of noise, thanks to the motor inside which is under a few decibels; Mostly I had the faint sound of the metal chain moving.
I only ran into one major problem – my top left shade chain actually broke while Ryse was moving it up and down, and that speaks to the need to secure the units pretty well. The SmartShade case includes a screw-on mounting bracket; you’ll want to make sure to use it, as the controller can’t wobble or come loose while pulling the chain. It will also add weight and add extra stress.
If you prefer not to drill, renters can use some heavy-duty duct tape or a similar adhesive, but make sure it’s tight. In the end, I was able to easily fix the metal chain, but still, it’s not a fun experience. Fortunately, it hasn’t happened since with that fixed unit or my top right shade.
So yes, the Ryse SmartShade is an expensive but really useful smart home gadget. It’s a bit of a niche market to want to add smart controls to chain shades, but it’s likely cheaper than going out and upgrading an entire shade or blind system. I will also say being able to go into Apple Home or Google Home and quickly adjust the shades, turn them off at bedtime or even set the scene for a movie night is really handy. Likewise, it’s nice to ask Siri to do the same.
If you’re looking for one and can afford the cost, the Ryse controller and bridge are great together. I just wish there were some onboard smarts native to the SmartShade, but this is more par for the course with smart home devices.