Jon Bitner / Digital Trends
One of the major annoyance power point of the modern smart abode is its digital nature . Whether it ’s controlling your smart lights , robot vacuum , smart lock , or thermostat , there ’s a good prospect you ’re using a smartphone for most of your interactions . That makes it less than ideal for other appendage of the household — or even guests — to make changes to your setup . This is where Flic comes into play , as the society offer a card of strong-arm buttons and dial so everyone can use your favorite smart gadget without the need for a digital port .
I ’ve been testing out both the Flic Smart Buttons and Flic Twist , and while they miss sure functionality , they ’re adhere to be a playfulness improver to most smart homes . That ’s peculiarly true if you apply Alexa or HomeKit , as both platforms work with the innovative smart clitoris .
Jon Bitner / Digital Trends
The Flic app makes setup a breeze
set up my Flic organization was astonishingly promiscuous . Despite having multiple boxes with various product , I was able to get everything working — and create my first automation — within minutes . My frame-up included a Flic Twist , Flic Smart Buttons , and a Flic Hub .
The Flic Twist is essentially a dial that can be pressed or rotated to prompt various feature , such as changing the volume on your bright speaker or dimming your lights . The Smart Buttons are your stock push buttons , allow you to program three different functions ( crush , forked press , or postponement ) . The Flic Hub , meanwhile , act as a central brain for all the action at law , and it ’s want for the Flic Twist . The Flic Smart Buttons can either be synced to the Hub or directly to your smartphone .
Once my devices were sync , setting up actions was remarkably simple . you’re able to create legal action directly from the Flic app without the demand to lade up secondary applications . For lesson , I was able to program my Flic Twist to control my Sonos impudent speaker without opening the Sonos app at all . Within seconds , I could play , pause , and conform the volume of my fresh verbalizer with the Twist — a fairly telling feat compared to other controller , which require across-the-board programming via third - party apps .
Your gasoline mileage may depart depend on what exactly you ’re attempt to sync with the Flic frame-up , but I ’ve base it to be a flowing experience that ’s free of vulgar headache associated with the chic home .
Lacking key functionality
The biggest drawback to the Flic is its overall functionality . The company has made big strides over the years , supporting names like Alexa and Matter — but it ’s still miss cardinal brands like Google Home . sure purpose are also restricted free-base on the Flic gadget you ’re using , and some products are n’t even supported by Flic Twist or its twisting feature . For a list of compatible product and legal action , check out theFlic covering tilt .
Another major drawback is that you could only programme a few controls at a time for each Twist or Button . On the Twist , I have it so that twisting its dial align the volume of my verbaliser and press its button toggles the euphony on or off . It still has “ Double energy ” and “ Push & Twist ” action usable , which stand for you could have a amount of four action assign to the $ 80 machine .
liken that to theLinxura Smart Controller , which can operate up to 52 gadget thanks to a progress - in display . It also does n’t require a hub . Linxura works with Google Home , which is ideal for my current frame-up , though the great appeal is cause the option to create automation for dozens of gadgets with a single gimmick .
Programming the Flic is a second well-off than the Linxura , and I ’d fence the Flic Twist take care good . But when it comes to overall functionality , it fall a minute short of the competition .
Physical buttons for a digital smart home
Whether or not you ’ll get any use out of the Flic mostly depends on your specific impertinent home . If you ’re operate with products it support — like Sonos , HomeKit , or Alexa — you ’ll find plenty of way to apply the Twist and Smart Buttons into your lifestyle . Programming the devices contract just a few minutes , and the mobile fellow traveler app is wanton to navigate .
bring physical release and dial into your impertinent rest home is a wise decision , and it ’s surprising how utilitarian they can be when deployed right . It ’s a bit of a bummer you’re able to only programme a fistful of actions to your Flic devices at once , but if you ’re see to give your whole family a round-eyed room to access your most - used functions , a Flic product could be a worthwhile investiture . The brand name is constantly adding new feature and compatibility — and with Matter funding , it should stay useful for the foreseeable future .
