No matter where you are, you could always be in control of your home with your smartphone.
These start at $144.99, but go up in price after 29 inches wide and 69 inches long.
Some of the different designs and technology options add cost too.
I found that even when choosing some non-default options, the price for smart roller blinds was still competitive.
An invitation to test BlindsMagic eased my hesitation.
The company provided three shades to cover a bay window, but it did not pay for this review.
Its hard to be certain whats shown will actually show up.
After receiving several shades, I feel more confident in the products.
(you could order material samples ahead of time if that helps.)
Going this route still requires a DIY spirit and a bit of trust.
This is the latest standard that should keep compatible products relevant and functioning for the longest possible time.
There are options for Alexa-controlled blinds or Zigbee-enabled blinds so you will want to choose your tech preference accordingly.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
Once I installed the blinds, connecting them to Apples Home app only took a couple of minutes.
I put them into connectivity mode and scanned the QR code.
But the real reason smart blinds will change your life is because of their automation possibilities.
BlindsMagic smart shades are designed to work seamlessly with popular smart home systems, such as HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and more. No matter where you are, you can always be in control of your home with your smartphone.
I have the blinds set to close 30 minutes after sunset and open at sunrise.
A few examples of these include lowering the blinds when the thermostat reaches 75 degrees.
Opening the blinds whenever you get home and shutting them whenever you leave.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
Or if a certain light or fan turns on, then end the blinds.
Once thats depleted, recharging the battery will take about six hours.
Right now, I have the blinds set to rise in the morning and lower at dusk.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
Theoretically, with that schedule, I should get closer to a year of battery life.
It could be a pain to continually need to charge your blinds.
So how have I recharged the battery?
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
Even with the choice of a left or right-sided USB-C port, there arent always outlets close by.
Ive used a power bank and set it on the window sill to reach the port.
The highly unfortunate part of the charging story is that none of my USB-C to USB-C cables worked.
I needed to use a USB-C to USB-A cable that was less smart and used lower voltage.
Despite the blinds' forward-looking use of Matter, the charging technology used is less than modern.
Should You Buy the BlindsMagic Smart Motorized Roller Shades?
These have been more or less what I was hoping theyd be.
