Outfitting Your Smart Home: Zigbee Devices

What is Zigbee?

Zigbee is a wireless technology that supports automation—it allows many home security and smart home devices to interconnect in a single system. It sounds complicated, but it works a lot like your home Wi-Fi network, just for smart devices.

Just like you need a wireless router to create a Wi-Fi network, you also need a hub to set up and control a Zigbee network. The hub coordinates the system, and each device also acts as a node to create a mesh network of devices.

Wondering what’s in it for you? Because Zigbee devices have a different wireless connection, they won’t overcrowd your Wi-Fi network. And having a Zigbee network means you have more alternatives to Wi-Fi smart devices.

You’re probably familiar with Zigbee devices without even knowing it. Philips Hue is one of the most popular smartbulbs, and it’s also a Zigbee device.

To help you decide if Zigbee devices are right for your smart home, let’s dive into four categories of Zigbee devices and their roles.

Zigbee Smart Home Hubs

Hubs help control smart devices across your home by giving you a single app, which eliminates the need for multiple apps on your smartphone. There are four types of smart hubs that use the Zigbee protocol:

• Dedicated hubs automate and control devices from as many brands as possible but don’t have any additional features.
• Multipurpose hubs automate and control devices while also serving another function, like that of a smart speaker.
• Security systems (or base stations) primarily focus on arming and disarming burglar alarms.
• Bridges help a single brand’s products (or a single type of product like a smart light) connect to the internet and mobile devices.

Let’s take a closer look at some examples of these hub types.

Zigbee Lighting

Smart Light Switches

There are surprisingly few smart light switches that use Zigbee, but we found four options (in no particular order) worth checking out:

1. Philips Hue Smart Dimmer Switch

The Philips Hue Smart Dimmer Switch (about $25) is a battery-powered switch that comes with a mounting plate so you can put it on your wall. The switch attaches the mounting plate with a magnet so you can remove it to use as a remote.

It requires a Philips Hue Hub and doesn’t work with other Zigbee hubs, so it lacks compatibility as a general-purpose solution.

2. AduroSmart ERIA Smart Wireless Dimmer

The AduroSmart ERIA Smart Wireless Dimmer (about $20) can directly link this switch to Zigbee light bulbs (up to 20). Like the Hue switch above, it also uses a magnetic wall mount and doubles as a portable remote.

This switch doesn’t require a hub, but you can link it to hubs from AduroSmart or Samsung SmartThings for added functionality.

3. GE Zigbee Smart Dimmer In-Wall Lighting Control

The GE Zigbee Smart Dimmer In-Wall Lighting Control (about $55) is a great option because it replaces your light switch instead of your light bulbs. While it’s not compatible with Zigbee bulbs, it works well with traditional dimmable light bulbs.

It can offer a cost-effective way to switch a whole room to Zigbee, especially if you have a lot of bulbs. It requires a Zigbee smart hub and light electrical work to swap out your old switch.

4. Lutron Aurora

The Lutron Aurora (about $40) is a battery-powered dimmer knob that attaches to existing light switches to control up to 12 Philips Hue light bulbs. It doesn’t require a hub, but the only smartbulbs it officially supports are Hue products (though it technically works with other Zigbee bulbs). It can control up to 50 bulbs and control custom lighting scenes if you connect it to a Hue Hub.

What we like most is the Aurora’s distinctive design, which prevents people from flipping off switches connected to Zigbee bulbs. Smartbulbs lose all of their usefulness if the light switch is off.

Smart Plugs

Smart plugs work well for controlling lights and appliances like fans. They’re good for rounding out your smart home. Here are some Zigbee smart plugs worth considering:

• Innr Zigbee Smart Plug (2-pack) (about $35)
• Sengled Smart Plug (about $20)
• Sylvania Smart+ ZigBee Indoor Smart Plug (about $25)
• Philips Hue Smart Plug (about $40)—exclusive to Philips Hue

Check out our review of the best smart plugs for advice on choosing the right smart plug.

Zigbee Security Sensors

Your Zigbee smart home can double as a home security system if you have the right sensors. Most DIY Zigbee hubs don’t support professional monitoring, so you have to monitor your home yourself. Here are two types of Zigbee sensors to help boost your home security.

Motion Detectors

Motion sensors watch for movement inside your home and are one of the most critical parts of a security system because they help spot intruders that come in through broken or open windows. Motion sensor features are simple, so we’ll skip to the good part and list a few reputable models to consider for your Zigbee system.

• Ecolink PET Immune Motion Detector (about $40)
• Philips Hue Indoor Motion Sensor (about $40)—exclusive to Philips Hue
• Samsung SmartThings Magnetic Motion Sensor (about $25)

Learn more about how motion detectors work in our beginner’s guide to motion sensors.

Door and Window Sensors

These two-part sensors involve a magnet and a sensor that separate whenever someone opens a door or window. This sends a signal to the hub or security system to set off an alarm or send you a notification.

• Sengled Smart Window and Door Sensor (2-pack) (about $28)
• Samsung SmartThings Door and Window Multipurpose Sensor (about $20)
• Visonic Wireless Door Window and Temperature Sensor (about $20)

Read our door and window sensor review to learn more about how these sensors work.

Other Security Sensors

Just as smart lighting manufacturers tend to prefer Zigbee for smartbulbs, security sensor manufacturers prefer Z-Wave technology. Z-Wave is a similar smart home platform and also Zigbee’s main rival. This lack of selection makes it trickier to find Zigbee glass break sensors, sirens, flood sensors, thermostats, and smoke detectors, especially from established brands.

Considering most dedicated smart hubs support both Z-Wave and Zigbee, we think it’s a lot easier to go with Z-Wave in this instance. Another alternative is getting sensors that use Wi-Fi, particularly if you have an Amazon Echo Plus, which doesn’t have Z-Wave support.

You can learn more about security sensors by reading our article on what to look for in a home security system.

Zigbee Smart Locks

All three of the largest smart lock manufacturers—Kwikset, Schlage, and Yale—sell locks that have a built-in Zigbee radio. Here are our favorite Zigbee locks from each brand:

• The Kwikset SmartCode 914 (about $150) has a keypad with physical buttons, which makes it a cheaper option for the budget-conscious.
• The Yale Assure Lock SL with Zigbee (about $210) is entirely keyless with a sleek touchscreen. It’s one of the most attractive smart locks on the market.
• The Schlage Connect Smart Deadbolt (about $200) has a higher security rating than similar locks from Kwikset and Yale, so it’s a great option for boosting your security.

While these three Zigbee locks stand out, there are a variety of models from each brand to get the style and color you want. To learn more about what makes a good smart lock, check out our review of the best smart locks.

Zigbee Devices FAQ

How do I connect Zigbee devices?

Make sure you have a Zigbee Certified hub first. While the exact instructions vary based on the brand, you’ll follow some basic steps:

1. Using the hub’s app, select the option to add a device. You may need to select a device type. The hub will go into pairing mode.
2. Turn on the device by inserting batteries, plugging it in, or flipping a power switch.
3. Most devices automatically jump into pairing mode when they get power, but you may need to press a button on some units.
4. The hub and device finish the process automatically. You should get a prompt that lets you name your device and assign it to a room.

Is Zigbee better than Wi-Fi?

It depends on the situation:

• Zigbee uses less energy to transmit and receive signals, making it ideal for battery-powered devices like sensors and smart locks.
• Zigbee uses a different frequency that doesn’t compete with other devices on your Wi-Fi network, so it’s less likely to affect your internet connection.
• Zigbee doesn’t require an internet connection or router to communicate between devices.
• Wi-Fi is better for sending large amounts of information—particularly on smart speakers and security cameras.
• Wi-Fi allows for the use of mobile apps since smartphones don’t have Zigbee technology.

The majority of Zigbee smart hubs have a Wi-Fi connection that enables mobile app controls and opens the door for interconnectivity with Wi-Fi smart devices.

What is the range of Zigbee?

The wireless frequencies of a Zigbee mesh network have a maximum range of 250–325 feet indoors.¹ Without obstructions, Zigbee frequencies can reach over 980 feet. You can boost the range and strength of the signal by using a signal repeater.

How many devices can Zigbee support?

Up to 65,000 per network,² meaning there’s no practical limit to the number of Zigbee devices in a smart home network. Most smart home networks won’t need more than a few dozen devices, and even the largest homes probably won’t have more than 1,000 devices.

Is Zigbee secure?

Yes, all Zigbee devices use built-in encryption to protect against hacking. The Zigbee Alliance—an organization that sets the standards for Zigbee tech—uses a certification program to ensure that manufacturers meet these security standards. Still, no technology is completely secure from attacks.

Zigbee devices should say “certified product” somewhere on the box or in the product description. You can also search a database of certified products on the Zigbee Alliance website.

Why is Zigbee so expensive?

Companies need to pay the Zigbee Alliance for licensing to make Zigbee-certified devices. They pass the costs of this licensing along to consumers.

Related Articles

• What’s the Difference between Zigbee and Z-Wave?
• Best Smart Home Automation Systems
• Room-by-Room Guide to Home Automation
• Outfitting Your Smart Home: Amazon Alexa Devices
• Outfitting Your Smart Home: Google Assistant Devices

Sources

1. Zigbee Alliance, “Zigbee”
2. Zigbee Alliance, “Zigbee”

Disclaimers

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