Ryse smart shade offer a practical and elegant solution for automating my shade. Installation is very easy, Connection is quick and effective, Convenience is my favorite part, I feel like I made a good investment in making my home smart. There are two options for how to place it on the wall, I preferred the front design

Easy to set up, download app, and adjust direction that chain moves. The videos and step by step demonstrations were very helpful. Tip: Buy a continuous loop chain. It will be a lot easier.

Everyone has seen the movies where some fancy pad has automatic blinds that open and close on demand or on a schedule, so I jumped at the chance to try out these Ryse smart shades to see if I could get a similar effect in my home. The nice part about these Smart shades is they will work with existing blinds that have beaded chain or strings, while the really expensive ones are integrated into the blind housings and quickly increase expense and maintenance. Overall setup was simple, just start with the Ryse app and don’t bother with any instructions in the box. Click the battery in and you’ll see the lights on the Ryse turn on. Now here’s when things start going downhill. The app setup asks you to set up the Ryse hub first. This kit does not include the Ryse hub, so you need to skip this part of the setup and go right to the SmartShade setup. More on this later. The SmartShade only connects via Bluetooth and while pairing is simple, this GREATLY limits functionality and ability to control the SmartShade remotely or even around the house. Instead of being able to use Voice assistants or the app to control blinds, you need to do so from the App on your phone or on the unit itself to make adjustments on demand. I don’t have a 2nd unit to try, but I think the lack of hub will limit grouping controls too. The good thing is the automated routines you create are saved on the device itself so at least you can set wake and sleep routines which is really all we need. My wife really loves how the blinds to the bedroom open at dawn and close at dusk based on the routine we set. The build of the unit is attractive and quality. A bit on the heavy side but that’s because the battery lasts for months between charges. Would’ve like to have seen USB-C cable support instead of micro-USB. Also I would consider finding a stud or using better drywall anchors as the unit is pretty heavy. Overall this is a great concept and I love how it can be retrofit to existing beaded chain blinds. I’m really baffled by the decision not to include WiFi on each SmartShade unit however. At this price point you would expect independent WiFi connectivity without the need of another device like a hub. If Ryse is able to get that right then I think they would have a winner as the unit looks and works great other than lack of cloud connectivity.

I've long desired to automate my roller shades. I remember when the only way to do so was to spend literally several hundred dollars and have them professionally installed and programmed. The RYSE SmartShade (operator/controller) has brought that price point down to something I think is very manageable and it's pretty easy to install. Speaking of installation, the most difficult step was to find, and separate, the connecting ball on the existing roller shade chain. Mine looked exactly like every other of the thousands, with the exception of having the slit allowing installation and uninstallation. Once found and pried off, I removed the existing bottom tensioner, was able to re-use the connector ball, and wrapped the chain around RYSE. There are nicely-done step-by-step video instructions provided via a QR code to their YouTube site. The physical installation and top/bottom point calibration with their app took me less than 20 minutes. With the app, you can set the speed at which the shade opens and closes- depending on your patience and sound tolerances. I have it set at the slowest and it's very quiet. The app also allows you to rename your shade to be logical, for reference and if you decide to integrate with other smart home devices and systems. (My one grip is related to this...coming soon). Additionally, you can create "Groups" so that groups of shades can be controlled with a single command. On the device itself there are pairing and setting buttons, a "stop" button" and a rocker to raise and lower the shade with LEDs indicating the percentage open/closed. Nice. My gripe? You must purchase a RYSE Smart Bridge to have full remote control and integrate with your other smart home devices. I need another bridge like...you get the idea. I wish these just communicated with your WiFi directly. That's where I'm hoping the next gen of tech can make this a perfect device

I recently tried out the SmartShade with Battery Pack, and it's been quite a mixed experience. One of the standout features for me is the user-friendly button system. With five easily adjustable levels, it's a breeze to set the perfect amount of shade or light in any room. The installation process was fairly straightforward as well, which is always a plus. However, there are a couple of aspects that left me somewhat dissatisfied. First and foremost, the size of the device itself is a bit of a letdown. When placed in the window, it feels a tad bulky and obstructive. It would have been nicer if the design was more streamlined and less obtrusive. Another downside is the HomeKit integration. While it's great that the SmartShade can be integrated with HomeKit, the requirement for a separate hub feels like an unnecessary extra step. It would have been far more convenient if the integration was more direct and hub-free. Perhaps the most baffling aspect to me is the lack of intelligence when it comes to recognizing sunrise and sunset times. Living in the Midwest, I know that daylight hours can vary drastically throughout the year, ranging from 5:30 to 9:30 PM. It's disappointing that the SmartShade isn't able to adapt to these changes and operate more intuitively based on natural light conditions. In conclusion, the SmartShade with Battery Pack has its pros and cons. The user-friendly buttons and easy installation are definite positives, but the device's size, the separate hub requirement for HomeKit, and the lack of automated sun tracking are notable downsides, especially for those of us in regions with significant daylight variations.