Smart shades are an affordable luxury for your Apple Home, and the ones from Bringnox offer Matter over Thread in a less costly package. It's more of the same, but in a good way.
When I accepted the review for Bringnox smart roller shades, I expected something similar or competitive to the SmartWings shades I previously reviewed. Here's the thing — these might be nearly identical shades under a different brand.
I'm not accusing anyone of any wrongdoing or cloning, but it seems both companies may have sourced parts from similar supply chain sources and landed with near-identical products. The only notable difference appears to be the remote and solar panel included.
Believe it or not, that's not a bad thing. The two companies seem to offer different kinds of materials and shade types, it just so happens that the ones I tested were fairly close.
Don't worry, I'll still detail everything in this review, but the Bringnox shades being basically identical to the SmartWings shades earned them the same 5-star review score. What's more, they're priced slightly better, so there's more bang for your buck with these excellent shades.
Also, I'm happy to say that the motor used works great even when operating a double-wide shade. That was one aspect I wanted to test in my new office, and it worked flawlessly.
Bringnox smart roller shades review: Design
I tested two shades, one single width and one double width. They are Bringnox 100% Blackout Vigor in Rock White color with an outside mount and Matter over Thread motor.
Bringnox smart roller shades review: covering your windows
While the unit is listed at $109, my configuration for the smaller shade ended up being just over $400. Keep that in mind when customizing your shade.
I prefer the outside mount for simplicity in mounting to the wall, though if you've got space in the window frame, an inside mount will be a cleaner look overall. I like the standard roll that places the shade closer to the wall, which is almost flush with the window frame in my setup.
The solar panel easily mounts to the window with adhesive and keeps the motor powered at all times. If you'd prefer to plug it in to an outlet, that's also an option.
I needed 100% blackout shades to ensure the harsh sunlight didn't wash out video for the AppleInsider Podcast. I previously used a 70% shade, but that was enough light to ruin the exposure of recorded video.
Bringnox smart roller shades review: 100% blackout lets no light through, but some might bleed in at the edge
Choosing the right blackout level is important. A bedroom might benefit from 100% blackout shades while a living room might not.
Like the SmartWings shades I reviewed, there's not much to say otherwise. These are layered pieces of fabric that drape over a window and operate via a motorized roller.
They do their job and do it well.
Bringnox smart roller shades review: Features
The Bringnox shades come paired with a physical remote if that's something useful to you. The reality is, that beyond some setup needs, you'll put that remote away and forget about it.
Bringnox smart roller shades review: Apple Home controls are enough
The Matter over Thread motor enables cross-ecosystem compatibility with Apple Home, Google, and Amazon smart home setups. Once you've scanned the setup code, the shades join your Apple Home and become addressable in the Home app and via Siri.
Matter is the universal protocol built by a smart home consortium based on Apple's HomeKit protocol. Thread is a low-powered network that operates outside of your Wi-Fi network to extend reach and simplify connections.
The combination enables a universal system that doesn't need much power to operate. While opening and closing the shades is easy via Siri, I prefer the control in the Home app.
While Apple could refine the Home app to not waste so much space, the simple slider that appears is easy enough for choosing how open your shades are.
Bringnox smart roller shades review: a solar powered motor with Matter over Thread
You'll need the physical remote to set the minimum and maximum opening and closing points, and that's what shows up in Apple Home.
Setting the slider to 50% isn't setting it to halfway on the roll, but halfway between the set points for minimum and maximum. That means there is a chance 50% isn't halfway for your window, so you'll need to learn exactly what settings mean what.
These are shades attached to a motor, the feature list is short, but that's the point. Sometimes the simplest tech is the kind that works the best.
Using the Bringnox smart roller shades
I like setting the shades to open and close via automations so there is sun in my office when I want it. A scene for Podcasting is set up to change the lights and close the shade right before I record.
Bringnox smart roller shades review: keeping the light out of my podcast background
It's all so much more convenient than the old-school blinds with pull cables I was dealing with before. Reaching those cables and maneuvering the heavy blinds into the right position was always a pain, especially with desks in the way.
Smart shades are a luxury that costs enough that you have to be very deliberate in their purchase. It's a natural next step in a smart home beyond bulbs and thermostats.
There's something about having the shades react to your automations and scenes without any effort. The whole point of a smart home is removing friction from everyday interactions to make them actually worthwhile.
Sure, you can open a set of dumb blinds or curtains with a minute of effort. However, that little bit of effort multiplied by every window that needs to be opened and then closed later is enough to ensure you never operate them at all.
With smart shades like those from Bringnox, everything is effortless and automatic. That is why any well-made smart shade with Matter over Thread is going to get 5 stars from me, as long as they are reasonably priced and work well.
Bringnox smart roller shades review - Pros
- Customizable shades with plenty of options to fit your window
- Quiet and fast operation
- Matter over Thread enables Apple Home support
- Easy installation, solar power, and zero maintenance
Bringnox smart roller shades review - Cons
- Can get expensive with some configurations
Rating: 5 out of 5
It is hard to imagine what a custom shade with Matter over Thread support could do better. They have an excellent quality, do their job, and are slightly better on price versus a competitor.
Where to buy Bringnox smart roller shades
The Bringnox smart shades are available on Amazon starting at $109 that can be discounted to $69 with an on-screen coupon. That is just the starting price, as you'll have to choose the size, motor, and accessories that go with it.
Be sure to get the appropriate measurements as needed before placing an order.
