Xiaomi has launched a crowdfunding campaign on its Chinese platform Youpin for the Smart Switch 2 Pro, a wall switch that connects the lighting already in your home to the Mi Home app without rewiring anything. It is designed as a direct replacement for a traditional switch: it fits the standard 86-type junction box, has a panel just 3.5 mm thick with a high-strength steel bracket, and a surface of AG glass with an anti-fingerprint AF coating.
The feature that matters most for older homes is wiring compatibility. The device adapts automatically to installations with a live wire only or with live and neutral, so there is no need to alter the cables or pay extra when the neutral is missing. On the two- and three-key versions, the app also lets you reassign which light each button controls, useful if the wiring was connected in a messy way.
Connectivity runs on the Xiaomi Mesh 2.0 module, which Xiaomi says improves response speed by 50% and halves network setup time, with remote OTA updates. Control is possible with the physical buttons, the Mi Home app or voice commands through Xiao Ai. Connected functions, however, require a Bluetooth Mesh gateway.
Automation goes beyond lighting. Lights can switch on when a door opens, if compatible smart locks, gateways and curtains are present; a single tap can turn off the lights, open the curtains and start the robot vacuum when you leave home. In wireless mode the buttons can also trigger other devices, such as vacuum cleaners or air purifiers.
On safety, the device supports a maximum current of 10 A and a load of up to 2200 W, with protection against overheating and overload; relays and microswitches are rated for one million cycles.
The launch price on Youpin is 114 yuan (about $17) for the one-key version, 133 yuan (about $20) for two keys and 152 yuan (about $23) for three. Compared with the earlier Smart Switch 2, offered in September in crowdfunding at around 9 euros, the Pro costs considerably more but brings better finishes and features.
The Youpin platform remains reserved for the Chinese market. Xiaomi usually takes 12 to 18 months to bring a product to Europe, and in some cases distribution outside China never happens. For now, the device cannot be bought in Italy.
The launch fits into Xiaomi's push into connected homes, already under way with the Mijia brand and the integration of Matter and Mesh in several products.
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