GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer Switch Review

Forgetting to shut off the lights is an expensive mistake, and having to rush home or accept a higher electricity bill can be time consuming and irritating.

In this event, the GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer Switch may offer you an ideal solution. This system allows you to control your lights from any location, so long as your smartphone is in hand.

This device is also easy to install, simple to use and helps monitor your energy usage.

While reduced energy costs and remote access are convenient, some users were less than pleased with this device. A few mentioned that the app malfunctioned, while others had the device shut down entirely after a couple of months.

Are these the rare cases or a reason to pass the smart switch by? We discuss all this and more, so before you make your final decision, let’s take a more in-depth look at the GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer Switch.

GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer Switch: The Details

Specs

• Product Dimension: 1.2 x 1.9 x 3 inches.
• Product Weight: 8 ounces.
• Product Type: Dimmer switch.
• Compatible with Amazon Alexa? Yes.

How Does It Work

The first step is to install your GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer Switch. Depending on your level of expertise, this may require the input of a professional electrician, so be sure to account for this added expense.

Once it’s installed, you’ll have a physical panel on your wall that allows you to manually adjust the lights – turning them off, on, or dimming their intensity.

As a bonus, you can sync the device with your smartphone and control the settings remotely. It’s that simple!

If you have an Amazon Alexa, you can also sync the dimmer switch with your smart hub and control it through voice commands. Other virtual assistants are compatible with this switch, so users who own alternative systems aren’t excluded.

All in all, this allows you to dim the lights for a movie night with a simple voice command, power things down for the night once you’re tucked into bed, or shut them off from the office if you forgot to before leaving for the day.

GE: The Brand

Founded in 1892 in New York by Thomas Edison, Charles A. Coffin, Elihu Thomson, Edwin J. Houston, and J.P. Morgan, GE has been a staple in homes and businesses for over 100 years.

They make everything from switches like this one to engines, medical devices, and home appliances. There are very few industries that lack GE’s influence in one way or another.

Their stated mission is to ring in “a new industrial era and to build, move, power, and cure the world.”

GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer Switch Review

The Positives

Easy to Install

Users enjoyed the lack of complication involved with the dimmer switch’s installation.

While you may need some electrical knowledge to connect the wiring of the switch to the wiring in your home, or you may need to hire an electrician, it’s a simple connection issue and one that is covered in the instructions provided with the switch.

Beyond that, you need only sync the device with your smart hub and then connect it to your phone using the app. Once everything is linked, you’re ready to control the lights from your phone no matter your location.

Users found that the light dimmers fit seamlessly into most sockets, and adds a modern touch to most homes without clashing with any decor.

Easy to Use

Boosting your home to ‘smart’ status and controlling its aspects remotely are the definition of ‘easy to use.’

Luckily, the GE Smart Control Dimmer Switch itself is also simplistic to operate. Once it’s connected, all that’s needed is to press the buttons in the app; the lights will turn off, on, or dim to a certain level at your command.

Additionally, you can remain hands-free by using Alexa or another virtual assistant. The inclusion of this smart technology means you won’t even have to lift a finger to operate your lights. It really doesn’t get much easier than that.

You won’t have to worry about being tech-savvy or handy at all when it comes to using these light dimmers. This makes them a perfect gift for those who need a little nudge in the smart home technology department.

Convenient

Hands-free and remote both ally in this device to bring you a convenient experience – which users appreciated.

If they forgot the lights on in a different room, they didn’t have to walk all the way back – instead, they simply grabbed their phone and shut them off remotely.

This also applies to when you’re cozy in bed and forget to switch off the kitchen lights; simply tell Alexa to power things down without lifting a finger.

Finally, when you’re at work, you can double check if the lights are being used and respond accordingly so that your energy bill doesn’t jump.

Programmable

Depending on the smart hub you connect this device to, you can even program your lights to operate with your schedule.

If you know you’ll be out of the house every day at 9 a.m. you can program your lights to turn off right after you leave.

These dimmers are also a great alternative to smart bulbs and will save you some time from switching out every bulb in your home.

They’ll remember what dimness setting you’ve left it at too, so if you’ve found your perfect setting, you won’t have to readjust.

GE doesn’t make this device complicated since it’s meant to make your life easier. They’ve included a lot of smart technology so that you can ease into less worrying.

Energy Efficient

Speaking of wasted power, this dimmer switch is very energy efficient. When you dim the lights, you are using significantly less power than when they are at full strength.

This allows you to save money, while also enjoying warmer lighting for calm evenings at home or for when you need the brightness low for a movie night.

Paired with the remote control function, that translates to a great deal of energy savings – and extra money in your pocket.

We’ve all had that moment of panic when wondering if we forgot to turn the lights off. This device takes that all away so your bills can remain in your control.

Affordable

Not only will you be saving money on your bills with the GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer, but it won’t cost you a ton of money to do so either.

While some devices require you to make a large investment before you reap the benefits, this smart dimmer switch is a great option for those looking to smarten up their home on a budget.

Its reasonable price makes it easy to make the switch, and it comes backed by a warranty to give you another thing not to worry about.

The Negatives

May Have a Limited Life Span

Unfortunately, not everyone had the best experience with the GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer Switch. The rare but prominent issue was the switch’s short lifespan.

After a couple of months or as much as a year, it ultimately stopped working altogether.

While some users didn’t experience this whatsoever and found their switch operating at full capacity for several months and years, others were left with a useless device installed in their wall.

This isn’t the most expensive product, but it shouldn’t have this type of issue. Not all users of the GE Smart Dimmer had this fate, but it’s worth noting to watch for lemons.

Sticky Situations

There were also a few cases where the switch’s control settings glitched and became stuck. As such, the lights would stay on and could not be dimmed.

Users would try to manually turn them off, but that still didn’t work. Some even tried to reset the switch and didn’t find any results.

This is definitely unfortunate. To wire this into your home, only to have it malfunction and affect your lights, may not make this product worth the trouble.

Flashes Lights

Another rare issue, but worth mentioning, is the flickering lights glitch. Some testers found the device would make their lights flash on and off at random intervals, sometimes when they weren’t home.

To resolve this, an electrician needed to be hired, as resetting the device or checking the wiring personally was not enough.

Hopefully, GE can work out these kinks and come up with a smart switch that has fixed these issues. This one seems to have a few issues to sort out.

The Price Can Add Up

While the price of this smart dimmer is quite affordable, it stops being budget-friendly if you have a number of switches you want to upgrade in your home.

For larger homes, or homes with a lot of light sources, adding more of these in your home will, of course, drive up the overall cost of having these installed.

If you’re not worried about price, having a number of these in your home won’t be a problem. But if budget is an issue, you may want to find something cheaper, or be willing to upgrade your switches bit by bit.

Here’s a video showing an example of how the GE Z-Wave Smart Dimmer works.

Overall Verdict

After combing through all the positives and the negatives, we do recommend the GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer Switch. There are some flaws, but overall, it’s an innovative device.

You can adjust and control your lighting from anywhere, at any time, with more customization. This smart switch also helps you save on energy costs and time, whether you’re at home or on the go.

The GE brand definitely inspires confidence about the quality and reliability of this device.

However, users did uncover kinks that can’t be ignored. Some testers had fantastic experiences with this device, while others were left frustrated and unhappy.

If you are willing to overlook the occasional negatives that some users experienced, this device is certainly inexpensive enough to give a shot.

Buyer beware, though: Keep your receipt nearby and look out for glitches, as it may be necessary to use your warranty.

Where to Buy the GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer Switch

As mentioned, GE is no newbie when it comes to the world of innovation and technology. This shows in many of their devices including this one.

Thanks to this company’s success and popularity, it won’t be hard to find the GE Z-Wave Plus Smart Control Dimmer Switch both in-store and online.

While it’s usually best to check home department, tech, and home renovation stores, you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• Best Buy (from $46)
• The Home Depot (from $44)

And of course, you can also find this smart dimmer on Amazon.

That’s the end of our GE Smart Dimmer review. Curious to give it a try?