Table of Content
Wink though boasts a better mobile application and, overall, a more reasonable price tag. As tested, the Wink gets to more mainstream big suppliers and their hardware. Wink app interface.When you download the Wink app, connect it to your Wi-Fi. Some animations would show you the basics and guide you through the rest of the setup. You can start adding your devices, making shortcuts, and automation to your liking. Before we jump into our in-depth analysis, here’s a quick overview of what makes the SmartThings and Wink smart home hubs great.
Great when it works but it doesn't work when I need it to. Additionally I recieved a notification via the app that they were going to start charging for a subscription service but when I went to find the message, I couldn't find it. I would hope they would send this sort of information in an email. The hub was expensive enough; if they're going to start charging to use this service , I'll find a different solution than Wink. Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising.
How do I connect a product to the Wink app?
Log out of the Wink app via the top left side of the home screen and tapping the user settings icon . Tap My profile” and scroll down and tap the option to Log Out”. Scroll through the start screens until you reach the Login / Create account” section. Select Login and underneath the email/password fields is a “Forgot Password” link. Pressing the “Forgot your password” link will allow you to send the reset instructions to the email address you used when you set up your Wink account. When you restart your Wink Subscription, you will regain access to the devices and automations on your Wink Account and will be charged $4.99 USD at the beginning of each billing cycle.
Place the Smart Hub close to your Wi-Fi router for uninterrupted internet, then connect your app to the Hub. Use the app, get your Hub to sniff out all your smart home products, and sync to them all. You can find the full list of Wink-compatible products at or in the “Add A Product” menu within your Wink app. We are continually working to add more products to the Wink platform from the brands you trust and rely on everyday.
Maximum Number of Devices
Free Wink accounts will only have access to locally controlled devices. Wink Relay is an alternative DIY home automation controller offered by Wink. Unlike the Wink Hub, this home automation product is a high-quality touchscreen capable of allowing you to control your Wink smart house system without using a smartphone. The Wink Relay is available with an inbuilt intercom and doubles as a replacement for standard light switches. One noteworthy feature of this home automation product is that it can be connected to Fitbit to help you track your daily fitness goals.
In all honesty, you should connect both devices using a wired ethernet cable if you want the fastest speed for your device. But that shouldn’t even be a problem as your Smart Hub needs to be within 2 meters of your Wi-Fi. In terms of connectivity, the Wink Hub 2 offers a wider range of options, along with its more significant memory of 512MB. You can connect through Wi-Fi using either 2.4 or 5GHz for both Wink 2 and SmartThings, although the manufacturers highly recommend 5GHz. The Samsung SmartThings comes with 256MB of memory, but you can also attach a 4GB Flash drive. Though to be fair, this memory is only really required to store data from the devices.
Smart Plug
For security purposes, you should convert your network security to WPA2-PSK. Refer to your router’s instruction manual for details on how to do this. Make sure the password for your Wi-Fi network and your Wink account are at least 16 characters and contains uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. This suggestion applies to any passwords you create for other accounts.
You can also download the Wink Hub app and control commands, like light switches or garage door, from your phone on-the-go. For $199, you can buy Wink’s “Lookout” package, which bundles the company’s main product, a smart home hub. The device is capable of connecting to a wide variety of smart appliances — including light bulbs, electrical outlets and security cameras —offering customers easy access to manage them all. Yes, you will be able to control a limited set of switches, lights and locks that are connected directly to your hub with the Wink App while your phone is on your local WiFi network.
Ratings and reviews
This is a big win for anybody worried they would be connecting with any device which isn’t from a large manufacturer. The Samsung SmartThings forum is bound to either have an answer or provide a solution. Samsung’s customer support is standard, but the community puts in head and shoulders above Wink. As laid out in the comparison table, Wink Hub can connect to 530 devices while the SmartThings Hub can connect to an unlimited number. Unless you are considering using this Smart Things hub for a large-scale commercial premise, these numbers don’t matter. Both Wink and SmartThings get full marks for sleek design, barely distinguishable from other smart home devices, and small enough to conceal if required.
PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Perhaps the only good news is that the company says it's refusing to sell or monetize customers' data to offset the costs.
Flex was Wink's primary supplier of firmware and hardware. A review in PCMAG of the Wink Hub 2 said it was easy to use and compatible with many devices, but had no battery backup or USB ports. The reviewer said the device is easy to set up and compatible with many devices, but gave the reviewer error messages. The reviewer was never able to successfully set it up the way she wanted.
You should consider these sensors if you are committed to Wink. Be sure to readthis article about neutral wiresbefore making a smart switch purchase. The system runs flawlessly and they have dimmers that work without a neutral wire. We have afull Caséta reviewthat includes a comparison of the different switch types. We recommend the ecobee4 thermostat because of its superior energy use reporting.
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