So, Xiaomi just dropped a whole lineup of smart switches—single live wire, neutral wire, and wireless. They all look identical, but what’s the real difference? To get to the bottom of it, I invited the product manager for these smart switches to join us for a chat.

Product Manager:
Hey everyone! Super excited to be here with you all today.

Alright, let’s dive in. So, we’ve got these smart switches lined up here. Now, you’re probably familiar with your standard light switches at home, right? But what’s different about these smart ones? Here’s a quick rundown: Your basic setup has live wires, neutral wires, and your typical switch that completes the circuit. That’s your regular, everyday switch.

Now, when we talk about smart switches, we’re essentially swapping out that basic switch with an electronic one that can receive signals and control the circuit. In theory, you could slap a wireless control module behind your traditional switch, and it’d work by controlling the relay. But here’s the catch—when the switch is off, the light’s off, and so is the wireless control module’s circuit. Boom, your smart switch is now a “dumb switch.” It can only remotely turn off the light but can’t turn it back on.

So, how do we make sure our smart switch can turn the light back on after it’s been turned off remotely? Well, the switch needs to stay powered. But if it’s powered, the light stays on—kind of defeats the purpose, right? Here’s the trick: Think of it as a variable resistor. When it gets the “on” signal, the resistance drops, and the light turns on. When it gets the “off” command, the resistance goes up, dimming the light. The circuit never fully disconnects, so there’s always a tiny bit of current keeping that electronic switch online, even when the light is off.

Got it? That’s how we keep the switch from going offline when you cut the power.

The single live wire setup is pretty slick—no need to mess with your home’s existing wiring. But if you’re trying to control a low-power light, you might run into a little thing we call “ghosting,” where the light flickers on and off. So, is there a way to keep the switch online and still kill the light completely?

Yep, there is! You just add a neutral wire to the mix. This lets the switch control chip have its own power source, simplifying the circuit between the switch and the light. Now, even your tiny 3-watt bulbs won’t give you that ghosting problem. That’s the magic of our new neutral wire switches.

Me:
I think I get it now. The neutral wire switch completely cuts the power to the light, so no ghosting, even with small loads. But the downside is, I need a neutral wire in my switch box. So, what’s your recommendation for folks choosing between these switches?

Product Manager:
For older homes, go with the single live wire switch. If you’re in a newer build, grab the neutral wire version. But definitely check with your electrician or the building management—they’ll give you the best advice.

Me:
I noticed there’s also a new wireless switch that looks just like the others but is super thin. What’s the deal with that?

Product Manager:
Good eye! The wireless switch doesn’t have a back casing, so no wiring is needed. Think of it as a switch-shaped wireless controller. Pair it with our wired smart switches, and you’ve got a smart dual-control setup. You can also link it with other smart devices in your Mi Home ecosystem for some cool automation.

For example, hit the switch by your bed to close the curtains when you’re ready to sleep. Or, press it by the door to turn off all the lights when you leave—basic stuff, really. You can even use the Mi Home app to unlock more features for the wireless switch. But I’ll let you explore all the possibilities once you get your hands on it.

Me:
So, I could set up the wireless switch through the Mi Home app to work just like the wired ones?

Product Manager:
Exactly! The wireless switch can do a lot, and it’s pretty versatile. With these three switches, you’ve basically got the “Xiaomi Smart Switch Family Pack.” But what makes it a family pack?

Product Manager:
Well, these new switches are part of the same design series as our other switches and outlets. We’ve also unified the wireless connection protocol, so even if you don’t have a gateway, as long as you’ve got a Bluetooth Mesh-enabled Mi AI Speaker, you’re good to go. Just plug them in and start using them!