Leviton has a smart Wi-Fi enabled product lineup called Decora Smart. They have filled in this segment with back-to-back smart switches and smart dimmers.
Often we see people confusing the actual intent of these devices. So today we are going to review and compare all of them in one place so that you can decide properly for yourself.
Here's what we cover:
- Comparison Table
- Smart Switch (Leviton DW15S-1BZ) Review
- Smart Dimmer (Leviton DW6HD-1BZ / DW1KD-1BZ) Review
- Smart Voice Dimmer (Leviton DWVAA-1BW) Review
- Smart Fan Speed Controller (Leviton DW4SF-1BW) Review
- Smart Plug-in Dimmer (Leviton DW3HL-1BW) Review
- Decora Smart with HomeKit Technology
- Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer with Z-Wave Technology
- FAQ
- What is 3-way (Multi-location) switching capability in Leviton?
- Does Leviton Decora Smart require a neutral wire?
- Does Leviton Decora Smart require a hub to work?
- Can Leviton be used as a 4-way switch?
- How to reset Leviton Decora smart switch or dimmer?
- How to install a Leviton Smart Switch or a Dimmer?
- Does Leviton work with Alexa?
- Does Leviton work with Google Home?
- Conclusion: What is So Good About Leviton Decora Smart?
Comparison Table
| Switch | Dimmer | Voice Dimmer | Fan Speed Controller | Plug-in Dimmer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | In-wall | In-wall | In-wall | In-wall | Plug-in |
| Hub | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required | Not required |
| Neutral Wire | Required | Required | Required | Required | Not required |
| LED/CFL Load (Max) | 600W | 300W/450W | 300W | – | 100W |
| Incandescent Load (Max) | 1800W | 600W/1000W | 300W | – | 300W |
| Motor Load (Max) | – | – | – | 1.5A | – |
| 3-Way Switch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dimming | No | Yes | Yes | – | Yes |
| Alexa Built-in | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Color Change Kits | Available | Available | Not available | Available | Not available |
| Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Smart Switch (Leviton DW15S-1BZ) Review
Form Factor: In-wall
Supported Load: 600W (LED/CFL), 1800W (INC)
3-Way Capability: Yes
Dimming: No
Price: Check Here
Hub Required: No
Neutral Wire Required: Yes
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings
Leviton Decora Smart Switch uses the Wi-Fi protocol and can power up an LED/Fluorescent bulb up to 600W, or an Incandescent bulb up to 1800W. It doesn’t come with the dimming feature so it can only be used to toggle on/off certain lights.
Using the native app or your supported home hub, you can schedule lights to operate. Some flexible features are sunrise/sunset timers, custom light scenes, and automatic turn-off. It also comes with a vacation/randomization security feature which makes lights go on and off randomly creating the impression that somebody is at home.
The design of the switch is modern and a variety of color change kits are available if you want to match it with your current interior.
Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Switch
The Good
- Works without a bridge
- Supports 3-way or multi-location switching
- Vacation/randomization security mode
- Color changing kits available
The Bad
- Doesn’t support dimming
- Requires Wi-Fi connect to run schedules
Smart Dimmer (Leviton DW6HD-1BZ / DW1KD-1BZ) Review
Form Factor: In-wall
Supported Load: 300W/450W (LED/CFL), 600W/1000W (INC)
3-Way Capability: Yes
Dimming: Yes
Price: Check Here
Hub Required: No
Neutral Wire Required: Yes
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings
Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer comes with the dimming capability and includes all features that Leviton’s normal smart switch has. It looks aesthetically better for its brightness rocker and LED brightness indicator bar.
This dimmer has two different variants in terms of supported load. One of them supports up to 300W of LED/Fluorescent and 600W of Incandescent load. Where the other supports up to 450W of LED/Fluorescent and 1000W of Incandescent load. You can choose depending on your current configuration.
Other features are pretty identical such as smart scheduling, time-based auto turn-off, vacation mode, and the availability of color change kits.
Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Dimmer
The Good
- Great aesthetic featuring an LED brightness indication bar
- Dimming capability up to 1000W
- Vacation/randomization mode
- Color change kits available
The Bad
- Requires Wi-Fi to run schedules
Smart Voice Dimmer (Leviton DWVAA-1BW) Review
Form Factor: In-wall
Supported Load: 300W (LED/CFL), 300W (INC)
3-Way Capability: Yes
Dimming: Yes
Price: Check Here
Hub Required: No
Neutral Wire Required: Yes
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings
Leviton Decora Voice Dimmer has all the features of a Leviton switch and dimmer, plus it houses an Alexa module on the inside. Meaning that you can ask the switch directly to do something for you.
What’s interesting is that this Alexa can also be used to do other typical home assistant chores. It has a microphone and a loudspeaker built-in. So if you wish, you can make it play a song for you like any regular smart speaker.
If there is any downside, I would say it is the max load capacity. Where other switches able to handle up to 1000W, this voice dimmer can do only 300W regardless of the bulb type.
Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Voice Dimmer
The Good
- Features a full-fledged Alexa module inside the switch
- Button to turn Alexa on/off as needed
- Includes all smart features of Leviton smart switch and dimmer
- Vacation/randomization security mode
The Bad
- Load capacity is on the lower end
- Color changing kits are not available
Smart Fan Speed Controller (Leviton DW4SF-1BW) Review
Hub Required: No
Neutral Wire Required: Yes
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings
Leviton Decora Fan Speed Controller brings the same smart light switch experience to fans and adds the ability to control the fan speed via voice commands and preset schedules.
All other smart features remain the same such as schedules, sunrise/sunset timers, auto shut-off, and vacation mode. The speed indicator LED and the dedicated speed changing button only increases the practically of this switch.
In case, if you have fan lights, this device does not have controls for them by default. You will have to buy a separate Leviton dimmer and pair them together to make this work.
Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Fan Speed Controller
The Good
- 4-level fan speed with automation
- Speed indication LED with dedicated adjusting bar
- Can be voice-controlled via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
The Bad
- Only controls motor; a separate kit is needed for fan light controlling
Smart Plug-in Dimmer (Leviton DW3HL-1BW) Review
Form Factor: Plug-in
Supported Load: 100W (LED/CFL), 300W (INC)
3-Way Capability: Yes
Dimming: Yes
Price: Check Here
Hub Required: No
Neutral Wire Required: No
Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings
Leviton Decora Plug-in Dimmer is simply the same smart switch but in the form of an outlet. That means, no wiring is required. Plug this in any regular wall outlet first, and then plug your lamp or any other kind of light onto it.
Feature-wise, it is identical. You can turn on/off, dim lights, set schedules, control it via voice assistants, or set shutdown timers. The major noticeable difference is at the supported load. It can power lights up to 300W.
Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Plug-in Dimmer
The Good
- Neutral wire is not required
- Works without any hub
- Easy to use and no electrical wiring required
- Vacation/randomization mode
The Bad
- Load capacity is on the lower end
Decora Smart with HomeKit Technology
The regular Decora Smart variant does not support HomeKit. However, they have the exact same switch and dimmer made for HomeKit. If you have a HomeKit-based system, make sure you are picking this one, not the one for Amazon Alexa.
Currently, the 15A regular switch and 600W/1000W dimmer switch are only available for the HomeKit platform. It is unknown if the company wishes to release the plug-in dimmer or the fan speed controller for HomeKit.
One thing which is technically a drawback is that Leviton devices are not cross-platform compatible. The HomeKit version will not work with Amazon Alexa and also not the other way around.
Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer with Z-Wave Technology
Similar to HomeKit, Decora Smart also has a product lineup featuring Z-Wave technology. Feature and design-wise, they are all identical. Only the used wireless technology is different.
Nearly all their products have a Z-Wave variant that includes the switch, dimmer, fan speed controller, and plug-in dimmer. Again as a reminder, none of these devices are cross-platform compatible.
FAQ
What is 3-way (Multi-location) switching capability in Leviton?
3-way or multi-location switching means that there are 3 terminals inside the switch which can be used to connect two or more switches in different locations.
Does Leviton Decora Smart require a neutral wire?
All devices from Decora Smart require a neutral wire to be installed, except plug-in devices such as Plug-in Dimmer, Plug-in Outlet.
Does Leviton Decora Smart require a hub to work?
Decora Smart lineup is Wi-Fi enabled and does not require a hub to work. You can install the Leviton app where you will able to connect the devices via Wi-Fi.
Can Leviton be used as a 4-way switch?
Leviton can be used as a 4-way switch by connecting two Leviton 3-way switches together via a traveler’s wire.
How to reset Leviton Decora smart switch or dimmer?
If your Leviton switch or dimmer stops working or does not connect to the Wi-Fi, you can reset it by pressing and holding the top button until an amber light pops up.
How to install a Leviton Smart Switch or a Dimmer?
Leviton products have a simple and easy-to-understand construction. The company intended them to be installed by the customers themselves. Therefore, there is a nice official video tutorial that demonstrates how to install which you can find here.
Does Leviton work with Alexa?
All Leviton Smart devices are compatible with Alexa and the Voice Dimmer has Alexa built-in which functions as a full-fledged voice assistant, not just for the dimmer.
Does Leviton work with Google Home?
Leviton works with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, and a couple more smart home systems. They also have the same products for HomeKit and Z-Wave technologies but as a separate variant.
Conclusion: What is So Good About Leviton Decora Smart?
There are so many smart switch companies out there that it is fairly difficult to choose one. The biggest advantage Leviton has over the other switches is that it is not dependent on hub/bridge. You don’t need any hub to use it to its fullest.
One other benefit of Leviton is that it supports nearly all wireless protocols. In this post, we covered Wi-Fi, HomeKit, and Z-Wave products, but if none of them matches your current configuration, you still have to option to pick some of their Bluetooth products.
Besides that, Decora Smart devices are covered by a massive 5-year limited warranty. Prolonged warranties are not easy on electrical products but they were brave enough to offer this to their customers.
