These Flic buttons make it easier to control your smart home.

One of the main challenges of smart homes today lies in their digital nature. Typically, smartphones are used to control devices such as smart lights, robotic vacuum cleaners, locks, and thermostats. This can complicate interactions for other family members or guests, who may find it difficult to make adjustments. In this context, the company Flic presents a line of physical buttons and dials that enable any user to operate smart devices without needing to interact through a digital interface.

I recently tried the Flic Smart Buttons and the Flic Twist. While they lack certain functionalities, they undoubtedly represent a fun addition to most smart homes, especially when used with platforms like Alexa or HomeKit, which are compatible with these innovative buttons.

Setting up the Flic system turned out to be surprisingly simple. Despite having multiple products in different boxes, I was able to get everything up and running and set up my first automation in a matter of minutes. My setup included a Flic Twist, several Flic Smart Buttons, and a Flic Hub, which acts as the central brain of the entire system and is necessary for the Flic Twist. The Flic Twist functions as a dial that can be pressed or rotated to activate various functions, such as changing the volume of a smart speaker or dimming the lights. The Smart Buttons are standard buttons that allow programming of up to three different functions (press, double press, or long press).

Once my devices were synced, setting up actions was extremely easy. I could create actions directly from the Flic app without the need to use other apps. For example, I programmed my Flic Twist to control my Sonos smart speaker without opening the Sonos app, allowing me to play, pause, and adjust the volume in seconds, which is quite impressive compared to other controllers that require extensive programming.

However, the main drawback of Flic lies in its overall functionality. Despite advances in support for platforms like Alexa and Matter, it still lacks compatibility with key brands such as Google Home. Additionally, some functions are restricted depending on the device you are using, and certain products are not compatible with the Flic Twist.

Another downside is that only a few actions can be programmed at a time for each Twist or Button. For example, on my Flic Twist, I set it so that rotating the dial adjusts the speaker volume and pressing the button turns the music on or off. This means that only a total of four actions can be assigned to the device, which costs $80. In comparison to the Linxura Smart Controller, which can control up to 52 devices thanks to its built-in screen and does not require a hub, Flic seems limited in this regard.

The use of physical buttons in a digital home largely depends on the products one has. If devices that are compatible with Flic, such as Sonos, HomeKit, or Alexa, are used, the Twist and Smart Buttons can be easily integrated into daily routines. Device programming is quick, and the mobile app is user-friendly. Incorporating physical buttons and dials can be an excellent decision, and it is surprising how useful they can be when used properly. Although it is disappointing that only a few actions can be programmed at a time, if you seek to facilitate access to more frequently used functions for your family, a Flic product could be a valuable investment. The brand continues to add new features and compatibility, suggesting that it will remain useful in the near future.