Lots to press: Onvis brings HomeKit button with five buttons
The 5-Key-Switch HS2 from the Chinese manufacturer offers an unprecedented variety of buttons in a HomeKit device. A hub is not necessary.
5-Key-Switch from Onvis: More buttons is hardly possible.
(Image: Onvis)
There is a lack of a very simple product in the HomeKit universe: there are very few good smart buttons. Some switch too slowly, others have unergonomic pushers, while others even require a separate hub just for the switching process. The Chinese company Onvis has now come up with its own button: The HS2 5-key switch offers a wide range of functions, at least on paper.
Connection via thread
The device, which costs just under 40 euros in the official Onvis store on Amazon, offers a total of five buttons in a compact housing: a round button in the middle and four others, each arranged with dots, surrounding it. Three features can be assigned to each button: Press once, press twice and long press. A different colored LED shows what you have triggered in each case. The 5-Key-Switch is connected via Thread (plus BLE 5.0), so it requires a current HomeKit home hub such as a HomePod 2, HomePod mini or a sufficiently new Apple TV.
Onvis does not use Matter, it is a pure HomeKit device. This can have advantages and disadvantages – Pure HomeKit components often cause fewer problems than Matter devices when integrated into an Apple home, but they cannot be integrated into other smart home systems such as those from Google or Samsung. The Onvis button is controlled via the Home app, where you can assign different actions or entire scenes to the switches.
Magnetically attached to the hinge
The 5-Key Switch is powered by a replaceable CR2450 battery. According to the manufacturer, this should last for a year. The power storage unit can be accessed via the back of the button, which is simply unscrewed. The scope of delivery also includes a hanger in which the 5-Key Switch can be magnetically inserted to prevent it from being lost.
It is supplied with adhesive tape on the back so that it can be stuck to the wall; alternatively, an anchor and screw are also included for more secure mounting. The knob is lightweight and appears somewhat rickety due to the plastic used. The switching operations were pleasantly fast during a short test. The supplied sheets with stickers help to mark the five buttons, as it is otherwise easy to lose track. Onvis also has its own app for firmware upgrades and other control options.
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