Unlock the Potential of Your Smart Home with Flic

Setting Up the Flic System

Setting up the Flic system was a breeze. Despite having multiple boxes with different products, I managed to get everything up and running within minutes. My setup included a Flic Twist, Flic Smart Buttons, and a Flic Hub. The Flic Twist is a dial that can be pressed or rotated to trigger various functions, such as adjusting the volume on a smart speaker or dimming lights. The Smart Buttons are standard push buttons that allow you to program three different functions - press, double press, or hold. The Flic Hub acts as the central brain, coordinating all the actions, and it is necessary for the Flic Twist. The Flic Smart Buttons can be synced either to the Hub or directly to your smartphone.

Once the devices were synced, setting up actions became remarkably simple. You can create actions directly from the Flic app without the need to open secondary applications. For instance, I programmed my Flic Twist to control my Sonos smart speaker without having to open the Sonos app. In just seconds, I could play, pause, and adjust the volume of my smart speaker using the Twist. This is a remarkable feat compared to other controllers that require extensive programming via third-party apps.

The Drawbacks of Flic

The biggest drawback of the Flic is its overall functionality. Although the company has made significant progress over the years and supports names like Alexa and Matter, it still lacks key brands like Google Home. Certain functions are also restricted based on the Flic device you are using, and some products are not even supported by the Flic Twist or its twisting feature. For a comprehensive list of compatible products and actions, refer to the Flic Applications list.

Another major drawback is that you can only program a limited number of controls at a time for each Twist or Button. On the Twist, I have it set up so that twisting the dial adjusts the volume of my speaker and pressing the button toggles the music on or off. It still has "Double Push" and "Push & Twist" actions available, meaning you can assign a total of four actions to the $80 device. In contrast, the Linxura Smart Controller can control up to 52 devices thanks to its built-in display and does not require a hub. Linxura works seamlessly with Google Home, which is ideal for my current setup. The main appeal of the Linxura is the ability to create automation for dozens of gadgets with a single device.

Programming the Flic is a bit easier than the Linxura, and I would argue that the Flic Twist looks better. However, when it comes to overall functionality, it falls slightly short of the competition.

Bringing Physical Buttons to the Smart Home

Whether or not you will find use for the Flic largely depends on your specific smart home setup. If you are working with products that Flic supports, such as Sonos, HomeKit, or Alexa, you will discover numerous ways to incorporate the Twist and Smart Buttons into your daily life. Programming the devices takes just a few minutes, and the mobile companion app is intuitive and easy to navigate.

Incorporating physical buttons and dials into your smart home is a wise decision. When used correctly, they can be incredibly useful. It is a bit disappointing that you can only program a limited number of actions to your Flic devices at once. However, if you are looking for a simple way to give your entire family access to your most-used functions, a Flic product could be a worthwhile investment. The brand is continuously adding new features and compatibility, and with Matter support, it should remain relevant in the foreseeable future.