One of the key challenges with today’s smart home technology is its reliance on digital interfaces. From smart lights to robot vacuums, many interactions depend on using a smartphone, which can be inconvenient for other household members or guests. This is where Flic steps in, providing a range of physical buttons and dials that allow everyone to control their favorite smart devices without needing a screen.
I’ve been putting the Flic Smart Buttons and Flic Twist through their paces, and while they do have limitations, they can add a fun element to most smart homes. This is particularly true for users of Alexa or HomeKit, as both platforms are compatible with these innovative smart buttons.
The Flic app simplifies setup
Setting up my Flic system was a surprisingly straightforward process. Even with multiple products, I managed to get everything up and running, including my first automation, in just a few minutes. My setup consisted of a Flic Twist, Smart Buttons, and a Flic Hub.
The Flic Twist functions as a dial that can be pressed or rotated, allowing you to adjust features like volume on your smart speaker or the brightness of your lights. The Smart Buttons serve as standard push buttons, enabling you to program them for three different actions (press, double press, or hold). The Flic Hub acts as the central control unit for everything, and it is necessary for the Flic Twist. The Smart Buttons can sync either to the Hub or directly to your smartphone.
Once my devices were linked, configuring actions was incredibly easy. The Flic app allows you to create actions without needing to access additional applications. For instance, I set up my Flic Twist to manage my Sonos speaker without ever touching the Sonos app. In a matter of seconds, I could play, pause, and adjust the volume — a remarkable advantage over other controllers that often require cumbersome third-party apps for setup.
Your experience may vary depending on what devices you’re intending to connect to the Flic system, but I found it a hassle-free process without the typical headaches associated with smart home setups.
Missing essential features
The primary limitation of the Flic system is its overall functionality. While the company has made significant progress over the years by supporting platforms like Alexa and Matter, it is still lacking compatibility with major brands like Google Home. Additionally, certain functionalities are limited to specific Flic devices, and the Flic Twist does not support all products and capabilities. For a comprehensive list of compatible devices and actions, see the Flic Applications list.
Another significant drawback is that each Twist or Button can only be programmed for a limited number of controls simultaneously. For example, with my Twist, I set it so that twisting adjusts the speaker volume and pressing the button toggles the music. There are still “Double Push” and “Push & Twist” actions available, which enables a total of four programmable actions for the $80 device.
This stands in contrast to competitors like the Linxura Smart Controller, which supports up to 52 devices through a built-in display and doesn’t require a hub. Linxura’s compatibility with Google Home is particularly useful for my current setup, as it allows for extensive automation of multiple gadgets with a single device.
Although programming the Flic may be simpler than the Linxura and I personally find the design of the Flic Twist more appealing, it falls short in terms of overall versatility.
Physical buttons for your smart home
Your experience with Flic will largely depend on your specific smart home ecosystem. If you utilize compatible products like Sonos, HomeKit, or Alexa, you’ll discover numerous ways to seamlessly integrate the Twist and Smart Buttons into your daily routine. The setup process only takes a few moments, and the companion app is user-friendly.
Incorporating physical buttons and dials into your smart home can enhance convenience, and their usefulness becomes apparent when used effectively. While the limitation of programming only a handful of actions might be disappointing, if you want to provide your family with an uncomplicated way to access frequently used functions, investing in a Flic product could be beneficial. The company continues to add new features and compatibility options, and with Matter support, Flic is likely to remain relevant for the long haul.