I recently decided to upgrade my outdoor lighting setup with smart festoon lights, and after some research, I settled on the 4Lite and WiZ-branded options. Both are supposed to be compatible with the WiZ app, but I quickly realized there are some significant differences that aren’t immediately obvious from the specs or packaging. Here’s what I discovered and how it might help you make a more informed decision.
The Setup
I purchased two sets of 14.8m festoon lights—one from 4Lite and one from WiZ. My goal was to create a seamless lighting solution for my garden, with the ability to control them via my smartphone and integrate them into my smart home ecosystem. Little did I know that the journey would involve some unexpected challenges and insights.
What Worked
Both sets of lights are identical in terms of physical build quality and weatherproofing. They’re equally durable and look great when installed. The WiZ app worked flawlessly with both sets, allowing me to create scenes, schedules, and group them together for easier control. The firmware updates were also smooth, and I could see the same firmware version on both sets of lights.
The Surprises
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Matter Support
- The WiZ-branded lights came with Matter support out of the box. This was a huge plus for me since I’m aiming to future-proof my smart home setup. Matter compatibility means these lights can work seamlessly with platforms like HomeKit, Google Home, and Alexa without any additional adapters or hubs.
- The 4Lite version, however, didn’t support Matter, even after updating the firmware. This was a bit disappointing since it limits the integration options for the future.
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Power Supply Behavior
- When I connected both sets of lights to the WiZ PSU, everything worked perfectly. Both sets illuminated fully, and I had no issues with brightness or color accuracy.
- Switching to the 4Lite PSU was a different story. While the first string worked fine, the second string only lit up the first bulb. The rest remained dark, which I suspect is due to the PSU’s limitations in handling higher loads. This was a critical issue for my setup since I wanted both strings operational.
My Solution
After some trial and error, I settled on a hybrid approach:
- I used the WiZ-branded festoon lights for both strings since they support Matter and have a more reliable PSU.
- I kept the 4Lite set as a backup, knowing that it’s limited to a single string and lacks Matter support.
Key Takeaways
- If you’re only planning to use one string of lights and don’t need Matter integration, the 4Lite option is a cost-effective choice.
- However, if you want to connect multiple strings or are invested in a future-proof smart home setup, I highly recommend going with the WiZ-branded kit. The slight premium in price is well worth the additional functionality and reliability.
- Don’t rely solely on the specs or branding. Always test the PSU and connectivity if you’re planning to use multiple strings.
Final Thoughts
My journey with these lights taught me the importance of thorough research and testing, even when products seem identical on paper. I hope this insight helps others avoid some of the trial and error I went through. Happy lighting! 