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Xiaomi has released the Smart Switch 2, and you can already pre-order it on a crowdfunding platform in China starting at 69 yuan (~$10). The new switch builds on last year’s Xiaomi Smart Switch Pro, with a tougher shell and easier installation for older homes.
You get three button layouts to pick from — single, double, and triple button panels — in white or space gray. Each panel is made of acrylic glass and fits the standard 86-type wall-mounted junction box used in most homes in China. The panel measures 11mm thick, and the wall-mounting base sits at 21.2mm deep.
Built for older homes
Underneath that glass panel, the shell uses V-0 fire-retardant PC material that Xiaomi says can handle an 850°C flame-retardant test. The buttons themselves use a short-travel silicone buffer, so you get quieter clicks than on a standard switch, and a status light under each button shows you whether the circuit is on or off at a glance.
One of the more practical upgrades here is wiring flexibility. The Smart Switch 2 adapts to both single-live and neutral-wire setups, so you can install it in a newly built home or an older one that only has a live wire. It figures out which setup you have automatically when it powers on, so you don’t need to fiddle with any DIP switches.
Xiaomi also worked on the switch’s internals for longevity. The relay is rated for one million mechanical on/off cycles, and it uses zero-crossing detection to flip the switch at the lowest point in the AC voltage cycle, which reduces wear on the components. The switch is also tuned to cut down on the flickering that LED bulbs sometimes show from standby micro-currents, and there’s a temperature sensor built in that cuts the circuit automatically if things get too hot.
Xiaomi Mesh 2.0 and smart controls
For connectivity, the Smart Switch 2 uses Xiaomi’s Mesh 2.0 system. Xiaomi says it improves switch response by 50% and reduces network setup time by 80% compared with the previous generation.
You can control it locally with the physical buttons, remotely through the Xiaomi Home app, or by voice through Xiao Ai, and each button supports single-click, double-click, and long-press actions you set yourself. There’s also a pure wireless mode, where the buttons stop controlling local power and instead send signals to trigger other Xiaomi Home devices, so you can set up two-way control without running new wires.
As for the price, the single-button version has a suggested price of 79 yuan (~$12) and a crowdfunding price of 69 yuan (~$10). The double-button version goes for 89 yuan (~$13) suggested and 79 yuan (~$12) during crowdfunding, while the triple-button version is priced at 109 yuan (~$16) suggested and 99 yuan (~$15) for crowdfunding backers.
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