I've been pretty happy with the Kasa switches and bulbs. They have a cloud component, but you don't have to use it to control them. The protocol has been figured out and is a simple socket payload (I wrote a command line app to prove it to myself), and of course they are controllable by HA.
They're 2.4G Wifi, but I can't get too bothered about that. I've optimized my coverage with multiple, decent APs, so it seems silly not to use it. I'm jaded on Z-Wave after I had multiple GE Z-Wave switches just burn out on me after a couple years. I've also retired my Samsung Smartthings and Hue hub, and I don't want to buy another hub for a few lights. I also can't see paying $30+ for a light switch; the Kasa units are frequently on sale for a reasonable $10.
If they rely on a central server, what guarantee do you have that it won’t all go to shit with no warning? You certainly can’t rely on the economics of the situation, so what’s left is relying on some nebulous concept of “reputation” and that has been proven over and over again by the largest and smallest companies to be worthless…
They're 2.4G Wifi, but I can't get too bothered about that. I've optimized my coverage with multiple, decent APs, so it seems silly not to use it. I'm jaded on Z-Wave after I had multiple GE Z-Wave switches just burn out on me after a couple years. I've also retired my Samsung Smartthings and Hue hub, and I don't want to buy another hub for a few lights. I also can't see paying $30+ for a light switch; the Kasa units are frequently on sale for a reasonable $10.