a smart curtain for everyone

Open your curtains without having to get up? This is possible with the Slide, a complete system that can open every curtain automatically and we have tested it! You can read our verdict in this review.

slide review

Nowadays you can get all kinds of smart devices at home with which you can perform everyday tasks such as vacuuming, but you can now also make your curtains smart! Slide has developed a system that allows you to turn dumb curtains into smart curtains in no time. Let’s start at the beginning; mounting the Slide because if you want to make your home smart, you have to work for it.

Assembling Slide

We received a set from Slide with an improved suspension system. If you buy Slide in the store, it will cost you 349 euros per curtain rail. With the help of the Slide application you can get started with setting up and hanging your smart curtain system. The app was not yet updated for the new hanging system, but when you have completed the first steps you can use the next steps in the app. The good thing about this is that you can watch a short video of the step at each step. This makes installation easier and also makes it easy to align your curtain.

What you should pay attention to is that the device adds weight to your curtain rails. If you have heavy curtains, check whether the rails can bear the weight. If you have a heavy curtain, you can also indicate the motor strength in the application. During the calibration you immediately see whether you need to make the motor work a little harder. In total, we did the installation in half an hour. Hanging a second Slide will undoubtedly go faster.

As you can see in the photos, it is important that you have a socket near the curtain. Although the supplied cord offers enough length to reach a socket.

App & in use

If you are used to closing the curtain by hand, it takes some getting used to that you feel a little more resistance when closing. Slide takes over immediately when it feels that you are pulling the curtain. Via the Slide app you can use the slider to set how far the curtain should close. If you want to leave a crack open, you can. During opening and closing, the motor is audible, but certainly not loud.

In the app you have the option to set routines, so we have opted for a sunrise and sunset routine. This way, you can immediately benefit from the sunlight in the morning and the curtain can be closed immediately when it starts to get dark. But you can also use opening the curtains as an alarm clock. If you prefer a fixed time, that can also be set as a routine.

If you think that your curtain should be opened a little more subtly, you can still adjust the speed of the motor in the application. We think the standard speed is good enough. For those who like to go on holiday with peace of mind, you can activate the holiday mode in the slide app. The system then closes the curtains at a random time. The application looks simple, but works effectively. Perhaps adding the time of sunset/rise would be a nice addition.

Linking with other platforms

You can link the Slide to your Google Assistant, for example, a nice addition if you use a Nest Hub. It does take some getting used to using the correct voice command if you want to open or close the curtains to a certain percentage. If you have a Domoticz system yourself, you can also control the Slide locally or via the manufacturer’s API.

Judgement

Slide provides a complete and user-friendly system to make your dumb curtains smart. The app guides you through the steps and after half an hour of DIY you will never have to open your curtain again, unless you are without power of course! Automating your curtain is of course a luxury and it also comes with a price tag. If you want to spend 349 euros per curtain rail, the Slide is a pleasure to operate and a nice addition to an increasingly smart home. You buy Slide via Amazon, for example.