The Flic Duo stands out as a highly adaptable smart home remote, offering over 20 distinct activation methods and seamless integration with numerous platforms to manage various connected devices effectively.
At its core, the Flic smart button represents a compact, versatile tool independent of specific systems, allowing users to position a physical switch in convenient locations for hands-on operation of diverse home automation gear.
This latest iteration, the Flic Duo, significantly advances the original model's functionality by increasing from three actions to 22, providing a substantial upgrade in features, though navigating the Flic platform during initial configuration could prove tricky for those new to smart homes.
Similar to its predecessor, the Flic Duo is notably compact, risking misplacement or accidental ingestion by pets. Its dimensions are 2 by 1.25 inches and about one-third of an inch in thickness, suitable for handheld use or wall attachment via a magnetic rear panel. Users can secure it to a separate metal plate for $10 or directly to ferrous surfaces, enabling easy detachment when required.
The Flic ecosystem supports commands across multiple external networks, including key platforms like Matter, Alexa, IFTTT, and SmartThings.
True to its name, the Duo features a pair of buttons labeled simply as the larger and smaller ones. Each supports single-press, double-press, or sustained-press activations, just like the classic model. Exclusive to this version are the hold-and-swipe and hold-and-twist gestures, which will be explored further shortly.
Equipped with Bluetooth, the Flic Duo operates with or without a dedicated Flic Hub—options include the entry-level Hub Mini at $30 with single-band Wi-Fi, or the advanced Hub LR at $90, which incorporates infrared capabilities, Ethernet connectivity, and compatibility with Apple Home. Direct phone pairing limits its performance.
In terms of scale, the Flic Duo approximates the stature of four stacked quarters, maintaining a similarly petite footprint.
Relying solely on a smartphone for connectivity renders the device ineffective beyond Bluetooth proximity and disables certain capabilities, such as twisting. Hubs handle transmission of signals to online services or local appliances as appropriate. Testing involved pairing with a Hub Mini.
Regardless of the connection method, Flic manages gear from various third-party setups, prominently Matter, Alexa, IFTTT, and SmartThings. It directly interfaces with Philips Hue, LIFX, Ikea, and Nanoleaf products, serves as a controller for Chromecast and Sonos, and connects to Google Home through Matter or IFTTT. Full compatibility details are available online.
For optimal results, pair the Flic Duo with a Hub Mini or the enhanced Hub LR, as demonstrated in testing.
Initial configuration of the Flic Duo proceeds smoothly with a hub. The accompanying app detects the powered hub, prompts for the rear-printed password, and handles Wi-Fi setup. Once linked, connecting the Duo follows a comparable, passwordless routine.
While pairing is straightforward, the subsequent integration configuration presents greater hurdles.
Flic's integration framework shows minimal evolution, with ongoing additions of partners, yet the selection appears largely unchanged from the prior year, encompassing numerous choices—ranging from practical to whimsical, like a renamed 'fart sound' option—making exhaustive review challenging.
The setup procedure for these connections continues to demand multiple steps. For Alexa, this involves enabling the Flic skill, selecting a trigger in the Flic app, and then building or linking a routine in Alexa to incorporate that trigger, positioning Flic as an intermediary while Alexa manages core functions.
A comprehensive catalog of supported services can overwhelm users during selection.
Handling illumination from LIFX or Philips Hue directly simplifies matters, as the Flic app identifies pre-configured lights for independent operation. Nonetheless, familiarity with smart home basics remains essential for smooth navigation.
The Flic Duo's standout benefit emerges through its innovative gestures, such as swipe and twist. For swipes, users depress a button and gesture in one of four orientations, useful for navigating playlists or switching states, like upward for activation and downward for deactivation.
Executing Flic's swipe proves challenging, requiring not just thumb movement but a sharp device tilt paired with the slide, often resulting in repeated attempts and erratic motions to register the input.
The twist gesture revitalizes traditional adjustments like light dimming or audio levels. Involve pressing a button followed by wrist rotation left or right—despite the term's inaccuracy, it registers reliably without practice, excelling in gradual volume tweaks, brightness adjustments, and color shifts on fixtures, succeeding consistently unlike swipes.
As an upgraded successor to the standard Flic Button, the Duo delivers greater power and practicality, surpassing even the Flic Twist in utility despite steeper learning curves for setup and operation. Beginners may struggle with the intricate processes for basic links, but seasoned enthusiasts will appreciate its depth, potentially necessitating notes for managing extensive custom setups.
Imperfections persist: the swipe requires refinement, labeling stickers for the Duo cost an additional $10 per pack, guidance materials are scarce, and features like app-based location tracking are slated for 2026. Pricing at $59 exceeds the $35 single-button alternative.
Nevertheless, dedicated effort in time and setup unlocks broad applicability across smart home configurations.