Prefer button controls over voice commands for Alexa? This petite magnetic device enables hands-on management of your smart setup and is currently discounted for the holiday sales event.
Priced at $16.99 after a 15% reduction—marking its debut discount since launching last autumn—the Amazon Basics Smart Dimmer Switch and Remote offers a handheld option for operating Alexa-linked gadgets and activating predefined sequences.
Equipped with four buttons including one that glows via an LED light, the device supports customization through the Alexa application, allowing users to link functions like adjusting room lighting from connected bulbs, lifting automated window coverings, or securing a digital door mechanism to individual keys.
Its compact design fits neatly on a nightstand or living room surface, while the built-in magnet secures it to ferrous items such as a kitchen appliance exterior.
Additionally, it includes a compatible wall mount that installs via supplied sticky backing or by fastening with the provided screw slots; once attached, the unit functions effectively as an in-wall light adjuster.
This accessory evokes memories of the now-defunct Alexa Buttons, the large-scale press devices for simple voice assistant interactions that were phased out some time back, making it an ideal modern substitute available at a timely promotional price.
With over two decades covering tech and gadgets, Ben has contributed to PCWorld starting in 2014 and moved to TechHive in 2019, focusing on areas like intelligent audio systems, lighting solutions, and home surveillance gear. His work also features in outlets such as PC Magazine, TIME, Wired, CNET, Men's Fitness, Mobile Magazine, and others; he earned a master's in English literature.