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Mark Brown's SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades (100% Blackout) Review

SmartWings · Reviewed by Mark Brown · Published 2026-07-31

Rating 5/5Source quality 75/100Evidence 15Claims 10Q&A 6Pros 9Cons 1Sponsored

Based on a review by Mark Brown (accessed 2026-07-31).

What they actually found

  • Loved — Extremely easy DIY installation, no electrician required
  • Annoyed by — Slight light gaps exist between blinds, preventing 100% blackout in all scenarios

Based on this review alone: buy it if you care about extremely easy diy installation, no electrician required — just accept slight light gaps exist between blinds, preventing 100% blackout in all scenarios.

This source's evidence 🎬

Source verdict

The reviewer's overall verdict is highly positive, stating the SmartWings blinds have "honestly been so good, probably one of the best additions to our home." He is "really, really happy" with their quality, fantastic value, and smart features, concluding that they look "so, so good."

About this source

This review features the SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades, specifically the 100% Blackout version. The reviewer covers the unboxing, installation process, smart home integration with Alexa, remote control functionality, light-blocking performance, available power options, and a price comparison against other electric blinds. The video also details the aesthetic choices and overall user experience.

Review notes

SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades are an exceptional value and a highly recommended smart home upgrade for large window installations, significantly undercutting the price of conventional electric blinds. Installation is remarkably simple, requiring no electrician, and the battery-powered operation boasts an impressive life of weeks to months on a single charge, with convenient solar charging available. While the 100% blackout claim is nearly perfect, slight light gaps between blinds mean they're not for those demanding absolute darkness. If you prioritize easy DIY installation, smart home integration, and excellent value for covering wide window spans, these blinds are an ideal choice. If even minimal light leakage is a deal-breaker, you might need to consider custom solutions with side channels.

What the reviewer liked

  • Extremely easy DIY installation, no electrician required
  • Battery-powered with long life (weeks to months)
  • Optional solar panel for trickle charging
  • Seamless integration with smart assistants (Alexa, Matter) and scheduling features
  • Included remote controls individual or all blinds
  • Significantly more affordable than traditional electric blinds
  • Aesthetically pleasing design with hidden panel and weighted bottom
  • Effective at blocking out most light (close to 100% blackout)
  • Excellent customer service

What the reviewer criticised

  • Slight light gaps exist between blinds, preventing 100% blackout in all scenarios

Structured claims

The SmartWings motorized roller shades are easy to install, even for a single person, requiring only basic drilling and screwing without the need for an electrician.

reviewer_claimstrong

The SmartWings blinds are Matter-enabled and can be easily paired and controlled with smart assistants like Alexa and Matter-enabled TVs for seamless smart home integration.

reviewer_claimstrong

Users can control individual SmartWings blinds or groups of blinds simultaneously using voice commands through smart assistants, enhancing convenience.

reviewer_claimstrong

The blinds support scheduling for automatic opening and closing times and can be integrated with other smart home devices (e.g., temperature sensors) for automated actions.

reviewer_claimmoderate

SmartWings blinds have a pleasing aesthetic, with matching components (e.g., black front panel and weighted section for black bifold doors) and are described as looking "fantastic" and high quality.

reviewer_claimstrong

The blinds come pre-paired with a remote control that allows easy operation of individual blinds or all blinds at once, offering an alternative to smart assistant control.

reviewer_claimstrong

The SmartWings blinds offer effective blackout performance, though small light gaps exist between individual blinds, which the reviewer found aesthetically pleasing and showed to result in minimal overall light leakage at night.

reviewer_claimmoderate

SmartWings offers battery-powered and wired options, with the battery version easily rechargeable via USB-C or an optional solar panel, providing a notably long battery life.

reviewer_claimstrong

SmartWings motorized blinds offer fantastic value compared to much more expensive electric blind systems, especially considering their ease of installation, smart features, and solar charging option.

comparison_claimstrong

SmartWings provides "really fantastic" customer service, as experienced by the reviewer when inquiring about the blinds.

reviewer_claimmoderate

Evidence items

Product Introduction and Features

reviewer_claimpositivet=0:45–1:05

The reviewer introduces SmartWings as an easy-to-fit blind system that can be installed by oneself, mentioning potential features like solar panel power and voice control with Alexa or Siri.

Ease of Installation Demonstration

hands_on_demopositivet=2:00–2:37

The reviewer describes the installation as "dead simple," showing builders marking, drilling holes, screwing mounting brackets, and clicking the blinds into place, noting no wiring or electrician is needed.

Alexa Voice Control Demonstration

hands_on_demopositivet=3:00–3:45

The reviewer demonstrates connecting the Matter-enabled blinds to Alexa and controlling individual blinds ("Close the third blind") and all blinds at once ("Close all the blinds") using voice commands.

Automated Scheduling and Smart Triggers

reviewer_claimpositivet=3:45–4:20

The reviewer highlights the ability to set schedule times for opening/closing and integrate with other smart home devices, such as a TV's temperature setting to automatically close blinds.

Aesthetic Design and Color Matching

visual_inspectionpositivet=4:20–4:55

The reviewer describes the aesthetic choices, including a black front panel and weighted section to match black bifold doors, and a white linen color with a slight oatmealy brown texture that fits the home's decor.

Remote Control Functionality Demo

hands_on_demopositivet=5:00–5:40

The reviewer demonstrates the remote control, showing that blinds are pre-paired and can be controlled individually using channels 1-5 or all at once using channel 0.

Blackout Performance and Light Gaps

visual_inspectionmixedt=6:00–6:50

The reviewer claims the blinds are "completely blackout" and work "really, really well," but notes slight gaps between each blind, showing a night photo to illustrate minimal overall light leakage.

Battery-Powered vs. Wired Options

reviewer_claimneutralt=7:00–7:25

The reviewer explains he chose the battery-powered version to avoid electrical wiring, stating that a wired version is also available.

USB-C and Solar Panel Charging Demonstration

hands_on_demopositivet=7:25–8:10

The reviewer details charging options, including a USB-C cable which takes a couple of hours, and demonstrates plugging in the solar panel option for trickle charging.

Solar Panel Charging Test Result

measurement_testpositivet=8:10–8:25

The reviewer tested the solar panel, stating it charged a blind by "about sort of 30%" during the time he was at work.

Battery Life Observation

reviewer_claimpositivet=8:25–8:50

The reviewer claims the battery life is "really, really good," reporting that after 2-3 weeks of multiple daily uses, the battery level was still at 90%.

Price Comparison with Competitors

comparisonpositivet=9:00–9:40

The reviewer compares SmartWings blinds, costing "just over 407 pounds each," to quotes for other electric blinds (6,000-10,000 pounds) from high street places, highlighting the significant price difference.

Overall Value Proposition

reviewer_claimpositivet=9:40–10:15

The reviewer claims "the value here is fantastic" due to no electrician needed, solar charging capability, and smart features that many expensive electric blinds lacked.

Quality and Satisfaction Statement

reviewer_claimpositivet=9:40–10:15

The reviewer praises the build quality and appearance, stating, "I think the quality, they they look absolutely fantastic. I'm really, really happy."

Customer Service Experience

reviewer_claimpositivet=10:50–11:00

The reviewer commends SmartWings customer service, describing it as "really fantastic" based on his experience with questions about the blinds.

Quick answers

  • Are SmartWings motorized blinds easy to install? The reviewer found the installation of SmartWings motorized blinds to be "dead simple" and explicitly stated that anyone could do it alone.
  • Can SmartWings motorized blinds be controlled with smart assistants like Alexa? The SmartWings blinds are Matter devices, making them compatible with smart assistants like Alexa and Matter-enabled TVs.
  • How well do SmartWings blackout shades block light? The reviewer states that the SmartWings blinds offer "completely blackout" performance and work "really, really well" in blocking light.
  • What are the power options and battery life for SmartWings motorized blinds? The reviewer opted for the battery-powered version to eliminate wires, though a wired option is available.

Buyer questions answered

Are SmartWings motorized blinds easy to install?

The reviewer found the installation of SmartWings motorized blinds to be "dead simple" and explicitly stated that anyone could do it alone. The process involves basic marking, drilling a few holes, screwing in mounting brackets, and then simply clicking the blinds into place, requiring no complex wiring or an electrician.

Can SmartWings motorized blinds be controlled with smart assistants like Alexa?

The SmartWings blinds are Matter devices, making them compatible with smart assistants like Alexa and Matter-enabled TVs. The reviewer demonstrated pairing them with the Alexa app and using voice commands to control individual blinds or all blinds simultaneously. This functionality also allows for setting schedules and integrating with other smart home triggers based on conditions like temperature.

How well do SmartWings blackout shades block light?

The reviewer states that the SmartWings blinds offer "completely blackout" performance and work "really, really well" in blocking light. However, he does note slight gaps in between each blind that allow for minor light spills. He personally likes these small light effects and showed a night photo to demonstrate that overall light leakage into the room is minimal, even with indoor lights on.

What are the power options and battery life for SmartWings motorized blinds?

The reviewer opted for the battery-powered version to eliminate wires, though a wired option is available. The battery blinds can be charged using a standard USB-C cable, which takes a couple of hours, or an optional solar panel that plugs into the USB port for trickle charging. After 2-3 weeks of multiple daily uses, the reviewer's blinds were still at 90% battery, indicating a "really, really good" and long-lasting battery performance.

Are SmartWings motorized blinds good value compared to other options?

The reviewer found SmartWings blinds to be excellent value, costing "just over 407 pounds each" compared to quotes of 6,000 to 10,000 pounds for other electric blinds from high street stores. He highlighted the value in not requiring an electrician for installation, the option for solar charging, and the inclusion of smart features like voice and remote control, which were often missing in the more expensive alternatives.

What are the aesthetic options for SmartWings blinds?

The reviewer selected blinds with a black front panel and weighted section to match his black bifold doors, which he found to look "really nice." He also chose a white linen color with a subtle "oatmealy brown" texture that perfectly complemented the aesthetic of his kitchen living room area. The design allows the blinds to hide seamlessly into the panel when open.

Specs mentioned in this review

Solar Panel Charging Test Result
The reviewer tested the solar panel, stating it charged a blind by "about sort of 30%" during the time he was at work

Not covered in depth by this source

  • Not covered: Ride Feel
  • Not covered: Durability
  • Not covered: Traction
  • Not covered: Breathability

Why this source is included

75/100 source quality

  • • Independent of the brand
  • ✓ Hands-on demonstration
  • ✓ Specific testing or measurements
  • ✓ Clear sponsorship / relationship disclosure

Transcript summary

Mark Brown reviews the SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades (100% Blackout), detailing the straightforward installation process and seamless integration with smart home systems like Alexa. He demonstrates voice control for individual and grouped blinds, highlights scheduling capabilities, and assesses the blackout performance. The review also covers flexible power options, including USB-C and solar charging with impressive battery life, concluding that the blinds offer excellent value compared to more expensive alternatives while maintaining high quality and aesthetic appeal.

Full transcript is not redistributed here to respect the original creator’s rights.

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About this page

This page converts Mark Brown's review of the SmartWings SmartWings Motorized Roller Shades (100% Blackout) into structured evidence — timestamped claims, pros & cons, and buyer questions. It is not the original review and does not replace watching or reading the full source.

Sponsorship & disclosure

Sponsored: this source is sponsored by the brand.

Brand relationship disclosed as: sponsored

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