Shelly 1 Gen3

A good reason to keep the switch you already like

Shelly 1 Gen3 adds smart on/off control behind an existing switch or inside a suitable enclosure. The useful result is a familiar wall control with timers and remote switching added, without changing every bulb or buying a new decorative switch.

At €13.90 for one in Shelly's EU shop on September 9, 2026, it is good value. The offer was in stock, including VAT with shipping and installation extra. The smaller 1 Mini Gen3 costs exactly the same, so the larger model is the better starting point when space permits: it has higher load limits and more power-supply options.

This is a bare relay module. The low purchase price does not include the electrical work needed to put it into service.

Dry contacts give it a different job from the PM model

Its relay contacts are separate from the module's own power supply. That allows it to switch an appropriately matched external circuit, instead of only passing its supply voltage to an appliance. The module itself can run on mains AC, stabilized 12 V DC or 24 to 48 V DC. Its switched DC circuit is limited to 30 V; a 48 V supply option does not mean a 48 V switching rating.

That flexibility is useful for a compatible control input as well as a lighting circuit. For example, it can provide a trigger for a suitable garage-door controller, but it does not know whether the door is open or closed without additional sensing. It is not a complete garage-door controller in a blue box.

There is no energy meter. If the job is ordinary mains appliance switching and you want consumption readings, a PM model is the relevant alternative, with different output wiring. Dry contacts and metering are not interchangeable features.

Ordinary controls remain its best use

Local browser controls, automatic timers and schedules provide plenty of utility without Shelly Cloud. Onboard scripting and MQTT are available for more involved projects. Matter support arrived in stable firmware 1.6.0; an older unit can gain it through an update instead of replacement. Enabling Matter reduces the memory available for scripts, so complex code should not be the reason to choose this generation.

The 37 × 42 × 16 mm enclosure needs room for the connected wires too. Mains operation needs a neutral, and the manual calls for a qualified electrician. The quoted 16 A AC and 10 A at 30 V DC limits are not a blanket allowance for every motor or LED driver; load type and any required suppression still matter. It switches on and off, with no dimming.

Buy on fit and function

Choose 1 Mini Gen3 when its smaller footprint solves a real space problem and its lower limits are sufficient. Choose 1 Gen4 if the option to use Zigbee later is worth another €6. For a straightforward Matter relay in a suitable installation, 1 Gen3 remains the more economical choice.