What we like
- Dry contacts and AC or DC power suit varied control jobs
- Matter included, with Zigbee available as an alternative mode
- Local schedules, scripting and browser controls
What could be better
- €6 more than 1 Gen3 for the same basic switching job
- No energy meter, dimming or built-in door-position sensing
- Same 37 × 42 × 16 mm body as Gen3; mains installation needs a neutral
A modest premium for a different radio option
Shelly 1 Gen4 costs €19.90 for a single relay in the EU shop, €6 above 1 Gen3. Both were in stock on September 9, 2026, with VAT included and shipping extra. Installation is a separate cost.
The extra money buys a newer radio platform with Matter included and an alternative Zigbee mode. It does not buy another output, a smaller enclosure or an energy meter. For a fresh project where you might use a Zigbee coordinator, €6 is a reasonable premium. For a working Gen3 installation, the same everyday switching function gives little reason to open the wall and replace it.
The flexible hardware is still the main attraction
The dry-contact output is separate from the relay module's power supply. That is useful when a control circuit needs a contact to open and close rather than a mains-powered output. Supported module supplies are mains AC, stabilized 12 V DC or 24 to 48 V DC. The load being switched has its own limits: up to 16 A AC or 10 A at 30 V DC, with suitability dependent on the load and installation.
A suitable garage-door controller is one possible use for that contact, but the Shelly alone provides no door-position feedback. Extra sensing and an appropriate integration are needed to know what the door actually did. Similarly, an internal temperature sensor protects the relay; it does not make this a room thermostat.
For consumption tracking on an ordinary mains load, consider a PM relay instead. The 1 Gen4 has no power meter, and its single output offers on/off control rather than dimming or coordinated blind-motor movement.
Choose a protocol without expecting every feature to follow
Matter runs over Wi-Fi. Zigbee is an alternative firmware mode, so the relay is not a simultaneous Matter-and-Zigbee bridge. Its native Bluetooth sensor components are unavailable in Zigbee mode. That makes the protocol choice more consequential if a project depends on Shelly BLU sensors.
In its Wi-Fi role, local browser control, stored schedules, timers, MQTT and scripting offer more flexibility than a basic app-only switch. Shelly Cloud is optional for local use. The newer radio supports Wi-Fi 6 on 2.4 GHz, but we would choose it for those concrete controls and protocol options, not an assumed improvement in reception inside a wall.
Full size earns its place when the power options help
The 37 × 42 × 16 mm body matches Gen3. A mains installation needs a neutral and sufficient space for the module and wiring; the manual calls for a qualified electrician. Existing switches with built-in indicator lamps are excluded, so preserving a favorite wall plate is not automatic.
The 1 Mini Gen4 is smaller at the same price, but has lower switching limits and cannot itself run from DC power. Buy the full-size model when those capabilities matter. If you need only a conventional Wi-Fi Matter relay, 1 Gen3 offers the same core job for less.
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