this post was submitted on 07 Feb 2025
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ZigBee devices are really nice because they are low energy, easy to set up and don't add extra strain on your wifi access point(s). The battery operated ones last for months to years on a small button cell battery and most plug-in/wired ones act as repeaters. Also, a lot Wi-Fi devices are cloud based or require flashing to make them completely local. With ZigBee or even Zwave you are certain they have no internet access and cannot phone home without you having to put any precautions in place.
If I already have a handful of WiFi devices, do you think it is worth it to replace them? Say, 4-5 switches. I'm planning to invest in a few more and a home thermostat. I certainly want to commit before buying a thermostat, since they tend to be a little more pricey.
Is there a greater danger of ZigBee not being sustainable over decades? WiFi will probably be available for the remainder of my lifetime because it is already so ubiquitous.
It depends, but I'd say you should definitely try it. Zigbee is so cheap (not just initial cost, but batteries also last waaasy longer and it doesn't saturate your local network), and it's very possible you can still build a nice mesh, maybe reusing a couple of your Wi-Fi switches somewhere else in the house if you need a Zigbee router in one of those spots.
It was never the best idea to fill your home with tiny Wi-Fi devices. Wi-Fi IoT devices are more for people who basically want to automate a couple of things, not 40. I would become mad just for the battery changes, and scared as heck I'd be toasting my brain with so many devices screaming radiowaves (and a clear slowdown of my Internet connection).