The Lutron Smart Bridge and the Wink 2 are excellent smart hubs. They have a sleek design which makes them look quite nice in your home, support the use of voice assistants such as Alexa and the Google Assistant and they come with easy to use mobile applications. The Lutron Smart Bridge comes with the Lutron Clear Connect technology with very low congestion, has no subscription requirements and works with wireless Lutron Caseta devices while the Wink 2 supports a wide host of wireless technologies such as WiFi, Thread, Zigbee and Bluetooth, comes in a spectacular design and allows for you to keep your home secure through the Wink Lookout security system. Which of these smart home automation hubs is the best? We will compare these two smart home automation hubs head to head and this will help you make a judgment as to which hub best suits your needs.
Alternatively, just skip to either the Lutron Smart Bridge or the Wink 2 on Amazon.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table Lutron Smart Bridge vs Wink 2
| Lutron Smart Bridge | Wink 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Image |  |  |
| Voice Assistant Support | Yes – Google Assistant, Alexa | Yes – Google Assistant, Alexa |
| Thread | No | Yes |
| WiFi | No | Yes |
| Lutron Clear Connect | Yes | Yes |
| Works with CasetaWireless Dimmers & Switches | Yes | Yes |
| Z-Wave | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth LE | No | Yes |
| ZigBee | No | Yes |
| HomeKit Support | Yes | No |
| Subscription | No | Yes |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
Key Similarities between the Lutron Smart Bridge and the Wink 2:
- Works with Caseta Wireless Dimmers and Switches
- Voice Assistant Support
- Lutron Clear Connect Support
Key Differences between the Lutron Smart Bridge and the Wink 2:
- WiFi Support
- HomeKit support
- Subscription
A Comprehensive Comparison between the Lutron Smart Bridge and the Wink 2
Voice Assistant Support
Nowadays, it is quite common to have smart home devices that allow for you to use your voice to enter commands instead of using a remote or a touch screen display. The Lutron Smart Bridge and the Wink 2 both support the use of voice assistants. You can use Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Voice Assistant to enter commands into both smart hubs.
Caseta Wireless Dimmers and Switches
Most people purchase the Lutron Smart Bridge when they have Caseta Wireless Dimmers and Switches. This allows for them to control their dimmers and switches using voice assistants and gain access to a wide variety of capabilities present in these devices. The Wink 2 is also compatible with these Caseta Dimmers and Switches. This allows you to get variety and choose which device performs best for you.
Lutron Clear Connect
Wireless Lutron devices use a propriety communication protocol called Lutron Clear Connect. This is a radio frequency protocol and it is supported by both the Lutron Smart Bridge and the Wink 2. This allows you to choose which smart hub best suits your needs as both of these smart hubs are able to control virtually any wireless Lutron device.
HomeKit Support
The Lutron Smart Bridge is more geared towards Apple users than the Wink 2. This is because the Smart Bridge allows for you to connect it to the Apple HomeKit. If you use Apple products then you probably know how efficiently devices in the Apple ecosystem communicate with each other. The Wink 2 does not allow you to connect it to the Apple HomeKit. If you do not use Apple, then either device will work well for you.
WiFi Support
The Wink 2 is able to communicate with more devices than the Lutron Smart Bridge. This is because it supports the popular WiFi protocol. This technology is supported by very many devices which include, but are not restricted to mobile phones, smart home automation devices as well as WiFi routers. The Lutron Smart Bridge does not support this protocol.
Other Wireless Technologies
The Wink 2 is designed to support a lot more wireless technologies than the Lutron Smart Bridge. This is because it supports ZigBee, Bluetooth, Thread while the Wink 2 only supports Lutron Clear Connect. Zigbee is a very popular wireless technology that is found in several home automation devices. These range from doorbells to window alarms. It is quite popular due to its very long range. Bluetooth is another popular wireless technology. It’s latest version, Bluetooth Low Energy, allows for wireless devices to communicate while consuming very little power. Thread is a low power mesh networking technology for IoT products, intended to be secure and future proof. As you can see, all of these wireless technologies are quite important and they are used by quite a wide variety of devices in the home. This makes the Wink 2 offer much better compatibility than the Lutron Smart Bridge.
Subscription
The Lutron Smart Bridge is much cheaper to use and operate than the Wink 2. This is because it comes with no subscription fees that need to be paid. Once you purchase the device, you will not need to pay any subscription fees for you to use it in your home. The Wink 2, however, is different. As of May 20, 2020, the company announced that a monthly subscription of 4.99 USD is needed for you to use the device. This is a huge disadvantage to those who intend to use a device that does not need any extra costs.
Design
The Smart Bridge is much smaller and is much more compact than the Wink 2. It measures 2.75 x 2.75 x 1.19 in while the Wink 2 measures 7.25 x 7.25 x 1.5 in. This makes it more suitable for use in tight spaces. When it comes to aesthetics, the Wink 2 is light years ahead of the Lutron Smart Bridge. It has a nice, white futuristic look and this makes it blend in with your environment seamlessly.
Secure Solutions
This is another part where the two smart home automation hubs are different. The Lutron Smart Bridge offers home security through the Nest Product Family which offers very high quality products and this adds an extra layer of security to your home. The Wink 2, however, offers the Wink Lookout System. This system allows for you to monitor your various entry points and give you smart alerts when there is unexpected activity.
Our Pick
We fell in love with the Wink 2. This is because of the host of attractive features that it comes with. It allows for you to use WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Thread, Lutron Clear Connect, supports the use of voice assistants and it has a really beautiful device that will make your home look up to date.
Why Do You Need a Smart Home Automation Hub?
Voice Assistant Support
Smart home automation hubs allow for you to use voice assistants. The Lutron and the Wink 2 both allow you to use the Google Assistant and Alexa. This allows for you to input commands to your smart home devices e.g. lights, thermostat, and security system by simply using your voice. This is much more convenient than using a touchscreen interface or a push button interface.
Device Support
Smart Home Automation hubs support a wide variety of devices. The Wink 2 comes with a host of wireless technologies and this allows for you to easily connect most of your smart home automation devices to it and control them using it. This allows for you to have one central device that controls all your devices which reduces hassles of having to buy several hubs and install several mobile applications on your mobile device.
Remote Control
Gone are the days when you had to be in the same physical location as the electrical or electronic device to give it commands. Nowadays, you are able to give commands to your devices from a distance. Smart Home Automation hubs allow for you to give commands to them from a distance by using a mobile application in your smart phone. This means that you will be able to control them as well as monitor the status of your home from any part of the world as long as you have a reliable internet connection.
Aesthetics
The Wink 2 is the perfect example of a good looking device. It is made to blend in with your home’s décor and it really makes your living area look modern. Other Smart Home Automation hubs are like this as they make your house look quite good due to their design.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between the Lutron Smart Bridge and the Wink 2
HomeKit Support
The Lutron Smart Bridge supports the Apple HomeKit while the Wink 2 does not. This makes it more convenient for people who use Apple devices to go for the Lutron Smart Bridge. This is because Apple devices work well with other devices that are present in the Apple ecosystem. If you do not use Apple devices then the Wink 2 could be a good option to go for.
Subscription
The Wink 2 needs you to pay a monthly subscription, while the Lutron Smart Bridge does not require any monthly fees. This monthly subscription is just 4.99 USD. If you do not find yourself in a position to purchase devices that need a monthly subscription, then go for the Lutron Smart Bridge. If you do not mind paying a monthly subscription, then go for the Wink 2.
Wireless Technologies
The Wink 2 supports way more wireless technologies than the Lutron Smart Bridge. It supports WiFi which is quite a popular technology, Bluetooth Low Energy which consumes very little power and offers fast data transmission speeds, ZigBee that offers a very long range, Thread as well as Lutron Clear Connect which allows it communicate with wireless Lutron devices as well as Z-Wave which is yet another popular technology among smart home automation devices. The Lutron Smart Bridge only supports Lutron Clear Connect. This means that if you need to connect various wireless devices and need a smart hub that supports as many smart home devices as possible then go for the Wink 2. If not then the Lutron could be a good option.
Design
The Lutron Smart Bridge and the Wink 2 come in very different designs. The Lutron Smart Bridge is designed to be very space efficient as it measures just 2.75 x 2.75 x 1.19 inches. The Wink 2 is much larger – its 7.25 x 7.25 x 1.5 in. If you have very limited space, then go for the Lutron Smart Bridge. If you have abundant space then either smart hub will work quite well.
Lutron Smart Bridge vs Wink 2 FAQs
Do they Work with 220V?
These devices were mainly made for the United States and since we use 120V, they only support 120V.
Do I need a Hub for Each Device Present?
No you do not. A hub brings devices together which means just one is enough, provided you do not exceed the maximum limit of the devices that can be connected to the hub.
Do they work with Alexa?
Yes they are compatible with Alexa. They work with the Google Assistant too.
Are they Easy to Install?
Yes they are. Anybody must be able to set them up and configure them quite easily
Conclusion
In this article, we explored the similarities and differences between the Lutron Smart Bridge and the Wink 2. We found the Wink 2 to be the winner. This is because it allows for you to connect it with a wide variety of smart home automation devices, has an aesthetically pleasing design and it supports the use of voice assistants.
We included a comprehensive list of features to look out for when you are choosing between the two smart hubs. This will help you to choose which smart hub best suits your unique needs.
Check out the best smart hub, the Wink 2 on Amazon.
