The new Shelly i4 Gen4 combines four digital inputs with Matter, Wi-Fi, Zigbee and Bluetooth connectivity, giving electrical contractors and integrators a flexible way to add advanced automation behind existing switches and buttons.
Shelly has expanded its Gen4 range with the Shelly i4 Gen4, a compact four-input controller designed to turn conventional wall switches and buttons into flexible control points for smart home and building automation.
Rather than switching an electrical load directly, the i4 Gen4 detects input from connected switches or buttons and uses those interactions to trigger other devices, scenes and automated workflows. This allows installers to retain familiar physical controls while significantly expanding what those controls can do.
A single switch could, for example, trigger an evening scene involving lighting, blinds and heating, while a button positioned by the front door could activate an away routine across multiple devices. In commercial environments, the same approach can be used for opening and closing routines, meeting-room controls or other operational automations.
What is new with the i4 Gen4?
Building on the Shelly i4 Gen3, the latest generation retains the compact four-input format while adding wider connectivity and integration options.
The i4 Gen4 supports Matter, Wi-Fi, Zigbee and Bluetooth, including Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, alongside an upgraded processor. It can also operate as a Zigbee repeater, Wi-Fi range extender and Bluetooth gateway for Shelly BLU devices.
For installers, that wider protocol support provides more choice when designing an automation system. The i4 Gen4 can sit within the Shelly ecosystem or form part of a wider connected environment using compatible third-party platforms and devices.
Make more of an existing wall switch
The i4 Gen4 provides four digital inputs, allowing multiple conventional switches or buttons to be connected to one device. Different interactions can then be assigned to different actions, making it possible to give a familiar wall control several functions rather than restricting it to a single load.
That can be particularly useful in retrofit projects. Rather than replacing existing switches with dedicated smart control panels, installers can introduce additional functionality behind the existing interface.
For homeowners, this means physical switches can remain alongside app, voice and automated control. For contractors and integrators, it creates an opportunity to add automation without significantly changing the appearance or everyday operation of the installation.
From individual controls to complete scenes
The value of an input controller becomes clearer when it is used to control several parts of an installation at once. In a residential project, one button could switch off selected lighting, lower blinds and adjust heating as part of a nighttime routine. Another could provide a central "all off" function when leaving the property. In offices, retail, hospitality and other commercial environments, a physical control could trigger a wider opening or closing sequence, change the settings of a meeting room or initiate another predefined workflow.
Because the i4 Gen4 acts as the trigger rather than directly switching the loads, the devices being controlled do not need to be located on the same circuit or immediately adjacent to the switch.
Open integration and local automation
For more advanced projects, Shelly i4 Gen4 includes an embedded web interface and supports Shelly scripting, MQTT, webhooks, HTTP and HTTPS APIs and KNXnet/IP. This gives electrical contractors, system integrators and advanced users options for connecting the device with wider automation platforms and creating customized workflows.
Local control also means automations do not need to rely exclusively on cloud connectivity, an important consideration for installations where response time, reliability or system independence are priorities.
Compact design for retrofit projects
Measuring 37 by 42 by 15 millimeters, the i4 Gen4 is designed for installation behind switches and within standard wall boxes. It operates from a 110-240V AC supply and consumes less than 1 watt.
Its compact format, combined with four inputs and multi-protocol connectivity, makes it particularly relevant to retrofit projects where contractors want to introduce smarter control while retaining the existing switches and overall appearance of the installation.
Shelly i4 Gen4 is available to purchase now for an MRSP of £15.90 from Shelly.com and official Shelly resellers. For full technical specifications, wiring information and product documentation, visit the Shelly i4 Gen4 Knowledge Base.
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