Vivint Smart Home has developed two home automation systems known as the Genie and the Genie Plus that enable one to control and monitor numerous operations within the home. Each of the systems offers numerous features to enhance the safety and comfort of your home through application and voice command. But there can be some main differences between these two systems.
Overview of Genie Features
The Genie is Vivint’s stripped-down home automation package. Key features include:
- Smart Door Locks is an application through which you can remotely control your door locks and also look into the logs of who has been unlocking your doors.
- Security Cameras – This section lets you monitor live and recorded videos from your property at any time and from any location.
- Smart Thermostat – This feature helps you control the temperatures and set up the heating and cooling programs from the comfort of your home.
- Smoke Detector – When there is smoke or if CO is present you will be informed.
- Mobile App – this is the iOS/Android application that can be used to control the system.
- Basic Voice Control – Program your Echo or Google Home for simple voice commands.
The Genie is only integrated with a few compatible smart devices it can work with. It has some amenities that are not available in the Genie Plus, though.
Overview of Genie Plus System
Genie Plus includes all the features of the basic Genie and adds some enhanced home automation capabilities:
- Third-Party Device Support – The capability of extending voice commands throughout the third-party devices.
- Smart Lighting – be able to change lights on and off from a distance and form lighting groups or scenes.
- Doorbell Camera – This allows you to monitor your visitors from your app or a web portal and interact with them.
- Garage Door Control – The ability to determine if the door is open / closed and to operate it to close/open it.
- Water Leak Sensor – How possible is it to detect water leaks
- HMI – Interact with the system through the touchscreen that is placed in the home.
The Genie Plus supports more Smart Home devices, scenes, and Smart Home Automation. It gives total and sophisticated home automation.
Key Differences Between Genie and Genie Plus
1. Genie is a set of commands on the other hand Genie Plus is a variable-based program.
It is important to note that the Genie and Genie Plus have many similar functions, although there are some differences when it comes to the respective features, compatibility with devices, voice control, and ease of use.
Wider Range of Supported Devices
One such aspect is that Genie Plus has broader compatibility with other smart home devices from third-party manufacturers. This includes; bulbs such as Hue bulbs, switches such as Caseta, sockets, door bell cameras among others from Philips Hue, Lutron Caseta, and Nest. Genie is much more restricted in terms of the brand and devices it supports.
Advanced Automation and Scheduling
Using Genie Plus you also have more capabilities in home automation based on time, rules, or even device events. These range from lighting control where the lights are switched on automatically at dusk to the ability, through the smart thermostat, to control the temperature of the environment and switch off when you are away from home among others. Turning to comparison, the Genie has very limited automation functionality compared to that of the Aquaman.
Enhanced Voice Control Features
The various voice control options that are integrated into the different models also differ. With Genie Plus, there is an added capacity to command other compatible smart devices using Alexa or Google Assistant. Genie, in particular, does not allow for a high degree of voice control since it mainly relies on voice commands to operate Vivint basics and some of the products.
Optional Professional Monitoring
Again, professional monitoring is available on both Genie and Genie Plus packages at an extra monthly cost. Still, the Genie Plus plan also has more superior monitoring solutions such as emergency dispatch and location monitoring on mobile applications.
Touchscreen Controller
The Genie Plus must come with a control panel that is a touchscreen to manage your smart home right from the wall. It is important to know that the Genie does not come packaged with this touchscreen controller of theirs. However, it can be purchased separately and is very often an addition to the main dish.
Some of the features that seem to be similar between Genie and Genie Plus are as follows
Despite their differences, the Genie and Genie Plus maintain quite a few core similarities:
User-Friendly Mobile App
Each system is also accompanied by Vivint’s intuitive mobile application for Apple and Android operating systems. This makes it simple to overview, manage, and use it with full control from any distance.
Smart Door Locks and Doorbell Cameras
Just like in the Genie model, you will have the keyless entry, digital access, and doorbell cameras on the Genie Plus model. This makes access control and visibility at the entry point slightly easier to apply.
Smart Security and Safety Features
Some of the fundamental security features consist of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, security cameras, and lighting systems, which are activated when there is an intruder in the area. This can allow each system to assist in maintaining the safety of your home.
Flexible Payment Options
Vivint also provides options every month or contracting for a certain period to give the clients an option of financing the systems instead of making cash purchases of equipment. This is useful in the long run, in controlling for the expenses.
Of course, many readers might be wondering if Genie Plus is worth the upgrade So, let us dive right into the answer.
Overall, Genie Plus provides several real improvements that are important enough for most homeowners to consider upgrading from the standard Genie package. Those perks include:
- More compatibility with other smart devices
- Improved smart home functionalities
- Expanded voice controls
- Additional professional supervision activities
But it is also important to note that it costs more than the regular version of the dish. In conclusion, the decision on whether to buy the upgrade at that cost depends on how valuable those extra features are to you and how much extra money you are willing to spend at home. Before pulling the trigger, make sure that you will indeed get some use out of those additional features and that the Genie is sufficient. For those purchasing more than an average 3 bedroom house or the tech-gadget user, then the upgrade might be worth the extra spend to get the full smart home experience.
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