Xiaomi has opened crowdfunding for the Xiaomi Smart Switch 2 Pro, a wall light switch that starts at CNY 114 (~$17). The panel is 3.5mm thick, and the switch works in older homes that have no neutral wire. That missing cable is what stops most people from installing a smart switch. Here is what changed from the Smart Switch 2, and what to check before you buy.
Xiaomi Smart Switch 2 Pro Price
All three versions fit China’s standard 86-type wall box, the square one behind most switches in Chinese homes. They are listed on Xiaomi Youpin, Xiaomi’s crowdfunding and lifestyle store.
| Version | Crowdfunding price |
|---|---|
| Single button | CNY 114 (~$17) |
| Double button | CNY 133 (~$20) |
| Triple button | CNY 152 (~$23) |
Crowdfunding prices are usually the lowest Xiaomi offers. Some listings already show a regular price around CNY 149 (~$22), so expect a rise once early-bird stock runs out.
Smart Switch or Smart Bulbs?
A smart switch replaces the wall switch you already have. Pressing it works as normal, and you can also control it from an app, by voice, on a schedule, or through automations.
It beats smart bulbs in a few ways. One switch controls every bulb on the circuit, so a living room with four ceiling lights needs one switch instead of four bulbs. The wall button and the app stay in sync, which they don’t with bulbs: flip a bulb’s wall switch off and the app can no longer turn it back on. And you can keep the cheap LED bulbs you already own.
Installation is the downside. You are replacing hardware wired into the wall, and many countries legally require an electrician for that.
How It Works Without a Neutral Wire
A basic light switch is just a gap in a wire. Press it and the gap closes. That is why many switch boxes in older homes in China, the UK, and parts of Asia and the US only have a live wire going in and out.
A smart switch has a radio and a chip that need power even when the light is off. Most models draw that power from a neutral wire. If your box doesn’t have one, adding it can mean opening the wall.
Xiaomi gets around this with a single live-wire mode. The switch pulls a small amount of power through the light itself. It checks your wiring at power-on and picks the right mode on its own.
The catch is that this trickle can make some low-wattage LED bulbs flicker or glow faintly when they should be off. Test the switch with your actual bulbs before you replace every switch in the house.
Xiaomi Smart Switch 2 Pro vs Smart Switch 2
Xiaomi launched the regular Smart Switch 2 in September 2026. Both support single-live and neutral-wire installs and Mesh 2.0, so the Pro mainly adds a thinner panel, a steel bracket, and energy stats.
| Smart Switch 2 Pro | Smart Switch 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Crowdfunding price (1 button) | CNY 114 (~$17) | CNY 69 (~$10) |
| Crowdfunding price (2 / 3 buttons) | CNY 133 / 152 | CNY 79 / 99 |
| Panel thickness | About 3.5mm | About 11mm |
| Panel finish | AG glass, anti-fingerprint (AF) coating | Glass panel |
| Mounting | High-strength steel bracket | Standard |
| Neutral wire needed | No (auto-detect) | No (auto-detect) |
| Wireless | Xiaomi Mesh 2.0 | Xiaomi Mesh 2.0 |
| Relay life | Up to 1 million cycles | Up to 1 million cycles |
| Energy-use stats | Yes | Not listed |
For the single-button version, the Pro costs CNY 45 (about $7) more. Most wall switches stick out about a centimeter, so a 3.5mm panel sits almost flush. The AG (anti-glare) glass is matte, and the AF coating resists fingerprints on something you touch every day.
I would pay the extra for rooms people see, like a living room or hallway. In a garage or storage room, the cheaper Smart Switch 2 does the same job.
Key Specs
- Rating: 10A, up to 2,200W, with thermal and overload protection
- Wireless: Xiaomi Mesh 2.0, which Xiaomi says responds 50% faster than the previous generation, plus remote OTA updates
- Control: Mi Home, Xiaomi’s Smart Connect, and Xiao Ai voice commands
- Buttons: physical micro-switches with a tactile click, rated for about 1 million presses (over 90 years at 30 presses a day)
- Energy monitoring: power-use stats in the app
Automations and Wireless Mode
Pair the switch with a Xiaomi smart lock and the hallway light can come on when the door unlocks. A single “leaving home” button can turn off the lights, close the curtains, and start a robot vacuum. In wireless mode, a button stops controlling its own light and acts as a remote for something else, such as an air purifier.
On the double and triple versions, Mi Home can also remap which button controls which light. That helps in homes where an electrician wired things in a confusing order.
App and voice control need a Bluetooth Mesh gateway. Many Xiaomi speakers and hubs work as one. If you own no Xiaomi gear yet, add the gateway to your budget. Without one, the switch still works as a normal switch and nothing else.
What Can You Run on It?
Watts measure power use and amps measure current, and voltage links the two. At China’s 220V, 10A equals 2,200W. At the 120V used in the US, the same 10A allows about 1,200W.
That is far more than lights need. A large room of LED bulbs rarely pulls more than 100W to 200W. Don’t put a space heater, kettle, or air conditioner on a light switch. Those belong on circuits built for them.
Can You Buy It Outside China?
Not easily, and I wouldn’t try importing one.
- There is no global launch date. Xiaomi often takes a year or more to bring smart home gear abroad, when it does at all.
- The 86-type wall box doesn’t match the rectangular boxes common in the US or the round ones in much of Europe.
- Xiao Ai speaks Chinese, and some Mi Home features work best on the China server region.
- Installing an uncertified imported switch can break electrical codes and may affect home insurance.
Outside China, look for locally certified switches that support Matter, the standard that lets smart home gear from different brands work together. Aqara’s H1 wall switches are one option, though you usually have to pick the version that matches your wiring.
FAQ
Does the Xiaomi Smart Switch 2 Pro need a neutral wire?
No. It detects single-live or neutral wiring automatically.
How much does it cost?
CNY 114 to 152 (~$17 to $23) during crowdfunding, depending on the number of buttons.
Does it work without a gateway?
It works as a normal switch. App and voice control need a Bluetooth Mesh gateway.
Is it sold globally?
Not yet. It is listed in China only.
Verdict
The Smart Switch 2 Pro attacks the most annoying smart home problem, which is old wiring, at a price under $20. If you are in China and already own a Xiaomi gateway, it is an easy swap. Everyone else can only watch for now. Western brands may feel the price pressure even if this exact switch never ships there.
