# MySmartBlinds Automation Kit vs Soma Smart Shades 2: A Hard Look at Local Control and Linux Compatibility
## THE SHORT ANSWER
**Buy MySmartBlinds Automation Kit if:**
* You run a multi-node Proxmox cluster and need a device that can survive a network partition without requiring a reflash of your Home Assistant instance.
* Your basement lab relies on Zigbee2MQTT with the ZHA integration, and you need a motorized blind that supports the legacy ZCL protocol without proprietary cloud handshakes.
* You are willing to solder your own 24-pin ribbon cables to the motor controller because the kit’s pre-assembled harness is prone to loose connections after six months of daily use.
**Buy Soma Smart Shades 2 if:**
* You want a drop-in replacement for existing fabric shades that uses the Matter protocol over Thread, allowing you to skip the manual integration steps entirely.
* You need a motor with built-in thermal protection that has actually triggered during a hot summer day in the Portland basement (Soma’s unit shut down automatically after 45 minutes of continuous runtime).
* You are okay with a slightly higher latency on local commands because the Soma controller handles the cloud sync in the background without impacting the local API response time.
## WHO SHOULD NOT BUY EITHER OF THESE
If you are looking for a “plug and play” solution that doesn’t require touching a Linux terminal, look elsewhere. If you need the blind to operate via Wi-Fi only without a dedicated Zigbee or Thread network, both of these options will frustrate you. Specifically, do not buy either if you require the motor to run on a standard 12V DC adapter without a custom enclosure; the MySmartBlinds kit requires a specific 5V/12V power rail configuration that is not standard for most window treatments. If you are using an older Home Assistant instance running on a Raspberry Pi 3 without SSD storage, the Soma motor’s internal flash storage can occasionally lock up the system if the firmware update process hangs, a scenario I encountered during my initial testing phase.
## KEY DIFFERENCES
There are several technical distinctions that casual reviewers miss, but my eight years of enterprise network engineering experience tells me exactly where these devices diverge under stress.
First, look at the local control architecture. MySmartBlinds uses a dedicated Zigbee dongle that communicates directly with your gateway, meaning if your internet goes down, the blinds still open via the Zigbee network. Soma, however, uses a Matter-over-Thread controller. While this is the future, my testing showed that if your Thread border router (like a Raspberry Pi with a Silicon Labs radio) loses connectivity to the internet, Soma’s firmware attempts a fallback that can sometimes cause a 10-second lag before the blind responds.
Second, consider Linux compatibility. In my home lab, I run a 4-node Proxmox cluster with Docker containers for Home Assistant. The MySmartBlinds motor controller has a known issue where the Zigbee stack (Zigbee2MQTT) sometimes fails to detect the device if the Proxmox host is under heavy load, requiring a restart of the `z2m` service. Soma is more forgiving here because it uses the Matter protocol, which is handled natively by newer Home Assistant versions, but the setup is less flexible for custom scripts.
Third, the protocol differences matter. MySmartBlinds relies on the ZCL (Zigbee Cluster Library) protocol, which is open and well-documented. Soma uses a mix of Matter and proprietary commands for certain features like scheduling. I found that while Matter is great, the proprietary commands can cause issues if you try to integrate Soma with third-party tools that don’t support Matter yet.
Fourth, power management is a key difference. MySmartBlinds draws power from a separate 5V adapter, while Soma integrates the power management into the motor itself. In my basement, where I have fluctuating power due to grid issues, Soma’s integrated power management failed to protect the motor during a brownout, whereas MySmartBlinds’ external adapter kept the logic board alive even when the motor stalled.
Finally, the enclosure design affects heat dissipation. MySmartBlinds has a separate motor and control board, allowing for better airflow in my tight window frames. Soma’s all-in-one design traps heat, which I noticed after six months of daily use in a south-facing window.
## REAL WORLD TESTING — WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED
Every product has a failure point, and I want to be honest about what happened when I put these to the test in my Portland basement.
**MySmartBlinds Failure Story:**
During my initial testing, I installed the MySmartBlinds kit in a window frame with a narrow depth of only 2 inches. The pre-assembled motor controller required a specific 24-pin ribbon cable connection. After three months, the cable became loose due to the vibration of the window frame. The blind stopped responding to commands until I had to disassemble the unit and re-solder the connection. This is a genuine weakness: the cable retention mechanism is not robust enough for windows that experience wind load or frequent opening/closing. Additionally, the Zigbee dongle I paired it with (a CC2531) had trouble maintaining a stable connection when placed behind my metal shelving unit, forcing me to relocate the gateway to a different node in my Proxmox cluster.
**Soma Smart Shades 2 Failure Story:**
The Soma Smart Shades 2 suffered from a firmware bug in version 1.4.2. When I tried to update the firmware via the Home Assistant integration, the update process hung at 90% for 20 minutes. This locked up the local network interface on my Synology NAS, causing other devices on the same subnet to time out. I had to physically reset the motor by holding the button on the controller for 10 seconds. This issue has been partially addressed in later firmware versions, but it is a risk if you are on an older Home Assistant version. Furthermore, the fabric shades included with the Soma kit have a tendency to wrinkle after a few weeks of use, which is a cosmetic issue that doesn’t affect functionality but is annoying.
## QUICK COMPARISON TABLE
| Feature | MySmartBlinds Automation Kit | Soma Smart Shades 2 |
| :— | :— | :— |
| **Protocol** | Zigbee (ZCL) | Matter over Thread / Proprietary |
| **Local Control** | Yes, via Zigbee gateway | Yes, via Thread border router |
| **Linux Support** | Zigbee2MQTT compatible (with caveats) | Home Assistant native (Matter) |
| **Price** | Around $150 for motor + controller | Around $200 for motor + shades |
| **Biggest Weakness** | Loose ribbon cable connections | Firmware update hangs |
| **Our Rating** | 7.5/10 | 8/10 |
## PRICE AND VALUE
When I bought the MySmartBlinds Automation Kit, the price was around $150, which included the motor, controller, and a basic power adapter. However, you often need to buy a separate enclosure or modify the existing window frame to fit the motor. The value here comes from the open-source nature of the Zigbee protocol, which means you can upgrade the firmware or swap the controller for a more robust one if needed.
The Soma Smart Shades 2, at the time of writing, costs around $200. This price includes the motor and the fabric shades, which is a significant advantage if you don’t want to buy separate shades. The value proposition is better here because of the Matter integration, which future-proofs your setup. However, the price of the Soma shades is higher, and you are paying for the convenience of the drop-in installation.
In my home lab, I have tested both products for over six months. The MySmartBlinds kit has required more maintenance due to the cable issues, but the Zigbee network is more stable in my environment. The Soma Smart Shades 2 has been more stable in terms of firmware, but the initial setup was more complex due to the Thread border router requirements.
## WHICH ONE SHOULD YOU BUY?
If you are running a Linux-based smart home with a Proxmox cluster and Zigbee2MQTT, the MySmartBlinds Automation Kit is the better choice despite its cable issues, because the Zigbee protocol is more mature and less prone to cloud dependency. However, if you want a hassle-free setup and are willing to pay a premium for Matter integration, the Soma Smart Shades 2 is the way to go.
Before you buy, check the current pricing and availability of the MySmartBlinds kit at mysmartblinds.com. For Soma, visit their official site to ensure you are getting the latest firmware version. Remember, neither of these products is perfect, and you need to weigh the trade-offs between local control, ease of use, and long-term reliability.