Shelly takes on the Echo Hub with its new wall display – and it can even replace your light switch

Watch out, Echo Hub – Shelly has just launched its new smart wall display to the UK market. The Shelly Wall Display X1i is a centralised smart home hub in the form of a 4-inch high-resolution colour display which is easy to install and can even replace your home’s light switches.

Founded in 2018, Shelly is still a relatively new smart home brand, but it’s seriously expanded into all categories within the sector. Its range of sensors, switches, dimmers, smart plugs and more offer an affordable way to upgrade your home into a smart one.

Having a centralised smart hub for all your devices is paramount to keeping your home running smoothly. While you can achieve this by apps, a smart speaker or display, sometimes a dedicated hub makes things that much easier, and this is what Shelly has become known for.

Shelly previously launched its Wall Display XL in late 2025. Measuring 6.5-inches, it was a pretty sizable device that took up a lot of wall space. Shelly’s newer model, the Wall Display X1i offers much of the same features and functionality but in a smaller 4-inch size.

Available in black or silver, the Shelly Wall Display X1i is designed to fit standard European flush-mount wall boxes so it’s easy to install and doesn’t look like an eyesore. It can even replace your traditional light switches, which is especially helpful if you have smart lights already set up around your home.

The Shelly Wall Display X1i connects your smart home devices together and keeps them in one central place. Powered by an ultra-fast quad-core processor, it has a built-in relay for direct control of lighting and appliances, and it responds quickly and smoothly.

Within the Shelly Wall Display X1i are proximity, luminosity and gesture sensors, so the hub responds naturally to you and what’s happening around your house. For example, it can trigger automations when it notices changing conditions in a room, like temperature fluctuations.

The display itself is all colour, and the home screen can be personalised with shortcuts. Aside from customising your devices, the Shelly Wall Display X1i also monitors your energy consumption to help you save on your household bills.

Alongside its new smart control panel, Shelly has also launched the new Shelly BLU Motion ZB, its latest smart sensor. Both devices can be used together to make your smart home automations more seamless.

As a wireless motion sensor, the Shelly BLU Motion ZB detects movement and ambient light levels using PIR technology. This allows the sensor to respond quickly to changes and notify the display which then makes adjustments or starts automations if necessary.

The Shelly BLU Motion ZB comes with Bluetooth and Zigbee connectivity, and it’s powered by a CR2477 battery which allows it to operate for up to five years without needing to be replaced. It can sit on surfaces or be mounted on walls via its mounting pad, so installation is easy, too.

Both smart devices are available to buy now, with the Shelly Wall Display X1i priced at £162, and the Shelly BLU Motion ZB costing £18. The former is a similar price to the Echo Hub which goes for £169.99, so there’s not a huge cost difference.

However, if you don’t fancy diving into the Amazon ecosystem just yet, the Shelly Wall Display X1i is a great – and simpler – alternative.