Leviton Decora vs Lutron Caseta: Smart Dimmer Switches Comparison
By Naila Syifa
Updated July 2023
Leviton Decora and Lutron Caseta offer smart switches that can upgrade your home's lighting system. With a smart switch, you can control your lights from your smartphone, set schedules, and even use voice commands with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
Leviton Decora and Lutron Caseta each have their own unique characteristics, so it's important to decide which switch will work best for your home. In this review, we'll compare them across various aspects to help you make an informed decision.
Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Dimmer Switch (2nd Gen) D26HD
Affordable but Reliable
✓ Supports 3-way switch
✓ Works with Alexa, Google, Siri, Vera, IFTTT
✓ Requires a neutral wire
✓ No smart home hub required
Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch PD-6WCL
Compatible with Any Home
✓ Supports 3-way switch
✓ Works with Alexa, Google, Siri, Ring, Serena Shades, Sonos
✓ No neutral wire required
✓ Requires Lutron Caseta Smart Bridge
#1 Price
Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Dimmer Switch (2nd Gen) D26HD
Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Dimmer Switch is priced at $49.04. It has other variants available to suit your needs, including switch, plug-in dimmer, plug-in switch, and motion sensing dimmer, each with its own price tag.
On the other hand, Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch is slightly more expensive, priced at $59.95. Another variant has the Pico remote included, which will provide you with more functionality but at a higher cost.
#2 Technical Specs
Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch PD-6WCL
Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Dimmer Switch has a current rating of 10A and operates at a voltage of 120V. It supports dimmable LED/CFL up to 300W, incandescent up to 600W, and MLV up to 600VA.
On the other side, Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch has a lower current rating of 2A and operates at the same voltage of 120V. It supports dimmable LED/CFL up to 150W and incandescent/halogen up to 600W.
It can be concluded that in terms of technical specifications, the smart dimmer switch from Leviton Decora is better than its Lutron Caseta counterpart. It is more capable of handling a higher current load without overloading or overheating, and supports a wider range of bulbs and fixtures.
#3 Design
Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Dimmer Switch (2nd Gen) D26HD
Design-wise, the Leviton Decora and Lutron Caseta smart dimmer switches both feature a sleek design that can blend in well with most home decor styles. The key differences are in the design layout and color options.
Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Dimmer Switch features an on/off rocker and a dim/bright bar on the right-hand side. It also has brightness indicator lights that temporarily display light levels when adjusting brightness. This dimmer switch primarily comes in white, but it has other color change kits available for separate purchases. The color options include: white, ivory, light almond, gray, black, and brown.
In contrast, Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch features buttons instead of a rocker. It has an ON button, an OFF button, a brighter button, and a darker button. It also has brightness indicator lights. It comes in fewer color options (white, ivory, light almond, and black), but you won't be charged an additional cost.
#4 Features
Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting Dimmer Switch PD-6WCL
When it comes to features, both switches offer a range of options to help you customize your smart home setup.
Leviton Decora dimmer switch comes with the My Leviton App that you can use to remotely control the switch from anywhere, set schedules to turn on/off the switch at specified times or at sunrise/sunset, and create scenes with other Leviton Decora smart devices. Voice control is also available. This dimmer switch is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit (including Siri), Vera, and IFTTT.
Similarly, the Lutron Caseta dimmer switch can be controlled remotely via the Lutron app and you can also create schedules or activate scenes in the app. It also features an Away mode that will randomly turn your lights on/off to look like you're home even if you're away. Voice control is also supported as it works with Amazon Alexa Google Home, Apple HomeKit (including Siri), Ring, Serena Shades, and Sonos. However, it is important to note that control from the app and connection with other smart home ecosystems will require Lutron Caseta Smart Bridge which is sold separately.
#5 Installation
Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Dimmer Switch (2nd Gen) D26HD
Both the Leviton Decora and Lutron Caseta dimmer switches are designed for easy installation, each with its own step-by-step guides.
The main difference is that the Leviton Decora dimmer switch requires a 2.4GHz WiFi network, a neutral wire, and no smart home hub. Meanwhile, the Lutron Caseta dimmer switch requires only Lutron Caseta Smart Bridge. It does not require a neutral wire, allowing it to work in any home of any age.
Both also support a 3-way setup that will enable you to control the same light at different locations. To configure such a setup, the Leviton Decora dimmer switch requires a separate DAWDC device while Lutron Caseta requires a separate Pico remote. Both add-ons are sold separately and can be easily mounted to any wall surface without any wiring required.
Leviton Decora Smart Dimmer Switch D26HD vs Lutron Caseta Smart Dimmer Switch PD-6WCL
Final Thoughts
Leviton Decora Smart WiFi Dimmer Switch (2nd Gen) D26HD
Leviton Decora and Lutron Caseta are head-to-head when it comes to smart dimmer switches. Ultimately, the choice between the two comes down to personal preference and the specific needs of your home.
Leviton Decora smart dimmer switch offers a more affordable price, better technical specs, a rocker design with 6 color options, extensive features, and support for a 3-way setup using DAWDC. However, it requires a neutral wire for installation.
Lutron Caseta smart dimmer switch does not require a neutral wire and offers comparable features and a four-button design with 4 color options. It also supports a 3-way setup using a Pico remote, but it does require a separate smart home bridge for full functionality.
If you like to read more about Smart Switches, check out our other relevant guides here:
Best Smart Switches Singapore
Aqara H1 Smart Wall Switch Review
Leviton Decora Smart Motion Sensing Dimmer Switch Review
Amazon Basics 3-Way Smart Switch Review
TP-Link Kasa KS200 Smart Switch Review
Aqara H1 vs D1: Smart Switches Comparison
Leviton vs GE: Smart Motion Dimmer Switches Comparison
Lutron vs Kasa: Who is the Better Smart Dimmer Switch?
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