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Relays · Head to head

Shelly 1 Gen3 vs Shelly 1 Mini Gen4

Full Smart Relays comparison in 2026

Updated September 2026
Data from Amazon and official Shelly site.
2026 verdict
Smaller and with more radios, the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 is the better buy of this Gen3 vs Gen4 pair for most light circuits.
Shelly 1 Mini Gen4
Winner
Shelly 1 Mini Gen4
$24.98
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It adds Zigbee through a Zigbee hub to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Matter, acts as a Zigbee router, fits a 29 x 34 x 16 mm body and lists a 3-year warranty. The Shelly 1 Gen3 is the lower priced and better rated of the two, and it carries more load, 16A against 8A, and by the spec sheet it installs without a neutral wire, which the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 requires. Both switch resistive, inductive and capacitive loads, offer dry and wet contact modes, run on AC or DC and work with Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant. Pick the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 for a crowded box or a Zigbee home, and the Shelly 1 Gen3 for heavier loads or a box with no neutral.
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FeatureShelly 1 Gen3Shelly 1 Mini Gen4Winner
Price$22.99$24.98Shelly 1 Gen3
Rating4.64.5Shelly 1 Gen3
ConnectivityBluetoothBluetooth, ZigbeeShelly 1 Mini Gen4
Zibgee RouterNOYESShelly 1 Mini Gen4
SafetyOverheating protectionOverheating protectionTie
IntegrationsGoogle Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, MatterGoogle Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, MatterTie
Relay Channels11Tie
Energy MonitoringNONOTie
Dry Contact ModeYESYESTie
Wet Contact ModeYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Size

The Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 measures 29 x 34 x 16 mm and weighs 19 g, against 37 x 42 x 16 mm and 26 g for the Shelly 1 Gen3. Owners of the Gen3 mention needing box extenders; the Mini is the answer to that.

Load rating

The Shelly 1 Gen3 is rated 16A, the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 8A. For lights both are plenty; a water heater, pump or large motor needs the Gen3.

Neutral wire

The Shelly 1 Gen3 is listed as not needing a neutral, while the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 requires one. Without a neutral in the box, only the Gen3 installs.

Zigbee

The Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 can run on Zigbee through a hub and routes for other devices. The Shelly 1 Gen3 has no Zigbee, so it only matters if your home uses it.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both Shelly relays praise local control that keeps automations running without the internet and dry contacts that handle garage doors, pumps and lighting jobs cheaply. Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 owners single out the size, fitting boxes where a standard relay will not, plus configuration through its own web page and immediate Home Assistant pickup, including Zigbee2MQTT; they mention tiny printed instructions, no UL or ETL listing and a few units that failed after months. Shelly 1 Gen3 owners lean on it for no-neutral installs, on-device scripting and ESPHome flashing, and their complaints are no energy monitoring, a tight fit that sometimes needs a box extender and no push notifications.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • Shelly 1 Gen3
  • Shelly 1 Mini Gen4

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Shelly 1 Gen3 or Shelly 1 Mini Gen4?

The Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 for most lighting jobs: it is smaller, adds Zigbee and routing and carries a 3-year warranty. The Shelly 1 Gen3 is better for 16A loads and no-neutral boxes, and it costs less.

What is the difference between the Shelly 1 Gen3 and the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4?

The Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 is a smaller Gen4 relay rated 8A that adds Zigbee and needs a neutral. The Shelly 1 Gen3 is a full-size Gen3 relay rated 16A, with no Zigbee, listed as installing without a neutral.

Do the Shelly 1 Gen3 and the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 support Matter and Apple Home?

Yes, both support Matter and Apple Home, along with Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant.

Does either have energy monitoring?

No. Neither the Shelly 1 Gen3 nor the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4 meters power; Shelly's PM models do.

Who should buy the Shelly 1 Gen3?

DIYers switching heavier loads, homes without a neutral at the switch, and tinkerers who want scripting or ESPHome at the lower price.

Who should buy the Shelly 1 Mini Gen4?

Anyone retrofitting lights in tight boxes, and Zigbee users who want small mains-powered routers behind their switches.

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