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Relays · Head to head

Shelly 1 Gen4 vs Shelly 1 Mini Gen3

Full Smart Relays comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official Shelly site.
2026 verdict
Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 comes out ahead for most light circuits, as the smaller, lower priced and better rated of these two Shelly relays.
Shelly 1 Mini Gen3
Winner
Shelly 1 Mini Gen3
$17.99
Buy on Amazon USACheck price
It fits a 29 x 35 x 16 mm body, switches 8A with dry and wet contact modes, and supports Matter, Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant, all with a 3-year warranty. The Shelly 1 Gen4 is the more capable relay: it switches 16A, adds full Bluetooth and Zigbee through a Zigbee hub, and routes Zigbee traffic for the rest of the mesh, in a larger 37 x 42 x 16 mm body. Both need a neutral wire, and neither is the one for energy readings: the Mini has no metering and the Gen4 does not document any. Pick the Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 for lights and small loads in a tight box, and the Shelly 1 Gen4 for heavier loads or a Zigbee home.
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FeatureShelly 1 Gen4Shelly 1 Mini Gen3Winner
Price$24.99$17.99Shelly 1 Mini Gen3
Rating4.44.5Shelly 1 Mini Gen3
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee2.4 GHz WiFi, BluetoothShelly 1 Gen4
Zigbee RouterYESNOShelly 1 Gen4
Warranty3 years3 yearsTie
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

Load rating

The Shelly 1 Gen4 is rated 16A, the Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 8A. Lights and small appliances sit well within 8A; a water heater, pump or large motor is where the Gen4's headroom matters.

Zigbee

The Shelly 1 Gen4 can run on Zigbee through a hub and acts as a Zigbee router. The Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 is Wi-Fi only, with Bluetooth used just for pairing.

Size

The Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 is 29 x 35 x 16 mm and 19 g against 37 x 42 x 16 mm and 26 g for the Shelly 1 Gen4. In a crowded switch box, that smaller footprint is often what makes the install possible.

Generation

Despite the Gen3 and Gen4 names, this is not a straight generation step: the Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 is the compact line and the Shelly 1 Gen4 the full-size one. Both run Matter and Apple Home, so the newer label does not decide platform support here.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both Shelly relays praise the same core: local control that responds instantly and keeps schedules running without the cloud, and dry contacts that solve garage door and irrigation jobs cheaply. Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 owners dwell on value and size, installs that take minutes, and a built-in web page that makes the app optional, while their recurring complaint is a misleading wiring diagram that sends first-timers to YouTube. Shelly 1 Gen4 owners talk more about protocol choice, detached mode for scene control and pool heater relays, and they warn that Zigbee pairing can be fiddly and underdocumented on hubs like Hubitat, that the box fit is tight and that some hit Android app problems.

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 Gen4
  • Shelly 1 Mini Gen3

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

For most light circuits, the Shelly 1 Mini Gen3: it is smaller, costs less and covers Matter, Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home and Home Assistant. The Shelly 1 Gen4 is the better relay for 16A loads and Zigbee setups.

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

Size, load and radios. The Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 is a compact 8A Wi-Fi relay; the Shelly 1 Gen4 is a full-size 16A relay that adds Zigbee through a hub and works as a Zigbee router. Both need a neutral and carry a 3-year warranty.

Do the Shelly 1 Gen4 and the Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 need a neutral wire?

Yes, both require a neutral in the box.

Do the Shelly 1 Gen4 and the Shelly 1 Mini Gen3 work with Apple Home?

Yes, both support Matter and appear in Apple Home through it, as well as working with Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings and Home Assistant.

Who should buy the Shelly 1 Gen4?

DIYers switching heavier loads up to 16A, and anyone building on Zigbee who wants mains-powered routers in the walls.

Who should buy the Shelly 1 Mini Gen3?

Budget buyers retrofitting lights, sprinklers or fireplaces in tight boxes over Wi-Fi, who do not need more than 8A.

Full comparison table

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