At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Excellent image quality in SDR and HDR Attractive yet functional design Thunderbolt 4 connectivity Many image quality modes and options Cons Just one Thunderbolt 4-in and two video inputs Limited downstream USB connectivity More expensive than other 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors Our Verdict The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM delivers excellent OLED image quality and high refresh rates, though limited connectivity holds it back. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today There’s no shortage of 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors available right now, and all of them are excellent for movies, games, and general use. But what about creative professionals? Though any QD-OLED can do the job, many such displays lack the design and feature set professional shoppers prefer. The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM fills that gap. Read on to learn more, then see our roundup of the best 4K monitors for comparison. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM specs and features The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM’s spec sheet looks great, if a bit boring. It’s a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitor with 3840×2160 resolution, a 10-bit QD-OLED panel, and a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz. It also supports Adaptive Sync and is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certified. These specifications are more or less identical to other 32-inch 4K QD-OLED monitors, like the HP Omen Transcend 32 and MSI MPG 32URXW. Display size: 32-inch 16:9 aspect ratio Native resolution: 3840×2160 Panel type: 10-bit QD-OLED Refresh rate: 240Hz Adaptive sync: Yes, Adaptive Sync with VRR HDR: VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black Certified Ports: 1x Thunderbolt 4-in port, 1x Thunderbolt 4-out (for Daisy Chain), 1x HDMI 2.1 port, 1x USB-C with up to 96 watts of Power Delivery, 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 Additional features: Ambient light sensor Audio: 2x 3-watt speakers Warranty: 3-year warranty Price: $1899.99 MSRP The ProArt stands apart thanks to its connectivity, though not entirely in a good way. It has a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, one for Thunderbolt 4-in and a second for Thunderbolt 4-out (to be used to daisy chain to a second monitor). This is rare for any monitor, and especially rare for OLED. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 4 hints at the monitor’s professional intent but, as I’ll discuss, also leads to the omission of ports many shoppers will expect. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM design The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM is part of the ProArt line-up, obviously, but it doesn’t look like the ProArt devices you’ve most likely laid eyes on before. It ditches the simple black and charcoal look of more affordable ProArt monitors for an elegant, stylish silver look. And it’s not just a look. The ProArt makes extensive use of metal across both the display panel and the stand. This helps the monitor offer a sleek profile while delivering a robust feel that very few competitors can match. Of all that I’ve tested recently, Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8 is the only one that’s equally attractive. Matthew Smith / Foundry Looks aside, the monitor’s design is functional. The stand ergonomically adjusts for height, tilt, swivel, and pivot. It also has an extremely narrow base, which minimizes the monitor’s footprint on a desk. As with most monitors, a 100mm x 100mm VESA mount is available for connecting the ProArt to third-party monitor arms and stands. The PA32UCDM monitor offers a sleek profile while delivering a robust feel that very few competitors can match. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM connectivity The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM leans heavily on Thunderbolt 4 and USB-C. Perhaps too heavily. First, about those Thunderbolt ports. There’s two, but they’re not equal. One is the primary Thunderbolt port with support for USB-C, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery. The second is a Thunderbolt-out port intended for daisy-chain connections to a second monitor. That means you can plug a laptop into the ProArt over Thunderbolt, then plug a second monitor into the ProArt. However, the ProArt otherwise doesn’t offer much opportunity to tap into Thunderbolt 4’s bandwidth. It has just two downstream USB ports (one USB-C and one USB-A) and lacks an Ethernet jack or audio-out connection. Though it can technically function as a Thunderbolt hub, the ProArt’s limited range of downstream connectivity is a big downside. Thunderbolt 4 aside, the monitor has just one additional display input: HDMI 2.1. Yes, that means DisplayPort is absent, and just two video inputs are available. I find that decision weird, as DisplayPort is the most universal video output for desktop video cards. In summary, connectivity is the ProArt’s most significant weakness, and one that I find surprising. I expect shoppers will compare the ProArt to other high-end 32-inch 4K displays, such as the Dell UltraSharp U3225QE and BenQ PD3226G. The Asus has far fewer ports than either. Even the HP Omen Transcend 32 has superior connectivity, and it’s hundreds of dollars less expensive. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM menus and features A joystick control tucked just behind the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM’s bottom bezel provides quick, responsive access to the on-screen controls. I also like the menu system. It’s easy to navigate and has a larger font size than many competitors. Alternatively, most monitor features can be changed with Asus’ DisplayWidget app, available for Windows 11/10 and MacOS. It’s no work of art, but it goes a bit beyond the bare necessities. For example, DisplayWidget automatically changes the look of the UI to match the branding of the Asus monitor you own.Either way, you’re likely to spend a bit more time in the menu than with other monitors, because the ProArt has a truckload of features. We’re talking 15 SDR presets (including sRGB, DCI-P3, AdobeRGB, BT.2020, DICOM, and Rec.709) plus five HDR modes (including Dolby Vision). You’ll also find color temperature and gamma adjustments that target precise values and six-axis color calibration. Asus has its own calibration software to help users fine-tune the monitor. Matthew Smith / Foundry Other monitor features include picture-by-picture and picture-in-picture modes, an on-screen ruler to help measure the size of objects on the screen, and a uniform brightness mode that limits the overall brightness of the display to achieve better luminance uniformity. The monitor has an ambient light sensor that serves two functions. First, it can sync the brightness and color temperature of the display to fit your environment, which helps the monitor provide a consistent image quality experience. Second, it can dim the display when you move away from it to save power and reduce the likelihood of OLED burn-in. I think ambient light sensors are an underrated feature that improve day-to-day ease of use, so I’m glad to see one here.  Speakers are included, too, though they don’t impress. The speakers provide enough volume to fill a small office with tunes, but the audio is thin and can become distorted when it attempts to deliver bass.  Asus ProArt PA32UCDM SDR image quality The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM is all about image quality. Yes, every monitor is better if it looks nice, but an expensive monitor like the ProArt must look amazing. If it doesn’t, then it doesn’t serve its purpose (or justify its price). Matthew Smith / Foundry We start off with brightness, where the ProArt reached an excellent peak SDR brightness of 294 nits. That’s not as high as IPS-LCD monitors, which can exceed 400 nits, but it’s very bright for SDR on an OLED monitor. It’s also far more than adequate for its intended purpose. A display like the ProArt is best used in a room with light control, in which case the brightness is relevant. But if you do like to work with your shades drawn back, well, the ProArt will look more vivid than most 32-inch QD-OLED displays. Note, though, that the ProArt has a glossy finish. You should expect to see reflections when viewing dark images in a brightly lit room. Matthew Smith / Foundry OLED panels can reach a minimum luminance of zero nits and can do so per-pixel. That translates to an incredible sense of depth and immersion, as well as deep and inky black levels in darker scenes. Moody movies and games, like Resident Evil 2 Remake or The Batman, look superb on an OLED display like the ProArt. All OLED displays do well here, so the ProArt has no advantage (or disadvantage) against QD-OLED alternatives. However, as the graph shows, it comes out way ahead of IPS-LCD displays like the Dell Ultrasharp U3225QE. Matthew Smith / Foundry Color gamut testing looks at the range of color a monitor can display. The ProArt does well here, with coverage of 100 percent of sRGB, 97 percent of DCI-P3, and 94 percent of AdobeRGB. This is a very broad color gamut that’s well suited to professional creative work, but it’s not remarkable for a monitor in this category. That feels almost bizarre to say, because a color gamut this wide was hard to come by just five years ago. But, as the graph shows, most high-end monitors sold in 2025 offer a very wide color gamut. Matthew Smith / Foundry The wide color gamut is supported by excellent color accuracy. Most OLEDs do rather well here, but the ProArt is at the top of its class. It provides an incredibly realistic, lifelike image on par with the best monitor sold today. Image accuracy is further supported by the ProArt’s gamma curve of 2.2. That’s right on target, and it means content viewed on the monitor looks just as bright as it should, preserving good detail in both bright highlights and shadows. The color temperature came in at 6400K, just a hair south of the target of 6500K. I found the variance hard to discern. Sharpness is good, as well, thanks to the monitor’s native resolution of 3840×2160. That works out to be about 143 pixels per inch (ppi) across the 31.5-inch panel. By comparison, a typical 27-inch 4K monitor packs 163 pixels per inch, while a 27-inch 1080p monitor has just 81 pixels per inch. Overall, the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM’s SDR image quality doesn’t disappoint. Although it’s like other QD-OLED monitors, it does have several small advantages when compared to other, less expensive displays. The ProArt’s out-of-box color is more accurate than usual, its gamma and color temperature results are close to ideal, and it provides a broad range of image quality adjustments for further calibration. These advantages won’t matter much when watching YouTube or playing PC games, but they make the ProArt a superior pick for those who want an OLED display for creative work like digital art, photography, and video editing. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM HDR image quality The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM is VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certified, which is the level of certification most QD-OLED monitors achieve. However, it can become rather bright when small portions of the display are lit. Matthew Smith / Foundry I measured a maximum sustained brightness of 896 nits in a 10 percent window, meaning 10 percent of the display’s area was lit. That’s a strong result, though, as the graph shows, it’s typical for the latest QD-OLED displays. In the real world, I was impressed by the ProArt HDR. It delivered bold, yet accurate color and provided eye-searing HDR highlights. OLED used to be quite noticeably behind Mini-LED in HDR, but the latest OLEDs have closed that gap (and the lack of good Mini-LED monitors doesn’t help that technology’s case). The ProArt also provides an unusually wide range of HDR presets, which include presets for HDR BT.2020 and HDR Dolby Vision, among others. These also provide several clipping modes which change how luminance is handled in HDR. Overall, the ProArt’s range of HDR adjustment is much wider than typical, and those who plan to work professionally with HDR content may need these modes to check the accuracy and consistency of HDR video and images. Asus ProArt PA32UCDM motion performance Although obviously not targeted at gamers, the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM can hit a refresh rate of up to 240Hz. It also has Adaptive Sync support. That means it should work with AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync, and I was able to use FreeSync with the monitor connected to my AMD Radeon 7800 XT video card. However, this is not official, so it’s possible (though not very likely) you’ll run into edge cases where FreeSync or G-Sync don’t work as expected. Of course, a 240Hz refresh rate with Adaptive Sync helps the monitor provide great motion clarity, and the ProArt looks as crisp in motion as QD-OLED alternatives marketed towards gamers. That’s good news if you want one monitor that’s great for work and play. The improved refresh rate is also relevant for work. Fast-moving text and images remain legible, so it’s possible to read text when scrolling through a document or quickly identify an image while rapidly moving through previews or thumbnails. This benefit isn’t often discussed, but it’s a noticeable advantage over a 60Hz or even 120Hz competitor, like the Dell Ultrasharp U3225QE. It has a fan This is a minor point, but one worth knowing before you buy. The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM has a fan, and you will hear it if you’re using the monitor in a quiet room. It’s not very loud, and the fan noise wasn’t grating, but it was noticeable. Should you buy the Asus ProArt PA32UCDM? The Asus ProArt PA32UCDM is a great choice if you want a QD-OLED monitor for creative professional work. The PA32UCDM provides superb image quality, attractive yet functional design, and a wide range of image quality options. Unfortunately, the monitor could benefit from more connectivity (including more USB-A and a DisplayPort input). Competitors like the Dell UltraSharp U3225QE and BenQ PD3226G don’t match the PA32UCDM’s image quality, but they offer numerous extra ports. The ProArt’s lack of ports means some owners will still need a Thunderbolt or USB-C hub, which is a tall order, because the ProArt is already more expensive than its peers. That does limit the ProArt’s appeal. Unlike the Dell U3225QE, which is great for a broad range of white-collar office work and any home office setup, the ProArt is laser-focused on creative professionals, and especially those who want to work in HDR. If that’s you, though, the ProArt is a go-to pick. Read...

Data loss is a common occurrence. According to a study of Backblaze customers, nearly one in two (46%) users experience data loss each year. More specifically, memory card data loss is a common problem. The good news is that memory card file recovery is possible–provided that you apply reliable recovery solutions after the initial data loss. So, you no longer need to worry too much about the possibility of accidentally deleting important media from your memory card. This article covers reliable recovery plans for retrieving missing data from a memory card. We’ll also share some graphical user interface (GUI) and command line interface (CLI) memory card recovery software that can assist. Memory card data loss: causes and solutions Accidental deletion. Most users encounter data loss because they accidentally removed video or photos from the memory card. In this situation, stop using the card and apply professional memory card recovery software such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard as soon as possible to maximize your chances of data recovery. Memory card formatted. Sometimes you’ll receive a prompt that asks you to format the card for use, but formatting removes all data from the card. You’ll need to lean on a recovery tool or backup to recover the data. Corrupted file system. Sudden power loss, removing the card directly from a computer, or malware can cause the memory card’s file system to become corrupted. You cannot usually access files on the memory card until you repair the file system with the CHKDSK command. Physical damage. Accidental dropping, bending, water damage, or exposure to extreme temperatures can cause permanent data loss on a memory card. If you have encountered physical damage, it’s best to contact a professional data recovery service. In the next section, you will find a detailed tutorial on how to recover data from a memory card. Remove the card from your device and begin data recovery now. Memory card data recovery: step-by-step guide In most situations, applying specialized recovery software can be one of the best solutions for undeleting memory card data, especially in some complex data loss scenarios, such as when dealing with formatted or corrupted memory cards. EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a trustworthy memory card recovery tool for all card types, including SD, microSD (TF), CF, MMC, and more. This memory card file recovery software is lightweight, easy to set up, and works on Windows and macOS operating systems. After installing it, follow the tutorials below to recover deleted files in minutes. Step 1. Connect the memory card to the computer For most computers, a card reader is necessary to connect the memory card to the PC. Insert your SD card, TF card, CF card, or other memory card into a card reader and connect it to your computer. Step 2. Scan your memory card with data recovery software After launching EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard on the PC, select the SD Card recovery tab. Then, choose your memory card from the available drives; this software supports most top brands like SanDisk, Samsung, Lexar, Kingston, and Sony. Click the “Scan for lost data” button to initiate the quick and thorough scanning process, ensuring a comprehensive search for lost files. EaseUS Step 3. Preview and filter recoverable files No need to wait for the scanning process to complete; it’s possible to filter files during the scan. You can browse the recovered files using the innovative filtering feature – sort by file path, file type, date, or name to find exactly what you need. You can also preview photos, videos, and documents before recovery. EaseUS Step 4. Save the recoverable files on local disk/cloud Select the photos or videos you want to restore and click “Recover” to save them. It’s important to select a secure storage location (different to the scanned memory card) to prevent data being overwritten. If you don’t have enough space on the local drive, you can also save the recovered files to cloud storage, such as OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox. EaseUS Which memory card data recovery tool should you use? If you have multiple important files on the memory card that need to be recovered, selecting the right recovery tool can make a significant difference. There are many GUI and command-line recovery tools available, including those from PhotoRec, TestDisk, Scalpel, Windows File Recovery, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard, and Extundelete. Two of those are shown in more detail in the table below. FeatureEaseUS Data Recovery WizardPhotoRecFree or paidFree for 2GB data recovery Paid version for unlimited dataFreeSupported file typesOver 1000 file types of images, videos, documents, and emailsMost photos and videos, limited support for documentsSupported storage devicesSD cards, microSD cards, CF cards, MMC, USB drives, HDDs, SSDs, cameras, etc.SD cards, USB drives, and HDDs.Ease of useBeginner-friendly with intuitive UICommand-line interfacePreviewAllow file preview before recoveryNo preview optionAdditional featuresPartition recovery, corrupted file repair, bootable recovery, etc.Basic file recovery onlyCustomer support24/7 customer support and technical assistanceNo official supportBest forUsers looking for a reliable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich recovery toolTech-savvy users are comfortable with command lines Although PhotoRec is totally free, the command line interface is not simple for newcomers to understand or operate. If you are unfamiliar with the command line and need a powerful, easy-to-use, and secure memory card recovery software, EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard is a wise choice. When to seek professional help for memory card recovery We have discussed how you can recover deleted files from memory cards using powerful data recovery software; however, the software may not be able to handle all data loss situations. So, when should you seek professional help for memory card recovery? Memory card physical damage The memory card is not showing up in File Explorer or Disk Management, and after some DIY fixes, even the software cannot detect the memory card. The memory card is bent, damaged by water, or torn apart. The memory card is overheating and makes weird sounds. Severe file system damage or encrypted The memory card has become RAW and has been formatted multiple times. The files on the card are encrypted, damaged, or deleted by malware or computer viruses. The partition table is corrupted, and the data on the memory card cannot be accessed. Overwritten part of data on memory card After deleting files from the memory card, you have written some new data on the card. For example, after deleting photos from your digital camera, the card is not removed, and you continue using the camera to take more pictures. How do you choose a reliable data recovery service if you encounter one of the above situations? EaseUS data recovery services offer a free online memory card diagnosis, and our recovery team is available 24 hours a day to solve problems. Your data will be safe with this trustworthy data recovery center. How to avoid future data loss on the memory card Besides regularly backing up important files to cloud storage, properly removing the memory card, and using other common methods to prevent data loss, here are additional tips to help you protect your data on the memory card. Avoid using fake memory cards. When you need to purchase a new memory card, order it from a trustworthy source, such as the official website. Avoid using the memory card for too long. Using the memory card to record high-quality videos like 4K or 8K can cause the temperature to rise, and overheating may cause the memory card to stop working properly. Use a backup memory card. You can prepare multiple memory cards and store your data separately to avoid losing all your data should something go wrong. Avoid transferring files on a low battery. A sudden power loss can cause data loss and even file system corruption. Ensure your device has sufficient power when downloading or transferring files. Conclusion Although memory card file deletion or missing can be very annoying, there are many data recovery solutions you can apply. And you should understand that file deletion does not mean permanent data loss; you have a 70-90% chance of recovering deleted data from a memory card. To recover all your data from a memory card, act now! You can download professional recovery software such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard or consult an expert to recover your precious data. FAQ 1. Can I recover data from a corrupted memory card? If your SD card is corrupted, try to fix it with CHKDSK or the Diskpart command first. Then, you can try professional memory card recovery software such as EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard. 2. How can I recover data from a physically damaged memory card? It’s challenging to recover data from a physically damaged memory card. It’s recommended to send it to a professional data recovery center. Professional data recovery engineers will use chip-level extraction technology to read data directly from NAND flash chips and help you recover data. 3. Can I recover data from my memory card for free? Yes, you can use open-source data recovery software, such as PhotoRec or TestDisk. However, free tools have limited capabilities and may not be able to fully recover your data. Read...

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At a glanceExpert`s Rating Pros Based on the latest Z-Wave 800 chipset Supports incandescent, CFL, LED, and MLV lighting Very easy to install Cons Requires a neutral wire Companion switch required for 3-way installations Our Verdict Leviton, one of the biggest electrical component manufacturers in the world, makes high-quality products and offers a comprehensive collection of Z-Wave-compatible devices in addition to this Z-Wave 800 dimmer and switch. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Best Prices Today: Leviton Decora Smart Z-Wave 800 Dimmer (model ZW6HD) Retailer Price $46.99 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket Smart lighting controls that operate over Wi-Fi are great, because they don’t require a hub; they connect directly to your router. The downside is that they must compete with all the other clients on your home network: Your computers, gaming consoles, media streamers, smart speakers, home security cameras, smart plugs, and many, many more. I live in a very small home—less than 800 square feet—but there are still more than 80 devices connected to the Eero 6 router in my Ring Alarm Pro. Given that the Eero 6’s practical limit is 128 clients, there just isn’t a lot of room for light switches and dimmers. Hence, my affinity for Z-Wave, the connected home technology at the heart of Leviton’s Decora Smart Z-Wave product line. I first embraced Z-Wave when I built a smart home from the ground up back in 2007. A Z-Wave hub will take just one slot on your router’s client list while managing up to 232 Z-Wave clients. And unlike Wi-Fi and Zigbee, which both operate in the 2.4GHz radio spectrum, Z-Wave devices use spectrum in the 900MHz frequency range, which is not only a lot less-crowded, but also renders Z-Wave signals less susceptible to being absorbed by a home’s building materials. For the in-wall Leviton Decora Smart Z-Wave dimmer and on/off switch reviewed here, Leviton specifies a range of 50 feet from any other Z-Wave device or your home’s Z-Wave hub. If you’ve settled on Z-Wave as your smart home ecosystem of choice, no one makes better lighting controls than Leviton. Unlike Zigbee, Z-Wave is not part of the Matter ecosystem—and I honestly don’t care. I’m not throwing shade at Matter here; I just haven’t found that standard to be critical to how my smart home operates. I’m an iPhone user, and it would be great to have all my smart home devices incorporated into my Apple Home app, but I’m also an Alexa user and I use voice commands spoken to my Echo smart speakers far more often than I pull out my smartphone and tap on its screen—or summon Siri—to operate my smart home devices. Both the Decora Smart Z-800-series dimmer (left) and switch have locator LEDs beneath their toggles. The dimmer also has a stacked set of LEDs to indicate the current brightness level. All the LEDs go dark when the connected load is powered on.Michael Brown/Foundry Given that the various generations of Z-Wave comprise an installed base of more than 100 million devices, according to Silicon Labs, it’s just a matter of time before someone comes out with a Z-Wave-to-Matter bridge. I’m not only willing to wait for a Z-Wave-to-Matter bridge, but I’m also not convinced I’ll ever really need one. Specifications Both the Decora Smart Z-Wave Dimmer 800 Series (model ZW6HD) and the Decora Smart Z-Wave Switch (model ZW15S) use the latest-generation Z-Wave 800 chipset, which is backward-compatible with every previous version of Z-Wave, and the Z-Wave Plus protocol. As for the Z-Wave hub I use, I chose a Vivint Smart Home panel as the foundation for my first smart home in 2007, and I had it installed in my new home when I moved from California to the Pacific Northwest in the fall of 2023. Leviton Decora Smart Z-Wave 800 switch (model ZW15S) Best Prices Today: $43.99 at Amazon You don’t need a professionally installed smart home system to use Z-Wave devices, of course; there are many, many DIY alternatives, including Ring Alarm Pro, LG’s Homey line, Home Assistant, Samsung SmartThings (Samsung’s earlier hub and Aeotec’s version that is; the newer Samsung SmartThings Station doesn’t have a Z-Wave radio). Perhaps the most important thing you need to know about these Decora Smart products is that they depend on the presence of a neutral wire in the box where they’ll be installed. If you don’t have that and can’t bring a neutral wire to the box, you might want to consider one of Lutron’s Caséta or Diva Smart products. They also depend on a hub—Lutron’s own, which isn’t compatible with a Vivint system—but they don’t depend on neutral wires. Both the dimmer (left) and toggle switch have pigtails for connecting to your home’s electrical wiring: black for line, red for load, white for neutral, green for ground, and a striped red/yellow wire for 3-way installations.Michael Brown/Foundry Both the dimmer and the switch can handle incandescent loads up to 600 watts, LED and CFL (compact fluorescent) loads up to 300 watts, and MLV (magnetic low voltage) loads up to 600VA (volt amps). These are both paddle-style switches that come with white paddles mounted on the device that you can swap out with an ivory paddle that comes in the box. If you want something other than white or ivory, you can buy color-change kits in light almond, gray, brown, or black for about $4 each. The industrial designs of the dimmer and switch are necessarily slightly different. Both have a small green LED centered beneath their paddles that glows when the device is receiving power. These make the switches easy to find in the dark. The Dimmer has a stack of seven green LEDs to the left of the paddle that light up in sequence when the switch is turned on (lighting up from bottom to top), turned off (from top to bottom), or when the dimming level is changed (the LED representing the brightness level glows brighter than the other six). Dimming the connected load is accomplished by pressing and holding the bottom of a narrow toggle on the right-hand side of the paddle; doing the same to the top of the toggle increases the light output. The vertical orientation of the dimmer mechanism is an improvement over the horizontal toggle on earlier-generation Z-Wave dimmers. Installation and setup I installed both switches as single-pole devices, but both can also operate in 3-way scenarios where the connected load can be controlled by a switch—or switches—at other locations in the room. In a 3-way installation, however, you’ll need to purchase one of Leviton’s “companion” switches: the Leviton DD00R Wired Dimmer Companion or the DD0SR Wired Switch Companion (street priced at about $23 and $17 respectively). The Decora Smart Z-Wave dimmer and switch both have pigtails (line, load, neutral, traveler, and ground) that you’ll connect to the electrical wiring in your home using the provided wire nuts. While both devices are considerably bulkier than their dumb counterparts, I had no problem stuffing them side by side back into box after I’d made the required connections. These are Z-Wave lighting controls, so you’ll need a Z-Wave hub to connect them to your home network. I connected them to my Vivint Smart Home system. Michael Brown/Foundry Both switches come with two-piece wall plates that hide the screws that attach them to the switches (you screw one piece to the switch and then snap on the second piece that’s exposed to the room), but I couldn’t use them because I installed both switches in the same box. I made a run to the hardware store to buy a conventional 2-gang wall plate, which cost less than $3. I could have opted for one of Leviton’s “screwless” wall plates, but the store didn’t stock them and one would have cost more than twice as much as the conventional plate, even on Amazon. The next step is to enroll the devices to your Z-Wave smart home hub of choice. Doing so with a Vivint smart home panel requires contacting customer support, which I did via online chat, and asking them to provide access to the installer’s menu on the control panel. Once you’ve provided your verbal password, they’ll unlock the panel and provide the installer password needed for the next step. You won’t need to involve anyone else if you have your own Z-Wave hub. In either scenario, you’ll initiate pairing on the hub, then push a button on the switch to add the device to the hub’s Z-Wave routing table. Rinse, lather, repeat for each new Z-Wave device you wish to add to your system. Performance There’s not a lot to say about the performance of the Leviton Decora Z-Wave switch, other than it works. I connected it to pair of dumb BR30 LED ceiling lights in my hallway, and it dutifully turned them on and off: at the switch itself, with the Vivint app and at the physical Vivint control panel, and with Alexa voice commands (I need to say “Alexa, tell Vivint to turn on—or off—the hallway,” but that’s a Vivint thing). You can do the same with a “Hey Google” command if your smart home revolves around Google Home. Once you’ve enrolled the switches into your smart home hub of choice, you can control them with that device’s app or with voice commands spoken to Amazon Alexa or Google Home voice assistants. These screenshots are of the Vivint Smart Home app.Michael Brown/Foundry The same is true of the dimmer, except that I can specify in the Vivint app, control panel, or as part of my voice command the percentage of brightness at which I want the twin LEDs in the connected ceiling fixture to glow). More importantly, the dimmer control to the right of the primary paddle smoothly dimmed and brightened the connected LED bulbs and the corresponding green LEDs to the left of the paddle accurately displayed the brightness level. Tapping the paddle to turn the bulbs does so instantly but tapping it to turn them off gradually dims them until they’re off—after a little more than 2 seconds. At no point did any of the LED bulbs flicker or behave erratically. This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best smart lighting controls. Should you buy the Leviton Decora Smart Z-Wave 800-series? If you’ve settled on Z-Wave as your smart home ecosystem of choice, no one makes better lighting controls than Leviton. The Leviton Decora Smart Z-Wave Dimmer 800 Series (model ZW6HD) and the Decora Smart Z-Wave Switch (model ZW15S) feature the latest generation of Z-Wave 800 chips, and they’re robustly built, easy to install, and compatible with a wide range of smart home and home security hubs. While Leviton doesn’t offer Z-Wave 800 in-wall outlets or fan-speed controllers, or plug-in dimmers and smart plugs with the latest generation of Z-Wave silicon, it does offer those device types with previous generations of Z-Wave technology, and those products are fully interoperable with these new ones. Leviton is one of the largest manufacturers of smart lighting controls, and it was one of the earliest adopters of Z-Wave technology. You can buy its Z-Wave 800 smart dimmer and switch with confidence. Read...