There’s no shortage of Amazon Alexa-enabled speakers, home security gadgets, and appliances, but soon there could be a similar number of Google Assistant-controlled tools as well. A few months after Hunter Fan Company announced the addition of Alexa to its products, the firm has also introduced Google Assistant compatibility as well. At CES 2018, Hunter became the first and only brand in its industry to be compatible with all three home automation hubs: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home.
You can now activate Hunter’s fans with a voice command directed to any one of the three major smart assistants, which allow you to choose the speed and lighting level of the device. Setup requires you to combine a Hunter Wi-Fi-enabled fan with the SIMPLEconnect app that can be found on the Apple Store or Google Play. Afterward, you can link your smartphone and smart fan with Alexa, Siri, or Assistant.
The Apache ceiling fan retails for $399 on most ecommerce sites, and is claimed to create powerful air movement without making much noise. You can also change your fan’s direction from downdraft to updraft, depending on the season. At $349, the Hunter Signal is a more affordable model that comes equipped with an LED bulb as well as a reversible fan.
The Symphony is the most pared-down model of the lot. It sells for $299 and is available with a matte nickel finish.
“Our innovation is driven by our consumers’ evolving needs. So when we looked at how to continue to bring functionality and thoughtfully designed products to the marketplace, partnering with Amazon was a natural next step,” said Hunter CEO John Alexander. “The connected home is forecasted to grow even more in the coming years, and we’re excited for the opportunity to provide products that consumers desire, along with the performance and technology they expect.”
The company’s first smart fan was introduced in 2015 at CES, where it debuted with HomeKit connectivity. You can find Hunter SIMPLEconnect products at HunterFan.com, as well as in lighting showrooms, home centers and ecommerce sites around the nation.
The company boasts more than 10 different style and finish combinations, starting at $200.
Update: Hunter fans are now compatible with Google Assistant as well.
