There's nothing quite like the 'open sesame' moment when your window shades roll up on their own each morning. While smart window treatments can drain your wallet faster than a Roomba on a mission, Smartwings offers a refreshing dose of value. ZDNET's reviewer, despite a recent back fracture that delayed installation, finally got her husband to mount them - and was pleasantly surprised by the ease. Sure, she couldn't do it with multiple broken vertebrae, but he managed in just a few minutes.

Having tested countless smart shades at trade shows, rentals, and in her own home, the reviewer found Smartwings to be a top contender against premium brands like Lutron. The customization options are impressive: you can order any size, finish, color, smart home protocol, and even add a solar panel. Just measure twice, folks.

The reviewer's 27-year-old PVC blinds were showing their age, with broken slats that did nothing for curb appeal. She opted for blackout roller shades with light blockers for her kids' rooms. Four motorized blackout shades with Zigbee motors and light blockers set her back around $1,200 - a chunk of change, but consider that whole-house window treatments can cost between $15,000 and $50,000. Outfitting her entire 3,000 square-foot home would run under $10,000, including a large sliding glass door. Not too shabby.

Buying directly from Smartwings (or via Amazon) means no pushy salespeople or hefty installation fees. The downsides? A plasticky smell for the first few days (which dissipated with an air purifier), and no manual override if the battery dies - you just have to plug it in via USB-C or wait. But they're whisper-quiet, durable, and integrate seamlessly with Amazon Alexa, Matter over Thread, Zigbee, Z-Wave, HomeKit, Google Home, and SmartThings. You can even automate them to open or close based on sunlight.

These shades earned a ZDNET Editors' Choice award for best value, offering a 'set it and forget it' experience that's both convenient and reliable, especially for DIY enthusiasts. The only question left: how many more can she convince her husband to install?