Question 1

What exactly is the Simon Homepad Pro 8-inch?

Accepted Answer

It is an in-wall smart control panel from Simon Electric with an 8-inch 1280x800 touchscreen running Android 11. On the ZigBee plus BLE version it is also the gateway for the Simon Smart system, so it controls lights, curtains, AC and scenes and carries the radio that the other devices pair to.

Question 2

Will it run on UAE mains at 220-240V?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Simon's spec sheet for the 8-inch Homepad Pro states a universal input of 100-240V AC at 50/60Hz. UAE supply is 220-240V at 50Hz, which sits inside that range. No converter, no step-down transformer and no imported adapter are needed for the panel.

Question 3

Is this a US 120V product that someone is reselling here?

Accepted Answer

No. The power input on Simon's own documentation is 100-240V, 50/60Hz, so the same part covers 120V and 240V markets. Nothing about it is tied to a US supply. The Zigbee and Bluetooth radios inside work the same regardless of the mains voltage feeding the panel.

Question 4

Does it plug in, or is it wired?

Accepted Answer

It is wired. The panel connects to live and neutral inside the wall box and has no plug and no battery. Type-G sockets and Schuko adapters do not come into it. That also means it cannot be unplugged and moved from room to room once it is fitted.

Question 5

Will it fit the wall boxes in my Dubai villa?

Accepted Answer

Usually, with a check first. The panel measures 233.5 x 127.5 x 38mm with its base and takes the place of a switch or socket on a standard 86mm square box. UAE walls carry a mix of square and British-style rectangular boxes, and one Simon spec slide calls the back plate an "Asian Spec Power Base", so we confirm the adapter with the distributor before promising a clean retrofit.

Question 6

Do I need an electrician, or can your team handle it?

Accepted Answer

It is mains work, so it has to be done by a licensed electrician or a Simon-certified smart-home dealer. We handle it as one job: wiring, mounting, gateway setup and commissioning of the devices that pair to it. A homeowner should not open a live wall box to fit this.

Question 7

Can I buy it and install it myself at the weekend?

Accepted Answer

No. This is not a DIY panel. It is hardwired into a live circuit, and in the UAE work on mains wiring inside a villa or apartment belongs to a qualified electrician. Buildings with facility management rules will also want the work done by an approved contractor.

Question 8

What else do I have to buy before it is useful?

Accepted Answer

Devices for it to control. On its own it is a screen and a gateway with nothing paired to it. A working system means Simon Smart switches such as the M7, i7, E3 or M3, plus whichever Zigbee or BLE sensors, curtain motors, thermostats, locks or door stations the design calls for.

Question 9

Is it a hub, or does it need a separate hub behind it?

Accepted Answer

On the ZigBee plus BLE SKU the panel is the hub. It carries the Zigbee 3.0 and BLE mesh gateway for Simon Smart devices, so no extra box sits in the rack for that ecosystem. The flip side is that the panel is a single point of failure for the devices paired to it.

Question 10

Which app controls it?

Accepted Answer

The Simon Smart app on iOS and Android. That app pairs the devices, builds the scenes and gives you control from outside the house. The panel and the app show the same system, so a change made on the wall shows up on the phone and the other way round.

Question 11

Does it work with Alexa, Google Home and Apple?

Accepted Answer

The ZigBee plus BLE version has a built-in Alexa speaker, and Simon lists Alexa, Google Home and Siri voice control, plus Bluetooth and Spotify audio. Apple support here is voice level, not full Apple Home certification, so if Apple Home is central to your house, ask us to confirm with the distributor first.

Question 12

Can it be retrofitted into a finished villa?

Accepted Answer

Often yes, because it replaces an existing switch or socket position and needs only live and neutral. The two questions are back box size and whether there is a sensible wall position for an 8-inch panel. We take a plate off during the site visit and answer both before quoting.

Question 13

Is it better suited to a new fit-out?

Accepted Answer

A new build or a full renovation is easier. Panel position, box depth, cable route and the switches behind it can all be set on the drawings, with no chasing walls later. Retrofit still works well at an entrance or in a majlis, where a switch box already exists in the right place.

Question 14

Which SKU should I ask the dealer to quote?

Accepted Answer

Simon shows two 8-inch versions. S00E0-S073 runs Android 11 with a ZigBee 3.0 plus BLE mesh gateway, a LAN cable option and an optional Alexa speaker. S00E0-S048 runs Android 8.1 with a Zigbee-only gateway and no speaker. Ask for the order code in writing, because the difference is real.

Question 15

Does the panel switch the lights directly?

Accepted Answer

No, and that is by design. It wires to live and neutral only, with no lighting load passing through it. The lights are switched by Simon Smart switches or modules that the panel talks to over Zigbee or BLE, so taking the panel off the wall does not leave a room without a switch.

Question 16

Can it control our AC and curtains?

Accepted Answer

Yes, through compatible Simon Smart devices. Curtain motors and thermostats pair to its gateway, and one scene can set lights, curtains and AC together. For ducted or VRF systems the AC side depends on the thermostat or interface chosen, so that gets decided during the design, not after handover.

Question 17

How does it compare with the cheaper Aqara V1 display switch you sell?

Accepted Answer

The Aqara V1 costs a fraction as much and fits a normal switch box, but it is an interface panel that still needs an Aqara hub behind it. The Homepad Pro is bigger, runs Android, and is the gateway itself. Pick Aqara for budget rooms, Simon for a fully specified system.

Question 18

Will it control Philips Hue, Sonoff or my existing Wi-Fi devices?

Accepted Answer

Treat it as a Simon Smart panel. Its gateway is built for Simon Smart Zigbee and BLE devices, and third-party kit is not a given. If you already own Hue or Sonoff gear, tell us at the design stage so we either keep it on its own app or plan a replacement.

Question 19

Does it need internet all the time?

Accepted Answer

Zigbee and BLE devices paired to the panel keep working on the local radio, so a wall press or a scene still responds if the line drops. Voice assistants, access from outside the house and app notifications need the internet. Good Wi-Fi at the panel position is still worth having.

Question 20

Can it run on a network cable instead of Wi-Fi?

Accepted Answer

The S00E0-S073 version has a LAN cable option, which is the better choice in a large villa where Wi-Fi at that particular wall is weak. The cable has to be pulled to the panel position, so it is a first-fix decision rather than something to add later without opening walls.

Question 21

Can it go in a bathroom, a kitchen or outside?

Accepted Answer

Indoors and dry only. The rating is 0 to 40C and 5 to 90% relative humidity without condensation, which rules out a wet bathroom wall, an open terrace and a shaded outdoor majlis in summer. A kitchen is fine as long as it is away from the hob and the sink splash zone.

Question 22

Will Dubai heat and dust cause problems?

Accepted Answer

Inside an air-conditioned home it sits well within its 0 to 40C range. The risk is a wall that catches direct afternoon sun through glass, or a villa left unconditioned while the family travels for the summer. We place panels out of direct sun and advise leaving the AC on low when you are away.

Question 23

How long does delivery take?

Accepted Answer

It is ordered through the UAE distributor rather than held on a shelf, so lead time depends on stock at Stable Link when the order is placed. We confirm the current lead time against the order code on the quote, together with an install date, instead of guessing on a web page.

Question 24

Why is there no price on this page?

Accepted Answer

Because the honest answer is that it depends. The Homepad Pro is quoted per project: how many panels, which Simon Smart switches sit behind them, the wiring work and the commissioning time. A dealer's indicative villa figure is not our price. Send us the floor plan and we quote the real scope.

Question 25

What warranty and support do I get in the UAE?

Accepted Answer

There is no published consumer warranty card for this panel. Warranty and support run through the local Simon Smart dealer and distributor, which is normal for project-specified equipment. We confirm the exact warranty term in writing on the quote, so you know the terms before committing to anything.

Question 26

Who should not buy this?

Accepted Answer

Renters, anyone wanting a plug-and-play gadget, and anyone buying one panel with no other Simon Smart devices planned. It also makes little sense in a one-bedroom apartment, where two smart switches and a phone do the same job for a small fraction of the cost.

Question 27

How many panels does a villa actually need?

Accepted Answer

Fewer than most people expect. One at the main entrance and one in the majlis covers the positions guests and staff really use, with a third in the master bedroom if the layout suits. Putting a panel at every switch position drives the cost up and adds very little in daily use.

Question 28

Is this the same Simon brand sold elsewhere in the region?

Accepted Answer

The hardware is Simon Electric (China) Co., Ltd, the maker behind the Simon Smart range sold across Asia and the Gulf. Simon's own APAC page even prints the product name as "HompadPro", a house typo worth knowing about when you go looking for spec sheets and documentation.

Wireless protocols	Wi-Fi, plus a built-in Zigbee 3.0 and Bluetooth 4.2 BLE mesh gateway (SigMesh on the S00E0-S073 SKU)
Gateway function	Acts as the gateway for the Simon Smart ecosystem, pairing Simon Smart M7, i7, E3 and M3 switches and other Zigbee and BLE accessories through the Simon Smart app
Power supply	100-240V AC, 50/60Hz, hardwired to live and neutral only, with no separate load wire to the lights
Display and processor	8-inch 1280x800 touchscreen, Android 11, quad-core ARM Cortex-A35/A55, 2GB RAM and 16GB ROM (order code S00E0-S073)
Panel size and wall box	233.5 x 127.5 x 38mm including the base, sized to replace a wall switch or socket on a standard 86mm box
Install route	Hardwired mains device, wired and commissioned by a licensed electrician or a Simon-certified smart-home dealer
App and voice control	Simon Smart app for iOS and Android, built-in Alexa speaker with Alexa, Google Home and Siri voice control, plus Bluetooth and Spotify audio on the ZigBee and BLE SKU
Operating environment	0 to 40C, 5 to 90% relative humidity non-condensing, indoor wall mounting only

Simon Homepad Pro 8-inch Smart Panel

What it is and where it fits

Specifications

What to check before you order

Questions about the Simon Homepad Pro 8-inch Smart Panel

Fitted and configured by our Dubai team