Eve has released a new light switch, mainly designed for European market. These switches can use both Thread & Bluetooth to connect to home network. This requires neutral wire and it is not compatible with existing switch plates, hence no option to retrofit but to stick to the one that comes with Eve switch.

So far Eve’s smart home devices were all Bluetooth-based, to overcome the reliability issues with unstable Wi-Fi networks, at the cost of slower response times. This new move towards Thread, allows it to expand the Thread network in a users home as Thread router.

Thread is main foundation of Project CHIP, lead by Apple, Google, Amazon to develop universal standard for smart home  products. Apple seem to be quite committed to open standards and Thread within HomeKit, as we could sense from launch of their HomePod mini last year , which is first thread enabled apple device.

Thread supports HomePod mini however it acts like Border Router, unlike the Eve light switch, which works as entire Thread Router. Thread accessories dont need a propriety bridge to communicate with each other, instead only needs a Border Router like HomePod Mini. This makes Eve ahead of others as of now.

More on Eve switch can be found on Link