Industry news analysis · Sources checked 24 September 2026.
On 23 September, Inovelli opened a public development project for a White Series wall switch that would combine Matter over Thread, dimming and built-in mmWave presence sensing. The Project Linus announcement describes proposed requirements and an estimated schedule, not a finished or certified product. For lighting teams, the useful question is which controls will work locally, which will depend on a smart-home platform and which specifications are still open.
What the September announcement proposes
Inovelli wants the switch to retain a physical paddle for on/off and dimming, add an mmWave sensor, and use Matter over Thread for connectivity. Its requirements list also includes multi-way wiring, power monitoring, smart-bulb mode and configurable scene controls. A lux sensor is explicitly optional; several other entries use language such as “should” and “if possible.” Those are design goals, not performance or compatibility guarantees.
The published project timeline estimates development and hardware design starting on 28 September 2026, beta testing later in the year, certification work spanning December to February, and mass production beginning in March 2027. Inovelli cautions that dates and functions can change. There is no basis yet to treat the proposed switch as available for a current installation or to assume that a particular mmWave detection range, load rating or ecosystem feature has been validated.
Why the platform matters as much as the switch
A wall control may offer a function in firmware without every connected platform exposing it. Inovelli’s manual for its existing White Series Matter/Thread dimmer says advanced features may or may not be supported by a hub. For that existing model, it identifies scene-control limits on some platforms and describes Matter binding as experimental and unsupported by hubs at the time of the manual. These statements concern the existing dimmer; they do not prove the capabilities or limitations of the newly proposed motion switch.
For the new project, an installer will eventually need a model-specific matrix covering physical switching, dimming, presence events, scene commands and configuration in each intended platform. A Matter logo alone will not answer all of those questions. Thread network commissioning and the lighting functions exposed above it are separate parts of the system.
Three checks before specifying a presence-sensing wall control
- Define the occupancy behavior. Ask whether the sensor reports motion, sustained presence or both, and how its field of view, absence delay and sensitivity can be set. Confirm these on the actual hardware in a representative room.
- Match the electrical load. Check the final wiring diagrams, neutral-wire requirements, lamp and driver compatibility, dimming method and rated load. Prototype requirements are not installation instructions.
- Test the complete control path. Verify a physical press, automatic presence response, scene trigger and recovery after a network or controller restart. Document which actions continue to work when the hub or external service is unavailable.
A different route from battery-free kinetic controls
The proposed wired in-wall dimmer and a self-powered wall button address different installation needs. The Connectivity Standards Alliance explains that Zigbee Green Power can use energy harvested from a button press for battery-free control. That standard-level explanation does not establish that any particular iKinetic model uses Green Power, or that a kinetic switch can replace the proposed sensing dimmer. Compare actual product documentation, receiver requirements and installation constraints before treating the approaches as interchangeable.
For projects being specified now, use released products with current documentation. For model-specific iKinetic information, consult technical support and available manuals; this article makes no claim of compatibility with Inovelli’s proposed device.