Control4 Contemporary vs. Lux.
The details you touch. The technology behind them. A guide to choosing controls for a new or existing Control4 home.
A keypad is one of the parts of a smart home you touch every day. Its buttons, labels and finish should feel at home in the room. When comparing Control4 Contemporary with Lux, appearance is a good starting point. There is also an important difference behind the wall: the wireless network each uses. Understanding both helps you choose a control that fits the room and the system.
The Feel of a Room
Contemporary brings a flat, restrained look to Control4’s lighting controls. Its wireless configurable keypad supports two to seven buttons, customizable engraving and RGB status LEDs. Those details matter in daily use: a clear label can make a scene easier to find, while a status light can provide feedback. See Control4’s Contemporary keypad details (PDF).
Lux offers its own button arrangement and finish choices, with backlit engraving on the configurable keypad and a magnetic faceplate system. Control4 describes the Lux keypad (PDF) and its faceplates (PDF). Compare physical samples alongside your wall finish and nearby hardware. The better choice is the one you enjoy seeing and using, with a layout that makes sense for the room.
Contemporary
- At the Wall
- Flat styling, configurable buttons and RGB status LEDs.
- Wireless Network
- Control4 Zigbee Pro (Legacy).
Lux
- At the Wall
- Backlit engraving and magnetic faceplates.
- Wireless Network
- Zigbee 3.0 for wireless Lux devices.
The Wireless Difference
Control4 calls its earlier lighting network Zigbee Pro (Legacy). Wireless Lux devices use Zigbee 3.0 and cannot join that legacy network. This is a compatibility distinction, not just a newer name on the same connection. Control4’s Lux dimmer documentation states the requirement.
A Control4 project can contain both network types. They remain separate meshes, each with its own mesh controller; one mesh controller cannot run both. Control4 specifies a CORE controller for a Zigbee 3.0 mesh. Control4 explains how the two networks coexist. In practical terms, adding wireless Lux to a home with existing Contemporary controls calls for a system review. It does not automatically mean every earlier lighting device needs to be replaced.
The radio standard alone does not tell you which keypad will feel better or make every light respond faster. Placement, system design and the equipment already in your home are part of that discussion.
Lux Can Be Wired, Too
Lux is a product family, so “Lux uses Zigbee 3.0” needs a qualifier: that describes the wireless devices. Control4 also offers a wired Lux configurable keypad for centralized lighting. That model uses an RS-485 connection and 48-volt DC power. The wired Lux keypad specification explains this architecture (PDF). The right model follows how the home’s lighting system is designed, especially when comparing an existing installation with a new build.
What an Upgrade Involves
Before choosing replacement controls, establish which controllers, lighting devices and software version are installed. Control4’s Lux prerequisites call for Control4 X4 / OS 4.0 or later and a Zigbee 3.0 mesh for wireless devices. Review Control4’s Lux prerequisites. The exact upgrade path depends on the existing project and the products being added.
Then review what each button does today. A familiar “Evening” scene may combine several lights, shades or other compatible devices. Preserve the useful routines and improve the awkward ones while planning any new controls. A different keypad finish should be considered alongside the programming, wiring and network work needed to make it useful.
For a mixed installation, ask which devices will stay on the legacy mesh and which will join Zigbee 3.0. That makes the proposed scope clearer: the visible controls, the supporting hardware and the work required to bring them together.
Choose Around Your Home
Start with a room, a few everyday actions and the finish you prefer. For an existing Control4 home, gather the system details before ordering hardware. For a new home or renovation, coordinate controls with lighting and electrical plans early. Contemporary and Lux can each be part of a considered design; the decision should connect what you see on the wall with what your home needs behind it.