# Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade vs Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade (Graber) and Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor (Somfy) among smart blinds. Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor is the cheaper of the two at $252.79.

## Side by side

| Spec | Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade | Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $483 | $252.79 |
| Brand | Graber | Somfy |
| Max width (in) | — | — |
| Power source | 8x AA lithium batteries (replaceable, non-rechargeable) or optional AC wall adapter | Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery; optional WireFree Li-ion Solar Panel Kit accessory |
| Battery life months | — | — |
| Control protocol | Z-Wave Plus radio (RF remote included; separate Z-Wave hub required for app/voice/schedule control) | Somfy RTS radio (433.42MHz, ~656ft open-field range); TaHoma hub required for app/voice control |
| Voice assistant support | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant (via a compatible Z-Wave hub, e.g. SmartThings, Hubitat, Vivint) | Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant (via Somfy TaHoma hub) |
| Motor noise (dB) | 9.6 | 42 |
| Light control type | room-darkening double-cell honeycomb | N/A (bare motor component; light control depends on the shade fabric it is built into) |
| Solar charging | No | Yes |
| Scheduling support | Yes | Yes |
| Hub required | Yes | Yes |
| Installation type | standalone motorized shade (custom-made, professional/DIY installed, 2.5-4 week lead time) | motor component (installed inside a made-to-measure shade by a dealer/workroom, not sold as a finished consumer shade) |

## Key differences

- Power source: Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade 8x AA lithium batteries (replaceable, non-rechargeable) or optional AC wall adapter vs Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor Built-in rechargeable Li-ion battery; optional WireFree Li-ion Solar Panel Kit accessory
- Control protocol: Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade Z-Wave Plus radio (RF remote included; separate Z-Wave hub required for app/voice/schedule control) vs Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor Somfy RTS radio (433.42MHz, ~656ft open-field range); TaHoma hub required for app/voice control
- Voice assistant support: Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant (via a compatible Z-Wave hub, e.g. SmartThings, Hubitat, Vivint) vs Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant (via Somfy TaHoma hub)
- Motor noise (dB): Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade 9.6 vs Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor 42
- Light control type: Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade room-darkening double-cell honeycomb vs Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor N/A (bare motor component; light control depends on the shade fabric it is built into)
- Solar charging: Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade No vs Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor Yes
- Installation type: Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade standalone motorized shade (custom-made, professional/DIY installed, 2.5-4 week lead time) vs Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor motor component (installed inside a made-to-measure shade by a dealer/workroom, not sold as a finished consumer shade)

## Sources

- Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade: https://www.techhive.com/article/584090/graber-motorized-shade-review.html (techhive.com, verified 2026-08-01)
- Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor: https://www.somfysystems.com/en-us/products/1003310/sonesse-ultra-30-wirefree-rts-li-ion (somfysystems.com, verified 2026-08-01)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/smart-blinds/graber-virtual-cord-cellular-shade-vs-somfy-sonesse-ultra-30-wirefree/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Cellular Shade ($483) vs Somfy Sonesse Ultra 30 WireFree RTS (Li-ion) Motor ($252.79) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/smart-blinds/graber-virtual-cord-cellular-shade-vs-somfy-sonesse-ultra-30-wirefree/
License: CC BY 4.0.