TL;DR: On Apex’s warranty statements, Somfy, Nice and Elero tubular motors carry a 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects (A-OK: 5 years on mechanical AC motors), while remotes, receivers, sensors and lithium batteries are covered for 1 year.
A motor is sized by torque (Nm): wider, longer and heavier blinds need more torque, so let your installer match the motor to your actual window, not to a brochure.
When homeowners ask us about motorized blinds, the first question is usually “which motor brand should I pick?” Honestly, the brand matters less than three things: what the warranty covers, whether the motor is sized for your blind, and whether your power point is in the right place. We install motorised blinds in HDB flats, condos and landed homes across Singapore, and this guide compares the four motor brands on our warranty statements – Somfy, Nice, Elero and A-OK – in plain language.
What are motorized blinds and smart blinds?
Motorized blinds are blinds raised and lowered by a small tubular motor hidden inside the roller tube, controlled by a remote, wall switch or app. Smart blinds are motorised blinds connected to a hub or Wi-Fi bridge, so you can schedule them, group them into scenes and control them by voice through platforms such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit. Somfy, for example, reported a “commercial presence in 59 countries” and sales of €1,513 million in 2024, according to the Somfy Group 2024 non-financial performance statement. Our motorized blinds Singapore page shows the roller, Roman, Venetian and zebra styles we motorise.
What does each motor warranty cover?
Each brand’s tubular motor carries a 5-year warranty against manufacturing defects on our statements, with 1 year on the control system. The table uses only what our warranty pages say; anything else is marked “ask us”.
| Item | Somfy | Nice | Elero | A-OK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tubular motor (manufacturing defects) | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years | 5 years for mechanical AC motors; electronic AC/DC: ask us |
| Remote, receiver, sensor, lithium battery | 1 year from installation | 1 year from installation | 1 year from installation | 1 year from installation |
| Free on-site servicing | First year | First year | First year | First year |
| Smart hub (on zip blind statement) | Somfy TaHoma: 2 years | Yubii Home: 2 years | Ask us | A-OK Smart Home: 2 years |
| Outdoor zip blind motor | Somfy Maestria 50 RTS: 5 years | Nice Next Fit M(Z): 5 years | Elero RolTop M: 5 years | A-OK Outdoor Windproof: 2 years |
| Typical motor diameter | Sonesse 50: 50 mm | Ask us | RolTop: 45 mm | Ask us |
Exclusions matter just as much. Fabrics, firmware updates, normal wear such as dust or increased noise, incorrect wiring and unauthorised repairs are not covered, and taking the product out of Singapore voids the warranty. After year one, transport, scaffolding and labour are chargeable. You can read the full wording on our Somfy motor warranty statement and the general warranty statements page. Keep your invoice and proof of full payment: both are conditions of every claim.
How do you size the motor for your blind?
You size a motor by matching its torque, measured in newton-metres (Nm), to the weight the tube has to lift and turn. Torque is force multiplied by radius, so heavier fabric, a longer drop or a fatter tube all push the requirement up.
Somfy’s Sonesse 50 specification catalogue for Singapore asks you to find the drop on one axis and the width on the other; the motor at the intersection is the recommended one, and if your size falls outside the chart, that application is not possible. The chart assumes a fabric weight of 0.55 kg/m², a 53 mm tube and an interior tube diameter above 47 mm, with torque options of 5, 6, 10 and 15 Nm in that range. Elero’s RolTop drives are 45 mm in diameter with torque ratings “ranging from 2.5 to 50 Nm”, according to its environmental product declaration. For Nice and A-OK we size from the spec sheet for the specific model, so ask us for it.
Three sizing mistakes we see in Singapore homes
- Undersizing the motor for a full-height blackout blind, which strains it.
- Ignoring the bottom bar weight, which can be significant on wide windows.
- Assuming a somfy motor sized for one window suits every window in the flat; each blind should be checked.
Wired or battery: how should you plan power points?
Wired motors suit new renovations and BTO or condo handovers, while rechargeable battery motors suit retrofits and rentals where you cannot run new cables. Wired motors need a power point near each window’s top corner, hidden by the cassette or pelmet. In Singapore, the Energy Market Authority (EMA) states that “Electrical work, whether at home or the office, should be carried out or supervised by a Licensed Electrical Worker”, and lists the addition of power points as such work (EMA guidance). So plan the points with your ID and electrician before the false ceiling closes. Battery motors skip this but need recharging, easy for one bedroom, tedious for a whole flat. For hub-based smart blinds, see our smart blinds guide.
How do motors cope with Singapore humidity and noise?
Properly installed indoor motors cope with our humidity; balcony blinds need motors made for exposure. Somfy’s Sonesse 50 catalogue lists an IP44 rating and a noise range of 41 to 48 dBA in its performance table. For balconies, Somfy blinds and other outdoor systems on our zip blind system use dedicated outdoor motors. Noise from normal wear is excluded on every statement, so wipe brackets and fabric yearly.
Our tip: if a motor starts to sound louder or slower than usual, check the brackets and fabric for dust first, then call us while it is still within the first year of free on-site servicing rather than waiting for it to stop.
Can curtains be motorised too?
Yes, motorized curtains run on a motorised track instead of a tubular motor, ideal for wide, full-height condo glazing. Plan a power point at one end of the track and choose a motor rated for your curtain’s weight. Many clients pair motorized curtains with Somfy blinds or other motorised blinds so that one scene closes everything at bedtime.
Ready to Choose Your Motorized Blinds?
Tell us your window sizes and where your power points are, and we will recommend the right motor brand and size for each blind. Contact our team for a free consultation before you order new motorized blinds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are motorized blinds worth it in an HDB flat?
Yes, for hard-to-reach or wide windows they save effort and remove cords, which is safer for children.
How long is the warranty on a Somfy motor from Apex?
Our Somfy statement gives 5 years on the somfy motor against manufacturing defects and 1 year on the remote, receiver, sensor and lithium battery.
Do smart blinds work with Google Home or Alexa?
Yes, through a compatible hub or bridge. Ask us which hub suits your motor brand.
Can motorised blinds be added after renovation?
Yes. Rechargeable battery motors need no wiring, so motorised blinds can be fitted to finished homes and rentals.
