Hypervolt Home 3 Pro vs Indra Smart LUX

£79 and a tape measure

Two UK-built, single-phase smart chargers. Both IP-rated to survive anything a British driveway throws at them. Both include a CT clamp for solar. Both talk to your tariff. The Hypervolt Home 3 Pro costs £625; the Indra Smart LUX costs £546. The £79 between them buys surprisingly different things — and the cheaper charger may save you more again at install.

• Hypervolt Home 3 Pro — the all-rounder with the longest cable option (up to 10 m) and swappable colour covers. £625.
• Indra Smart LUX — the slimmest smart charger on the market (78 mm deep), with built-in electrical protection that can cut install costs. £546.

The Indra's hidden discount

On paper, the Indra Smart LUX is £79 cheaper. In practice, the gap is likely wider. The Smart LUX has a built-in surge protection device (SPD) and PEN fault detection — components your electrician would otherwise supply and wire separately. That typically knocks £150 or more off the install bill. The Hypervolt does not include these; your installer adds them to the consumer unit, and you pay for the parts and the labour.

Add the £79 unit saving to the potential install saving and the real-world difference approaches £230. That is not a rounding error. It is the difference between a £1,050 all-in job and a £1,280 one.

Indra's quoted install range (£300–£500) reflects this. Hypervolt's (£400–£600) does too. The charger data tells the story without embellishment.

Where the Hypervolt earns its premium

The Hypervolt Home 3 Pro does two things the Indra cannot. First: a 10-metre tethered cable. If your driveway is long, your consumer unit is on the wrong wall, or you park two cars end-to-end, that extra reach is not a luxury — it is the difference between a clean install and an ugly cable route. The Indra's standard cable is 6 metres, with a 10-metre version available at extra cost.

Second: interchangeable covers in Ultra White, Space Grey, and Ultra Black. A small thing, but if the charger sits on a front-facing wall, matching it to the house matters to some people. The Indra's turbine LED is handsome enough, but you get one colour.

The Hypervolt also carries IP66 + IK10 protection — excellent by any standard. The Indra goes one better with IP67 (technically submersible to 1 m for 30 minutes). In domestic reality, both will survive decades of rain, frost, and the occasional football. The IP67 badge is a spec-sheet win, not a practical one.

Smart features and tariff support

Both chargers schedule around off-peak windows. On a fixed-window tariff like Octopus Go (8.5p/kWh, 00:30–05:30), either will do the job without fuss. On half-hourly variable rates like Octopus Agile, Indra claims compatibility with over 1,000 UK tariffs, including half-hourly slot chasing. The Hypervolt supports smart tariff integration too, though its app is functional rather than polished.

Neither charger matches the Ohme Home Pro for tariff intelligence — Ohme's built-in SIM and direct supplier integrations remain the benchmark. If half-hourly optimisation is the main reason you are buying a smart charger, the Ohme vs Indra Smart LUX comparison is the more useful page. The Ohme costs £539, only £7 less than the Indra, and includes 4G connectivity where Indra charges roughly £250 extra for it.

Solar diversion on both chargers works via CT clamp and is adequate for topping up from surplus generation. Neither approaches the myenergi Zappi GLO for dedicated surplus-only charging logic. If solar is the main event, look there instead.

Warranty and support

Identical on paper: three years standard, extendable to five for £100. Both are UK-designed and manufactured — Hypervolt in the UK with phone support that picks up quickly; Indra in Worcestershire. The Hypervolt has a larger installer network and broader brand recognition. Indra is the smaller operation, which cuts both ways — fewer installers to choose from, but a company whose reputation rests on each unit.

Both are OZEV-approved, so eligible renters and flat owners can claim the £500 grant. At £546, the grant covers most of the Indra's unit price and contributes meaningfully to install. At £625, it still takes a large bite out of the Hypervolt's cost.

Which to buy

Buy the Indra Smart LUX if:

• You want the lowest all-in cost — £79 cheaper to buy, potentially £150+ cheaper to install
• A slim 78 mm profile matters on a tight or visible wall
• You do not need a cable longer than 6 metres (or are willing to pay for the 10 m version)

Buy the Hypervolt Home 3 Pro if:

• You need a 10-metre cable as standard from the catalogue
• Swappable colour covers matter to you
• You prefer the larger installer network and broader brand visibility

For most buyers — parking within 6 metres of the consumer unit, no strong feelings about charger colour — the Indra Smart LUX is the more sensible spend. It is tougher on paper, thinner on the wall, and cheaper twice over: once at checkout, once when the electrician leaves. The Hypervolt is a fine charger with no serious flaw, but £79 more for a product that also costs more to install needs a specific reason. Cable length is that reason. Without it, the Indra wins.