We've known about SwitchBot for a long time, particularly for its mini robots capable of controlling light switches. A simple and non-intrusive way to automate your home. But the manufacturer quickly expanded its range of devices, offering robots for opening curtains, temperature and motion sensors, cameras, and recently even a smart lock. The company just unveiled the SwitchBot Hub 2 at CES 2023, which will allow devices supported by the new smart home standard to work with Matter! SwitchBot Hub 2: The 4-in-1 Hub A major upgrade from the existing SwitchBot Hub Mini, the new hub looks like a combination of the Mini and Switchbot's Meter Plus temperature sensor. It features the same built-in thermo-hygrometer for measuring temperature and humidity, as well as a large LED display. A brand new look for this new SwitchBot Hub 2 The SwitchBot Hub 2 retains the Hub Mini's IR control functionality, allowing you to control your audio/video equipment or even your air conditioning, but with a greater range than the Mini. It also supports sunrise/sunset and geofencing automations for SwitchBot products, and features two on-screen buttons that can trigger scenes or control individual devices.It is powered by the mains and connects to Wi-Fi.
This new Hub will be available in March for $69.
Progressive Matter compatibility Most SwitchBot products are powered by Bluetooth and rely on a hub to connect to the internet for out-of-home control, voice assistant compatibility, scheduling, and more advanced automations. With Matter on board, the new Wi-Fi-based SwitchBot hub can expose existing SwitchBot Bluetooth products to other Matter-compatible platforms, opening up many new possibilities. Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and even Jeedom, very soon, will be able to use the various SwitchBot devices. This is the whole point of the new Matter standard: intercompatibility. While until now the SwitchBot ecosystem wasn't compatible with Apple Homekit, it will become compatible thanks to Matter, without the need to validate the certifications required for Homekit! Since Matter is in the early stages of its deployment, it will initially only support a small number of device categories: smart bulbs, plugs, blinds, and locks. SwitchBot has announced that support for its devices will begin with its smart curtain controller (SwitchBot Curtain) in February, with support for the smart lock and the Bot coming soon. The manufacturer also announced that its Wi-Fi-enabled products (which include a smart plug) will be upgraded to support Matter directly, without the need for a hub.
Source:
TheVerge
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