SwitchBot Hub 2 Evaluation – Apple HomeKit / Matter Suitable Sensible Residence Hub

SwitchBot Hub 2 Evaluation Ranking

Abstract

If you’re an current SwitchBot consumer, then the Hub 2 is a worthy improve, and if you wish to put money into SwitchBot, the Hub 2 is properly price the additional cash in comparison with the Hub Mini.

Execs

  • Reasonably priced good dwelling hub with built-in sensors, buttons and IR
  • One of many few good dwelling units that has been upgraded to Matter
  • Homekit help through Matter
  • SwitchBot has some interesting merchandise that different good dwelling ecosystems lack

Cons

  • Present matter performance could be very restricted
  • Some WiFi connectivity points

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SwitchBot made a reputation for itself with the SwitchBot Bot, which is an reasonably priced good button pressor. It’s a easy but revolutionary technique to make dumb electronics good. A couple of different random manufacturers have tried to tear off the perfect, however nobody has competed with SwitchBot for this intelligent little gadget.

I’ve beforehand reviewed a number of merchandise from SwitchBot, together with the SwitchBot Bot, Sensible Humidifier and the good curtain bot.

I’ve been pleased with all of the merchandise and the model has continued to broaden the product vary to change into a extra thorough good dwelling resolution.

Current launches have included the SwitchBot Blind Tilt and the SwitchBot Lock.

SwitchBot Hub 2

SwitchBot Hub 2 Mighty Gadget Review - SwitchBot Hub 2 Review – Apple HomeKit / Matter Compatible Smart Home Hub

The newest launch is the SwitchBot Hub 2, which is a big improve from the unique Hub. This now combines 4 capabilities in a single, performing as a hub, thermometer/hygrometer, twin good button and an IR good distant management.

The IR distant management operate permits the hub to manage outdated infrared home equipment and can assist make them smarter, what’s extra, you can even join different SwitchBot merchandise through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to construct a extra full good dwelling expertise.

The opposite huge function is that this helps HomeKit through Matter.

In the intervening time, the Matter help is a bit restricted. The SwitchBot Curtain and SwitchBot Blind Tilt merchandise are already formally supported by Hub 2 with Matter, however the different Bluetooth-based merchandise will obtain an replace at a later date.

Components of this overview are unfinished, as I wish to cowl the Matter and Residence Assistant integration in additional element and ideally when the opposite Bluetooth equipment have been up to date with Matter. I’ll both replace this overview or publish a brand new submit particularly for these options.

Specification

  • Sensible Residence Hub
  • Helps Homekit through Matter
  • Sensible Temperature and Humidity Meter
  • Sensible Alerts
  • IR Distant Management Hub
  • Works when Community connection is down
  • Air conditioner distant management standing synchronisation
  • Constructed-in Sensible Buttons

Set-Up

The preliminary set-up is just like most IoT units. This has Bluetooth, so the app will robotically detect the hub. You then place it into pairing mode, present the two.4GHz SSID particulars and await it to pair up.

I had some points getting the hub to hook up with my router at first. I believed it is likely to be the identical DNS points I had with my , however utilizing Google DNS I skilled the identical points. After unplugging it and powering it again up, I used to be capable of join the primary time.

I did expertise some intermittent WiFi points with the hub, however after I switched to the Google Nest WiFi Professional, I have never seen any points.

Switchbot Hub 2 – Matter / HomeKit / Google Residence

Switchbot appears to be pushing the HomeKit through Matter help with this hub, however Matter ought to work with a number of ecosystems; that is the entire level of it.

I do not personally use Apple and, due to this fact HomeKit. This could work with Amazon Alexa, Apple Residence, Google Residence, and Samsung SmartThings.

If you wish to use Matter, you’ll need to enter the settings and improve the firmware.

Although I write about smart home tech so much and have coated Matter earlier than, that is the primary time making an attempt it.

As soon as the improve is full, you’ll be given a QR code that may be scanned to pair up with different Matter-enabled ecosystems. Or you’ll be able to copy the 12-digit code for guide entry into any app.

I arrange the hub inside Google Residence and was knowledgeable that I wanted a suitable good dwelling hub. Your telephone cannot be a Matter Hub. You’ll due to this fact want one thing just like the Apple HomePod Mini or Google Nest is required.

I ended up shopping for the Nest Wi-Fi Professional as it really works as a Matter hub, and I overview a variety of Wi-Fi routers, so it was an excellent excuse to purchase it.  

As I do not use Google Residence extensively, and that is the primary Matter gadget I’ve used, the performance is a bit underwhelming. With the Switchbot merchandise I’ve, it’s simply the hub that works with Matter. As soon as issues just like the buttons and bot are enabled, the performance must be so much higher.

I can view the temperature and humidity inside Google Residence, and the Switchbot reveals up as an choice when making a routine, however the potential to create helpful routines is considerably poor. A minimum of in comparison with different good dwelling ecosystems.  

Residence Assistant

I had hoped I’d have the ability to simply combine the SwitchBot Hub 2 into my Residence Assistant system.

Residence Assistant would not natively recognise any of the SwitchBot units, however it’s listed throughout the integrations.

Residence Assistant has a devoted web page for SwitchBot, and to combine SwitchBot units, you’ll need to have a working Bluetooth arrange on the gadget working Residence Assistant.

My Residence Assistant set up is on my TerraMaster NAS, which is working Unraid, so I do not natively have Bluetooth. I’ve ordered a Bluetooth dongle to see if I can get it to work this fashion.

It seems to be like folks have had success with the Pi Zero W, Pi 3B+ and Pi 4B.

Homey Bridge

SwitchBot Homey - SwitchBot Hub 2 Review – Apple HomeKit / Matter Compatible Smart Home Hub

Moreover, I’m in the course of reviewing the brand new Homey Bridge. This does help numerous SwitchBot units, and it seems to be prefer it ought to help the hub over Wi-Fi, however I wasn’t capable of get it to recognise the gadget. That is virtually actually as a result of the brand new hub hasn’t been built-in with Homey correctly but.

App / Hub Options

These are all of the options throughout the Switchbot app reasonably than what is feasible when utilizing the Hub with Matter.

Temperature & Humidity Monitoring

This function works precisely like the prevailing SwitchBot Meter, and I really actually prefer it.

Clearly, the performance is a good distance off fancy indoor air high quality displays just like the Airthings View Plus, however I like the way in which this displays temperature, humidity and lightweight with historic graphs.

I used this kind of performance when testing heated garments racks and dehumidifiers. With the ability to set off occasions based mostly on temperature or humidity is yet another helpful options of dwelling automation.

At first, I did expertise some points getting the temperature and humidity triggers to point out below the scene settings. I believe this was as a result of hub having WiFi connectivity points. Since pairing it with my Nest Wifi Professional, it has labored completely.

On this case, you could possibly use a SwitchBot Bot to modify on a plug to modify on a dehumidifier.

IR Distant Management

The IR distant management mapping works as anticipated. You might have the choice to pick pre-applied profiles, or you’ll be able to manually attempt to program the hub along with your IR distant. I managed to arrange my Edifier speaker, after which the speaker performance turned obtainable throughout the scene settings.

I haven’t got a lot use for it on this state of affairs, however I’ll virtually actually map the IR distant for my pedestal fan and automate it through the summer season. Many moveable air con models use IR remotes as properly, and this is able to be good for that.

Button Mapping

This works precisely as you’d count on. It’s the similar because the performance of the SwitchBot Distant.

In my system, I arrange a fundamental operate for it to modify on or off lights. Once I had curtains in my bed room, I used to make use of the Switchbot button to open/shut the Switchbot Curtain

Value and Various Choices

The SwitchBot Hub 2 prices £80 vs £35 for the older SwitchBot Hub Mini.

That is fairly a bit worth hike, however the brand new hub has a number of capabilities constructed into one. The SwitchBot Meter would value you £17, and the SwitchBot Distant is £20.

Then the SwitchBot Hub 2 is suitable with Matter, not like the Hub Mini. Subsequently I would strongly counsel getting the Hub 2 over the Mini.

I would say Aqara is the best-competing product; the Aqara Sensible Hub M2 is below £50 and is Matter enabled with an IR controller, and works with HomeKit. It lacks the extra sensors and buttons of the SwitchBot Hub 2, however they’ve loads of reasonably priced sensors, switches, and an honest indoor air high quality monitor. Aqara would not have something just like the SwitchBot Bot.

Total

If you’re an current SwitchBot consumer, then the Hub 2 is a worthy improve, and if you wish to put money into SwitchBot, the Hub 2 is properly price the additional cash in comparison with the Hub Mini.

I would say the principle attraction of SwitchBot is that if their particular vary of merchandise appeals to you.

As I mentioned in my earlier SwitchBot LED Strip Light review, I choose TP-Hyperlink Tapo for lighting, they usually have wonderful good plugs. I choose Aqara for basic dwelling automation options, they usually have wonderful no-neutral gentle switches and good thermostatic radiator valves. I then use the Yale Linus for my good lock.

SwitchBot has a number of distinctive merchandise that these manufacturers lack. This consists of:

  • SwitchBot Blind Tilt
  • SwitchBot Curtain & Curtain Rod 2
  • SwitchBot Bot
  • SwitchBot Lock (Aqara does have locks, however not within the UK)
  • SwitchBot Sensible Humidifier

Final replace on 2023-04-08 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Pictures from Amazon Product Promoting API