SwitchBot Hub 3 Adds Matter, IR Blasting And A Whole Lot More
The new SwitchBot Hub 3
SwitchBot has taken the covers off of the latest controller for its smart home setup, with the Hub 3 officially going live.
Like the previous couple of SwitchBot Hubs - the Hub Mini and the Hub 2 - the Hub 3 is designed to bridge the gap between SwitchBot accessories (think buttons, switches, shades, curtain motors and more) and your Matter smart home system of choice.
However, the Hub 3 steps things up a notch as it combines Matter support, IR blasting, and physical controls in one device.
SwitchBot's previous hubs were essentially white slabs of plastic so the brand has really gone to town design-wise with the new flagship.
That knob on the front - the Dial Master rotary controller, to give it its official moniker - can be used for adjusting the volume of your TV or AV system, or changing the temperature in precise 1-step increments.
On the display are four programmable scene buttons, and built-in sensors for motion, light, temperature, and humidity.
It supports real-time environmental data display - including CO₂, if you pair it with SwitchBot's Meter Pro - and can be used to trigger scenes based on sensor conditions; think having the AC unit and the dehumidifier fire up if certain levels are hit.
The Hub 3 supports more than 100,000 IR codes and has a signal range up to 30 meters, which SwitchBot says is 150% stronger than the Mini.
That means devices like TVs, air conditioners, and other IR-only holdouts can now be controlled through SwitchBot, Apple Home, Alexa, or Google Home.
If you've got a streaming box, it also works with Apple TV, Fire TV, and Android TV, letting you change volume and channels like a regular remote.
On the Matter front, the Hub 3 can act as a bridge for up to 30 SwitchBot devices, and it can send Matter commands to other brands' products already integrated into Apple Home.
You can assign up to 30 programmable "Matter buttons" to trigger those automations; think physical controls for entire scenes.
Power is supplied via USB-C, and the included sensor cable houses the temperature/humidity probe.
You can mount the Hub 3 on your wall or you can use the included base and stand.
The SwitchBot Hub 3 is available now priced at $119.99
Alongside the new Hub, the SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo has also gone live; a $249.99 retrofit smart lock that adds 3D facial recognition to the mix.
It's three-piece bundle that includes the new Keypad Vision and a Matter-enabled Hub Mini.
Facial recognition is handled locally, with AES-128 encryption, and works in low light thanks to a built-in IR light.
SwitchBot tells us that it's compatible with 99.9% of existing locks and includes 18 unlock methods, from auto unlock and NFC cards to fingerprint and app control.
It's also available now and costs $249.99.
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