One of the best things that has happened to HomeKit in the past few years is the Matter standard.It is far from perfect, but it has opened the door (pun intended) for a new crop of accessories that would have never supported Apple’s smart home platform before.SwitchBot is a great example.
The company started out with clever smart home products like the button pusher, but has leaned hard into Matter recently, and it is paying off.It’s new Lock Ultra and Hub 3 combo brings serious upgrades and, more importantly, native HomeKit compatibility thanks to Matter support.Some of my favorite gear Abode Home Security System Abode is the best home security system and includes compatibility with HomeKit.
SwitchBot Hub 3 The SwitchBot Hub 3 is what really brings everything together if you’re leaning into the SwitchBot ecosystem.SwitchBot has offered bridges before, but this one feels built for the modern HomeKit home.It supports Matter out of the box, which means it can bridge other SwitchBot devices to HomeKit easily.
With the Hub 3, devices like the SwitchBot Curtain can now show up alongside your existing HomeKit devices in the Home app.The hub can trigger up to 30 custom automation scenes, even with Matter-compatible products from other vendors that are already connected to HomeKit.The best part of the release is that the Hub 3 also has a new rotary controller that can adjust volume, temperature, and more.
It also includes sensors to track indoor and outdoor conditions, which can trigger other devices based on temperature, humidity, and other factors.Design-wise, it looks more like a smart home controller than a normal hub, so I can’t wait to try it out.Some of my favorite gear Aqara Smart Lock U50 Upgrade your doors with Apple Home Key and the Aqara U50.
SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo and Ultra Touch Combo The Lock Ultra Vision Combo is SwitchBot’s most ambitious product yet, and it works great inside of HomeKit.Thanks to Matter support, this smart lock appears natively, giving you access to automations, remote control, and status updates without relying on any third-party cloud.The major downside here is no Home Key support, though.
SwitchBot says that the Lock Ultra Vision Combo is the first retrofittable smart lock with 3D facial recognition.It maps your face using over 30,000 infrared points and unlocks the door in under a second.If you want to avoid facial recognition, there are plenty of other ways to unlock it as well.
There are multiple ways to unlock your door including NFC, a fingerprint reader, auto unlock based on your location, and good old app control.If fingerprint unlocking is more your speed, SwitchBot also sells the Lock Ultra Touch Combo, which swaps out the facial recognition keypad for one with a built-in fingerprint sensor.It still supports Matter and works just as well inside of HomeKit.
Its FastUnlock technology aims to make unlocking feel instant, and SwitchBot says the motor is noticeably faster and stronger than previous models.The company says the unlock motor is quiet, which is great for late-night entries or early-morning exits when you do not want to wake up everyone in your house.Some of my favorite gear eufyCam 2C Upgrade your home security with wireless cameras that includes HomeKit compatibility.
Power-wise, the SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo runs on a rechargeable battery that lasts up to a year, with a backup cell that can keep things running for up to five years.Depending on your skill level, installation is simple without drilling new holes.It works with almost every lock type in North America and Europe, so you aren’t stuck replacing your entire door hardware.
If you’ve swapped door locks in the past, it’s a similar process.Wrap up SwitchBot has come a long way since I started using its products back in 2020.I loved their products, but getting them into HomeKit wasn’t for the faint of heart.
With the Lock Ultra Vision Combo and Hub 3, it is clear the company is serious about building a full smart home ecosystem that plays nicely with HomeKit.Matter is clearly a priority, and that’s great news for us HomeKit fans.Purchase links for this new gear are below.
SwitchBot Lock Ultra Vision Combo
SwitchBot website
SwitchBot Lock Ultra Touch Combo
Amazon
SwitchBot website
SwitchBot Hub 3
Amazon
SwitchBot website
Â
You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day.Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop.Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel