SwitchBot Bot Review: Simple but limited
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Key Takeaways
- It can change your position, programmed in the operating system
- There are many smart devices for sale in the market
- Bulky design may not look good, perfect for niche applications
I recently had the opportunity to review the SwitchBot Curtain 3 and was impressed by a company that seemed willing to do things I never thought possible. The Bot is the small device that started it all SwitchBot, the company’s first product in 2016. I had to check it out for myself and see where it fits into the modern world of smart devices. These days you can find a lot of ‘smart’ gadgets, smarts, switches, thermostats, electronics, and so on, so the Bot seems to be designed to solve a more unusual problem with each passing year, but I wanted to see for myself.
A strange device
SwitchBot Bot
SwitchBot Bot is a small application-controlled bot that can hit switches. Although a creative product, and one that was very popular in 2016 when it was first released, in today’s environment it may feel like an outdated solution for some applications.
- It can flip a switch for you
- SwitchBot can be programmed from the app
- An amazing niche career
- There is a lot of innovation in the smart device market
- Additional functionality requires additional purchase of SwitchBot Hub
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Pricing, specifications, and availability
The SwitchBot Bot retails for just under $30. Available from Amazon and directly from SwitchBot. Buyers can get it in one-, two-, and four-pack offerings.
The Bot is a simple product, so there isn’t much in the way of specs. It runs on a single CR2 3V battery that SwitchBot claims will last 600 days and works via Bluetooth when controlled by an app. While some customization and smart controls, like schedules, are possible out of the box, additional functionality, like Wi-Fi control when you’re away from home, requires an additional purchase in the form of a SwitchBot Hub.
What I liked about SwitchBot Bot
It is easy to install and reliable to use
SwitchBot Bot was easy to install, although the process varies slightly depending on the type of switch you’re trying to use. As I said about SwitchBot Curtain 3, the Bot works as intended. The Bot turned my hallway lights on and off with the touch of a button in the SwitchBot app. It ran smoothly and wasn’t terribly noisy.
The switch can be programmed from the app, and I actually found it to be the perfect use. Every evening, I left the hallway light on so the Roomba would have enough light to clean through the night. However, my wife does not like that when she wakes up every morning around 5 AM the hallway lights are on and on. So, I set the SwitchBot Bot to turn off the light every morning before it wakes up but after the Roomba has finished its rounds.
What I didn’t like about SwitchBot Bot
Bulky and unsightly
The main effect for me was beauty. A Bot, whether installed in a light switch, coffee maker, or any other device, is invisible. Its blocky, bulky design sticks out like a sore thumb wherever it is placed and can only avoid this consideration if installed in an inconspicuous location.
Should you buy SwitchBot Bot?
Like most products from SwitchBot, the Bot uses an extremely niche application that can be a game-changer for those who find it useful and a head-scratcher for those who don’t. You may find a use case that makes perfect sense for your home, like my case with the hallway lights, where the SwitchBot is a cheap solution to your problem. I certainly wasn’t about to replace every single light in the hallway with a smart light or DIY electrical work to replace a double wall light with a smart switch. So, in my case, the SwitchBot Bot was good for a small set of tasks, and as long as you can find a use for it, it’s a well-designed and reliable product.
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