The quiet way to turn your curtains smart

Verdict

An enchancment over the unique, the SwitchBot Curtain 3 is quieter, extra highly effective and simpler to set up, plus it has a greater optionally available photo voltaic panel. Suitable with Matter, through the SwitchBot Hub 2, this product has large smart dwelling compatibility. Distant management over the web generally is a bit unreliable, however if you would like to automate your dwelling curtains, it is a nice improve.

Introduction

SwitchBot has been attempting to automate dumb outdated curtains with its intelligent robotic openers. Whereas the unique SwitchBot Curtain and even the up to date SwitchBot Curtain 2, robots had been good, they lacked a little bit of finesse, which the brand-new SwitchBot Curtain 3 fixes.

Higher battery life, smoother operation, correct auto-calibration, improved photo voltaic panels and Matter help all make these an unlimited enchancment.

Design and set up

• Rod, U Rail and I Rail variations
• Simple to clip into place
• Improved photo voltaic panels

As with earlier product variations, the SwitchBot Curtain 3 is obtainable in several variations, relying on the kind of curtain pole you might have. I’ve curtain rods, so have the Rod model; there’s additionally a U Rail model and, coming quickly, an I Rail model.

Whereas a Curtain 3 can work as a person product, you may pair two collectively the place you might have a set of curtains that meet within the center.

A barely bigger model of the Curtain 2, the Curtain 3 has an even bigger battery and a extra highly effective motor, which SwitchBot says is greater than twice as highly effective because the outdated one. That’s good for 2 causes: you need to use heavier curtains, and the Curtain 3 will take care of curtains which are barely stiff to pull.

Putting in the Curtain 3 is straightforward, because it comes aside into three bits: the 2 arms and the principle motor itself.

Arms must be put in first, after which the principle motor is clipped between them. Because the arms have springs inside them, the system auto-tensions itself, which is an enchancment over the unique product, which wanted to be manually tensioned.

I do urge you to clear your curtain poles first and be sure that they’re dry, in order that the SwitchBot Curtain 3 can get an excellent grip.

Additionally included within the field are quite a lot of clips, which go well with several types of curtain. I’ve top-ring curtains, so didn’t want these.

I did want to set up one new part: the magnetic stickers, which go on the level the place the curtain is closed. These are utilized by Curtain 3 to detect when it’s totally closed and to enhance the auto-calibration routine.

Charged through USB-C, the SwitchBot Curtain 3 could be put in and the battery topped up when flat. Usually, a full battery ought to final round eight months.

In case you by no means need to take the curtains down, then there’s an optionally available photo voltaic panel, which clips into the underside of the robotic.

Not like the unique photo voltaic panels, which had to be caught to the again of your curtains, the brand new panels have a inflexible arm, so grasp straight down.

Photo voltaic panels are helpful for home windows that get direct daylight; when you don’t, you’ll have to persist with manually charging the robots.

Options

• Auto calibrates
• Intelligent photo voltaic charging mode
• Works with Matter through SwitchBot Hub 2

As soon as put in, the SwitchBot Curtain 3 has to be related to the app through Bluetooth. That’s fast to do, after which I had to run by way of the auto-calibration routine. This robotically works out the place the open and closed positions are, utilizing the magnet as a information. This routine can work with a single curtain or a pair of curtains that meet within the center. I discovered that it took just some minutes to get my curtains completely arrange.

At this level, there are two management choices. First, you need to use the app inside Bluetooth vary. Shortcut buttons open and shut the curtains totally, however the detailed controls allow you to set a curtain to any place.

Secondly, you may pair a Distant immediately with both one single SwitchBot Curtain 3 or one pair of robots. This provides direct management, with devoted buttons to open or shut curtains.

In case you’re old school, simply tug at a curtain and the robotic takes over when it begins to transfer (a pair of curtains will open/shut robotically when you pull simply considered one of them).

For extra management, you want to have a SwitchBot Hub Mini or SwitchBot Hub 2. Each join the SwitchBot Curtain 3 to the web. The Hub 2 has the benefit of creating the robots Matter suitable as a way to get direct management from your smart dwelling system of alternative, together with Amazon Alexa and Apple Residence.

With both system in place, distant management means which you could open and shut your curtains regardless of the place you might be. Effectively, in idea. I sat in my backyard workplace on the backside of the backyard, and I discovered that the app stored attempting to use its Bluetooth connection reasonably than switching to Wi-Fi, which proved unreliable.

Out of Bluetooth vary, the SwitchBot Curtain 3 defaulted to Wi-Fi and an web connection. This nonetheless would fail from time to time, and I’d have to restart the app.

With a Hub, the SwitchBot Curtain 3 can do extra. Arrange scenes, and you’ll program a Distant to set off one, opening or closing a number of curtains concurrently. That’s useful when you’ve acquired a room with a number of home windows.

A Hub additionally means voice management through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. With the older Hub, the connection is through the cloud, which generally is a little gradual; with the Hub 2, Matter means direct management.

Automations are additionally improved with a Hub. I may use a temperature studying from the Hub 2 to robotically shut my curtains when it was sizzling and open them once more when it was cool. Cleverly, automations could be restricted in order that my curtains by no means opened in the midst of the night time.

In case you do have photo voltaic panels, there’s additionally an possibility to shut the curtains partially at sure instances in order that the photo voltaic panels get full mild. That’s useful if your panels find yourself hidden behind a wall through the day.

Efficiency

• Sooner than the unique
• QuietDrift is virtually silent

The SwitchBot Curtain 3 is way quieter and far quicker than any of the earlier merchandise. Transferring at some pace, I discovered that my curtains shut and opened shortly, with only a light whisper that was not loud sufficient to disturb anybody.

Need it quieter? With a schedule, the SwitchBot Curtain 3 can function in QuietDrift mode, the place the robots edge slowly to the open or closed place, making no noise. Effectively, they make slightly little bit of noise, but it surely’s beneath ambient room ranges, so you may’t hear something. Is it value it? In all probability not: the essential sound degree is so low, and I favor to management when my curtains are opened or closed.

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