SwitchBot has joined the Works with Home Assistant program. This program certifies smart home devices that are tested to work well with Home Assistant and are supported over time by their makers. SwitchBot is known for smart devices that can control regular switches and other home gadgets. The company has grown its selection to include curtain robots, hubs, air purifiers, and cleaning robots. The new partnership means SwitchBot’s products can now connect with Home Assistant in several ways, giving users different options for how they want to set up their smart homes.
The Works with Home Assistant program is different from some other certification programs. Devices are tested in-house to make sure they work as expected with Home Assistant. Companies joining the program must promise to provide updates and fix problems over time. Home Assistant Cloud subscribers help pay for the program. SwitchBot has spent time working on its Bluetooth integration for Home Assistant, and the company is now taking responsibility for supporting and updating this integration. For users whose Home Assistant setup does not include built-in Bluetooth, a Bluetooth Proxy can help connect SwitchBot Bluetooth devices.
SwitchBot’s devices are available with Bluetooth or Matter support. Matter is a newer standard for smart home devices that makes it easier for products from different brands to work together. Some SwitchBot items use Matter by connecting through a hub, like the SwitchBot Hub 2 or Hub 3, while others can connect directly over WiFi using Matter without a hub. The first set of certified SwitchBot products includes air purifiers, cleaning robots, door locks, sensors, meters, curtain controllers, and more. Some of these devices work with both Bluetooth and Matter, giving users more flexibility in how they connect.
One of the main devices in this launch is the SwitchBot K20, a cleaning robot. It is the first cleaning robot included in the Works with Home Assistant program. The K20 can be paired with other SwitchBot devices, such as air purifiers, to create different ways to use Home Assistant. For example, the robot can carry an air purifier to a room that needs fresh air. Since these devices can work locally with Matter, they do not need to connect to the cloud.
SwitchBot’s involvement in the program goes beyond just adding a label to their products. The company has taken part in community events and has worked closely with the Home Assistant community. SwitchBot has also promised to keep adding more of its devices to the program. There is a list of more SwitchBot products that could be tested and added in the future. This new partnership gives smart home users more choices for setting up and controlling their devices with Home Assistant.
View the original press release.
