Switchbot’s New Smart Lock Upgrades Any Deadbolt
The world of smart home technology is quickly dividing into two sectors: device retrofits that help existing homes participate in the Internet of Things , and the rapidly growing technology market for new homes. While it’s interesting to look at homes that have smart technology built into them, the retrofit technology will always be more important to me because technology changes so quickly. While a door lock may not seem newsworthy, today Switchbot is releasing a new upgraded lock that simply fits into your existing deadbolt and has a few features that I think are worth some attention. Switchbot Lock Pro goes on sale today for $119.99.
Upgrading locks is a great solution for tenants.
Most smart locks on the market require a complete lock replacement. This isn’t usually that difficult, but it poses two problems. Firstly, what if you can’t change the lock for legal reasons, such as if you are a renter and not an owner? An upgraded lock like the Switchbot Lock Pro can solve this problem by installing on top of the lock itself and can be easily removed later. The second problem is that many older doors (like hell, every one of mine) are a little sticky or problematic, and sometimes the smart locks aren’t powerful enough to lock; they just don’t have the torque that your arms have. Pro seems to have taken this issue into account.
Switchbot designed the lock with multiple adapters so you can change cylinders as often as you need for any single cylinder deadbolt. Their new lock also delivers a staggering 20kgf/cm² of torque. In fact, it can operate multiple locks with one motor.
A Staggering Number of Unlock Methods
Switchbot has 15 unlock methods . This combination includes common methods such as passcodes, Bluetooth and Apple Watch, and less common methods such as NFC cards and voice unlocking. My neighbors already think I’m pretty weird, and I haven’t even asked the front door for permission to enter the house (yet).
Switchbot promises insane battery life
The buried LED on this lock is battery life. Because smart locks are never connected to a power source, they run on batteries, and battery life is still an issue. The Switchbot Lock Pro claims to last six to nine months on four AA batteries, which would be a significant improvement over any other I’ve seen. Obviously, you can opt for a dual power bank that is rechargeable and extends battery life to nine to 12 months. Dual power provides a feature that means you can still access the lock when one of the batteries is low as the other will remain active.
Matter is included, sort of
Although Homekit is one of the top three hubs, it does not have the same support from products like Google and Alexa. This has more to do with Apple than the products themselves, but Matter opens the door to Homekit support, and Switchbot took advantage of that. Instead of simply relying on Materia, the integration will require a mini-hub that will act as an IR remote control. It seems flawed to me since the whole point of Matter is to help you ditch hubs, but if you’re really interested in Homekit, it might be worth it. Switchbot implements Lock pro with AES-128-CTR encryption and auto-lock feature. You will be able to receive notifications and status updates wherever you are, and remote unlocking is one of the methods you can use for this locking.
Switchbot remains one of my favorite smart home brands. I find their products innovative and well designed. They focus on function over form, but from what I’ve seen, the Lock Pro still looks quite modern and sleek.