And you’ll need an Apple HomePod or Apple TV to act as a controller.
Then it adds a thermometer, hygrometer, and light meter, and throws in Matter-support.
And not just for temperature and humidity readings, but for SwitchBot Curtains and Blinds, too.
What Does the SwitchBot Hub 2 Do?
As it’s a custom cable with integrated sensors, you’ll need to be careful.
This isn’t just any old USB-C cable that can be easily replaced with another from your drawer.
After that, you’re free to start setting up Matter for use with HomeKit.
Simply press both the on-screen on and off buttons simultaneously for about 15 seconds.
Then jump over the Apple Home app to finish setup.
What Exactly is Matter and Why Does It Matter?
Another year, another smart home protocol.
One protocol to rule them, they say.
One protocol to unify everything.
Now, instead of five smart home protocols, we have six.
If you ditch Apple and go to the Google camp, your Matter smart home should still work.
I have plenty of devices that work with Google Home, but not Apple HomeKit.
It’s a mess.
To some extent, Matter fixes that.
It if is, it’ll work with any of them.
Matter is high-level communications protocol which uses Bluetooth for initial provisioning.
Amazons Alexa and Google Home were easier to deal with.
A lot of smart home products had two versions: the HomeKit-compatible version, and everything else.
Or they just forgot about Apple entirely.
So most of this review focuses on exposing SwitchBot devices to Apple HomeKit, which was previously impossible.
Do you should probably Buy New Versions of Everything That Work With Matter?
Thankfully, noat least not for SwitchBot products.
So while you may need to replace your hub, you dont need to replace everything else.
You will however need something to act as a controller; this is a requirement that Apple has set.
Your smartphone cant do this because it wont always be at home.
Currently, you might use either an Apple TV or HomePod (Mini or regular-sized).
Can I Do Everything Through Matter?
Simple answer: no.
It cant calibrate them.
Will Matter Fix Everything Thats Wrong With Your Smart Home?
Matter solves a small piece of the puzzle, but plenty of issues for end users remain.
Devices are not shared between controllers.
SwitchBot is a bit of an exception.
Should You Buy the SwitchBot Hub 2?
The sheer number of Wi-Fi-connected devices has been known to overwhelm some routers.
The fact that SwitchBot is committed to Matter support is an added bonus at this point.
Other than that, Matter is a bit inconsequential in the grand scheme of things.
If you only used Alexa or Google Home, it doesn’t really matter to you.
