The SwitchBot Universal Remote with MATTER (sort of) - a Leap Forward or a Step back?

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The Switchbot Universal Remote is a bit of an oddity, in that in a smart home world, where we’re looking to have as much as possible just work without us having to do anything, this has entered that very world. Is it a step back, or does it really offer genuine use cases. I think it does to an extent, although there are reasons why I think it could be better. Watch to find out more.
To can also rwad our full review here - homekitnews.com/2024/07/20/sw...
**NEW** SwitchBot has just pushed a firmware update that allows the Universal Remote to work with Apple TV, as well as Amazon's own line of Fire TV streaming devices.
You can purchase the Switchbot Universal Remote from Amazon.com today using the affiliate link below. It won’t cost you any more, but will help me to continue reviewing products and sharing my thoughts with you, as they come along.
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Timestamps:
0:00 intro
0:11 Introduction
0:53 What's in the box?
1:42 A closer look
2:28 Initial setup
3:39 Quick tests (curtain & blind)
4:42 Settings & options
5:22 No more lost remote
5:38 The display & more
6:14 Pros vs Cons
7:53 Outro
#applehome #smarthome #homeautomation #homekit #matter #switchbot

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Опубликовано:

5 авг 2024

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Комментарии : 51

@Dr_Cole Месяц назад

Interesting remote. I think your summary of this device - currently - being akin to a glorified smart button is accurate. The upcoming controls for new devices, such as Apple TV, obliterates that comparison. Indeed, so does the current control of HVAC units and others. I just don’t know how handy this will be given that it seems best if you take it throughout the home. And the only device with which I do this is my phone… which can largely do all of these functions anyhow. Great review as always!

@homekitnews Месяц назад

I feel this is going to be just another tool in the smart home, but one that may be more familiar to family members that don’t otherwise participate in the smart home experience. Maybe that’ll change, as you say, if/when Apple TV support arrives.

@matthias_petrat Месяц назад

Great Video 👌🏻

@jeanmichelgonzuna1173 Месяц назад

Great review ! If I have Philips Hue lights on Apple Home Kit, will I be able to control them with this remote?

@homekitnews Месяц назад

Yes, although you would only get on/off control or if they were part of a scene, you could activate that scene.

@cantatacsfr Месяц назад

So we got some competition now.

@mecoreyg 16 дней назад

@@cantatacsfr I would be happy to test you guys’ product since I am done with Switchbot. Don’t know how they released a product that doesn’t work and no way to reset. How is that even possible!

@liamcinq 24 дня назад

I got one of these just yesterday, 30 day money back guarantee if it doesnt suit me. Big difference from Harmony I'm used to but highend remotes are crazy money these days.

@jaimejuarez2141 27 дней назад

Great video!! I was about to buy it based on this video, but then I saw another review complaining about adding TVs, it was near impossible and after some work around then was not able to control volume etc etc (the review was with a TLC tv). How is your experience controlling the TV? ( I got Lg tv)

@homekitnews 27 дней назад

Hi, I’m able to control my Xiaomi TV, but I haven’t tried it with my LG yet. If it doesn’t work with the volume, or I can’t get it to work at all, I’ll let you know in a follow up comment.

@jaimejuarez2141 27 дней назад

@@homekitnews thank you for taking the time.

@homekitnews 26 дней назад

Hi, I was able to add my LG TV to the remote, even though I couldn’t find the exact model. I chose the first one with the nearest model number (shown on the remote) and it works. The volume control also works.

@jaimejuarez2141 26 дней назад

@@homekitnewsthank you very much for taking the time!!! I will wait for the prime days and buy one. Once again, great video!!

@jaimejuarez2141 12 дней назад

Hello, a quick follow up question, my apologies to bother you with this but can’t find the info (if possible anywhere) so I am trying to add my top box (my cable box) but the first 3 controllers I am getting are not working and then in “manual” my box is not on the list (onetv). My top box has the option to add Bluetooth remotes, is there a way to put the universal remote in “pairing mode” so my top box can find it? Apologies if it is a stupid question. Thanks in advance.

@Nosjamesmenzer 22 дня назад

I'm just wondering if you do any home assistant content? And if so How well does it work with home assistant?

@homekitnews 22 дня назад

Hi, no I don’t use HomeAssistant or HomeBridge.

@markb9038 Месяц назад

What about Activities? Could this replace a Harmony Elite? What's the IR database like?

@homekitnews Месяц назад

I haven’t tried any of the Harmony remotes, so I couldn’t say. The IR database seems fairly comprehensive, but once again, that’s only from my perspective.

@willyNYC4U Месяц назад

Does this work with fire sticks and fire tvs??? Great video

@homekitnews Месяц назад

There is an update that adds support for Fire TV integration, but as I don’t have any Fire TV devices I can’t tell you how well it works. One thing to note is that the update that adds this functionality seems to have introduced bugs which make the device worse than it was before. Hopefully they’ll fix these bugs, as I’ve already made them aware of the issues I encountered.

@demontraitor69 28 дней назад

Was looking into this, I currently have a Logitech Harmony, which after seeing this, the Harmony is far superior.

@mecoreyg 16 дней назад

Anyone know how to factory reset this remote… I tried pressing and holding the reset button but that only restarts the remote and not a full reset and wiping of the remote.

@homekitnews 16 дней назад

I asked SwitchBot about this, and they told me currently there is no factory reset option. Strange, I know.

@mecoreyg 16 дней назад

@@homekitnews what in the hell!!!? So now I have a device that doesn’t work. Smh!RETURNING and officially done with Switchbot

@willyNYC4U 19 дней назад

Would I be able to control multiple TVs and fire sticks in different rooms ?

@homekitnews 19 дней назад

@@willyNYC4U you can add more than one TV to the remote and control them, but you would still have to be within range of the TV in order for The IR signal to hit its target. As regards multiple Fire Sticks, I can’t say, as I don’t use them, but it seems to work for multiple Apple TVs, so possibly.

@willyNYC4U 19 дней назад

@@homekitnews you just sold one. Thnx

@minh_tommy Месяц назад

Is there an option to change the remote's language ?

@homekitnews Месяц назад

You have three language options - Chinese, Japanese, and English.

@ivica7092 Месяц назад

Yeah you need a hub but it lets you control AC etc. not sure about that approach but I can see this going in right direction if it is hub itself that would be freaking awesome

@rockev Месяц назад

If the hub is in my bedroom, can i use the remote in my living room ?

@homekitnews Месяц назад

In one respect it depends on how far one room is from the other. If you are controlling either devices via Matter or other SwitchBot devices connected to the hub, the remote has to be within Bluetooth range. Walls and doors will diminish the reach of the Bluetooth signal, but not usually totally stop it. If you are controlling dumb devices via the IR inside the remote, then being disconnected from the hub doesn’t make any difference, as the remote is self sufficient in this respect, as long as you’ve programmed the remote to control the device.

@siobhanellis 13 дней назад

The problem comes when you have to train the hub because the device isn't in the IR database. During beta I had to do that for ALL my devices (I haven't tried the new fw update yet), and so I had to move my hub to the living room. I queried Switchbot about that, and they had made the assumption that your hub would be where your IR devices are.

@homekitnews 13 дней назад

@@siobhanellis I have to say things have actually gotten worse with firmware V2.6. Now there’s no option to add a device directly to the remote. I’m hoping this is a bug that they’ll fix, but at present the only options available in the app are ‘Import existing appliances’ (ie from existing hubs) or ‘Third-party control’ which only offers the Matter, Apple TV, and Fire TV options.

@siobhanellis 13 дней назад

@@homekitnews I never added mine directly to the remote anyway, so it won't bother me.

@homekitnews 13 дней назад

@siobhanellis the only issue is that the remote was advertised as not requiring a hub, so this puts that claim into doubt. You still need a hub for Matter support though of course. I actually had to move my hub to another room in order to learn the remote for my Xiaomi TV, so I can see how that can be annoying if you have to do that every time you want to add something!

@danmrkfrandsen598 11 дней назад

How did you add it to Apple home app. i just recived my remote and i cannot get it in to the home app. i will not find it at all.

@homekitnews 11 дней назад

Do you have one of the SwitchBot hubs?

@danmrkfrandsen598 11 дней назад

@@homekitnews yes i have all i takes. I can find my swichtbot remote in homekit now, but cannot configuring any buttons. Then I try i can not save the thing I programmed

@homekitnews 11 дней назад

@@danmrkfrandsen598 if your remote is on firmware version 2.4, this version has a few bugs. I am on v2.6, and the issues you mention are fixed, but it introduced new bugs. Hopefully they’ll bypass v2.6 and issue a newer firmware update that fixes everything.

@danmrkfrandsen598 11 дней назад

@@homekitnews i am on 2.4. How did you get 2.6?

@homekitnews 11 дней назад

@@danmrkfrandsen598 they whitelisted my account as I was essentially testing the device and reported back on the issues in V2.4.