SwitchBot retrofit smart door lock installs in under a minute

The startup SwitchBot, which creates small robotic fingers to press your switches for you, is expanding into the smart home market. The brand-new SwitchBot Lock ($99.99) clings to your door and automatically locks and unlocks it by turning the thumb wheel. I’ve never seen a simpler retrofit smart lock solution than this. Since no portion of your existing door lock needs to be removed, SwitchBot claims that installation takes just a few seconds. But it does appear a little strange. Beginning on June 20th, Amazon and the SwitchBot shop will sell the SwitchBot Lock together with two keypads that work with it: the SwitchBot KeyPad ($29.99) and the SwitchBot KeyPad Touch with a fingerprint reader ($59.99).

When you’re close to the door, you may operate the Lock with your smartphone or Apple Watch as a Bluetooth lock. There is also an automatic lock option. You’ll need to purchase a SwitchBot Hub Mini ($39) and put it into a USB outlet next to the lock in order to add voice control through Google Home or Amazon’s Alexa and operate the lock when you’re away from home using the SwitchBot app. According to the manufacturer, the lock works with the majority of deadbolt locks and has three different-sized thumb turns to accommodate various designs. Additionally, it is developing new accessories to increase compatibility. The Lock’s thumb turn is “grabbed” by the thumb turns pop, which then spins the lock’s thumb turn automatically.

You may still open your door with your current key in addition to app control, voice control, keypads, and the possibility of linking one of SwitchBot’s NFC tags with the lock. On the market, there aren’t many retrofit door lock solutions (where you don’t have to replace your door lock entirely). The most popular lock is the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, which costs $230 more than the Wyze Lock but doesn’t need its own hub. Both of them, though, call for some of your current lock to be removed. Even if it’s not the most attractive solution available, the SwitchBot Lock is a distinctive and creative method for developing a smart door lock.