switch bot announced curtain 3, the Smart Curtain Controller is said to be quieter than Curtain 2 and twice as strong. The company also claims that its new and improved solar panels (sold separately) provide “true unlimited battery power,” something that previous panels weren’t quite able to achieve. The Curtain 3 and SwitchBot Solar Panel 3 will be available on August 25th and will retail for $89.99 (£89.99 / €89.99) and $25.99 (£25.99 / €25.99) respectively.
Curtain 3, as the name suggests, is the third version of the company’s smart curtain controller. The company says it can now pull up to 36 pounds (16kg), which is more than double the Curtain 2’s 17-pound weight limit. Like Curtain 2, the new Curtain controller uses Bluetooth Low Energy and provides a range of up to 80 meters (262 feet) assuming direct line of sight.
According to SwitchBot’s specs, the new controller emits a hum of about 45dB from a meter away (roughly as loud as a suburban neighborhood at night), but the new 5mm/s QuietDrift mode drops that to 25dB, This is about the same volume as a human whisper. . Externally, the new design resembles the previous model, but is longer (30 mm) and thinner than the Curtain 2. The company says it’s compatible with “his 99 percent of curtain rails found worldwide.” Like the Curtain 2, it can be purchased in rod rail, U rail and I rail configurations.
According to SwitchBot, the new $25.99 SwitchBot Solar Panel 3 is “more than twice as efficient to charge” and only needs 3 hours “in direct sunlight with strong shadows”, effectively eliminating the need to charge the Curtain 3. It is said that it will disappear. However, it is not an improvement per se. SwitchBot expects the Curtain 3 to last up to eight months on a full charge, similar to previous models.
Earlier this year, SwitchBot announced the new $70 SwitchBot Hub 2. It acts as a Matter bridge and adds Apple Home compatibility to Curtain 3 (and other Bluetooth devices like Curtain 2). Without an updated hub, you’d be using Samsung SmartThings, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. However, the company also supports Apple shortcuts that can be launched with Siri.
For those of you who haven’t heard of SwitchBot, SwitchBot is known for its clever and easy-to-install smart home mods. For example, the $99 smart lock attaches a Bluetooth-connected motor to your house door instead of a smart door lock. A door with a piece of plastic on top of the deadbolt thumbturn. Also, robot pushing a button You can toggle the paddle switch (interestingly, the company lists the Hue Smart Switch as a compatible switch) or press any other button to activate your coffee maker, for example.