Switchbot curtain announced 3, a smart curtain controller that says it will be quieter than the Curtain 2, and twice as powerful. The company also claims that its new and improved solar panels (which are available separately) will provide “true unlimited battery power,” something the previous panel didn’t quite achieve. The Curtain 3 and SwitchBot Solar Panel 3 will retail for $89.99 (£89.99 / €89.99) and $25.99 (£25.99 / €25.99), respectively, when they’re released on August 25th.
The Curtain 3, as the name suggests, is the third iteration of the company’s smart curtain controller. It can now tow up to 36 pounds (16 kg), according to the company, which is more than double the Curtain 2’s 17-pound weight limit. Like the Curtain 2, the new Curtain controller uses Bluetooth Low Energy, giving it a range of up to 80 meters (262 feet), assuming a direct line of sight.
SwitchBot’s specs say its new controller beeps at around 45dB from a meter away (almost as loud as a suburban neighborhood at night), while its new QuietDrift mode at 5mm per second will bring it down to 25dB, which is loud Almost like a human whisper. Outwardly, the new design is similar to previous models, but it’s longer (by 30mm) and now slimmer than the Curtain 2. The company says it’s compatible with 99 percent of “curtain tracks found worldwide.” Like the 2-rail, it can be purchased in rail, U-rail, and rail configurations.
SwitchBot says its new $25.99 SwitchBot Solar Panel 3 has “more than twice the charging efficiency,” and will only need three hours in direct sun, “where clear shadows can be formed,” effectively eliminating the need to charge the Canopy 3. Battery Life It didn’t improve on its own though — SwitchBot still expects the Curtain 3, like the previous model, to last up to 8 months on a full charge.
Earlier this year, SwitchBot introduced the new $70 SwitchBot Hub 2, which acts as a bridge and thus adds Apple Home compatibility to the Curtain 3 (and other Bluetooth devices, like the Curtain 2). Without the updated hub, you’re stuck with Samsung SmartThings, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa — although the company also supports Apple Shortcuts, which you can launch with Siri.
If you haven’t heard of SwitchBot, they’re known for their smart, easy-to-install smart home modifications, like their $99 Smart Lock which isn’t a smart lock at all, but a Bluetooth-connected motor that plugs into your device. Door with a plastic piece that goes over the thumb of the lock. It also makes a file A robot presses a button It can toggle switches (interestingly, the company shows the Hue smart switch as a compatible one) or press other buttons, for example to start your coffee maker.