Looking for a smart curtain controller with a streamlined design look no further!
If you are looking to increase your smart home capability then smart curtains are an excellent start. If you think about brands that come to mind first it has got to be SwitchBot and in this review, we are looking at the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 along with the supporting accessories the SwitchBot Remote & SwitchBot Hub 2.
First Impressions
Now the SwitchBot curtain rod 2 is an upgrade of the original model and the main benefits are the new model is easier to install and even more powerful and can even open and close with the sun or to your selected schedule. If you add the purchase of the SwitchBot Hub 2 you can link it with your smart assistant and let Alexa open your curtains as part of your smart home capability.
Cost wise the Switchbot Curtain Rod 2 costs £85 each however you will need to buy two if you have grommet Curtains so you can open and close both sides which makes this a little on the expensive side. There is also the SwitchBot hub 2 also costs £79 and finally the SwitchBot Remote which is available for £19.
SwitchBot Hub2 is required to work with the Curtain Rod 2.
So if you’re going to invest in the full kit you will need to spend £268. Once invested things like the hub 2 allow you to connect the rest of the range for example the new SwitchBot Blind Tilt.
If you own the original curtain rod you will notice this new model looks basically identical with two smaller pieces that snap onto the side of the motor. The other main improvement is it now comes with a pair of spring-loaded clips that connect to the rod with ease.
In order for the Switch Bot Curtain Rod 2 to close your curtains you will also be provided with some string beads with clips attached to each curtain ring to allow it to push along something to help open or close the curtain.
Connectivity wise the SwitchBot can be connected via both Bluetooth and via the use of the Hub 2 it will create a bridge to your Wi-Fi network allowing smart home connectivity.
Design & Installation
The SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 comes with the following in each box:
- 1x Main Body
- 2x Hook Pair
- USB-C cable
- 1x Beads fixer
- 1x Clip
Now the main body of the Curtain Rod 2 keeps things simple with just the motor at the top then a reset button and USB-C charging port and a small LED. On either side is the hook rods that connect to the side of the motor just like below.
The SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 is compatible with the following types of curtains:
- Ring Top Curtains
- Grommet Curtains
- Tab Top Curtains
- Back Top Curtains
In this review, we had the Grommet Curtains and regardless of the type of curtains you need to download the SwitchBot app, it’s vital. The next step is to make sure the SwitchBot is fully charged this can take up to 6 hours to charge fully but you do get a very long battery life so not all bad.
Then you need to check your curtain track as it supports a diameter of 15.0mm to 40.0mm so should support most curtain tracks. Installation is a little tricky but as long as you follow the instructions provided you should be fine.
The two arms that you connect to either side of the motor stay in place once connected to your curtain pole. In order to install it onto the pole you need to remove one of the arms and fit the main body into place and then clip the second arm into place and connect it to the main body.
Here is a short video on how to install it:
As we were installing on grommet curtains you need to install the beads fixer at the top of the grommet and make sure you clip it on the grommet firmly. You will need to cut the beads once all are fitted as you will have extra. This helps the switchBot bunch up and unfold properly.
Now once fitted we have already mentioned you need to charge the motors up but you can actually connect a solar panel to the back of the motor and can buy them for £16 each if you have 2 motors you need 2 solar panels.
Features
In terms of features, the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 can be used to operate a single curtain or a pair depending on your setup. As mentioned earlier in this review connectivity can be either via Bluetooth or via the Hub 2 that creates the bridge to your home Wi-Fi network. When you first install this device make sure your Bluetooth is in range as you will need to configure each bot so you can use them and each bot knows when to open or close the curtains. They also learn the positioning of the curtains when fully open or closed.
Once installed you can use the app to control them or if you start to open or close the curtains they will spring into life. There is also the ability to purchase the SwitchBot Remote which is a little wireless smart switch that can offer a touch control to open or close the curtain.
The other and let’s say more smart option is if you have the SwitchBot Hub 2 this small Wi-Fi-enabled device gives you the option to turn on cloud control features and also allows you to link it to your smart home assistant so you can control the curtains via voice command or link the curtains as part of a smart home schedule you might already have. Connecting it to your smart home assistant allows you to open or close a set number of curtains if you decided to purchase this device for other curtains in the house. I was also pleased to see that the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 was also compatible with smart home systems such as SmartThings or IFTTT.
Full Review: SwitchBot Hub 2
A feature that I found very useful is the light-sensing which is built into the Curtain Rod 2 and the illuminance level is collected and shown on a graph from 0 to 10 with 10 being very bright. The curtains can then be automated based on the light level, In testing, this was found to be very sensitive and we found it a nice feature to have.
Performance
The SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 runs a lot quieter compared to the version 1 option there is still a small noise but nothing that will annoy a user. The fact that this device used wheels at the top and behind the curtain pole just moved better no more jittering along you get a much smoother experience.
Set up was quick to do and after a short calibration via the app, you will be up in no time. Manual control is really simple to do and you can even partially open the curtains via the app.
Now the Curtain Rod 2 comes with either the performance mode or a quieter silent mode. The issue with the latter is it can get stuck if you have heavy moving drapes as we have so the performance mode just feels more powerful just consider if your curtains are 17 pounds or more it will struggle regardless.
Verdict
The SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 offers an interesting and very smart way to close or open your curtains and if you want to be fancy and get your curtains to do a task I have been doing all my life then they are a great little invention.
If you do not want a device sticking out a little on the curtain pole it might put a few people off. However, If you already have smart curtains and have the original version I would not bother upgrading as yes they come with some useful improvements but at just under £300 for the full kit, I can not see any reason why you would bother spending extra when it does the same job.
If this is your first dive into the world of full automation then the SwitchBot Curtain Rod 2 is a great option as long as you have considered the pole diameter and type of curtain and also the weight of the curtain these make an excellent option if making your home even smarter is vital.
Product Rating
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Installation: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Features: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Performance: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Value for Money: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Overall ranking: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars – 4.6 stars
Current Special Offer till July 31st 2023 – 5% off code XMSWITCHBOT
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