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two minute review
The Switchbot Lock is not your average smart lock. At best, it’s about as stupid as a smart lock can get — but that’s not a bad thing.
The Switchbot is somewhat of an anomaly in the smart home space. Most of its creations are designed to retrofit smart homes and make regular switches, blinds and locks a little smarter, playing a key role in an otherwise challenging transition from dumb to smart home. In line with this, the Switchbot lock is essentially a bolt-on motorized thumb turn or key rotator, sprinkling in some neat features to give it a smart edge. It’s also pretty affordable at $99.99 / £129.99, and is available direct from SwitchBot’s online store or Amazon.
The best way I can describe how the Switchbot lock works is to compare it to that steampunk-esque futuristic view of smart locks that was conceived in the 60s or 70s, but with added functionality. Also, thanks to its (albeit somewhat limited) app. Essentially, a motorized thumb turn adapter on the lock only turns the lock on demand when the iOS, Android, or Apple Watch app — or compatible third-party software — sends a command when the user presents the Switchbot tag or Switchbot remote. Uses or keypad.
What’s in the box?
– 1x Switchbot Lock with adhesive, 2x CR-123A Lithium Battery and 4x Screws in situ
– 1x PH1 cross-head screwdriver
– 1x Magnet with adhesive in situ
– 1x extra adhesive pad for lock, 1x extra adhesive pad for magnet and 4x extra screws
– 2x Switchbot Tags
Others: Wet wipes for tags, User manual, Memo stickers
Instead of removing your existing lock and head-scratching to find out if it’s compatible with your smart lock replacement of choice, the Switchbot lock is nearly ambivalent of lock types, as long as you have a thumb turn or a key. with single cylinder deadbolt lock that can be operated with a key in situ on either side of the door. You can definitely find out if your lock is compatible Switchbot’s Handy Lock Guide,
It’s heavy and a bit clunky at 2.9 inches thick, protruding significantly from the door, especially if your roses are already large. Switchbot has tried to make this an unfortunate reality by making the design simple and clever. For the most part, it’s got a decent looking device, and considering its ease of use compared to other smart locks, it’s a concession I find acceptable.
The Switchbot comes in two colorways, black and silver, and is incredibly easy to set up — even as a DIY school dropout I found it nearly impossible to mess up. Plus, it’s almost completely tool-free, except for four screws you’ll need to remove and replace under the battery cover to change the Adjustable Base Adapter’s distance from your door. A small screwdriver is included for the job.
It’s also worth noting that you can’t share the one-time code for your Switchbot to give access to people outside your household. While you can grant access remotely, if you regularly rent the property, or have a cleaner or dogsitter, you’ll need to add them to the home within the app.
The battery has some quirks; The Switchbot Lock uses two CR-123A lithium batteries, a common theme among other Switchbot accessories, including the keypad. They have an adequate lifespan of six months based on using the lock 10 times a day, but given that these batteries are more expensive than regular batteries, it may be worth investing in a rechargeable backup.
Overall, I recommend the Switchbot Lock as the best smart lock for those who aren’t quite ready to make the leap to a full-blown smart lock, renters, and those on a budget. I expected to find a lot more issues, it’s on the cheap side and a bit of a fixer-upper, but it won me over. I haven’t had any problems with locks getting stuck, but it’s worth noting that customer reviews have mentioned the occasional problem.
It’s not for everyone, given some of its design flaws and practicality issues — not to mention its poor app — but for a lot of people, it’ll more than fit the bill.
switchbot lock review specifications
| worth | $99.99 / £129.99 |
| Affordability | See Switchbot’s up-to-date compatibility list |
| DIMENSIONS | 4.4 x 2.3 x 2.9-in / 11.2 x 7.3 x 5.9cm |
| System Requirements | iOS 11.0, Android 5.0 and Apple WatchOS 4.0 or above. |
| third party services | Alexa, Google, Siri, IFTTT, SmartThings, Line Clova, API |
| control methods | switchbot app, switchbot tag, switchbot remote, switchbot keypad, switchbot keypad touch |
| power input | 2x 3V CR123A |
Switchbot Lock review: Set up
The placement of a Switchbot lock is important, and it’s worth checking the orientation of your handle, lock, and any windows on your door before purchasing a Switchbot lock.
While it can be installed horizontally or vertically, the door I tested had a handle above the lock and a window on the right, meaning I had no choice but to place the Switchbot directly under the handle. Didn’t have the option, the clunky device rattled every time I opened it. Door. This won’t be a problem for most doors, but double-check beforehand.
To install the lock, simply switch out the thumb turn adapter to whichever of the three included sizes fits the bend of your thumb, remove the screws from the adjustable base adapter and hold the lock on the inside of your door, making sure it doing that the thumb turn adapter fits over the thumb turn with a little leeway.
Once you’ve determined how many notches the base adapter needs, you can reattach the screw, remove the cover over the self-adhesive patch, and stick it to your door. This self-adhesive is aggressively sticky, so watch if your doors are painted or varnished, and be sure to lay it straight. Once it’s in situ, remove the battery cover, pry out the plastic tab on the back of the battery, and then the lock comes to life. All that’s left to do is hold the magnet 30mm away from the lock and you’re all set to calibrate the lock.
To do this, you need to download the app iOS, Android, Or pair Apple Watch and the device, then use the thumb turn to display the speed required to lock and unlock the door, as well as calibrate when the door is left open.
On the mobile app, you can add more locks to your home (including the same door when you have multiple locks, though the real estate required may make this impossible at worst, unsightly), and receive notifications for any issues with Lock and set audible notifications for automatic locking when your door is open or left unlocked. There’s also the ability to set up scenes with other Switchbot devices, which I found clunky and not very user-friendly. Overall, the apps all felt a bit lacking, but as this is a budget-friendly device, it’s not too surprising.
Alternatively, you can connect your new smart lock to third-party services, including amazon alexa, Google Home, apple siri, IFTTT, and SmartThings. With the new Switchbot Hub 2, older Switchbot devices are now mater-compatible as well. Several add-ons can make Switchbot sing – in particular, switchbot keypadWhich has both fingerprint touch and basic numeric keypad form factors.
Should I Buy the Switchbot Lock?
| row 0 – cell 0 | switchbot lock | Nest x Yale Smart Lock | Schlage Sense Smart Lock |
| worth | $99.99 / £129.99 | $249 to $428 | $260 |
| DIMENSIONS | 4.4 x 2.3 x 2.9-in / 11.2 x 7.3 x 5.9cm | 4.5 x 2.5 x 80-in / 11.66 x 6.58 x 1.79cm | 5 x 3 x 2.2-in / 12.7 x 7.62 x 5.59 cm |
| System Requirements | iOS 11.0, Android 5.0 and Apple WatchOS 4.0 or above | Nest Connect / Nest Guard | bluetooth 4.0 |
| third party services | Alexa, Google, Siri, IFTTT, SmartThings, Line Clova, API | Ring, Apple HomeKit, Amazon, Google | |
| control methods | switchbot app, switchbot tag, switchbot remote, switchbot keypad, switchbot keypad touch | nest app | sled sense app |
| power input | 2x 3V CR123A | 4x AA batteries | 1x 9V |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
also consider
If you’re not sure whether the Switchbot Smart Lock is right for you, check out one of these alternative models
How I Tested the Switchbot Lock
- I Tested the Switchbot Lock on a Thumb-Turn Door
- I used its app to connect to Siri and Apple Watch
I tested the Switchbot lock by installing it on a thumb-turn door lock, assessing the time it took to install and the difficulty of the instructions. I used the app to calibrate and try out the lock’s features, including ‘door ajar’ and ‘door unlocked’ notifications.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed June 2023
