FYI for folks considering this... I bought 3 Switchbot mini hubs because I wanted to control my mini-splits. It's been 5 years of me asking their support, and them promising to buy the remote to add the code, they have yet to actually add my Fujitsu remote to their hub. I stopping playing Groundhog day with them, and gave up. None of the other Fujitsu codes control everything, so I completely wasted my money. I suspect it'd be the same with this remote. I would HIGHLY recommend you find out if your exact device is covered before you make this purchase, because I imagine there is a zero chance they would add it based on my experience. Hope this helps. Sorry to be a downer, just wanted to offer that warning to folks. TY for the video, Shane.
the mic is one of the biggest pros of the apple tv remote, i can't imagine switching to a remote without that working. I know apple probably makes it very annoying to implement but its a must have for me
I use voice control on my Apple TV all the time. Just like my phone… I won’t consider a remote that doesn’t have the ability to pass through to Siri. Bummer.
Dude these thumbnails you’ve been doing are so 🔥. I’m still keeping an eye on this for a replacement for my ATV remote. Even if not perfect it may be something to play around with and I like the look of the remote honestly.
Great review I will have to take a look at this remote. Also I just wanted to say thanks for NOT saying Siri and just displaying it on the screen. So many other still say the word which of course activates a few devices around. This is much apprecited
before cuple years i have used with the Logitech Harmony remote control but this is a real smart remote control and i'm going to buy one 🤩 thanks for the review 👍
I wish it had more buttons on it. For an Apple TV it’s probably fine, but if you have something like a cable box or a DVD player it’s pretty limited, as it doesn’t even have playback control buttons.
Thanks Shane- you made me slightly less skeptical and convinced me to take it out of the box! It blows my mind Logitech is walking away from Harmony. I suspect they want to stay clear of automation, but just a hunch.
I have two of these remotes here, and use them on a daily basis. The only major step back they have since taken is allowing third party remotes to be added directly to the smart remote, which was possible prior to a few updates ago. I guess there may have been some legal issue that forced them to remove this perhaps.
Hey, I'm glad you were "late" to this product because I was intrigued by it but dismissed it after the initial run of lukewarm to negative reviews. Think I'm going to pull the trigger on this now and get the belkin scene controller off my side table in the living room.
Reporting back, I'm finding this remote is no harmony killer! It's BT is faster to streaming devices than Harmony. Every other experience is still superior with Logitech. The biggest pitfall is substituting activities for scenes. Scenes are too hard to get to for this. They may be suitable if I could add the scenes as buttons maybe but does not seem possible. So you have to add other devices commands to the device you want to control. Except you have to do this by the learning a new command in that device. There's an option to import but drastically limited, and does not contain prev. Learned commands. Too much broken OOB, right down to their IR commands. EG all power is toggle which is poor to automate around and Xbox power off had to mapped, corrected, from Harmony. I don't see how anyone can work around all of this mess, but I'm trying! Not even gotten to Hubitat yet 😂
There are a number of devices that are "Matter over Bridge." This is one of them. Most of the SwitchBot devices support Matter through their hub (like Aqara, Philips Hue, and others).
It just depends on which matter it is, It can be matter over thread, matter over Wi-Fi. But I do agree that they should have put matter straight onto the remote.
Gerat video! I was hoping it would work with my Sony TV and xbox. Not sure if i like that you have to use the hub for the IR part. I do like the price lol
I like the idea of all my smart home just being a clean white. I went through that whole white walls fad then went back to a warmer oak wood tone throughout. However I’d definitely be cool with all my sensors, thermostats, switches, remotes, etc all being a clean white.
😂 I think you need to show your daughter what most things looked like in the 1970s. I actually feel like the remote looks a bit more futuristic than most any remote you will find with a standard HDTV now. But yes show her a tv remote from the 70s. Hah
How’s the recharging / charge span? Biggest complaint of current app tv remote is constant disconnected remote so have to charge it a lot. Size would be fine for my home as we are also constantly saying , “where’s the remote” so bigger probably better! For me.
Will the hub integrate with Alexa so I can create an Alexa routine that turns off my Apple TV? I have a "I'm going to bed" routine in Alexa that does a lot (locks doors, turns on/off lights, changes temperatures, etc.) and one of the things that I want it to do is turn off the Apple TV if it is on (eARC from the Apple TV will turn off the TV and soundbar, so I don't worry about that). I have a Sofabaton remote, but the "Off" for the Apple TV isn't available to Alexa as Sofabaton doesn't expose individual buttons control to Alexa.
You can do anything that you can do with the original remote basically, as long as you can get the device in the switchbot app for IR control. You should be able to create a SwitchBot scene that goes through a series of events including IR remote button presses. Here is the list of compatible devices: support.switch-bot.com/hc/en-us/articles/23497233642135-Devices-Are-Compatible-with-SwitchBot-Universal-Remote
I am also looking for a 1 button solution that when the Apple TV turns on it can run HomeKit automations. I am wondering if I could program 1 button on this remote to do that..?
Do you need a hub to add just one or two smart tv’s? Can I just buy this remote and simply add my Samsung smart tv to it and not have to buy any additional hun etc?
Shane- thank you for this! Can you tell me if starting with HomeKit a requirement for Matter success?? I'm able to link Hub 2 and Google or Alexa with Matter, and then add my remote as a secondary device, but that's it. I do not see the remote in Google - it never shows up separately or under Hub. I feel a bit closer in Alexa- The remote is seen by Google. But when opening, it only has mapping for "Main button". If I use it still nothing is added to any new Matter page. I've spent an accumulated 8h and responses are always the same. Sometimes I get a bit farther w/ Google. That is, after adding secondary device, I go back into Google and believe it tries to add. I see a bluetooth sign and generic error "thing_activator_open_bluetooth_text". It will stay there for over an hour without resolution. I am not able to use this remote with Matter. I know ur a Homekit guy, but know ur saavy w an army behind ya so hoping someone may have something tangible while I wait for Switchbot's next suggestion. Thanks!
Just got one, im a homekit user but i drive it all with honr assistant, ill say the switchbot app kinda sucks and the matter setuo is soooo kludgy. I did buy the hub. Im going to keep playing around with it to see if i cah get scenes in there
Apple not including FindMy support on the remotes 3 generations ago (and at least being able to ping the remote) is inexplicable. What was all that jazz about the U1 UWB tech about then?!
How do you make it a motion device having an announcement on HomeKit. Using Siri to make a mouse pit that someone’s at the house or on the driveway for example. I have an even motion detector and I have a HomeKit system with SIRI and HomePods.
I picked this up a week ago hoping it could be a replacement for my Logitech harmony and unfortunately it’s getting returned. The matter integration for me was unusable. Sometimes it would take 30-45 seconds for the command to turn on or off a light. My other issue was the volume command. Since I can’t edit the button commands when on Apple TV, I couldn’t get it to change volume on my receiver without having to change to the receiver on the remote. There are some other smaller issues but won’t list them here. Next try will be the sofa baton.
Sorry to hear that, but thanks for sharing. Yea I don't know if it's advanced enough to be a Logitech Harmony replacement (just from what I understand... I never used the Harmony remote). It has been working well for me to control Apple TV though. I mostly use it for that, to control a few HomeKit scenes, and control switchbot devices like the blinds.
@ yeah for sure it’s better than most. The harmony is the greatest ever and Logitech stopped supporting a couple years ago. I’m sure at some point they will shut the servers down and that will be a sad day. Thanks for the review!
I got one of these remotes (and a SwitchBot switch) for super cheap at an Amazon returns sale. Trying to see the value of using the remote, knowing I will have to buy a hub. Would be great if the remote can be added via HA (looks like the switch can) . I still have two Logitech Harmony hubs that run scenes and yes, it will be a sad day when Logitech shuts down the servers.
@ I picked up a sofabaton x1s today and so far, it is near identical to the harmony. I’m guessing they bought or used most of the programming as the app and features are shockingly similar. So far, that’s my go to but we will see. Wish it had more smart home support but for entertainment system it’s the best I’ve found
So now we need to walk around the house with a remote in our pants, right next to our phone. Our phone, which can already control everything. The circle is complete 😄.
Is a device really a matter enable device if it has to be connected to a hub? I thought the point of a matter enable device is to be able to scan a matter QR code in any ecosystem and go play?
There are a number of devices that are "Matter over Bridge." This is one of them. Most of the SwitchBot devices support Matter through their hub (similar to Aqara, Philips Hue, and others).
Does anyone know how to use the SwitchBot remote to close an app on the AppleTV. You can get the 'switch app' by double clicking on the home icon, but I'm looking for the swipe up gesture equivalent.
Since it support Matter, you should be able to expose those four buttons via Homey's Matter integration, just like I did with HomeKit. Although I have not tried it personally with Homey.
This is irrelevant to the remote, but I have the SwitchBot Blind Tilt installed on my wood slat blinds. However, I’ve noticed that it catches on something when I tilt the blinds one way or the other. Have you or anyone else experienced this issue? If so, how did you resolve it?
This looks cool but is simply too many steps and mandatory devices for this remote. IR Universal Remotes have existed for over 40 years and has way more compatibility for other IR devices than this. As far as the matter pairing, the amount of individual device control isn't impressive. I would definitely try this still because I may still be able to work around some issues within the remote. One thing I would have to get used to is not relying on just textile feedback alone like old remotes. I wish it was a gunmetal look or a textured old 90's cable box remote in black.
Companies should exercise greater transparency when delivering products labeled as "Matter-compatible." Matter is indeed an innovative standard for communication, designed to simplify connectivity and interoperability, with Thread as its preferred protocol. Recognizing the challenges and time required to establish a new standard, the creators of Matter thoughtfully included support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios, enabling some devices to become Matter-compatible through firmware updates. Additionally, the bridge functionality was introduced to integrate legacy devices with Matter ecosystems via controllers, aiming to accelerate adoption by leveraging existing hardware. However, it’s concerning when certain companies, such as Switchbot, appear to market newly designed products as Matter-compatible while primarily relying on bridge mechanisms. While this approach may technically align with the standard, it could lead to confusion among consumers seeking native Matter devices. In my view, it’s reasonable to include legacy devices in a Matter setup via bridges, but for newly purchased devices, native Matter compatibility should be prioritized to fully embrace the benefits of the standard.
I’m tempted to buy something like this, but it sounds like this isn’t ready for market. If it’s this complicated to set up, there are going to be problems down the line.
@@ShaneCreates I know, I was just being immature lol. "I've really enjoyed using this in my downstairs area for multiple things." Sorry, I'll see myself out.
I stick to Logitech Harmony until it doesn’t function anymore then I need to look for something different. It’s a share Logitech stopped the development of such a great product.
There are a number of devices that are "Matter over Bridge." This is one of them. Most of the SwitchBot devices support Matter through their hub (like Aqara, Philips Hue, and others).
Awesome video as always Shane, I would get one, but I don’t have any switch spot devices in my home so I probably won’t end up getting one. Reminds me of an old Logitech remote which I really did. Enjoy back in the day.
I love novel tech in the SmartHome. But this… I can do everything it does from my iPhone. My iPhone is always on me. I almost always use it as my AppleTV remote, almost every IR device I would want is connected and available via the SmartHome. The hospital remote look doesn’t help either!
The only easier to solution would just be to not have this at all, and use the Apple remote, which does everything easily that most people want. My smart home is entirely voice control so there’s no benefit to having smart device access on a remote also. I honestly don’t see a single benefit… 🤷♂️
This fails as an Apple TV remote without Siri.... who wants to type stuff into search bars??? There may be use cases for controlling other stuff with it, but I couldn't imagine giving up voice control of Apple TV.
Everybody on the internet hates this remote. It over-promised and it delivered.... nothing that makes sense. It is not a Matter device.... you can just see it through their gateway which is Matter. You can not teach it IR commands. Bad support.... this is just an ad-video and not a real-use-case video. Everyone should save their money and Switchbot should really start making proper products.
I think it had some issues when it was first released that were addressed in firmware updates, as mentioned in the video. It works well for me controlling Apple TVs and some of my HomeKit scenes. It is a Matter device, as it exposes four programmable buttons via Matter that I can automate in my start home ecosystem. It may not be for everyone, but I showed my "use-cases" regarding how I am using it in my smart home.
Oh hell no no way I’m replacing my aluminium, well built second gen Siri Remote with something so cheap looking and without the trackpad Way too many buttons, I made my entire smartphone to disappear and everything I want to control from a tv remote is done automatically when media starts playing (like turning lights on or off)
FYI for folks considering this... I bought 3 Switchbot mini hubs because I wanted to control my mini-splits. It's been 5 years of me asking their support, and them promising to buy the remote to add the code, they have yet to actually add my Fujitsu remote to their hub. I stopping playing Groundhog day with them, and gave up. None of the other Fujitsu codes control everything, so I completely wasted my money. I suspect it'd be the same with this remote. I would HIGHLY recommend you find out if your exact device is covered before you make this purchase, because I imagine there is a zero chance they would add it based on my experience. Hope this helps. Sorry to be a downer, just wanted to offer that warning to folks. TY for the video, Shane.
5 years? BS.
Great they got it working I knew most people hated it when it came out it wasn’t ready yet and I like the design
I've ordered the hub and remote package. I've been thinking of adding Switchbot to the house. You've convinced me to go ahead. Thank you.
the mic is one of the biggest pros of the apple tv remote, i can't imagine switching to a remote without that working. I know apple probably makes it very annoying to implement but its a must have for me
I use voice control on my Apple TV all the time. Just like my phone… I won’t consider a remote that doesn’t have the ability to pass through to Siri. Bummer.
@sparks1694 imagine having to type using a tv remote of all things 🤣
Dude these thumbnails you’ve been doing are so 🔥. I’m still keeping an eye on this for a replacement for my ATV remote. Even if not perfect it may be something to play around with and I like the look of the remote honestly.
Proprietary Matter!! Companies just cannot let go. Lose the hubs, apps, and cloud.
Then just use your light switches. Simple, no?
Great review I will have to take a look at this remote. Also I just wanted to say thanks for NOT saying Siri and just displaying it on the screen. So many other still say the word which of course activates a few devices around. This is much apprecited
No problem! Nothing is worse than a RUclips video triggering your smart speakers and Apple devices! 😆
before cuple years i have used with the Logitech Harmony remote control
but this is a real smart remote control and i'm going to buy one 🤩 thanks for the review 👍
Definitely a lot of cool features but the lack of a microphone for apple tv search is a deal breaker, hopefully they add that in the future
I wish it had more buttons on it. For an Apple TV it’s probably fine, but if you have something like a cable box or a DVD player it’s pretty limited, as it doesn’t even have playback control buttons.
You can also program/customize the buttons, including the four black buttons, for IR devices like a DVD player.
Looks nice. I wish it came in black and with a charging dock like the Savant remotes do.
Thanks Shane- you made me slightly less skeptical and convinced me to take it out of the box! It blows my mind Logitech is walking away from Harmony. I suspect they want to stay clear of automation, but just a hunch.
Is this compatible with Sonos?
I have two of these remotes here, and use them on a daily basis. The only major step back they have since taken is allowing third party remotes to be added directly to the smart remote, which was possible prior to a few updates ago. I guess there may have been some legal issue that forced them to remove this perhaps.
Hey, I'm glad you were "late" to this product because I was intrigued by it but dismissed it after the initial run of lukewarm to negative reviews. Think I'm going to pull the trigger on this now and get the belkin scene controller off my side table in the living room.
Reporting back, I'm finding this remote is no harmony killer! It's BT is faster to streaming devices than Harmony. Every other experience is still superior with Logitech. The biggest pitfall is substituting activities for scenes. Scenes are too hard to get to for this. They may be suitable if I could add the scenes as buttons maybe but does not seem possible. So you have to add other devices commands to the device you want to control. Except you have to do this by the learning a new command in that device. There's an option to import but drastically limited, and does not contain prev. Learned commands. Too much broken OOB, right down to their IR commands. EG all power is toggle which is poor to automate around and Xbox power off had to mapped, corrected, from Harmony. I don't see how anyone can work around all of this mess, but I'm trying! Not even gotten to Hubitat yet 😂
8:52, i'm tired of using the apple tv remote in the sheets.
Hah have to get my mind out of the gutter. This def gave me a chuckle
🤣 tired of "LOOSING" the Apple TV remote in the sheets 🤣
So interesting, so cute 🥰
If you have to have a Switchbot Hub then doesn’t that negate the purpose of Matter?
There are a number of devices that are "Matter over Bridge." This is one of them. Most of the SwitchBot devices support Matter through their hub (like Aqara, Philips Hue, and others).
It just depends on which matter it is, It can be matter over thread, matter over Wi-Fi. But I do agree that they should have put matter straight onto the remote.
@@sendo427 you are referring to the protocol. Matter supports various protocols including thread, wifi, and bridges.
Gerat video! I was hoping it would work with my Sony TV and xbox. Not sure if i like that you have to use the hub for the IR part. I do like the price lol
Can we add switchbot bots to their matter hub2?
I like the idea of all my smart home just being a clean white. I went through that whole white walls fad then went back to a warmer oak wood tone throughout. However I’d definitely be cool with all my sensors, thermostats, switches, remotes, etc all being a clean white.
😂 I think you need to show your daughter what most things looked like in the 1970s. I actually feel like the remote looks a bit more futuristic than most any remote you will find with a standard HDTV now. But yes show her a tv remote from the 70s. Hah
haha yea exactly. I was thinking to myself "how do you know what anything from the 70s looked like" 🤣
Will it change the source. Like HDMI ?
I like it! Will it control a receiver the way the Apple TV remote does?
How’s the recharging / charge span? Biggest complaint of current app tv remote is constant disconnected remote so have to charge it a lot. Size would be fine for my home as we are also constantly saying , “where’s the remote” so bigger probably better! For me.
Will the hub integrate with Alexa so I can create an Alexa routine that turns off my Apple TV? I have a "I'm going to bed" routine in Alexa that does a lot (locks doors, turns on/off lights, changes temperatures, etc.) and one of the things that I want it to do is turn off the Apple TV if it is on (eARC from the Apple TV will turn off the TV and soundbar, so I don't worry about that). I have a Sofabaton remote, but the "Off" for the Apple TV isn't available to Alexa as Sofabaton doesn't expose individual buttons control to Alexa.
Can it do macros? Like turn on tv, set input, turn on streamer with one button push? Does it have support for external sound systems and receivers?
You can do anything that you can do with the original remote basically, as long as you can get the device in the switchbot app for IR control. You should be able to create a SwitchBot scene that goes through a series of events including IR remote button presses. Here is the list of compatible devices: support.switch-bot.com/hc/en-us/articles/23497233642135-Devices-Are-Compatible-with-SwitchBot-Universal-Remote
I am also looking for a 1 button solution that when the Apple TV turns on it can run HomeKit automations. I am wondering if I could program 1 button on this remote to do that..?
sorry if I missed it. Does this work with smartthings?
Came here to ask the same thing
Do you need a hub to add just one or two smart tv’s? Can I just buy this remote and simply add my Samsung smart tv to it and not have to buy any additional hun etc?
Shane- thank you for this! Can you tell me if starting with HomeKit a requirement for Matter success?? I'm able to link Hub 2 and Google or Alexa with Matter, and then add my remote as a secondary device, but that's it. I do not see the remote in Google - it never shows up separately or under Hub. I feel a bit closer in Alexa- The remote is seen by Google. But when opening, it only has mapping for "Main button". If I use it still nothing is added to any new Matter page. I've spent an accumulated 8h and responses are always the same. Sometimes I get a bit farther w/ Google. That is, after adding secondary device, I go back into Google and believe it tries to add. I see a bluetooth sign and generic error "thing_activator_open_bluetooth_text". It will stay there for over an hour without resolution. I am not able to use this remote with Matter. I know ur a Homekit guy, but know ur saavy w an army behind ya so hoping someone may have something tangible while I wait for Switchbot's next suggestion. Thanks!
The remote looks cool. I had no idea what you were talking about.
It’d be nice if you could do all of this without the hub but at least they’ve addressed some of the issues early reviewers had
Just got one, im a homekit user but i drive it all with honr assistant, ill say the switchbot app kinda sucks and the matter setuo is soooo kludgy. I did buy the hub. Im going to keep playing around with it to see if i cah get scenes in there
🤔 I'm using the Lloyd's Smart RF + IR Universal Remote Control, WiFi, All-in-One Hub Device
Apple not including FindMy support on the remotes 3 generations ago (and at least being able to ping the remote) is inexplicable. What was all that jazz about the U1 UWB tech about then?!
How do you make it a motion device having an announcement on HomeKit. Using Siri to make a mouse pit that someone’s at the house or on the driveway for example. I have an even motion detector and I have a HomeKit system with SIRI and HomePods.
Just curious, You mention it came with a SIM ejector!? What is it for?
Just for hard resetting the device via the little pinhole on the bottom.
Once they add a microphone I would buy one.
I picked this up a week ago hoping it could be a replacement for my Logitech harmony and unfortunately it’s getting returned. The matter integration for me was unusable. Sometimes it would take 30-45 seconds for the command to turn on or off a light. My other issue was the volume command. Since I can’t edit the button commands when on Apple TV, I couldn’t get it to change volume on my receiver without having to change to the receiver on the remote. There are some other smaller issues but won’t list them here. Next try will be the sofa baton.
Sorry to hear that, but thanks for sharing. Yea I don't know if it's advanced enough to be a Logitech Harmony replacement (just from what I understand... I never used the Harmony remote). It has been working well for me to control Apple TV though. I mostly use it for that, to control a few HomeKit scenes, and control switchbot devices like the blinds.
@ yeah for sure it’s better than most. The harmony is the greatest ever and Logitech stopped supporting a couple years ago. I’m sure at some point they will shut the servers down and that will be a sad day. Thanks for the review!
I got one of these remotes (and a SwitchBot switch) for super cheap at an Amazon returns sale. Trying to see the value of using the remote, knowing I will have to buy a hub. Would be great if the remote can be added via HA (looks like the switch can) . I still have two Logitech Harmony hubs that run scenes and yes, it will be a sad day when Logitech shuts down the servers.
@ I picked up a sofabaton x1s today and so far, it is near identical to the harmony. I’m guessing they bought or used most of the programming as the app and features are shockingly similar. So far, that’s my go to but we will see. Wish it had more smart home support but for entertainment system it’s the best I’ve found
Is this better than the Logitech Elite integrated with HomeKit via homebridge?
will it control tge bose tv speaker and samsung frame tv?
This is cheaper than sofabaton pro that supports the the smart things or assistant but which one is better
So now we need to walk around the house with a remote in our pants, right next to our phone. Our phone, which can already control everything. The circle is complete 😄.
Is a device really a matter enable device if it has to be connected to a hub? I thought the point of a matter enable device is to be able to scan a matter QR code in any ecosystem and go play?
There are a number of devices that are "Matter over Bridge." This is one of them. Most of the SwitchBot devices support Matter through their hub (similar to Aqara, Philips Hue, and others).
Does anyone know if they can connect to a computer and be used as cursor or keyboard?
Does anyone know how to use the SwitchBot remote to close an app on the AppleTV. You can get the 'switch app' by double clicking on the home icon, but I'm looking for the swipe up gesture equivalent.
9:30 You enjoy using that remote in your "downstairs area, eh?" Might good the warranty.
Amazon has the switchbot universal remote with hub mini matter for 99$
Great review. But my question is “does it work with Homey”
Since it support Matter, you should be able to expose those four buttons via Homey's Matter integration, just like I did with HomeKit. Although I have not tried it personally with Homey.
This is irrelevant to the remote, but I have the SwitchBot Blind Tilt installed on my wood slat blinds. However, I’ve noticed that it catches on something when I tilt the blinds one way or the other. Have you or anyone else experienced this issue? If so, how did you resolve it?
I have not had any issues with my 8 blind tilts. It might be specific to your blinds.
Just got this remote. It’s very good. But you can’t fast forward or rewind using it on Apple TV
with hub requirement turned me off and the 25 device limit
This looks cool but is simply too many steps and mandatory devices for this remote. IR Universal Remotes have existed for over 40 years and has way more compatibility for other IR devices than this. As far as the matter pairing, the amount of individual device control isn't impressive. I would definitely try this still because I may still be able to work around some issues within the remote. One thing I would have to get used to is not relying on just textile feedback alone like old remotes. I wish it was a gunmetal look or a textured old 90's cable box remote in black.
no volume control for apple tv
Companies should exercise greater transparency when delivering products labeled as "Matter-compatible." Matter is indeed an innovative standard for communication, designed to simplify connectivity and interoperability, with Thread as its preferred protocol. Recognizing the challenges and time required to establish a new standard, the creators of Matter thoughtfully included support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios, enabling some devices to become Matter-compatible through firmware updates. Additionally, the bridge functionality was introduced to integrate legacy devices with Matter ecosystems via controllers, aiming to accelerate adoption by leveraging existing hardware.
However, it’s concerning when certain companies, such as Switchbot, appear to market newly designed products as Matter-compatible while primarily relying on bridge mechanisms. While this approach may technically align with the standard, it could lead to confusion among consumers seeking native Matter devices. In my view, it’s reasonable to include legacy devices in a Matter setup via bridges, but for newly purchased devices, native Matter compatibility should be prioritized to fully embrace the benefits of the standard.
I would like to get this remote but the only thing is is I don't need another damn hub I already have too many.
I’m tempted to buy something like this, but it sounds like this isn’t ready for market. If it’s this complicated to set up, there are going to be problems down the line.
Why can’t I buy a black standalone remote on Amazon when I already have the hub 2? It’s only the white and bundled with hub mini?
You can buy the remote by itself, but it only comes in one color.
In my region there was a bug, but it’s fixed now. I also got them to change my order to the black one. Which ships in about 2 weeks.
9:28 What exactly have you been using this remote for Sean? 🤔
I primarily use it to control Apple TVs, SwitchBot devices, and a few HomeKit scenes via Matter.
@@ShaneCreates I know, I was just being immature lol. "I've really enjoyed using this in my downstairs area for multiple things." Sorry, I'll see myself out.
@@ShaneCreateshe accidentally typed Sean in the comment you replied to. 😂
No
Soooooo it's a harmony.
Would that be a bad thing? Its a lot cheaper than a Harmony, which is anyway discontinued.
I stick to Logitech Harmony until it doesn’t function anymore then I need to look for something different. It’s a share Logitech stopped the development of such a great product.
It needs to be half the size at least
If I can’t use my existing matter hub(s), is it really a matter device? I guess a remote is a different kind of matter animal.
There are a number of devices that are "Matter over Bridge." This is one of them. Most of the SwitchBot devices support Matter through their hub (like Aqara, Philips Hue, and others).
A remote from the 70’s… that’s funny.
Awesome video as always Shane, I would get one, but I don’t have any switch spot devices in my home so I probably won’t end up getting one. Reminds me of an old Logitech remote which I really did. Enjoy back in the day.
Agreed. We're still clinging to our Logitech Harmony remote. We can control televisions, streaming device (Roku not Apple admittedly), lights, etc
Unfortunately, their device limitations will prevent me from purchasing this. Cool remote though!
I’ve heard nothing but horror stories about this thing. Same with the Sofabaton X1S as well.
I love novel tech in the SmartHome. But this… I can do everything it does from my iPhone. My iPhone is always on me. I almost always use it as my AppleTV remote, almost every IR device I would want is connected and available via the SmartHome. The hospital remote look doesn’t help either!
Lost me at needing a hub
Why can I not use Siri via voice on this remote. Is there no mic? This is a big downfall then. Maybe the next version
Yea there is no mic.
The lack of mic is what’s holding me off. Because of that it’s not as functional as the Siri Remote.
The only easier to solution would just be to not have this at all, and use the Apple remote, which does everything easily that most people want. My smart home is entirely voice control so there’s no benefit to having smart device access on a remote also. I honestly don’t see a single benefit… 🤷♂️
To 80s clunky plus I’m not hearing much I can’t do presently by summoning Siri, so what’s the point?
Unfortunately is not capable of Radio Frequency (RF)!!!!!!!!
This fails as an Apple TV remote without Siri.... who wants to type stuff into search bars??? There may be use cases for controlling other stuff with it, but I couldn't imagine giving up voice control of Apple TV.
Everybody on the internet hates this remote. It over-promised and it delivered.... nothing that makes sense.
It is not a Matter device.... you can just see it through their gateway which is Matter.
You can not teach it IR commands. Bad support.... this is just an ad-video and not a real-use-case video.
Everyone should save their money and Switchbot should really start making proper products.
I think it had some issues when it was first released that were addressed in firmware updates, as mentioned in the video. It works well for me controlling Apple TVs and some of my HomeKit scenes. It is a Matter device, as it exposes four programmable buttons via Matter that I can automate in my start home ecosystem. It may not be for everyone, but I showed my "use-cases" regarding how I am using it in my smart home.
@@ShaneCreates Nobody should support a company that releases products that are clearly in beta and people have to pay to become betatesters :(
Oh hell no no way I’m replacing my aluminium, well built second gen Siri Remote with something so cheap looking and without the trackpad
Way too many buttons, I made my entire smartphone to disappear and everything I want to control from a tv remote is done automatically when media starts playing (like turning lights on or off)
No microphone, no interest.
No woman, no cry.
Don’t you have a mirror?
You mean like on the ceiling?
I would never use an Apple product. Lol
Thanks for warning us off on this… hub = nope.
Oh no, this piece of trash need a hub, and anything that use custom shithub state is usual: not responding/unavailable.
switchbot is sketchy arse products. Flakey and I dont need another hub.