SwitchBotHub 2 (2nd Gen), Work as a WiFi Thermometer Hygrometer, IR Remote Control, Smart Remote and Light Sensor, Link SwitchBot to Wi-Fi (Support 2.4GHz), Compatible with Alexa&Google Assistant

Update:Company was quick to reach out and send a replacement unit.So far everything has worked flawlessly and connection issues seem to have been resolved.The downside to a mini split is that a normal "smart" thermostat does not work with it, and there is no real scheduling options.Not only does this device allow control of the AC from your home automation system (Alexa, Google Home), but it also allows you to set up profiles and themes to control it to warm up before you climb out of bed, drop temperatures when you leave for the day, and again cool or heat your house prior to arriving home again.It has been running flawlessly now for about 2 months, was easy to set up, and perfect for remote operation or monitoring.UPDATE: After running for several months now, this unit seems to have issues maintaining a wifi connection (and disconnected "remote" no longer works).Wifi disconnects a minimum of 2 times per day, often throwing off the heat schedule (ie: it is cold when we get home from work), rebooting often results in bot being able to connect to ANY wifi network.My desire to recommend this is quickly waining!

There's was a lot of buzz last year about the HomeKit compatible infrared blaster the Nature Remo Nano. It looks like a great product but unfortunately it is only for the Japanese market. The Switchbot Hub 2, however, beat it to the American market! And I have to say it's great! The update to change the IR blaster over to Matter was seamless and easy. The blaster works like a charm too!If there is anything to nit-pick about, I'd say that the Switchbot's phone app simply doesn't have very many pre-programmed templates to control various devices. Not that they are necessary. The Switchbot's ability to learn IR codes and button from current remote controls is fantastic and easy. As long as you have the remote, Switchbot can learn it! For all the devices I wanted to control, I ended up just creating my own templates using the "Others" category under "IR Appliances". Works great!A note note Apple TV users. Although Switchbot support will tell you it's impossible to control an Apple TV with Switchbot, that's just not true. It controls it fine. ALL Apple TVs can be controlled using IR signals from IR remote controls. You don't even have to mess with settings in the Apple TV. It just works out of the box. The hurdle to overcome, however, is to get a IR remote control for the Apple TV. Only a bluetooth remote comes with the Apple TV 4 and later, not an IR remote. Apple TVs gen 1-3 had IR remotes. You can still buy these older model remotes and Switchbot can learn them just fine, but the gen 4 and later Apple TVs added a new Home button which is not on the older remotes. The new Home button is how you put the Apple TV 4s and later to sleep. Luckily, there are many cheap ($10) 3rd party IR remote controls for the Apple TV 4 and later that have the new Home button. Just buy one of those, and you can use it to teach Switchbot how to control your Apple TV.Switchbot uses Siri Shortcuts to allow Siri to control an Apple TV. Would be nice if it had built in support for Siri, but using Siri Shortcuts works fine. Amazon's Alexa voice assistant can also control the Apple TV with Switchbot. So best of both worlds!I highly recommend Switchbot if you want to use it with Apple's HomeKit. It's not like we have much of a choice in any case. As far as I could tell, Switchbot is currently the ONLY smart home IR blaster in the American market that is compatible with HomeKit. But at least you know it works, and works well! :)

Apple HomeKit Matter devices work great and easy to install. Unfortunately, the Switchbot Smart Lock does not natively support HomeKit. This hub acts as a "bridge". So once I finally updated firmware, and did the Matter install via the Switchbot app and then holding the two buttons so the display turns off, it was ready to add the Hub 2 to HomeKit via the Home app on the iPhone. After that was done. Make sure you ADD the sub devices (the smart lock) to the Hub 2 and then the lock will appear in the Home app. Works great. Now you can have the light turns on automatically when you unlock the door. Nifty!

I have had this HUB 2 in use for close to a year. It was extremely easy to setup and worked flawlessly until a firmware update prevented Alexa from sending voice commands I was used to using, to it to change the temperature. I contacted technical support and Bamboo offered exceptional customer service. She provided the instructions to resolve the issue but I did not implement them as instructed. I misread them. So the ticket remained open and I was contacted by Joyce soon afterwards. Upon re-reading the instructions, the proverbial light went off and the Alexa commands were accepted correctly. So an excellent product and stellar customer service. I just need to learn to read a little better.

The Hub 2 is the perfect addition to any smart home especially if you want Matter support or want to integrate SwitchBot devices into Apple Home. The screen auto adjusts brightness in relation to the brightness in the room, and has two customizable buttons that you can add via Matter into your home, and has temperature and humidity sensors. The main reason I got the Hub 2 is to pair the Universal Remote. I can now control my TV, Sound System, Apple TV, lights, air purifier. I love it, it makes controlling IR and smart devices in your home super easy. It works great controlling my SwitchBot Curtain 3 too.