SwitchBot’s inexpensive, adjustable smart roller shades are finally here. First announced in September, the SwitchBot Roller Shades are now available at switch-bot.com, claiming to be the world’s first adjustable smart shades. This means you don’t need to worry about getting your measurements right before ordering, as you can adjust the width of both the shade’s headrail and the fabric to fit your window frame after buying them. Starting at $199, they’re cheap for smart shades.
Smart motorized shades are a great convenience. They can be programmed to automatically open and close at set times of day or based on sunrise and sunset, and with an additional sensor, they can adjust based on temperature and light in the room. SwitchBot’s shades work over Bluetooth and are compatible with Matter, meaning they will work with Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and other smart home ecosystems through a SwitchBot hub.
SwitchBot’s smart shades come in two colors, white and grey, and four sizes: small (22.8 to 31.5 inches) for $199.99), medium (31.5 to 43.3 inches) for $219.99, large (43.3 to 55.1 inches) for $259.99, and extra large (55.1 to 72.8 inches) for $309.99. Pick the size that’s closest to your window and do the fine-tuning once you have them in hand.
That pricing is very competitive. Most motorized shades start around $400 for a small window, and while Ikea used to have an inexpensive option with its Fyrtur smart roller shades, those appear to have been discontinued. Lutron recently launched a lower-cost option to its excellent Serena shades, but those still start at $399.
SwitchBot’s approach is to let you do more of the work at home, providing an adjustable headrail and a specialized cutting tool.
Smartwings shades are comparable in price, at around $180, and they offer more fabric and light filtering options than SwitchBot. (SwitchBot says you can swap out the fabric, but it doesn’t sell different options on its site, so I guess that’s on you if you want a different look.) Plus, Smartwings has the option of Matter over Thread connectivity, so no need for a proprietary hub for smart home control. But you do need to make sure you get your measurements correct, as they’re not adjustable, meaning you could make a fairly expensive mistake if you’re not great with a tape measure.
SwitchBot’s approach is to let you do more of the work at home, providing an adjustable headrail and a specialized cutting tool. Once you’ve got your headrail set to the correct size, you attach a cutting tool to the end of the shade and roll it until the entire length has been cut. According to Switchbot’s installation video, it looks pretty straightforward but also fairly time-intensive. Personally, I’d rather a pro do that part for me, but if you’re really worried about your measuring skills, it’s nice to have this as an option.
The SwitchBot Roller Shade is battery-powered, and the company claims eight months of use per charge. It can be recharged via a USB-C cable or with a separate solar panel that costs $30. The latter also adds a light sensor, allowing for automation based on light levels.
The shades can connect to the SwitchBot Hub 2 for Matter compatibility, which is also a temperature sensor, allowing for automating the shades based on the room’s climate. A wired remote control connected by a USB-C cable is included, or you can purchase a $20 SwitchBot wireless remote.
