The SwitchBot Hub 3 is the newest smart home hub from SwitchBot and a direct successor to the Hub 2. It introduces expanded Matter support, physical controls, built-in sensors, and significantly improved IR integration, making it especially interesting for Home Assistant users.
I tested the Hub 3 side-by-side with the Hub 2 to see if it’s really worth the upgrade.
⭐ You can buy the Switchbot Hub 3 at: ⭐
Switchbot store:
Amazon:
- US: https://amzn.to/3U26508
- UK: https://amzn.to/3Gvo2RO
- DE: https://amzn.to/4exTH1r
- NL: https://amzn.to/4nvJrep
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Matter & Smart Home Integration
The Hub 3 acts as a Matter bridge, exposing up to 30 SwitchBot devices to platforms like Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Home Assistant — a massive upgrade from the Hub 2’s limit of just 8 devices.
Even better: IR-controlled devices (TVs, ACs, fans) can now be exposed as Matter devices, allowing you to control non-smart appliances directly from Home Assistant or voice assistants.
Hardware & Physical Controls
Unlike the minimalist Hub 2, the Hub 3 features:
- 2.4″ IPS touchscreen
- Rotary control dial with center button
- Four programmable scene buttons
- Built-in speaker for alerts
It also includes motion, ambient light, temperature, and humidity sensors, turning it into more than just a bridge — it’s now a local control panel.
Home Assistant Compatibility
Setup is refreshingly simple. Generate a Matter code in the SwitchBot app and add the hub directly to Home Assistant. Once paired, devices like locks, curtains, sensors, and even IR appliances appear instantly.
Limitations exist:
- Dial rotations are not exposed
- Advanced lock events (face/fingerprint) don’t pass through
These are Matter limitations, not SwitchBot issues.
Infrared Control (Big Upgrade)
SwitchBot claims a 150% stronger IR signal compared to earlier hubs, and it shows. Legacy IR devices can now:
- Be controlled locally
- Appear as Matter devices
- Be automated in Home Assistant
In my tests, IR control worked more reliably than Broadlink, especially when used via Home Assistant.
Hub 3 vs Hub 2: Key Differences
| Feature | Hub 2 | Hub 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Matter devices | 8 | 30 |
| Display | ❌ | ✅ |
| Physical controls | ❌ | ✅ |
| Motion sensor | ❌ | ✅ |
| IR → Matter | ❌ | ✅ |
| Color | White | Black |
Pricing & Value
- SwitchBot Hub 3: €129.99 / $119.99
- ~€40–50 more than Hub 2
For larger setups or Home Assistant users, the added features justify the price. For smaller setups, Hub 2 or Hub Mini may still be enough.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Matter bridge for 30 devices
- Physical dial & scene buttons
- Strong IR control with Matter exposure
- Built-in sensors & status display
- Official Home Assistant support
❌ Cons
- Higher price than Hub 2
- Limited button customization
- Some events not exposed to Home Assistant
- No Ethernet or Thread support
Final Verdict
The SwitchBot Hub 3 is a meaningful upgrade and one of the best Matter bridges currently available for Home Assistant users. If you’re building a large, cross-platform smart home, it’s absolutely worth considering.
That said, if you already rely heavily on Home Assistant dashboards, you may not use the Hub 3’s physical controls as much — but the Matter and IR improvements alone make this hub stand out.
⭐ You can buy the Switchbot Hub 3 at: ⭐
Switchbot store:
Amazon:
- US: https://amzn.to/3U26508
- UK: https://amzn.to/3Gvo2RO
- DE: https://amzn.to/4exTH1r
- NL: https://amzn.to/4nvJrep
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
One response to “SwitchBot Hub 3: My dumb Airco is now Smart!”
Hi!
Thanks for your videos and blogs not just related to the Hub3, but regarding all Home Assistant related . They’re an inspiration!
I just purchased the Hub 3, and I must say that I’m a little disappointed as I was with my Universal Remote purchase. I was looking forward to the Matter control with the virtual buttons, but this is really a letdown from the user experience perspective.
I really wish the review’s about SwitchBot Hub3 would point out more about their “walled garden” approach offering nice functionality to SwitchBot devices, but leaving other features a bit half baked.
Related to the Hub 3, for example the Matter buttons are all baked under one “Matter” icon, which makes if extremely difficult to use, if you have more than a few devices or scenes you would like to run. This was a surprise for me and I didn’t find much information about this from any of the reviews related to Hub 3.
Also you cannot utilize the Matter buttons in any SwitchBot scenes, which would offer much more value and the give possibility to modify the shortcut icons and UI to make more sense related to the shortcuts. Having 27 devices or scenes under one view is frustrating.
I opened a feedback request to SwitchBot about this, but I’m not expecting much related to the experiences I had with the Universal Remote. Have you heard anything about this possibility coming in the future?
Well.. at least I’ve got more device support with the Hub3 when I add more devices to the ecosystem :D.