Switchboat Curtain Review: A Non-Problem Solving Digital Trends

Switchboat curtains

MSRP 99.00

“Switchboat curtains provide mixed results for a dubious utility.”

Professional

Smooth app
Affordable
Rich ancillary ecosystem
Easy to install
HomeKit is compatible

Cons

Noisy
Incredible performance

We’ve spent a lot of time looking at smart blinds and switchboats are a name that comes up regularly. This company has made a name for itself with a beautiful little robot that flips switches for you and has since expanded into almost every corner of home automation. They now make smart plugs, smart locks and switchboat curtains. Is pulling a drawstring on your screen so much work that we need one more connected home duo to do it for us? Find out!

Setup

The contents of the switchboat curtain box are shown in a table. — Simon Sage / Digital Trends

Switchboat curtains are available in four different variants depending on what type of screen you have. This system does not work with vertical blinds, unfortunately, but provides detailed measurements to make sure your screens are compatible before ordering switchboats. They also include some hardware to accommodate bumps on telescoping screen rods.

Putting switchboat curtains on your screen rods is fairly straightforward. The hooks are removable and spring-loaded, so you can pull a hook to hold the rod before snapping the second side to the main part. It also has a simple LED and a single button to help you through the Bluetooth pairing process. The mobile app it links to is usually simple, with helpful setup instructions. The room management part is a little awkward; You cannot create rooms while adding devices. Although you can make room when the switchboat is set up. The app takes you through a simple calibration process that identifies the closed and open positions of your screen. After that, it rolls to those positions with a single tap or allows the granules to move with a slider.

I ended up doing my test bulk on a shower screen.

My first run didn’t go well when I set up the switchboat curtain. The screens I worked with claimed a 17-pound switchbot that could push their units and the rod was within set diameter. Even after using the included clips and a string of clean beads to connect the length of the screen with the switchbot, they still didn’t have enough traction to fully open them. If there was, that string would still be in the blink of an eye. I ended up doing my test bulk on a shower screen.

Features

Google Assistant, Siri and Alexa compatibility is a fairly high priority. Alexa is subtly attached. Siri shortcuts work, though there was no love for extensive home support on Apple devices. Google Assistant was not able to connect despite using Google to create my SwitchBot account in the first place. If you want to get extra fancy with your automation, IFTTT supported. If voice fails, the NFC tag is supported as a tap-and-go toggle. Android gives access to home screen widgets by tapping one or two before, although iOS widgets lack the scope to include switchbot curtains.

Screenshot of the SwitchBot app for Android. — Simon Sage / Digital Trends

Switchbot enjoys a growing ecosystem of curtain-supporting devices that can add a variety of benefits. For example, SwitchBot sells a simple small button that can remotely activate screens as if you’re doing it through an app. Although you usually connect directly to these screens via Bluetooth, a separate hub can access your Wi-Fi network and allow you to open and close them from other parts of the world if you want to (for any reason). That hub can also blast IR signals to other nearby devices like your TV and respond to mute devices with voice commands. The most useful accessory for a switchboat curtain is a solar panel, which can keep it charged without having to plug it in over USB-C. The battery is otherwise rated for eight months in charge.

The most useful feature of the switchboat curtain outside the box is the touch-and-go. You can pull the screen, feel the switchbot move, then finish it by opening or closing it. It is a very normal use and provides complete utility without whistle with a mobile app

The most useful feature of the switchboat curtain outside the box is the touch-and-go.

Noise from switchboat curtains is a real problem. Say you’re coming home feeling a little like Tony Stark. You said naturally, “Alexa, open the living room curtain.” Before you get a chance to think we’re good and truly alive in the future, your screens scream with high-low, bellows screams. Light sensing and scheduling options are available, but I couldn’t imagine using them every morning to open my bedroom window and wake up for that racket. Advanced settings have a quiet mode, but toggling it doesn’t seem to make any difference. This noise problem reduces the value of many of the novelties, even if the blinds are hands-free open and closed.

Our acceptance

The switchboat curtain is being installed on a screen rod. — Simon Sage / Digital Trends

Switchbot curtains provide mixed results for a dubious utility. Of course, curtains can prevent the sun from heating your house on a hot day, but physically pulling those curtains has never been a huge obstacle. In the end, having a fully automatic screen is a luxury, but it’s really hard to feel luxurious with such a noisy motor. If you’re going to bother, it’s worth investing in a proper retrofit made by professionals to install a system that works consistently and quietly. Products such as switchboat curtains have caught the eye because they are cheaper and easier to install than full-fledged window repairs.

How long should it last?

The switchboat curtain has many moving parts that are subject to regular physical stress. I don’t think it’s good for long-term performance, but it does ship with a one-year warranty.

Is there a better option?

The real alternative to switchboat curtains is to get professionally installed motorized blinds. There are other snap-on DIY options, but they are more likely to encounter similar noise and performance issues.

Will you buy it?

If you are interested in getting automatic blinds, Switchbot has some promises. You may be able to bellow noise, and your specific screen rods can work smoothly with switchboat curtains. One thing that justifies the dice roll is the 30-day return window. If you are able, buy one of these, check it on your screen for a week or two, then decide if it meets your needs. From there, you can take a second unit and extra accessories without worries. Yes, it takes a lot of testing and error to ask a new user. If you are serious about automatic screens, it is best to try the proven options first.