SwitchBot Candle Hotter Lamp Evaluation – Matter Managed Candles!

Not too long ago, SwitchBot launched a number of new Matter-enabled lighting merchandise, together with an RGBICWW flooring lamp, strip gentle, and neon wire rope gentle, that are all pretty commonplace merchandise on this planet of good lighting.

The one product that stood out was the Candle Hotter Lamp. Sure, that’s a lamp that warms candles as a substitute of lighting them, which then connects to WiFi and integrates together with your good residence.

I’ve all the time appreciated the truth that SwitchBot does some offbeat merchandise. They made their title with the SwitchBot Bot button presser, so it is sensible that they’re keen to launch merchandise which are a bit extra distinctive than the generic launches from most manufacturers.  

Associated Opinions

Options

Superior Sensible Management

This gadget incorporates a built-in timer, lowering reliance on bodily remotes. Customers can utilise the SwitchBot app or voice instructions to regulate brightness ranges from 1% to 100%, regulate scent depth, and set up exact on/off schedules to automate residence perfume.

Seamless Matter Integration

The hotter connects on to Apple Dwelling by way of Matter over Wi-Fi with out requiring extra purposes. It additionally maintains full compatibility with main good residence platforms, together with Amazon Alexa, Google Dwelling, Homey, Dwelling Assistant, and SmartThings.

Common Candle Compatibility

Designed to accommodate most traditional candles, it suits sizes as much as 9.5 cm in diameter and 14 cm in top. The lamp makes use of top-down heating to soften numerous wax varieties, resembling soy-based or beeswax, guaranteeing even perfume distribution with out producing smoke.

Design and Sturdiness

The flameless operation offers a heat atmosphere appropriate for numerous inside types. Constructed from sturdy steel quite than glass, it presents elevated resistance to warmth and unintentional breakage. Its minimalist aesthetic makes it a sensible possibility for gifting on events resembling birthdays or housewarmings.

SwitchBot Ecosystem Synchronisation

The gadget can sync with different merchandise within the SwitchBot vary, resembling Strip Lights, Hub 3, Curtain 3, and the Presence Sensor. This integration permits customers to create automated eventualities, resembling adjusting lighting, curtains, and smells concurrently upon coming into or leaving a room.

Specification

Unboxing / Design

My preliminary impression of the lamp was that it was fairly bland and utilitarian. The all-metal off-white color design doesn’t precisely scream premium product. Opening the field, you’ll discover the candle hotter lamp itself, which consists of a steel body holding the lamp shade roughly 20 cm above the place your candle sits. The whole unit stands 30 cm tall, making it compact sufficient for many facet tables or cabinets.

SwitchBot consists of two 50W GU10 halogen bulbs within the package deal, which is a considerate contact. These aren’t your typical LED bulbs that prioritise effectivity over warmth output – these are particularly chosen halogen bulbs that generate the warmth essential to soften your candles. Having a spare bulb included means you gained’t be caught out when the primary one finally burns out, although in my expertise, these bulbs usually final 2000-3000 hours.

The construct high quality feels reassuring. The steel building means there’s no concern about warmth harm that you simply may get with plastic options, and the body feels steady sufficient that you simply gained’t fear about it tipping over with regular use. The shade itself does a wonderful job of directing each gentle and warmth downward onto the candle floor.

My one criticism of the design is that there isn’t a base for the candle to sit down on. I doubt a 50W halogen bulb is highly effective sufficient to be a hearth threat or to trigger harm, however I positioned the lamp on a wood facet desk and would really feel extra comfy with the candle sat on one thing heat-resistant.

Set Up

Organising by the SwitchBot app is simple when you’ve used any of their merchandise earlier than. After powering on the gadget, open the SwitchBot app and faucet the plus icon within the top-right nook. Choose “Add System” and your candle hotter ought to seem within the checklist of obtainable units. Press and maintain the ability button on the bodily controller for 2 seconds till the sunshine flashes to enter pairing mode, then faucet “Join System” within the app.

The app will immediate you to pick out your 2.4 GHz WiFi community – be aware that like many good residence units, this doesn’t help 5 GHz networks. Enter your WiFi password, title your gadget, and assign it to a room. The entire course of takes about two minutes if every thing goes easily.

Dwelling Assistant / Matter

The whole lot SwitchBot launches has Matter, these days, and that is no exception.

I had some points pairing this into Dwelling Assistant, however I believe that’s extra a difficulty with my Dwelling Assistant set up. I as a substitute paired it with Aqara, and from there, uncovered the lamp to Dwelling Assistant.

This replicates the essential options within the SwitchBot app, you may change the lamp on/off and set the brightness.

In Use

As beforehand talked about, the lamp by itself doesn’t look very thrilling, however as soon as I added a candle and turned it on, I discovered that it regarded rather more spectacular. The delicate glow of the sunshine actually improves issues, making a heat, inviting environment that’s excellent for night rest.

For fundamental use, you might have the button controls on the lead, which embody a timer possibility. Alternatively, you may entry the SwitchBot app and manually flip it on. The app offers a lot finer management than the bodily buttons, significantly for brightness adjustment. Within the app, you may set any brightness degree from 1-100%, whereas the bodily controller limits you to 10 preset ranges.

The timer performance deserves specific point out. By the bodily controller, you’re restricted to 2, 4, or 6-hour presets. Nonetheless, the app expands this considerably, permitting you to set customized timers as much as 23 hours and 50 minutes in 10-minute increments. You can too configure a fade-out time between 5 seconds and 60 minutes, which steadily dims the sunshine earlier than turning off fully – a pleasant contact that stops jarring transitions.

You even have the choice to set schedules. Regardless that I’m closely invested in good residence tech, I are typically fairly fundamental with automations and use schedules rather more than sophisticated automations. I’ve set mine to activate at 6 PM every night at 40% brightness, rising to 70% at 7 PM after we usually settle in for the night, then fading out over half-hour beginning at 10:30 PM.

By way of precise efficiency, the heat generated is adequate to create a constant soften pool throughout most candles inside 15-20 minutes. The perfume throw (how nicely the scent disperses by the room) is akin to, if not barely higher than, burning the candle historically. I believe it’s because the constant temperature maintains optimum wax liquidity with out the cooler spots you get round a conventional flame.

One sudden profit I’ve observed: as a result of there’s no flame, there’s no smoke or soot manufacturing. This implies no black marks on partitions or ceilings over time, and no smoky scent when extinguishing candles. For these with allergy symptoms or sensitivities, this may very well be a major benefit.

The 50W halogen bulb does use extra electrical energy than an LED different would, however we’re nonetheless speaking about comparatively minimal operating prices. At present UK electrical energy charges (round 29p per kWh), operating this for 4 hours each day would value roughly 5-6p, or roughly £1.50-£1.80 per 30 days.

Value and Various Choices

The Switchbot Candle Hotter Lamp has an RRP of £40, and on the time of writing, it additionally had 20% off accessible.

Apparently, candle heaters will not be a brand new invention, however solely SwitchBot has a wise lamp. The Funistree Retailer on Amazon presents a wood one for £37, or a steel one just like the SwitchBot for £20.

1918 London has a minimalist steel design possibility for £35.

And, after all, with the above, you possibly can make them good with a wise plug.

General

A Matter-enabled good candle hotter lamp might sound ridiculously pointless, however I truly actually like this SwitchBot lamp.

I believe the pricing is essential right here; you aren’t paying a major premium over competing dumb choices, and you’ve got better management over the lamp compared to utilizing a daily lamp with a wise plug. Although the opposite choices could also be extra interesting when you favor their aesthetics – the SwitchBot’s utilitarian design gained’t win any type awards.

The Matter help future-proofs the gadget and ensures it’ll work with no matter good residence platform you select. The combination is clean (Dwelling Assistant quirks apart), and the native management means dependable, quick response occasions. With the ability to alter brightness/warmth output by the app or voice management provides real utility past easy on/off switching.

Nonetheless, there are some drawbacks to think about. The shortage of a protecting base for the candle is an oversight that needs to be addressed in future variations. The design, whereas practical, lacks the aesthetic attraction of some conventional candle heaters. And the reliance on halogen bulbs means increased vitality consumption than LED options, although that is vital for the warmth technology.

For current SwitchBot customers, that is a simple suggestion – it integrates completely with their ecosystem and maintains the identical construct high quality and reliability I’ve come to anticipate from the model. For these new to good residence units, it’s nonetheless value contemplating, particularly when you often use scented candles and need the comfort of automation and distant management.

General, this can be a easy however efficient good gadget. In the event you already use SwitchBot, then it integrates properly with the remainder of their merchandise. It really works nicely, and I favor it to lighting the candle wick. The security advantages alone make it worthwhile for households with kids or pets, whereas the prolonged candle life helps offset the preliminary buy value.

Contemplating the time of 12 months, this could make an excellent Christmas present for anybody who loves candles (and good residence tech). It strikes the proper steadiness between performance and ease – technical sufficient to attraction to good residence lovers, however easy sufficient that anybody can use it by way of the bodily controls. At £40 RRP (usually accessible for much less), it’s priced appropriately for what it presents: a safer, smarter solution to take pleasure in scented candles.

I’m James, a UK-based tech fanatic and the Editor and Proprietor of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Captivated with all issues expertise, my experience spans from computer systems and networking to cell, wearables, and good residence units.

As a health fanatic who loves operating and biking, I even have a eager curiosity in fitness-related expertise, and I take each alternative to cowl this area of interest on my weblog. My numerous pursuits permit me to deliver a novel perspective to tech running a blog, merging life-style, health, and the most recent tech traits.

In my tutorial pursuits, I earned a BSc in Data Programs Design from UCLAN, earlier than advancing my studying with a Grasp’s Diploma in Computing. This superior examine additionally included Cisco CCNA accreditation, additional demonstrating my dedication to understanding and staying forward of the expertise curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has constantly ranked Mighty Gadget as one of many prime expertise blogs within the UK. With my dedication to expertise and drive to share my insights, I goal to proceed offering my readers with participating and informative content material.