Any hyperlinks to on-line shops ought to be assumed to be associates. The corporate or PR company gives all or most evaluation samples. They don’t have any management over my content material, and I present my trustworthy opinion.
Lately, 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 customary merchandise on the planet of sensible 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 along with your sensible residence.
I’ve at all times 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 prepared to launch merchandise which can be a bit extra distinctive than the generic launches from most manufacturers.
Associated Critiques
Options
Superior Good Management
This gadget includes 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 House by way of Matter over Wi-Fi with out requiring extra purposes. It additionally maintains full compatibility with main sensible residence platforms, together with Amazon Alexa, Google House, Homey, House 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 peak. The lamp makes use of top-down heating to soften varied wax varieties, comparable to soy-based or beeswax, guaranteeing even perfume distribution with out producing smoke.
Design and Sturdiness
The flameless operation gives a heat atmosphere appropriate for varied inside types. Constructed from sturdy metallic somewhat than glass, it gives elevated resistance to warmth and unintentional breakage. Its minimalist aesthetic makes it a sensible possibility for gifting on events comparable to birthdays or housewarmings.
SwitchBot Ecosystem Synchronisation
The gadget can sync with different merchandise within the SwitchBot vary, comparable to Strip Lights, Hub 3, Curtain 3, and the Presence Sensor. This integration permits customers to create automated situations, comparable to adjusting lighting, curtains, and smells concurrently upon coming into or leaving a room.
Specification
| Specification | Particulars |
| Max. Candle Measurement | Ø9.5 cm |
| Desk-to-Shade Distance | 14 cm |
| Weight | 520 g |
| Materials | ABS + Aluminium Alloy |
| Timer | 2 h / 4 h / 8 h |
| Brightness Management | Controller: 10 ranges; App: Stepless dimming |
| Management Methodology | App + Bodily Controller |
| Good Integrations | Alexa, Google, Siri, IFTTT, SmartThings, Matter (over Wi-Fi) |
| Vary | As much as 100 m (obstacle-free) |
| Certifications | TELEC, FCC, CE |
| Kind | AC energy wire |
| Bulb | G10 50 W Halogen Bulb |
| Set up | No set up required, place on flat floor |
| Guarantee | 2 years |
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 metallic body holding the lamp shade roughly 20 cm above the place your candle sits. The complete unit stands 30 cm tall, making it compact sufficient for many aspect tables or cabinets.
SwitchBot contains 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 sometimes final 2000-3000 hours.
The construct high quality feels reassuring. The metallic development means there’s no concern about warmth harm that you simply would possibly get with plastic alternate options, and the body feels secure 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 any base for the candle to take a seat on. I doubt a 50W halogen bulb is highly effective sufficient to be a hearth danger or to trigger harm, however I positioned the lamp on a wood aspect desk and would really feel extra comfy with the candle sat on one thing heat-resistant.
Set Up
Organising by way of the SwitchBot app is simple in case 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 listing of obtainable gadgets. Press and maintain the facility 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 your 2.4 GHz WiFi community – notice that like many sensible residence gadgets, 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 all the things goes easily.
House Assistant / Matter
All the things SwitchBot launches has Matter, these days, and that is no exception.
I had some points pairing this into House Assistant, however I feel that’s extra a difficulty with my House Assistant set up. I as a substitute paired it with Aqara, and from there, uncovered the lamp to House 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 appeared rather more spectacular. The gentle glow of the sunshine actually improves issues, making a heat, inviting ambiance that’s excellent for night leisure.
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 gives a lot finer management than the bodily buttons, notably for brightness adjustment. Within the app, you may set any brightness stage from 1-100%, whereas the bodily controller limits you to 10 preset ranges.
The timer performance deserves explicit point out. By way of 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 even configure a fade-out time between 5 seconds and 60 minutes, which progressively 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 sensible residence tech, I are usually 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 sometimes 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 effectively the scent disperses by way of the room) is similar to, if not barely higher than, burning the candle historically. I think 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 seen: 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 allergic reactions or sensitivities, this could possibly 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 working prices. At present UK electrical energy charges (round 29p per kWh), working this for 4 hours each day would value roughly 5-6p, or roughly £1.50-£1.80 monthly.
Value and Different Choices
The Switchbot Candle Hotter Lamp has an RRP of £40, and on the time of writing, it additionally had 20% off out there.
Apparently, candle heaters will not be a brand new invention, however solely SwitchBot has a wise lamp. The Funistree Retailer on Amazon gives a wood one for £37, or a metallic one just like the SwitchBot for £20.
1918 London has a minimalist metallic design possibility for £35.
And, after all, with the above, you can make them sensible with a wise plug.
Total
A Matter-enabled sensible candle hotter lamp might sound ridiculously pointless, however I really actually like this SwitchBot lamp.
I feel the pricing is essential right here; you aren’t paying a major premium over competing dumb choices, and you’ve got larger management over the lamp compared to utilizing a daily lamp with a wise plug. Although the opposite choices could also be extra interesting in case you desire 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 sensible residence platform you select. The mixing is clean (House Assistant quirks apart), and the native management means dependable, quick response occasions. Having the ability to alter brightness/warmth output by way of the app or voice management provides real utility past easy on/off switching.
Nonetheless, there are some drawbacks to think about. The dearth of a protecting base for the candle is an oversight that ought to be addressed in future variations. The design, whereas useful, lacks the aesthetic attraction of some conventional candle heaters. And the reliance on halogen bulbs means increased power consumption than LED alternate options, although that is obligatory for the warmth technology.
For present 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 sensible residence gadgets, it’s nonetheless value contemplating, particularly in case you commonly use scented candles and need the comfort of automation and distant management.
Total, it is a easy however efficient sensible gadget. If you happen to already use SwitchBot, then it integrates properly with the remainder of their merchandise. It really works effectively, and I desire it to lighting the candle wick. The protection 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 yr, this could make an amazing Christmas present for anybody who loves candles (and sensible residence tech). It strikes the correct stability between performance and ease – technical sufficient to attraction to sensible residence fanatics, however easy sufficient that anybody can use it by way of the bodily controls. At £40 RRP (typically out there for much less), it’s priced appropriately for what it gives: a safer, smarter method to take pleasure in scented candles.
SwitchBot Candle Hotter Lamp Overview
Abstract
The SwitchBot Candle Hotter Lamp is a sensible and thoughtfully designed possibility for anybody who needs a safer, extra controllable method to take pleasure in scented candles. It delivers constant efficiency, integrates effectively with fashionable sensible residence platforms by way of Matter, and avoids the premium pricing typically hooked up to area of interest sensible merchandise. Whereas the design is obvious and the shortage of a protecting base is a minor oversight, its performance, security advantages, and automation choices make it a robust alternative for each SwitchBot customers and newcomers alike. At its value level, it gives good worth and a handy different to conventional candle burning.
Professionals
- Easy to make use of with versatile sensible management
- Good perfume distribution and safer than burning a wick
- Matter help for vast sensible residence compatibility
Cons
- Design is obvious and utilitarian
- No warmth resistant base included for the candle
I’m James, a UK-based tech fanatic and the Editor and Proprietor of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Enthusiastic about all issues expertise, my experience spans from computer systems and networking to cell, wearables, and sensible residence gadgets.
As a health fanatic who loves working 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 various pursuits enable me to deliver a singular perspective to tech running a blog, merging life-style, health, and the newest tech tendencies.
In my tutorial pursuits, I earned a BSc in Info Programs Design from UCLAN, earlier than advancing my studying with a Grasp’s Diploma in Computing. This superior research 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 high 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.
