SwitchBot Lock Review - Perfect Smart Lock for Renters

There are numerous smart locks on the market but the SwitchBot Lock stands out of the crowd with its unique offerings. I received the product for testing and was really impressed with its features; I’m going to explain why it is the perfect smart lock for rental properties.

Unboxing & Installation

Features & Performance

I have a rental house that uses a traditional key lock and of course, renters do not have the right to change the lock. That’s the reason why I couldn’t use a smart lock for this house. Most smart locks on the market require a full replacement including the deadbolt, key, and thumbturn. The SwitchBot Lock has a totally different approach; It doesn’t require complex setup and most importantly, you can keep the existing lock and the landlord can still unlock with their key.

The SwitchBot Lock is not a full lock system, instead, it is a motor installed next to the thumbturn to unlock the door. You even don’t need to drill holes on the door because there is a 3M adhesive on the back, so you can just stick it to your door. It took me just a few minutes to install the device, set it up with the app, and set up the Keypad on the outside.

There are many unlocking methods when you use the SwitchBot Lock. You can use the existing key, use the app to unlock via Bluetooth, or add the SwitchBot Hub Mini to control with Google Home or Amazon Alexa. You can also buy the SwitchBot Keypad which is sold separately for $29.99; It completes the system and allows you to lock or unlock the door without a key. You can either enter the passcode or use the included NFC card to unlock. When you leave home, you can just press the lock button to quickly lock the door. The Keypad has LED backlight so that you can see all the numbers clearly in the dark. Those accessories are totally optional. If you don’t want to buy it, you can also unlock using your Apple Watch.

The Lock is powered by two CR123A batteries; The batteries could last up to 6 months for normal usage. Another nice feature is Auto-lock; The door will be locked automatically after a specified period of time, so we never have to worry about locking our door again. The lock uses ATS-128-CTR encryption to protect you from intruders; Once connected to the Hub Mini, you can check the status of the lock remotely and receive notifications to your phone.

Overall, I think the SwitchBot Lock is a great solution for renters or anyone who wants to turn their existing lock into a smart one. It is priced at $99.99 at this time and can be more expensive when you buy it with the Keypad. However, there are not many similar products on the market and SwitchBot has already developed an ecosystem with a variety of smart products, so the SwitchBot Lock is still reasonably priced in my opinion.