This is my in-depth review of the SwitchBot Presence Sensor, published on Mark’s Tech Blogs. I have been using this device since August as part of the beta testing programme, well ahead of its official mid-November release. That extended usage period provides a clear picture of how the SwitchBot Presence Sensor performs in real-world smart home automations.
Price and Value
The SwitchBot Presence Sensor is one of the most affordable mmWave presence sensors currently available. Its retail price is £32.99, although regular promotions mean it is often available closer to £25. At this price point, it significantly undercuts many competing presence sensors while still offering Matter compatibility and advanced detection features.
You can purchase the SwitchBot Presence Sensor using this reference: REPLACE_WITH_SWITCHBOT_PRESENCE_SENSOR_LINK
Design and Build Quality
The SwitchBot Presence Sensor has a compact, rounded white design with a clean and modern appearance. It includes a mounting base that can be attached to either the rear or bottom of the device, allowing it to be freestanding or wall-mounted depending on the installation location.
On the front, the SwitchBot Presence Sensor features discreet mmWave branding, a status light, and the sensor array. The minimalist design blends best with light-coloured or white interiors and does not draw unnecessary attention once installed.
Key Specifications
One of the most important aspects of the SwitchBot Presence Sensor is that it is fully battery powered. Unlike many other presence sensors that require mains power, this device runs on two AAA batteries. This eliminates trailing cables and allows installation in locations where power sockets are unavailable.
SwitchBot claims a battery life of up to two years. After three months of continuous use in a high-traffic area with pets present, battery levels dropped to around 80%, indicating an estimated real-world battery life of approximately 15 months.
The SwitchBot Presence Sensor combines multiple sensing technologies:
- mmWave radar for precise human presence detection
- PIR sensors for motion detection
- Integrated light sensor
This combination allows the SwitchBot Presence Sensor to detect presence even when a person is sitting still or sleeping. It has a 120-degree field of view, with a detection range of up to 8 metres for moving occupants and 5 metres for stationary occupants.
An AI-based anti-interference feature can be enabled to help distinguish between human presence and non-human movement, such as fans. Sensitivity, detection range, and unoccupied timers can all be adjusted within the SwitchBot app, and the device maintains historical logs.
Matter and Smart Home Integration
When paired with a SwitchBot Hub, the SwitchBot Presence Sensor supports Matter. This allows integration with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, SmartThings, and Home Assistant.
However, there is a notable limitation for Apple Home users. Only presence detection is exposed through Matter. The integrated light sensor is not available in Apple Home, which restricts automation flexibility compared to some competing sensors.
Setup Experience
Setup is straightforward and consistent with other SwitchBot products. After removing the battery tab, the device is added via the SwitchBot app by selecting the product and assigning it to a room. Once connected to a SwitchBot Hub, Matter pairing enables automatic exposure to compatible smart home platforms.
For optimal performance, the SwitchBot Presence Sensor can be calibrated by running interference sources such as fans and then leaving the room so the device can learn what an unoccupied space looks like. This step is optional but can improve accuracy.
Real-World Usage and Performance
Compared to traditional motion sensors, the SwitchBot Presence Sensor provides a much more reliable experience for smart home automation. It detects presence regardless of movement, which makes it particularly effective for lighting control and occupancy-based automations.
In testing, the SwitchBot Presence Sensor reliably detected human presence while largely ignoring pets. It proved especially useful as a secondary presence sensor to cover dead zones that were not consistently detected by another presence sensor in the same room.
All automations were configured in Apple Home to allow integration with non-SwitchBot devices. This highlights both the strengths and limitations of the SwitchBot Presence Sensor when used outside the SwitchBot app ecosystem.
Comparison to Other Presence Sensors
Presence sensors from Aqara and Meross expose both presence detection and light sensor data to Apple Home. This allows more advanced automations, such as turning lights on only when it is dark enough. The SwitchBot Presence Sensor does not currently offer this capability via Matter.
This omission limits its suitability as a sole presence sensor in some smart home setups, particularly for users who rely heavily on Apple Home automations rather than the SwitchBot app.
Final Verdict
The SwitchBot Presence Sensor is an excellent, affordable, battery-powered mmWave presence sensor. Its flexible installation options, reliable detection, and Matter support make it a strong choice for many smart home users.
For those who are comfortable using automations within the SwitchBot app, or who need a secondary presence sensor to cover dead zones, the SwitchBot Presence Sensor performs very well. However, the lack of light sensor exposure in Apple Home prevents it from being the ideal all-in-one presence sensor for every use case.
If SwitchBot addresses this limitation in the future, the SwitchBot Presence Sensor would become an easy recommendation as a primary presence sensor thanks to its battery-powered design and competitive pricing.
Purchase and checkout the SwitchBot Presence Sensor
