To me, e-ink is one of the most underappreciated technologies in the world today. I love my Kindle Paperwhite. I really wish Apple made e-ink devices. However, SwitchBot has officially entered this market with the new SwitchBot Weather Station. It combines an E-ink screen, iCloud calendar syncing, and Matter-compatible environmental sensors into a single device.
HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.
E-ink display and design
The main/key feature of the SwitchBot Weather Station is the E-ink display. You get a paper-like viewing experience that is incredibly easy to read from across the room without it feeling like it’s just an iPad on a stand. It includes a built-in front light for reading in darker environments, and you can either mount it on the wall or place it on a counter, table, etc.
The device comes with a 5000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery that SwitchBot claims will last up to a year on a single charge when using its standard 3-hour Wi-Fi auto-refresh rate. If you want faster updates without worrying about battery, you can plug it in via the USB-C port for continuous power. If you keep it on a kitchen counter, I would probably just keep it plugged in.
