What has changed? What SwitchBot announced
SwitchBot announced the Permanent Outdoor Lights on 20 October 2026 as a mains-powered string meant to stay fitted on eaves, porches, pergolas and garage entrances all year, according to its launch press release. It is the brand's first outdoor lighting product, following its indoor Matter RGBICWW light bars.
The string runs 30 m in six 5 m segments with 72 LEDs. Each LED combines RGBIC colour with dedicated warm and cool white, so you get proper white light for everyday use rather than a muddy mix of colours. SwitchBot quotes up to 2,600 lumens for the whole system (lab-tested, mode-dependent), so treat that as a best-case figure.
| Spec | SwitchBot's stated figure |
|---|---|
| Length | 30 m (six 5 m segments), extendable to 36 m with included cables |
| LEDs | 72, RGBIC plus warm and cool white (2700K–6500K) |
| Brightness | Up to 2,600 lm system total; 1–100% dimming in the app |
| Weatherproofing | IP67 string; IP65 controller and adapter; UV-resistant housing |
| Operating range | -20°C to 60°C |
| Connectivity | Matter over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi; Bluetooth for setup |
| Hub | No SwitchBot Hub needed; a Matter controller is still required |
| Local control | Wired controller with 10 brightness levels, works without Wi-Fi |
| Warranty | 2 years (per SwitchBot's product listing) |
Fixing is by 3M adhesive tape on smooth surfaces, or screws on brick, concrete and rough wood. The SwitchBot Remote is sold separately.
Does it work with Home Assistant?
Yes, in principle: SwitchBot lists Home Assistant among its supported platforms, and Home Assistant's Matter integration supports Matter devices on both Wi-Fi and Thread. That means local control with no SwitchBot cloud in the loop, which is the main reason to prefer Matter over a vendor app for outdoor lighting.
There are practical requirements. Home Assistant needs its Matter Server running (Home Assistant OS is the supported route), you commission the lights with the Companion app on a phone with Bluetooth enabled, and the phone must be on the same 2.4 GHz network the lights will use. Wi-Fi Matter devices also need to sit on the same VLAN as Home Assistant, which matters if you isolate IoT gadgets. Our Home Assistant Matter setup guide walks through each step.
Because the lights use Wi-Fi rather than Thread, you do not need a Thread border router. But the signal has to reach the controller box: an outdoor Wi-Fi dead spot at the far side of the house will cause more trouble than any setting. SwitchBot lists a 2.4 GHz-only radio, so check coverage at the outlet before you drill anything.
Why does this matter for Home Assistant users?
Permanent roofline lights have mostly meant cloud apps with patchy smart home support. A Matter-native option gives you Home Assistant scenes, sunset schedules and presence-based automations without a bridge or custom integration. If you already run Christmas lights on Home Assistant automations, the same approach, colour on the 24th and warm white the rest of the year, would carry over.
Matter does not expose everything, though. Basic on/off, brightness, colour and colour temperature are standard. SwitchBot's 26 preset scenes, 8 effects and music-reactive mode live in its own app, and I have not verified how many of the segment-level effects are reachable from Home Assistant. Expect to trigger them from the SwitchBot app instead, or treat the Matter entity as a simple light.
It also has no motion sensor, so it is decorative and ambient lighting, not a security floodlight. For that job see our best outdoor smart lights in the UK round-up.
UK availability and price
SwitchBot's press release gives a US list price of $239.99 (CAD 299.99) and says the lights are sold through SwitchBot's website and Amazon. It does not state UK pricing. UK outlet T3 reports £199.99, but I could not confirm that against a SwitchBot UK or Amazon UK listing, so check the listing before you buy.
Two UK-specific checks: the power adapter is rated 100–240V, so voltage is fine, but confirm the plug fitted to UK orders, and remember the controller needs a weather-protected outdoor socket. If you do not have one, an electrician needs to fit it, which is an extra cost beyond the lights themselves.
Should you buy now or wait?
Wait if you want proof that Home Assistant exposes the effects and segments you care about, or if UK pricing is not yet confirmed where you shop. Buy now if all you need is reliable local colour and white control for a fixed roofline run and you can return it if the Matter behaviour disappoints.
