SwitchBot’s retrofit door lock offers 19 ways to unlock it

SwitchBot has launched a new retrofit smart lock that gives owners multiple ways to enter European homes without a traditional key. Announced at IFA today, the SwitchBot Lock Ultra Max Vision Pro Combo provides multi-user entry and up to 19 ways to unlock doors, including fingerprint scans, passcodes, NFC card access, contactless authentication via facial or palm vein recognition, and more options for remote, voice, smartwatch, and widget access via the SwitchBot App. The combo costs €339.99 / £339.99 (about $395), and includes SwitchBot’s Keypad Vision Pro, Hub Mini Matter, and the new Lock Ultra Max. It’s pricier than the $249.99 Lock Ultra Vision that SwitchBot launched last year, which the company claims is also compatible with nearly all existing locks in Europe, but the new Max version appears to be even better tailored to the European market. SwitchBot says it supports 99 percent of European locks, including common EU profile cylinders, knob cylinders, Swiss round cylinders, and UK oval cylinders, and there are additional adapters available for “less common installations.” The Lock Ultra Max also features a more powerful motor that provides more than 9 kilograms of turning force and reaches 160rpm — 3.2x the rotation speed of the older SwitchBot Lock Ultra.