Earlier this year, iOS 18.4 brought support for Matter’s implementation of robot vacuums into HomeKit. I’ve been testing a few various models over the past few months, and SwitchBot has done a fantastic job. I’ve been using the SwitchBot K11+ for the past three months, and I am excited to talk about it this week.
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HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.
Setting up with HomeKit
SwitchBot is one of the few vendors that support Matter with robot vacuums, and they do it without needing a hub. You’ll need to onboard the vac into the SwitchBot app first, and then go to the vacuum settings and look for the Matter Setup section.
Once you’re in the Matter setup, you’ll go through a slightly different process, but it works. You’ll connect to the vacuum, the app will generate a Matter code, then you’ll open the Home app, tap to add a new accessory, and use the “More option” link. You should see the vacuum icon listed on the next screen. Tap on it, and then paste in the Matter code.
Once it’s connected, pick a room, give it a name, and you’re up and running in HomeKit.
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How you’ll use the SwitchBot K11+ in HomeKit
Matter’s implementation of robot vacuums in HomeKit is pretty simple right now. You basically get start and stop controls along with a few options for suction strength and room selection. It is not a full-featured experience, but it covers the basics.
Inside the SwitchBot app, once you have mapped your house, you can name each room. Those names then show up in HomeKit, but they do not connect to the rooms you have already created in the Home app. Think of them more as simple labels for different areas of your house. The nice part is that you can still use those labels in automations and scenes.
For example, you could create a scene where the vacuum only cleans the kitchen and living room when you leave each morning. That is really handy, and it brings robot vacuums into the same automation flow as lights, locks, and thermostats. Still, it would be even better if SwitchBot could map its room names directly to the Home app’s rooms for a cleaner setup.
Key features of the SwitchBot K11+
The SwitchBot K11+ has a lot going for it, and it starts with the dust storage system. The self-emptying station is smaller than a sheet of paper, but it holds a dust bag that is supposed to go up to 90 days before it needs to be replaced, though that will vary based on your usage. The size of the base station is really small as well. I prefer vacuums that don’t have mopping built in as I don’t use it.
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The design includes a twin side brush that is built to avoid tangling, but it’s not perfect. Depending on the rug you have, it might get tangled up here and there. I’ve noticed that once it gets tangled up somewhere, it seems to do better the next time at avoiding the spot as closely as it can.
The K11+ is slim enough to get into tight spaces. At just 3.6 inches tall, it slides under most sofas and beds, and its compact design and base station make it easier to fit under a pantry shelf. Combined with the twin side brush, it covers corners and edges very well.
Wrap up on the SwitchBot K11+
Overall, it’s a win for me. The HomeKit integration is nice. It’s probably hitting the maximum compatibility of what Matter supports for vacuums, and my annoyance with it isn’t SwitchBot’s problem to solve. It’s a great size and still does quite well on the cleanup. Obviously the battery is a bit smaller than other models, but it’s been a champ on thick wool rugs, tile, and hardwood floors.
You can buy the SwitchBot K11+ from Amazon or directly from SwitchBot. As I mentioned earlier, HomeKit support is built in, so no external hub is needed other than a modern Apple TV or a modern HomePod.