SwitchBot has launched a new cordless fan called the Battery Circulator Fan 2 Pro in North America, priced at $119.99. The standout feature is that it connects directly to smart home systems like Apple Home and Google Home without needing a separate hub device. Previous SwitchBot products required the company's own hub to work with other smart home brands, so this is a meaningful simplification. The Verge

The fan is available through SwitchBot's website and Amazon stores, according to a July 29 press release. For now, it is only sold in North America.

The 2 Pro improves on SwitchBot's earlier fans in three ways: battery life, how far the air reaches, and wind speed. It hits a top wind speed of 6.5 meters per second (about 21 feet per second) and pushes air up to 33.5 meters (110 feet) — both the best numbers of any SwitchBot fan so far. It moves 477 cubic feet of air per minute, which is slightly less than the original model's 489 but well above the standing fan's 323.

The battery is 3,600 mAh. On low speed, it runs up to 70 hours without being plugged in, at a noise level of 21 decibels — roughly the sound of a whisper. On maximum speed, the battery lasts about 4 hours. You can also plug it into a USB-C power bank to keep it running indefinitely, which is handy during power outages or when camping.

The fan moves side to side and up and down at the same time, each direction covering 90 degrees. It is designed for rooms up to about 50 square meters (roughly 540 square feet). SwitchBot suggests pairing it with an air conditioner or heater so the fan can spread the cooled or heated air more evenly across a room — think of it as stirring the air so no corner gets left out.

Cleaning was clearly a priority in the design. The blades, filter, and front and back covers all come off for washing. The fan also includes a small nightlight and a compartment for scent pads.

One thing missing: the 2 Pro does not come with a height-adjustable stand, which the previous model had. If you want the fan positioned higher up, you will need to place it on a table or shelf yourself.

To connect it to a smart home system, you press and hold the power button for 15 seconds. The fan resets and enters pairing mode. That is a longer hold than most smart home devices ask for, so it is worth knowing before you try to set it up.

A version for the UK and Europe will come later, with a built-in feature that generates negative ions to help reduce dust and static electricity in the air. SwitchBot has not yet announced a price or release date for that model.

The broader context here is how the smart home standard called Matter is spreading beyond the usual products like smart lights and thermostats. Think of Matter as a common language that lets devices from different brands work together. Two years ago, a battery-powered fan like this would have needed its own brand-specific app and a bridge device to connect to anything. The fact that SwitchBot — a company whose whole business is built around selling its own hub — is now making a device that skips that hub entirely says a lot about where smart home technology is heading.

In this author's view, the trade-offs in this model make sense. Removing the height-adjustable stand to keep the price at $119.99, while improving air distance, wind speed, and battery life, is a fair compromise. The small drop in total air moved compared to the original is unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use. What you get in return is direct smart home connectivity, flexible USB-C charging, and a fan that comes apart easily for cleaning — all without needing to buy a separate hub. For a product category that has been slow to embrace smart home features, that is a genuine step forward.