Aqara review - sensors, switches and sockets for the smart home
(Sponsored)With the popularisation of Smart Home solutions, selecting the right devices is of paramount importance. Aqara presented a range of low-cost and high-performance gadgets that will fill every nook and cranny and meet every smart home need. It is worth mentioning that Aqara is a long-standing brand solutions partner Xiaomi Mi in the US market.
Currently, the Aqara brand is owned by the company Lumi Technology and has recently become very popular in Europe. Actually, it has all happened through the shops Amazon and through partnerships with Apple . At the moment, Aqara offers a wide range of devices, from motion sensors and indoor cameras to smart switches. Importantly, all products work with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Home .
The Aqara system communicates between individual smart home devices using the standard ZigBee . This is a specification for data transmission protocols in mesh, cluster tree wireless networks. Networks based on ZigBee are characterised primarily by low power consumption, low bit rates (up to 250kbps) and ranges between individual nodes of up to 100 metres.
Aqara is a very rapidly growing ecosystem with a large product portfolio, which currently includes:
- Smart Home Central Unit ( Hub M1S Gen2 , Hub MS2 , Hub E1 )
- Switches and sockets ( Smart Wall Switch H1 Double Rocker , Smart Wall Switch H1 Single Rocker , Smart Plug )
- Sensors ( Motion Sensor P1 , . Door and Window Sensor , Temperature and Humidity Sensor , Water Leak Sensor , Vibration Sensor , TVOC Air Quality Monitor )
- Indoor Cameras ( Camera Hub G2H , Camera Hub G2H Pro , Camera Hub G3 )
- Roller Shade Controller ( Roller Shade Controller , Roller Shade Driver E1 )
- Remote Control ( Cube T1 Pro , Wireless Mini Switch , Wireless Remote Switch Double Rocker , Wireless Remote Switch Single Rocker, Wireless Remote Switch H1 Double Rocker)
Read our review and learn more about the Aqara smart home system .
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Aqara HUB - control centre
The heart (control centre) of the entire Aqara ecosystem is the central HUB . This is an essential device, as the other Aqara accessories will connect to it and automation and interaction can be performed. At the moment, the Hub function is performed by the following devices:
- Aqara System Control Center
- Up to 128 Aqara devices can be connected to the HUB-.a up to 128 Aqara Zigbee devices can be connected
- The HUB connects compatible Aqara devices to Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Google Assistant, Yandex Alisa and more.
- When paired with Aqara sensors, an audible alarm or night light can be activated.
- Includes 18 LEDs for adjustable light colour and brightness.
- The most advanced and future-proof smart home HUB.
- Up to 128 Aqara Zigbee devices can be connected to the HUB (gateway)
- Multi-protocol gateway (Zigbee 3.0, IR, BLE) for maximum compatibility
- Connects compatible Aqara devices with HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, Yandex Alisa and more
- Can control infrared-compatible devices such as air conditioners, TVs, heaters, lights etc. And can integrate them with smart home automation.
- Smallest smart home gateway
- Supports both classic, as well as the latest Aqara devices
- Supports up to 128 ZigBee devices
- Compatible with popular ecosystems like Home Kit, Google, IFTTT etc.
- HomeKit camera with HUB/gateway function
- Face recognition, 10-day iCloud storage at no extra charge
- 140° wide-angle lens with 1080p Full HD sensor and IR Night Vision
- Camera also functions as a Zigbee gateway (hub) and connects Aqara Zigbee devices to HomeKit
- Two-way audio with HomeKit support and one-click video messaging.
- High-end camera with gesture detection and face recognition - The most powerful HUB / Zigbee smart home 3.0
- Control of infrared devices
Aqara - switches, sensors, sockets
Of course, in order to make our ecosystem coherent and functional, we need to arm our home with all sorts of sensors, switches, sockets and other elements that help us automate processes. We connect all these elements, of course, to our HUB , which is the central control unit.
- Water detection and home protection
- When the water level reaches above 0,5 mm , an IP67 certified water sensor with this
- Sensor will activate the gate, which will trigger an alarm and send a notification to the user's phone
- Detects motion at a distance
- Captures motion and Detects unauthorised entry
- - Detects unauthorised entry - Automatically turns the lighting on/off depending on the presence in the room
- Detects brightness in the room
- Detects vibration, tilt and fall - When placed on a window or door, sensor notifies you of a knock on the door or a break-in through the window .
- It can also be placed with your valuables and send notifications, when an object has been moved
Currently, the Aqara brand is owned by the company Lumi Technology and has recently become very popular in Europe. Actually, it has all happened through the shops Amazon and through partnerships with Apple . At the moment, Aqara offers a wide range of devices, from motion sensors and indoor cameras to smart switches. Importantly, all products work with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Home .
The Aqara system communicates between individual smart home devices using the standard ZigBee . This is a specification for data transmission protocols in mesh, cluster tree wireless networks. Networks based on ZigBee are characterised primarily by low power consumption, low bit rates (up to 250kbps) and ranges between individual nodes of up to 100 metres.
Aqara is a very rapidly growing ecosystem with a large product portfolio, which currently includes:
- Smart Home Central Unit ( Hub M1S Gen2 , Hub MS2 , Hub E1 )
- Switches and sockets ( Smart Wall Switch H1 Double Rocker , Smart Wall Switch H1 Single Rocker , Smart Plug )
- Sensors ( Motion Sensor P1 , . Door and Window Sensor , Temperature and Humidity Sensor , Water Leak Sensor , Vibration Sensor , TVOC Air Quality Monitor )
- Indoor Cameras ( Camera Hub G2H , Camera Hub G2H Pro , Camera Hub G3 )
- Roller Shade Controller ( Roller Shade Controller , Roller Shade Driver E1 )
- Remote Control ( Cube T1 Pro , Wireless Mini Switch , Wireless Remote Switch Double Rocker , Wireless Remote Switch Single Rocker, Wireless Remote Switch H1 Double Rocker)
Read our review and learn more about the Aqara smart home system .
Aqara HUB - control centre
The heart (control centre) of the entire Aqara ecosystem is the central HUB . This is an essential device, as the other Aqara accessories will connect to it and automation and interaction can be performed. At the moment, the Hub function is performed by the following devices:
- Aqara System Control Center
- Up to 128 Aqara devices can be connected to the HUB-.a up to 128 Aqara Zigbee devices can be connected
- The HUB connects compatible Aqara devices to Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Google Assistant, Yandex Alisa and more.
- When paired with Aqara sensors, an audible alarm or night light can be activated.
- Includes 18 LEDs for adjustable light colour and brightness.
- The most advanced and future-proof smart home HUB.
- Up to 128 Aqara Zigbee devices can be connected to the HUB (gateway)
- Multi-protocol gateway (Zigbee 3.0, IR, BLE) for maximum compatibility
- Connects compatible Aqara devices with HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant, Yandex Alisa and more
- Can control infrared-compatible devices such as air conditioners, TVs, heaters, lights etc. And can integrate them with smart home automation.
- Smallest smart home gateway
- Supports both classic, as well as the latest Aqara devices
- Supports up to 128 ZigBee devices
- Compatible with popular ecosystems like Home Kit, Google, IFTTT etc.
- HomeKit camera with HUB/gateway function
- Face recognition, 10-day iCloud storage at no extra charge
- 140° wide-angle lens with 1080p Full HD sensor and IR Night Vision
- Camera also functions as a Zigbee gateway (hub) and connects Aqara Zigbee devices to HomeKit
- Two-way audio with HomeKit support and one-click video messaging.
- High-end camera with gesture detection and face recognition - The most powerful HUB / Zigbee smart home 3.0
- Control of infrared devices
Aqara - switches, sensors, sockets
Of course, in order to make our ecosystem coherent and functional, we need to arm our home with all sorts of sensors, switches, sockets and other elements that help us automate processes. We connect all these elements, of course, to our HUB , which is the central control unit.
- Water detection and home protection
- When the water level reaches above 0,5 mm , an IP67 certified water sensor with this
- Sensor will activate the gate, which will trigger an alarm and send a notification to the user's phone
- Detects motion at a distance
- Captures motion and Detects unauthorised entry
- - Detects unauthorised entry - Automatically turns the lighting on/off depending on the presence in the room
- Detects brightness in the room
- Detects vibration, tilt and fall - When placed on a window or door,
- It can also be placed with your valuables and send notifications, when an object has been moved
- Detects real-time status of door or window opening
- Detects - Detects real-time status of door or window opening. Unauthorised opening of doors and windows
- Turns on/off lights , fan or curtains when window or door is open
- Compact and robust, Easy to install and set up
- Monitors temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure in real time
- Precisely monitors temperature , humidity and air pressure in each room
- Automatically turns on the fan or humidifier , when the temperature reaches a certain threshold
- Small and functional air quality sensor
- Measures the level of total volatile organic compound (TVOC)
- Energy efficient E-ink shows temperature, humidity and TVOC levels along with an air quality rating.
- Can run extractor fans, air purifiers and open windows with Aqara controls,
- One cube, that controls everything
- Up to 6 different ways to manually control the smart home
- Each action can be customised to control a different smart home accessory or scene.
Comments
Add a commentEverything is beautifully nice only there is one catch. Aqara devices do not work with any other gateway. You need to buy an Aqara gateway. I bought several Aquara sensors and they could not be paired... [Read more]
Well, that's lame. [Read more]
Strange. I have several Aquara devices and they work for me with Home Assistant after z2m. [Read more]
I can confirm, at my place they also go over Zigbee2MQTT. And I will say that I really like how the roller shutter controllers go. The battery lasts almost 2 months (with daily use), now and I sleep better... [Read more]
:arrow: tomek.ch :arrow: AlexRoss I was writing about a regular gateway, not MQTT. If you write that it works with MQTT, then OK. But with a regular ZigBee gateway it won't work. There is no... [Read more]