If there is one highly regarded player in DIY home automation, it is Aqara! While the Chinese manufacturer started with inexpensive products in Asian stores, Aqara now has the luxury of being among the partners at the Samsung and SmartThings conferences! Its large ecosystem now makes it a key player in the field. And this CES 2024 has made it possible to drive the point home even further thanks to highly innovative new features, such as the new Hub M3, its new U300 connected lock, and the arrival of AI in its home management system.
Aqara Hub M3: the multi-protocol and secure home automation box
The Hub M3, the successor to Aqara's Hub M2, retains key features such as Zigbee hub functionality and an infrared (IR) transmitter, while taking a leap forward with the integration of Thread and Bluetooth protocols. This enhancement positions the M3 as a versatile Matter controller and Thread router, ideal for a local and future-proof smart home. The M3 also boasts dual-band 2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi and Power over Ethernet (PoE) for added flexibility and stability.
The M3 Hub is the cornerstone of the Matter-enabled Aqara ecosystem. Beyond the vast array of Aqara accessories and IR-enabled gadgets, users can now integrate third-party Matter devices into the Aqara Home automation engine, enabling a unified and complete smart home experience with this single product. The M3 will also enable users to control and automate IR devices connected via Aqara Home or any other Matter ecosystem of their choice.
Designed for decentralized and robust operation, the M3 offers local processing capabilities for control and automation. Its eMMC storage enables local end-to-end encrypted data retention and locally processed automation, reducing system latency and minimizing reliance on cloud services. The M3 can also connect to the Aqara Home app via a local area network (LAN), ensuring continuous control of the Aqara system during cloud service or internet outages. The M3 also features automatic backup, enabling seamless connectivity and enhanced security and privacy.
Other highlights of the Aqara Hub M3 include:
- 360° Bi-directional IR Transmitter : The M3 transmits commands and recognizes the use of a conventional IR remote control, allowing for better status detection. In addition, it can function as an air conditioning thermostat when connected to an Aqara temperature sensor.
- Enhanced features for Aqara devices : The M3 serves as a Matter bridge for regular Aqara Zigbee devices, and offers additional features for Aqara Thread devices, such as adjustable sensitivity and tampering alarm for the Aqara Door and Window Sensor P2.
- Loud speaker and custom ringtones : The M3 features a powerful 95 dB speaker that can be used as a siren for the Aqara Home alert system or for custom voice announcements.
- Focus on privacy : The M3 maintains user privacy as it is not equipped with a camera or microphone. It also supports end-to-end encrypted local storage of device logs and user data, ensuring that home events remain private.
- Flexible installation : The M3 includes a bracket, screws, and sticker for flexible installation options, from horizontal placement to wall and ceiling mounting. MagicPair is also supported for easy pairing with Aqara Home.
The Aqara Hub M3 is expected to be available by Q2 2024.
The Border Router Plug
The Aqara Border Router Plug represents an innovative step forward in smart plugs and is among the first smart plugs announced to integrate the capabilities of the Border Router Plug Thread. Equipped with Thread and dual-band Wi-Fi, this plug allows Matter controllers without Thread capability to manage Thread devices, enabling seamless integration of Thread devices into smart home systems without the need for a new Matter controller.
This plug is energy efficient, especially in Thread-only mode, which reduces idle power consumption while extending the Thread mesh network by routing data packets. It is also capable of tracking energy consumption, providing real-time and historical data on home energy consumption, allowing users to automate their electrical appliances to reduce energy waste. Additionally, the Border Router Plug can detect the on/off status of the connected device and trigger Aqara Home automations accordingly. For example, users can have the curtains automatically close when the TV is on to eliminate sun glare.
The Aqara Border Router Plug uses a secure wireless MCU from NXP Semiconductors. As part of the ongoing collaboration between Aqara and NXP Semiconductors, the Border Router Plug was also featured in NXP’s Smart Home Experience showcase during CES 2024, alongside the Aqara P2 Door and Window Sensor, also powered by NXP.
U300 Smart LockThe Aqara U300 Smart Lock is one of the first smart lever locks announced to feature Matter and Thread compatibility, providing unprecedented interoperability with various smart home platforms. This versatility is coupled with an extended battery life of up to 8 months and enhanced local control, improving responsiveness, privacy, and security.
Designed for both indoor and outdoor use, the U300 replaces the traditional lever or knob on single-drill doors in the US and is ideal for including side entrances, garage entrances, home offices, basements and storage rooms.
Entry via Bluetooth or a code on the keypad
AI comes to the Aqara Home app
Aqara also has Home Copilot, the new chatbot interface for the Aqara Home app, powered by Gen-AI. Home Copilot is designed to enhance the user experience by using ambient intelligence, which helps convert real-time data and insights into actions. Home Copilot will notably be able to analyze usage patterns in an Aqara home and proactively suggest personalized automations. It will also understand natural language and configure automations according to user requests. Users will be able to automate their home via simple voice and text instructions, making the smart home even more intuitive and easy to use. To start, Home Copilot will enable Aqara Insights, daily, weekly and monthly smart home reports for users, and provide tailored plans for energy-saving automation. It will support natural language queries for Aqara devices and automations and offer proactive assistance for device setup and troubleshooting. Home Copilot will also lead the AI-powered customer support interface for Aqara users in over 10 languages.
Home Copilot marks the beginning of what we have been waiting for in home automation to truly achieve a smart home. We can't wait to test this in more depth!
More new features to come…
The Aqara booth was very large, with many new features, even on existing products! Thus, the FP2 capable of detecting multiple presences in a room, is equipped with new visitor counting functions, useful for example for a store, where it becomes possible to determine, for example, busy times.
On the health side, it detects falls, which can trigger an emergency scenario, for example to rescue a senior living alone:
It is also capable of remotely monitoring heart rate and breathing:
In short, this new year 2024 promises to be rich in new features at Aqara!
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