Aqara HomeKit Accessories Now Available From Online Apple Store in Europe [Updated]

[kk200]

No less than Bluetooth ones.

what do you mean with no less? My bluetooth temperature sensor has way less battery time vs zigbee (6 month vs 1 year)

and signal range of bluetooth is not comparable to zigbee.

I don't even start to compare the price

 

[matrix07]

what do you mean with no less? My bluetooth temperature sensor has way less battery time vs zigbee (6 month vs 1 year)

“Thread is a low-power mesh networking technology protocol designed to connect all the devices in your home”

Its battery life won’t be bad than on Zigbee, if not better.

and signal range of bluetooth is not comparable to zigbee.

And once again, even though its battery life is on par or better than Bluetooth devices, thread devices don‘t use Bluetooth.
Have you ever seen thread devices connected to command? It’s instant. Faster than Wi-Fi even.

Goes ahead, Google it. It is not a mystery. It’s the future of smart home devices, especially if you like to be in Apple eco-system.

Here is one of the best part
”Like Zigbee and Z-Wave, Thread can connect all your devices together in a giant mesh. Unlike Zigbee and Z-Wave, Thread doesn't require a smart home hub to connect them.”

 

[connectjunkie]

Goes ahead, Google it. It is not a mystery. It’s the future of smart home devices, especially if you like to be in Apple eco-system.

And not just HomeKit. With Matter just around the corner with iOS 15 and Thread being one of the supported protocols we are not that far (2022) from an explosion in HomeKit connectable devices.

 

[kk200]

And not just HomeKit. With Matter just around the corner with iOS 15 and Thread being one of the supported protocols we are not that far (2022) from an explosion in HomeKit connectable devices.

I will be very caution on these things. If you starts your smart home project and after 2-3 years, the trends get changed, good luck with your "old" gadgets.

My zigbee sensor fleets have worked 5 years and the most problems are coming from Homekit side. If you force me to pick zigbee or homekit, I will dump homekit

 

[matrix07]

I will be very caution on these things. If you starts your smart home project and after 2-3 years, the trends get changed, good luck with your "old" gadgets.

My zigbee sensor fleets have worked 5 years and the most problems are coming from Homekit side. If you force me to pick zigbee or homekit, I will dump homekit

Sadly thread is a direct competitor to Zigbee and my money is on thread. Like you said, trend get changed.

 

[connectjunkie]

Sadly thread is a direct competitor to Zigbee and my money is on thread. Like you said, trend get changed.

I have to agree with kk200. From what I’ve seen on Reddit from Thread early adopters (60+ thread devices) it’s an absolute nightmare if you want a stable smart home. Zigbee will be around for a while I’d expect (Hue for example is generally stable).

 

[matrix07]

I have to agree with kk200. From what I’ve seen on Reddit from Thread early adopters (60+ thread devices) it’s an absolute nightmare if you want a stable smart home. Zigbee will be around for a while I’d expect (Hue for example is generally stable).

I have Nanoleaf and it’s super stable (6 of mine 😀), and cheaper than Hue. But I agree that thread, right now, is still barren. This is why it’s so frustrating. Let see what the end of the year brings.

 

[connectjunkie]

I have Nanoleaf and it’s super stable (6 of mine 😀), and cheaper than Hue. But I agree that thread, right now, is still barren. This is why it’s so frustrating. Let see what the end of the year brings.

I’ve got Eve - two outlets as routers, and three end points - two Eve Door and Window sensors and an Eve Aqua. Seems stable, but it seems that peoples problems are where they have dozens of devices

 

[GuilleA]

I don't use hub. Thread doesn't need hub and that's where HomeKit devices should go.

Thread still needs an edge router to work outside your LAN (either an Apple TV or HomePod mini). You'll always need some sort of hub. In any case, good lick with that. Thread is taking a looooong time to get going.

 

[The_Martini_Cat]

I got a Lightbulb that uses thread. Battery life does not seem to be an issue🍸😹

 

[McScooby]

You can exactly do this with the G2H camera…

Can you? The MR article says u can add it to Home app once set up (using the manufacturer app), The instructions (on their website, state u need to download the app first b4 adding to home app). Cool if u can & I’m needlessly ranting, but that’s 2 sources I’ve quoted that doesn’t look like u can.

 

[LeadingHeat]

Aqara products will be available from the Apple Store Online in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK. To date, Aqara products have only been stocked in Apple Stores in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Apple only cares about launching products in the USA. Why do they hate every other country and favor America so much??? 🙄🙄🙄

/s

 

[Mac Eagle]

Can you? The MR article says u can add it to Home app once set up (using the manufacturer app), The instructions (on their website, state u need to download the app first b4 adding to home app). Cool if u can & I’m needlessly ranting, but that’s 2 sources I’ve quoted that doesn’t look like u can.

I just purchased one of these a few weeks ago to start replacing my existing IP cams (for the Homekit secure video). I can absolutely confirm that you DO NOT need the app (I haven't even installed it). I added the cam directly in Homekit and everything is working fine. I think there may be some additional functionality you can get through the app but it is not necessary at all if you just want to use the camera directly via Homekit.

 

[LeadingHeat]

So at some point even your thread needs to hop over on wifi?! Or do you have a zigbee hub built in to your modem/router/wifiAP?

Edit: I can imagine these don't won't to thread because they only have a CR2 battery inside. For thread I think you need to have wifi inside. As it is they last for 2 years as it is now, if they need to connect to wifi they will not last a month on such a tiny battery.

But beside that, most things available don't do threads yet, so you're very limited to what you can use anyway. That's not just Aqara.

Eve door sensors are thread enabled, and are guaranteed to last an entire year. Which means it’ll probably last much longer than that conservative guarantee.

 

[Preed08]

You won’t be able to add Aqara devices to 3rd party Zigbee hub. Only Aqara or Xiaomi getaway.

This is not true. I have 5 Aqara motion sensors and 2 vibration/tilt sensors paired to my Conbee II gateway.

 

[contacos]

@contacos No problems here, search in the app gave the results immediately.

cannot use the app either because Apple thought it is a good idea to tie the Apple Store App login to the signed in iCloud instead of the Store account

 

[Yvan256]

What I'd like to see is HomeKit-compatible, ethernet-wired security cameras and video doorbells.

 

[matrix07]

Thread still needs an edge router to work outside your LAN (either an Apple TV or HomePod mini). You'll always need some sort of hub. In any case, good lick with that. Thread is taking a looooong time to get going.

Yeah thread is just starting and doesn't have many devices to choose from. I have HomePod mini in almost every room though, not for HomeKit but for music so I'm fully prepared. 😀

 

[matrix07]

I’ve got Eve - two outlets as routers, and three end points - two Eve Door and Window sensors and an Eve Aqua. Seems stable, but it seems that peoples problems are where they have dozens of devices

I think Nanaleaf bulb is end point only, correct? Luckily I have HomePod mini in almost every rooms. Still I want to buy some Eve Energy outlets to extend the range but it's hard to find here.

 

[turbo79]

I wonder if the G2H camera sold through Apple UK will connect through Aqara's Chinese servers or European servers? I know one can use it in Homekit-only mode, but if you want to also use the SD card for recording then that has to be set up in their app.

 

[FelixDerKater]

The motion sensor could look a little more current.