HomeKit Blog

As great as using our voices and apps to control our smart home accessories, there are times when physical control is simply more convenient. Instead of taking out your phone and waiting for an app to launch or another failed voice command, smart buttons and remote controls require nothing more than a quick press or gesture for the magic to happen.

However, most buttons or remote controls are generally for tasks such as controlling the best smart light bulbs, so they tend to live on the wall, diminishing comfort. The Aqara Cube, which we tested in recent months, adopts a different approach to smart controls, with a unique design that incorporates a number of easy-to-use gestures. Aqara's cube is reliable, responsive and simply fun to use, but there are a few gotcha you need to know before you buy.

Aqara Cube - Like most Aqara smart accessories, it is only available for purchase through Amazon in North America. Cube has an incredibly affordable price of only $ 18.99, and the price drops even lower at different times of the year, as Aqara frequently conducts sales and promotions. You can now save 10% of your purchase price by cutting a coupon off the Amazon list and, with Prime delivery, it can be on your doorstep in just two days.

Aqara Cube: Unique, fun and convenient

As the name suggests, the Aqara Cube has a boxy, seamless design, completely white, clean and compact. The cube measures 1.77 inches on each side and weighs just 3.84 ounces, but the device feels surprisingly premium and sturdy in the hand. The exterior of the Cube is devoid of buttons or lights and, apart from the fact that it has an Aqara logo on one side, it could easily pass as a generic home decor - which is a plus in my book.

In most cases, the assigned action is triggered within 2-3 seconds and, on the rare occasion, when it lasted a little longer, it was only a few seconds.

Aqara's Cube operates on a single CR2450 coin battery with an estimated lifespan of approximately two years, with typical use. The battery is accessible by removing one of the side panels of the Cube, and inside is a small reset button and a status indicator light. Hidden inside the Cube is a low-power Zigbee wireless radio that allows for long battery life and transmits actions from the accessory to an Aqara hub - which is necessary.

Like its design, I like the way the pairing process for the Aqara Cube is also unique. After starting the pairing in the Aqara Home application - or manually clicking a button on one of the Aqara hubs, all you need to connect the cube is a quick swing gesture. Once paired, you can assign the Cube as a trigger for other Aqara accessories, such as the Aqara Smart Plug, which is in the Aqara Smart Home System starter kit or an Aqara Smart Light Switch

The cube can also trigger some of the additional functions found in Aqara hubs. These features include turning on and off built-in lights or playing alarm tones and funny sounds through the built-in speakers, which is neat. The cube supports a total of six customizable gestures thanks to the inclusion of a gyroscope and accelerometers: two for flips (90 and 180 degrees) and one for double touching, shaking, pushing and rotating.

The assignment of an action takes place in the Aqara Home application, which is available for both iOS and Android. The process follows a familiar if that then that format that is easy to use and, after creation, I like how you can easily enable or disable actions without deleting the entire configuration. I also like how the Aqara app provides a history in an easy-to-read view of the history of all Cube actions, so you can refer to it for diagnosis if needed.

Now in performance, where Cube exceeded my expectations, the device constantly taking over all but one of six fun gestures (more on that later). As impressive as the accuracy of the Cube is, I am more impressed by how quickly the assigned action takes effect. In most cases, the assigned action is triggered within 2-3 seconds and, on the rare occasion, when it lasted a little longer, it was only a few seconds. Finally, the Cube seems to be doing well with long periods of inactivity, as I did not notice any additional delay in response times after resting for hours or days.

Aqara Cube: Does not work with HomeKit

Of course, there are some things I don't like about the Aqara cube. First, the Cube requires an Aqara hub device to operate, so there are a few additional costs if you don't already have one. Compatible options include the basic Aqara hub found in the company's starter kit, as well as the excellent Aqara Camera Hub G2H. No matter which hub you go with, this is another hub device, adding an extra configuration.

Furthermore, if you read my previous reviews about Aqara smart accessories, you will know that I have some dissatisfaction with the Aqara Home application. To schedule actions for Cub, you must use the Aqara app, which is slow and somewhat confusing to navigate. I constantly face issues where the app will freeze a few seconds before the screen transition and selection failures when the data is refreshed, leading to a frustrating overall experience.

As mentioned earlier, all of the Cube's gestures work fine, except for one. The push gesture - which is supposed to be as simple as sliding the Cube forward on a flat surface, is never recognized, even after several attempts at different speeds. Because the other gestures work the way they are published, it's not the biggest offer and I might just do something wrong, but you should keep that in mind if you need more than five.

The biggest problem with the Aqara Cube is that no more plays nicely with other Aqara accessories. It's a shame I can't use the cube with my HomeKit devices natively, as it just seems like a natural fit - especially considering that almost all other Aqara accessories support the Apple platform. There are workarounds, such as setting up actions with an Aqara accessory exposed to HomeKit, which triggers a HomeKit accessory through automation - but let's face it, it's more complicated than it needs to be.

Aqara Cube: Competition

When it comes to competition, the Aqara Cube does not have a real direct competitor, because it is dedicated only to Aqara accessories. If you were to step out of the Aqara ecosystem, there are options such as the best HomeKit buttons and remote controls that offer controls for a wide range of smart devices.

Our top choice for the best HomeKit button is Eve Button, thanks to its premium design and three-award actions. However, the Eve Button is based on Bluetooth connectivity, which responds considerably slower, and also has its share of limitations - such as working only with HomeKit accessories. The Eve button is also more expensive at a price of $ 50.

Although not currently on our best list due to ongoing availability issues, the Nanoleaf remote control is the closest competitor to the Aqara cube. The Nanoleaf remote control has a total of twelve programmable actions, works with HomeKit and accepts gestures such as rotation, although they are limited to controlling the brightness levels of Nanoleaf products. Like the Eve Button, the Nanoleaf remote control is also more expensive as it starts at $ 30.

Aqara Cube: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• You own or intend to purchase an Aqara hub device
• You want a convenient way to control your Aqara accessories
• You want a unique smart home accessory

You shouldn't buy this if ...

• You do not own an Aqara hub or accessories
• You want smart control for HomeKit accessories
• You do not want to use the Aqara application

Because the Aqara Cube only works with Aqara accessories, it is essentially a niche product that is only useful for the Aqara ecosystem. Aqara Cube does not work directly with HomeKit, so you can forget about using it to control your existing accessories - at least without resorting to difficult solutions, limiting its overall potential for automation. However, if you already own or plan to build an Aqara hub, the Cube is a fun and extremely reliable way to add convenient controls.

3.5
of 5

As much as I enjoy the short response time of the Aqara Cube, the reliability and the playful gestures, the lack of compatibility with the accessories outside the Aqara ecosystem makes it difficult to recommend. Even if you already have an Aqara hub device, you may not have an accessory that can take advantage of the Cub, making it an even more difficult sale.

If you happen to meet all the requirements, then yes, Aqara Cube is an excellent addition that will make controlling your accessories convenient and fun. If you don't already have a hub and don't want to go through additional circles, you'll need to resolve this.

When Eve's HomeKit-enabled Light Strip made its debut back at CES 2019, I was intrigued and immediately put it on my list to pick up the day it became available. Despite my initial excitement, Eve's Light Strip's release somehow managed to slip by me, allowing it to join a small list of HomeKit-enabled accessories that I didn't have for my home.

It wasn't until a few months ago that the Eve Light Strip hit my radar again — when the company announced support for iOS 14's new HomeKit Adaptive Lighting feature. Naturally, since Eve's Light Strip was the first device to support Adaptive Lighting, I just had to have it. Funny thing, though, while I expected HomeKit Adaptive Lighting to be the star of the show with the Eve Light Strip, I was more impressed by what I was missing out on for the past couple of years: excellent color reproduction and incredible brightness.

The Eve Light Strip is available at most online retailers like Amazon and Best Buy in a standard starter kit for $80. The kit includes everything you need to get up and running: the base light strip, control module, and power supply. Extension kits are also available for $50, and if you know you need the extra length before purchasing your first set, you can pick up both the starter kit and extension in a bundle directly through the Eve online store.

Eve's online store also makes the light strip available in a bundle pack that includes its excellent Eve Cam smart security camera, which supports HomeKit Secure Video. By going the bundle route, you will save a total of $30 for the two, and if you want even more savings, you can score a free Eve Extend hub if you purchase three Eve accessories.

Eve Light Strip: Bright and Adaptive

The Eve Light Strip is pretty standard fare design-wise as it arrives in a single 6.6-foot section lined with multiple LEDs inside, and mounting tape around the back. The light strip extends up to 32.8-feet with optional extension kits, and it can be cut-to-length in designated areas if needed. A detachable 24-volt power supply powers the Eve Light Strip, and it consumes 24 watts of energy during operation.

Once paired, commands sent via an app or Siri voice commands execute within seconds thanks to the speedy Wi-Fi connection.

Eve's strip communicates directly to HomeKit over 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi without the need for a dedicated Eve-branded hub, which is always nice. However, for out-of-home remote controls, a HomeKit resident device, like an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad, is required. All of the smarts are in a small control box that attaches in-between the power supply and light strip, and it is devoid of lights and physical controls, preventing it from standing out too much.

Setting up the light strip is quick and easy as it goes through HomeKit for pairing, even if you opt to use the Eve for HomeKit app. A simple scan of the HomeKit pairing code is all you need to bring it to life, with no account registration or Wi-Fi password entry required — something that I always appreciate. Once paired, commands sent via an app or Siri voice commands execute within seconds thanks to the speedy Wi-Fi connection. The light strip's Wi-Fi connection has also been solid during testing, as I have yet to experience issues with response or reliability.

Like most light strips, the Eve Light Strip supports the ability to display millions of colors and shades of white light, but does so with a unique triple-diode design. As the name suggests, Eve's Light Strip sports three LEDs: one that produces RGB, one for cool whites, and one for warm whites. According to Eve, this design allows the light strip to blend colors and shades to create a broader range of capabilities.

Eve's strip can reach up to 1,800 lumens peak, which is beyond what you get with most light strips that top out at 800 lumens.

Thanks to this design, I immediately noticed that the Eve Light Strip produced better greens and blues during testing than most of its competition — especially when it came to darker shades. I like how the Eve Light Strip created a convincing green shade and not some light blue hybrid that you get with some cheaper strips. However, the Eve Light Strip's green color reproduction is still just good enough and not great, so don't expect any true forest greens out of it.

Where the Eve Light Strip truly shines, though, is brightness. Eve's strip can reach up to 1,800 lumens peak, which is beyond what you get with most light strips that top out at 800 lumens. I love how the Eve Light Strip can light up an entire area on its own, making it suitable for more than just accent lighting, and I could easily see it used for overhead lighting in smaller spaces. The maximum brightness output alone puts the light strip near the top of my list, as it elevates the overall ambiance and experience.

While most of the light strip's features are available without the manufacturer's app, I recommend giving the Eve for HomeKit app a download. Eve's app is easy to navigate, and I like how it unlocks additional automation capabilities that you don't get with the stock Home app.

Light strip controls in the Eve app include quick access to favorite colors, large pickers for color and color temperature, and a horizontal slider for brightness adjustments. The Eve app also provides two advanced light strip settings: one for setting the default power-on behavior and an option to choose between color transition speeds. The default power-on option, in particular, is a convenient feature since you can have it set to turn on to white light without having to set up automation.

Moving over to HomeKit, I love how the Eve Light Strip supports all of the familiar controls, automation, and voice commands that you get with other accessories. Through the Home app, you can adjust brightness levels with a slider, switch up colors by tapping on a preset, or change color temperature on-demand — all of which I do multiple times a day.

The Eve Light Strip differs from other HomeKit light strips by having support for HomeKit Adaptive Lighting. Apple's latest HomeKit feature automatically adjusts the color temperature of compatible lighting accessories throughout the day to help with focus and sleep.

A typical day with HomeKit Adaptive Lighting and the Eve Light Strip works like this: warmer tones in the morning to ease you into the day, cool white light in the afternoon to energize the mind, and finally, back to warmer white in the evening to promote rest. While I find that the warmer tones are not quite warm enough for my taste, it is rather neat to see the Eve Light Strip adjust as time passes. With HomeKit Adaptive Lighting, it genuinely feels like smart lighting is finally becoming, well, smart.

Eve Light Strip: Solid colors only

Although it sports the triple-diode design, Eve's Light Strip only supports the ability to produce one solid color at a time — at least intentionally. After unboxing, I was excited to see how the various LEDs showed different colors, so I immediately thought it supported multiple-color functionality. However, the excitement quickly faded as I learned that two of the diodes only produced shades of white and how both the Eve for HomeKit app and the Home app didn't provide a way to stagger the three.

The Eve Light Strip also doesn't support any form of media-syncing capabilities. The light strip lacks an integrated microphone, so you cannot use it as a music visualizer, and you can forget about using it as bias lighting for your TV — unless you want a solid light background. Along the same vein, Eve's strip doesn't come with lighting effects like fades and color transitions, at least out of the box. You can use a third-party HomeKit app to get this type of functionality, but it is a little baffling as to why this isn't available in Eve's app.

Another bummer is that the Eve Light Strip does not feature weather-resistance and is indoor-only. I would love to see an updated model that works outdoors down the road, as the epic brightness output could make the strip an interesting alternative to traditional outdoor lighting. Plus, if Eve were ever to give users the ability to customize diode colors, the light strip could mimic holiday lights like candy canes, which would be awesome.

Finally, with Eve Systems being all-in with HomeKit, the Eve Light Strip only works with iOS devices and Siri. While I see this as a plus for the privacy aspects and how it simplifies things, it may be a massive issue for those with households that like to mix things up, so it is worth mentioning. There is no Android app available, and it doesn't work with Amazon's Alexa or Google Assistant. It's HomeKit or nothing with the Eve Light Strip.

Eve Light Strip: The competition

As I previously mentioned, the Eve Light Strip has plenty of competitors, but for the sake of this Eve Light Strip review, we will only compare it to those that support HomeKit. The best HomeKit light strips not only work with the Home app and Siri, but they also bring unique features like alternative color and connectivity options, and come in different lengths.

The closest competitor to the Eve Light Strip is the Nanoleaf Essentials Light Strip. Nanoleaf's strip has a peak brightness of 2,200 lumens, supports HomeKit Adaptive Lighting, and features the new hot wireless protocol, Thread. Nanoleaf's light strip also costs $30 less than the Eve Light Strip, but like the company's Essentials A19 Light Bulb, it is incredibly hard to get a hold of at the moment.

Another HomeKit-enabled alternative is the Meross Smart Wi-Fi Light Strip. The Meross light strip doesn't come anywhere close to the maximum brightness levels seen with the Eve Light Strip, as I estimated it to be around 800 lumens in my recent review. What the Meross light strip has going for it, though, is its cheap sub-$50 price, lack of hub requirement, and its insane length. The Meross strip comes in a kit with two 16.4-foot sections, meaning you get a total of 32.8-feet for less than the price of a 6.6-foot Eve Light Strip.

Of course, two of the most popular smart lighting brands, Philips Hue and LIFX, also offer HomeKit-enabled light strip alternatives. The Philips Hue LightStrip Plus is the gold-standard for light strips with the ability to display 16-million colors with rock-solid reliability and ultra-fast response times. The LightStrip Plus retails for $10 less than the Eve Light Strip, but it requires a Philips Hue hub for HomeKit, and it peaks at 1,600 lumens. The LIFX Z LED Light Strip, also available at the $70 price-point, drops the hub requirement and mixes in multiple color zones, but it isn't as bright as the Eve Light Strip's 1,400 lumens max.

Eve Light Strip: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• You want a HomeKit light strip that is incredibly easy to set up
• You want an extremely bright and colorful light strip
• You want a light strip that supports HomeKit Adaptive Lighting

You shouldn't buy this if...

• You want a light strip with the most bang for your buck
• You need a smart light strip that also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, or Android
• You are looking for a light strip that can display multiple colors at the same time

If you debating whether or not the Eve Light Strip is for you, then there are a few things that you will need to keep in mind. First, Eve's strip is expensive and only works with HomeKit — no Android, Alexa, or Google Assistant support here. The strip also lacks media-syncing and effects that you get with cheaper options. However, if you want a bright HomeKit light strip with excellent color reproduction, then Eve's strip is tough to beat. Eve's strip is also one of the few lights that work with HomeKit Adaptive Lighting, so if that is a priority, then it should be on your radar.

4
out of 5

In the end, the Eve Light Strip — even with its fair share of limitations and missing features, is still one of the better HomeKit-enabled options on the market. With deep HomeKit integration, the light strip pairs in seconds without going through a registration process, and HomeKit Adaptive Lighting support allows you to experience the latest smart home feature today. Coupled with excellent color reproduction, fast response times, outstanding reliability, and crazy peak brightness levels, the Eve Light Strip is definitely worth the premium price.

As you may know, I have been on a mission to automate every aspect of my home through Apple's HomeKit ever since its introduction alongside iOS 8. For the most part, the journey has gone pretty well, with a considerable portion of my home — from lighting to window coverings, now living that sweet, smart home life. However, things are certainly not perfect as there are several large gaps in my smart home due to limitations with the platform.

Thankfully, accessories like the Aqara Vibration Sensor are available to help bridge some of HomeKit's gaps. Aqara's ultra-compact sensor adds the ability to pick up things that motion and contact sensors traditionally miss, like vibration, tilt, and drops, with excellent response times and reliability. While it does require some additional hardware to get HomeKit and all the smart things up and running, Aqara's Vibration Sensor is well-worth the cost of admission if you want to bring the smarts to drawers, appliances, and more.

Even though I am familiar with Aqara's accessories, I am always amazed by just how small the company's sensors truly are during an unboxing. Aqara's Vibration Sensor measures just under 1.5-inches wide and is around 0.4-inches thick, keeping it from being an eyesore when set on a flat surface or when mounted with the included adhesive tape. The sensor sports just one button that acts to initiate pairing or the reset process and a single LED indicator light giving the whole package a clean overall design that I really like.

Despite highlighting vibration sensing capabilities in the name, Aqara's sensor can also detect tilt and drops. The sensor supports three different sensitivity settings, set via the Aqara app, and has a short cool-down period of one minute. The cool-down time prevents the sensor from continuously sending notifications or running automation for a single event, which should be good for most applications, but it is not customizable.

The Aqara Vibration Sensor runs on a single CR2032 coin battery and is rated for up to two-years of usage before needing a swap. Extra-long battery life is enabled by the inclusion of a low-power Zigbee radio which relays the sensor's status to an Aqara Hub device (more on that later). Zigbee also allows for a quick and easy setup experience as it doesn't require you to enter in a Wi-Fi password. With the vibration sensor, the entire pairing process consists of holding the on-device button for a few seconds near the hub after selecting the sensor type in the Aqara app.

Through the Aqara app, the vibration sensor can be used as a trigger for other Aqara accessories and features, including things like any on-device lights or alarms found in some of the company's hubs. Creating automation follows a fairly standard if this then that process, where you establish the trigger event followed by the desired outcome. In addition to triggering accessories, Aqara's app allows you to create custom notification messages based on the three motion types and insert delays between firing up scenes or other automation, which I love.

Of course, one of the biggest selling points of the Aqara Vibration Sensor is HomeKit and Home app support. The sensor is immediately added to HomeKit after pairing it to the hub, making it available for notifications and automation with other accessories. Notifications and automation can deliver or trigger the moment motion starts; however, automation can also include when the motion event stops opening up even more possibilities.

As previously mentioned, the sensor can distinguish between the three motion types through the Aqara app. However, the sensor is only shown as a standard motion sensor in the Home app. This limitation is a little disappointing, but since tilt, drops, and vibrations are all considered motion events, they are all still technically covered, and in my usage, it is not a deal-breaker.

Moving over to performance, the Aqara Vibration Sensor has worked exactly as advertised — filling some of the bigger smart home gaps for my household. I set one vibration sensor on our clothes dryer and another in a drawer in the kitchen in my home during testing. For the dryer, I used the sensor and the Home app to turn off the lights in the living room when the drying cycle is complete. This situation worked well by simply setting the sensor on top of the dryer and mounting it to the control panel. On the drawer, I set the sensor both upright alongside a rail and flat inside, and again, it performed admirably in either position.

The aforementioned Zigbee capabilities allow the sensor to trigger automation and deliver notifications pretty much the moment when the motion event triggers. I have yet to come across any instances where notifications took more than a second or two to arrive, and it was pretty magical to see the lights in my living room turn off within a few seconds of the dryer completing a cycle. The sensor's connection to the Aqara app and HomeKit has also been rock-solid, and I have not seen any "No Response" issues or connectivity failures.

Indoor irritations

Aqara Vibration Sensor review: What I don't like

As much as I really enjoy having multiple Aqara Vibration Sensors installed around the home, I would really like to use them outdoors. Aqara's sensor seems like it would be the perfect solution for monitoring a mailbox — something that I have always wanted to set up for my smart home, but unfortunately, it is not weather-resistant. Sure, the sensor is cheap enough, and with placement inside a mailbox, it should be safe from some of mother nature's elements. However, Aqara also doesn't currently offer any outdoor devices that act as a Zigbee repeater, so the range can be a limiting factor as well.

Speaking of limiting, the vibration sensor requires an Aqara hub to use with HomeKit and general use. Thankfully, Aqara's hub offerings — just like with all of its accessories, are affordable, and they actually bring additional capabilities to the table. The original Aqara Hub, found in the Aqara Smart Home System, acts as a security system, and the Aqara Camera Hub G2H is a full-fledged HomeKit Secure Video camera. They are still an added expense if you want a smart vibration sensor at the end of the day.

My biggest issue with the vibration sensor is actually using the Aqara app to perform tasks and adjust settings that are not available through the native iOS Home app. As I noted in my review of the Camera Hub G2H, Aqara's app is clunky and confusing to navigate with what appears to be multiple home screens, each hiding its own set of options. Making matters worse, though, is that the app now suffers from some annoying performance issues.

For instance, tapping on the More Settings option to set sensitivity results in a lengthy pause before it transitions to the next area — upwards of five seconds every time. Also, since the app refreshes content on certain screens, it can cancel out your action altogether once it gets the latest data. It won't give you visual feedback for your selection if you tap on something during this time, either. As you might have guessed, this means that you will come across instances where you sit there waiting for something to happen, and it never does.

Aqara Vibration Sensor review: The competition

At the moment, Aqara's sensor is truly a one-of-a-kind accessory as it is the only HomeKit-enabled vibration sensor that you can buy in North America today. As I previously mentioned, though, the vibration sensor is exposed as just a regular motion sensor in the Home app, so you can get similar results out of devices like contact/door and window sensors, and well, motion sensors.

Instead of monitoring when an item in the home is picked up, the best HomeKit motion sensors, like the Eve Motion Sensor, can monitor an entire area and trigger automation when an event is detected. Eve's Motion Sensor also works both indoors and out, but it is bulkier, more expensive, and slower since it relies on Bluetooth.

The best HomeKit door and window sensors, like the VOCOlinc VS1 Contact Sensor, are the closest match as they attach directly to the surface of the object that you wish to monitor. The VS1 uses a two-piece magnetic system that is not as compact as Aqara's sensor, has shorter battery life, and lacks weather-resistance. The VS1 is around the same price, though, and it doesn't require a hub as it features Bluetooth connectivity.

Aqara Vibration Sensor review: Should you buy

You should buy this if ...

You want an affordable vibration sensor

At less than $20 each, the Aqara Vibration Sensor is an affordable way to monitor multiple objects or windows in the home without spending a fortune — if you have an Aqara hub device.

You want something that goes beyond traditional contact and motion sensors

With an insanely small frame and the ability to pick up drops, tilt, and vibrations, Aqara's sensor is an excellent choice for places like drawers and appliances, where traditional motion and contact sensors just won't cut it.

You want a vibration sensor that works with HomeKit automation

The Aqara Vibration Sensor is the only game in town when it comes to compatibility with Apple's HomeKit in North America. If you want a sensor that can pick up vibrations and use them to trigger HomeKit scenes and automation, then you need Aqara's offering.

You should not buy this if ...

You do not have or want an Aqara Hub

Although Zigbee is associated with faster response times and excellent reliability, it requires a dedicated hub to make all the wireless magic happen. If you don't have an Aqara hub and don't plan on picking one up soon, then the vibration sensor is not for you.

You plan to use the vibration sensor outdoors

Aqara's battery-powered Vibration Sensor is dirt cheap, which may make ignoring its lack of weather-resistance tempting, but to maintain safe operation, it is for indoor use only.

You only want to use the sensor through the Home app

To get the most out of the Aqara Vibration Sensor, you will need to use the Aqara app for things like adjusting sensitivity, accessing logs, and setting up event-specific push notifications.

If you are debating whether or not the Aqara Vibration Sensor is a good fit for your home, then you need to consider several factors. Aqara's indoor-only sensor requires a hub, and you will need to step outside of the Home app walls and HomeKit to get the most out of it. However, if you already have or don't mind picking up an Aqara hub, then you can recover the cost over the long-run as Aqara's accessories are some of the cheapest around. Aqara's sensor is also the only HomeKit vibration sensor available in North America, so the decision may actually be easier than you think.

4
out of 5

The Aqara Vibration Sensor is an excellent way to bridge some of the HomeKit smart home gaps by going places and detecting things that other sensors simply cannot. Aqara's ultra-compact sensor opens the doors to smart notifications and automation when the dryer is finished or when a drawer is open with fast response times and great reliability. While I am generally not a fan of adding more hubs or using anything more than the Home app for my smart home, the utility of the Aqara Vibration Sensor makes the tradeoffs worth it — especially if you want to automate every last inch of your home.

The best
Smart thermostat
immoral
2021

Best general: Ecobee SmartThermostat

Ecobee SmartThermostat is the best smart thermostat for anyone who wants to control their home environment using a voice assistant. With the Ecobee smart thermostat with Alexa function, you get all the magic of HomeKit plus the built-in Alexa voice control. Even better, thanks to the built-in speaker and microphone configuration, Alexa is as powerful on the Ecobee SmartThermostat as Amazon Echo products.

Ask Alexa to set a timer, adjust the lighting, take your steps to a recipe, play some jazz. You can do everything right from your smart thermostat. You can also, of course, use Alexa to adjust the temperature in your home, but this is just a tiny detail. It comes with built-in microphones that feature remote field voice recognition (the same technology that makes the Amazon Echo hear you from all over the room) and a speaker that makes Alexa sound loud and clear, despite coming from a fixed thermostat on the wall.

With HomeKit compatibility, you get full support for Siri control, including the ability to change the temperature with your voice and trigger more complex actions with scenes using the best iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. This device also supports IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings, Alexa, Google Assistant and many other integrations.

Ecobee 3 Lite is more or less an intelligent Ecobee thermostat without room sensors. It has all the same great features, including HomeKit compatibility and Siri control; is limited to the area where you install the main unit in the box. However, you can buy remote sensors separately to see the temperature in other areas of the house if you choose to expand later.

The main differences between it and the Ecobee 4 are the lack of an integrated Amazon Alexa speaker, camera sensor and occupancy detection. The Ecobee 3 Lite is also slightly smaller than the newer model, but is not compatible with so many heating / cooling systems.

The Nest Learning thermostat remains a popular choice, even if it is not one of the newest smart thermostats on the block. With a similar HAL dial that still looks futuristic, the Nest device is largely simple to use and works great with the Nest app for iOS. It also supports the Works with Nest program, which offers integrations with dozens of other smart home products, including home security systems, cameras, locks and more.

By definition, Nest Learning Thermostat takes the temperatures you want, then builds a program that you think will suit you. By doing so, you will be more comfortable in your home, while saving on heating and cooling bills. As part of its learning, the thermostat also adapts to the changing seasons in your area.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a high quality smart thermostat. Honeywell Lyric T5 offers most of the features of the more expensive options, but for less money. The main disadvantage of this lower cost: a design that seems a little dated, even if it has all the smart goodies. Beyond that, you'll continue to experience voice control, programming, smart alerts, and more through integrations with HomeKit and Alexa.

Nest Thermostat E, like its more expensive sibling, learns as you use it, creating an automatic program for heating and cooling. It also works with voice assistants and offers most sensors like the Nest Learning thermostat. Of course, the metal case and color options are missing, for which Nest is famous. However, the real disadvantage is that not as many HVAC systems work as the learning thermostat, with 85% compatibility.

The Senserson Touch thermostat from Emerson has a large widescreen touch screen, which makes it easy to make adjustments to the device itself. Speaking of changes, the Sensi Touch has shortcuts to access standard functions, such as turning on the home fan only, directly from the home screen.

This thermostat also includes a backlight option that illuminates the surrounding area at night, preventing it from illuminating your room with a huge display. This backlight is also handy for the installation process as it illuminates the wiring terminals, giving you a better look at where your wires are going.

Comfort and control with the best smart thermostats

Having the best smart thermostat in the house offers comfort and control, all while saving some money in the process. For some, the thermostat is not always in the most accessible location - here comes the voice control of the application. Changing the temperature in your home from the comfort of your couch or bed is more than worth the cost of admission, and the programming features are the icing on the cake.

For most people, the Ecobee SmartThermostat is the best smart thermostat around. The Ecobee SmartThermostat is fully equipped and is aimed at people who are all-in on Apple with other great HomeKit accessories or even those who prefer Alexa control. Over time, you can expand your Ecobee SmartThermostat by adding additional camera sensors. Ultimately, your decision should come down to how much you want to control the temperature in your home and where.

The team that worked on this guide

Christopher Close is the smart home resident expert iMore. It frequently tests all smart home accessories, such as smart thermostats, as well as anything else with HomeKit integration.

Bryan M Wolfe is a father who loves technology, especially anything new from Apple. A Penn State graduate, Bryan is also a big fan of the New England Patriots. Thanks for reading. @bryanmwolfe

Robot vacuums are an incredibly convenient way to keep our homes nice and clean without having to lift a finger. However, as convenient as they are, robot vacs come with their own set of annoyances like small collection bins that you have to empty manually and navigation problems — especially on older models. The latest round of robot vacuums has solved some of these with advanced Light Detection and Ranging Navigation (LiDAR) laser navigation systems and self-emptying collection bins. Still, they can be quite expensive, with popular models reaching as high as $1,000.

That is where the Kyvol Cybovac S31 comes in. While the company may not be a household name, Kyvol's smart vac combines the latest and greatest tech — along with mopping capabilities, with an affordable price tag that makes convenient cleaning accessible to all. Of course, actual cleaning performance is the most critical aspect to consider with robot vacuums, so how does a feature-packed $500 vacuum stack-up? Let's find out.

Setting up the Kyvol S31 is straightforward as it ships with all of the essentials installed on both the vac and the charging base inside the box. In addition to the main components, the S31 comes with tons of extras, including a snap-on water tank, replacement self-empty system bags, plenty of mopping pads, remote control, replacement air filters, and replacement side brushes. To keep things brief, aside from self-emptying and mopping, hardware highlights on the S31 include 3,000PA suction power with four adjustable speeds, a 5,200 mAh battery, a 500ml dust collection bin, 110ml water tank, two side brushes, and LiDAR navigation.

Since my home consists of multiple floor surfaces, including carpet, rugs, tile, and laminate, I can test pretty much every performance scenario that a robot vacuum would come across in a typical home — except for stairs. For the most part, the vacuum's suction is good at picking up smaller pieces of your everyday debris like paper, hair, string, and crumbs on softer surfaces. I have seen some issues with the side brushes flinging debris around while on solid surfaces, but the vac usually these pieces up during a subsequent pass.

The S31 has no trouble with the various transitions and thresholds in my home, and its low profile allows it to get to spaces that generally go months without vacuuming, like under a dresser. As the S31 is the first vacuum that I have tested with LiDAR, I am particularly impressed by its smooth navigation around the home and its mapping capabilities. The LiDAR navigation system projects invisible light to surrounding objects allowing it to determine distance based on the reflection time. Coming from a vac that fumbles around bumping into everything, the S31 is a massive upgrade as it maneuvers gracefully around objects and furniture with subtle speed changes, and it can keep a straight path consistently, which isn't always a given.

LiDAR also enables precise mapping that is created during the initial run and improves over time. I am blown away by the mapping's accuracy as it covers every accessible area of my home and how it lends itself perfectly for the advanced features like boundaries and no-go zones. With my previous vacuum, I would have to shut the doors to bathrooms and other areas that I didn't want the vacuum to go in, which was a chore. After a few taps in the app, I was able to get rid of this problem altogether by creating boundaries, putting my mind at ease when it was time for cleaning.

The battery life of the S31 is fantastic, with the vacuum returning to its charging base after hitting every room in my 1,500 square foot home with plenty of juice to spare. On average, the vacuum has between 50-60% charge left when using its normal power mode, and on its highest setting, the S31 would finish with around 30% leftover. A typical run in my home takes the vacuum between 65-80 minutes, so I would say that Kyvol's four-hour estimate is a little generous, but it is pretty close, and it should be good enough to cover most homes.

Mopping

Now, before we dive too deep into the S31's mopping capabilities, let me first say that it is not a replacement for your old-fashioned mop, so don't expect miracles. I do like how the S31 provides the ability to mop, and it is simple to set up with the snap-in water tank and included removable pads.

When the vac is ready to go for mopping, you switch the vac to mop mode via the app and then tap on start cleaning. During mopping, the app looks and feels the same as vacuuming, with no additional settings to keep everything familiar and straightforward.

As previously mentioned, the S31's mopping is relatively simple as it only offers surface cleaning. The S31 doesn't have any unique vibrations or patterns during mopping that you get with dedicated mopping robots. Instead, the vacuum drags the pads along the floor, using gravity to release water from the tank onto the connected pad.

I found that the mop pads and the floor didn't get as wet as I would have liked during my first run, but I did see better results in later runs by wetting them down before installing them on the vacuum. Again, the vac's mopping isn't going to prevent you from cleaning up giant messes, but it is nice to have as it can extend the number of days you can go between deeper cleans.

Self-emptying

The S31's true star of the show is the self-emptying feature, and I am happy to say that it works beautifully. By default, the vacuum will empty itself after every run preventing the dust cup from overfilling or getting clogged, which I prefer. I have been testing the vac for a couple of months now and found that the self-empty system is quite good at removing most of the debris in the bin compartment in the vacuum, as I have seen very few remnants leftover, even after multiple runs. I can also say that Kyvol's 60-day estimate for bag replacements is conservative, at least for my home, as I have yet to fill up an entire bag.

Speaking of the removable bags, while it may not be for everyone, I love how Kyvol's self-empty system utilizes disposable bags versus just having everything going into a bin. My previous experiences with my Shark self-empty vacuum usually end with dust and debris spilling out when it came time to empty it, but that is not the case with the S31, thanks to a handy little cardboard "door" that seals the debris inside of the bag before removing.

Kyvol currently sells a four-pack of the bags in a maintenance accessory set that includes brushes, filters, and disposable mop pads all-in-one convenient kit for $49.99 on Amazon. While that may sound a little pricey at first, the bags again are supposed to last up to 60 days each, and by packaging everything into one kit, it serves as a friendly little reminder to replace some of the critical components, which I like. If you can't quite get over the price, you can always reuse the bag after emptying, and there are, of course, third-party options available.

Smart app and controls

Moving over to the Kyvol app, I like how easy it is to track down options and get the vacuum started. The app's interface is clean, with easy to understand labels for most functions, and it puts essential data and controls all on the same screen. Starting a whole home cleaning cycle requires just two taps, and choosing rooms for selective cleaning is just as easy.

Creating a vacuum schedule takes place via the settings menu accessible from the main overview screen. Scheduling options include specific times and days of the week, plus suction power settings so you can run it at higher levels while you are out and about. I especially like how room-specific schedules are also available, and regardless of which option you choose, the vacuum will respect any boundaries set.

Establishing the no-go virtual borders and no-vac/mop zones is also incredibly easy to set up in the app. After adding a zone or boundary, you can move it around with a tap and a hold, and you can adjust the size by dragging a corner of the default shape. The app supports a total of 10 zones and boundaries, which is plenty for my smaller home, and you can always create additional maps if your home has multiple floors.

Additional options found within the app include the ability to adjust how often the vacuum self-empties, toggling on and off the auto boost mode, and setting volume levels of the on-device voice prompt. The settings menu also houses additional cleaning modes: edge cleaning-only and a full deep clean mode; both activated via a toggle that defaults to off to keep things simple.

I also enjoy seeing how the app displays the vacuum's progress and location on the map in real-time. I love being able to peek-in on the S31 while cleaning as it gives me a better sense of what room it is going to head to next, and I will admit that there have been times where I left the app open to watch as it is just plain cool to see in action.

Along the same lines, I also love how the app keeps a complete cleaning record of the vacuum's activity. The history provides a cleaning map so you can see the exact route that it took, the total duration, date, and area measured in square meters. The app even presents you a handy way to see when it is time to replace "consumable" parts used like the brushes and filter, which is thoughtful.

As much as I like the Kyvol app features, I ran across several issues that hurt the overall experience. Getting the vacuum paired to the app presented a few challenges, with my first attempt resulting in a "Connection Failed" error after unboxing. I am not quite sure what went wrong in that instance, but my second attempt went through without a hitch — at least until I got to sending the vac out for cleaning.

Before the first clean, the Kyvol app presented me with a prompt for a firmware update, as you often see with most smart devices. Unfortunately, the firmware update process is mandatory before cleaning, and it would fail after just a few seconds. The app's only troubleshooting steps were to ensure that the vac was charging and that the battery level was above 20%, both of which were true. After a failed attempt at finding help through the Kyvol website, I was able to track down a fix from other reviewers that came across the problem. Starting a clean manually via the included remote control first somehow made everything better, and I could apply the firmware update afterward.

Another issue that came across with the app is that it would occasionally show that the vacuum was "Offline" while cleaning. The vac would continue with its route just fine, and it didn't lose its map during these bouts, but it did prevent me from seeing its location in the home and where it had already cleaned. The app would mention possible factors like distance, and despite showing as "offline," the vac never lost its connection with my Wi-Fi router, so I believe that this is a software issue versus a hardware issue.

Finally, while rare, when the robot vacuum did have an issue during operation, the app was rather vague as to what the problem was. For example, once when the robot vac got stuck between my desk chair and one of my desk's legs, the app presented me with a notification that was titled "Start it at another location" and stated "S31Start it at another location", which wasn't helpful at all. Another example appeared when I lifted the vac to check brush conditions, which displayed "It shall be started on the ground" and "S31It shall be started on the ground". Thankfully, most issues will be apparent, but the notification phrasing needs a little work.

The competition

The robot vacuum market is quite crowded these days, with tons of excellent options from iRobot, Roborock, Neato, Ecovacs, and eufy. However, when it comes to robot vacs with a self-emptying, the market is much more limited, with only a handful of options from just a few vendors available.

Our current picks for best robot vacuums include the Roborock S5 Max and the Neato Botvac Connect D7. The Roborock S5 Max offers the same LiDAR navigation system and mopping features as the S31, but it costs $50 more lacks the self-empty feature. The Roborock does include the ability to adjust mop water levels, and it works with Siri Shortcuts, making it more convenient for those in the Apple ecosystem.

Just like the S5 Max, the Neato Botvac Connect D7 also includes laser-guided navigation and Siri Shortcuts support. The D7 is more expensive than Kyvol's vac with a retail price of $599, and it doesn't include mopping or the self-empty system, but its unique square design allows it to get into corners better.

The closest self-empty competitors to the S31 — at least with regards to price are the iRobot i3+ and the Shark IQ RV101AE. The iRobot i3+ starts at $100 more than the S31, but it uses a floor mapping system that doesn't include the ability to set no-go zones, and it doesn't mop. Shark's vacuum has a massive bagless self-empty chamber, but it lacks mopping and laser navigation.

Kyvol Cybovac S31 Robot Vacuum review: Should you buy

You should buy this if ...

You want a robot vacuum that vacuums and mops

The Kyvol Cybovac S31 combines both mopping and vacuum into one, removing the need for an additional robot. While the mopping isn't a proper deep clean, it is passable for light, everyday jobs.

You want virtual boundaries and room cleaning

LiDAR technology inside the S31 truly makes virtual boundaries like no-mopping zones and no-go zones a reality, plus it enables individual room cleaning. No unsightly boundary strips to manage or issues with the vacuum going where it shouldn't with the S31 — it just works.

You do not want to hassle with emptying the bin after each run

The self-empty feature on the S31 is genuinely a game-changer if you have grown tired of manually emptying the tiny bin on older robot vacuums. With Kyvol's vacuum, you only need to replace the bin bag once every other month with regular cleaning, and changing it out is incredibly easy and mess-free.

You should not buy this if ...

You want a robot vacuum for $200 or less

With the self-emptying base, LiDAR, and mopping capabilities, the Kyvol Cybovac S31 packs in many premium features, making it more expensive than standard robot vacuums. If you don't care about all of the extras, the S31 is not the one for you.

You expect deep cleaning with the mopping capabilities

While having the ability to mop is handy and a nice to have feature, the S31 doesn't deep clean as it lacks vibration and scrubbing action. If you want a more thorough clean, you will need to look at dedicated mopping robot options.

You are looking for a robot vacuum with Siri voice controls

The Kyvol Cybovac S31 doesn't support any form of voice controls through Siri as it lacks both HomeKit and Shortcuts integration. Kyvol's vacuum only works with Alexa and the Google Assistant for voice controls currently.

If you are looking for a robot vac that provides a genuinely hassle-free cleaning experience, then the S31's self-emptying, mopping, and LiDAR navigation fits the bill. However, if you only want the basics, want to control your vac via Siri, or if you want a robot mop that will keep you from having to mop your floors ever again manually, then you will need to look elsewhere.

4
out of 5

App quirks, limited mopping, and lack of Siri support aside, the Kyvol Cybovac S31 is an incredible value that offers excellent cleaning performance, long battery life, and an absolute ton of features. The convenient self-emptying feature is worth the admission price alone if you have ever experienced the hassle that comes with owning a vac with a smaller bin, and the LiDAR navigation is a great place to start for those new to the world of robotic cleaning. Mix in the smart app controls, scheduling options, mopping, and advanced mapping, and you get a robot vacuum that does just about everything — for less.