HomeKit Blog

Wozart, the Smart Home tech company based in Hyderabad, India (which we highlighted back in 2018), have unveiled their latest product designed to work with Apple HomeKit. The Sense Pro multi-sensor is designed to work as an occupancy sensor, in addition to incorporating a variety of other functions.

The Sense Pro uses a combination of methods (called TrueOccupancy) with thermal imaging and built-in AI, to determine if people are in a given room, and if a person has entered or exited the room, where the sensor is designed to be placed above the entrance to a room. Thermal imaging is based on the heat given off by the people in the room, rather than movement, meaning you can sit motionless and still be detected as someone in the room.

The Sense Pro goes more than a little further, however, with additional sensors for temperature, humidity, and ambient light. As if that weren't enough, the Sense Pro even includes an IR Blaster to control devices that traditionally use an infrared remote, just like we've seen with the Aqara M2, G3, and P3.

The device itself appears to be battery operated, but with an internal battery, rechargeable via a micro USB port (yep, no USB-C...). This would be necessary it seems, because according to our questions, the device uses 2.4GHz WiFi to connect to your network.

We were told by a company representative that the Sense Pro is designed to work with the three main smart home platforms -. Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexaand Google Home which is already the case with the company's other offerings. At the moment, nothing is known about the price and whether the device will be available outside the Indian subcontinent, but it should come out in December this year.

Wozart is not the only company looking at improvements in motion and occupancy sensors, however, with Aqara who have their mmWave radar occupancy sensor earlier this year at their annual product event. Also, Chinese smart home tech company LifeSmart is working on a similar device that uses the same technology for true presence detection.

British smart switch company Lightwave has unveiled its latest smart home product, and possibly one of the first of its kind, at least for UK HomeKit users. The L92 smart heating switch is essentially just a smart switch, although as the name would imply, this switch is designed for heating-based products in your home.

These can be things like household panel heaters, hot water cylinders, water heaters, towel rails, or electric radiators, for example. Because these types of devices require more power than, say, a light switch, a normal smart switch would not be able or suitable to provide smart gadgets to such home heating devices. The L92, on the other hand, is designed for such applications and allows universal switching of all loads up to 3680 W (16 A).

Lightwave also states that the switch has built-in power consumption, which in times like these becomes increasingly relevant when it comes to keeping energy expenditure in check. The switch can also be installed to power electric vehicles, although their website does state that "...3KW is suitable for overnight home charging, but a 6KW or 7KW rating is recommended for optimal charging speeds."

In terms of HomeKit, the switch integrates with the company's Link Plus hub and is exposed to HomeKit as a simple on/off switch, so any additional functionality is only available through the company's own app.

Lightwave has released the L92 on their website To buy now for £99.95.

About 18 months ago, there weren't too many choices for HomeKit cameras, but a lot has changed in this relatively short time, with offerings from Eufy, Eve, Vocolinc, Aqara and others, all of which contribute to a respectable lineup of decently specified and affordable cameras. With Matter due to appear in 2022, we can expect to see more cameras compatible with HomeKit, but that doesn't seem to stop some manufacturers from bringing forth their latest offerings, which in this case is a company called Zorachka, who have launched their own high-end, exclusively HomeKit-compatible camera, simply named Homam.

The Homam, which is very reminiscent of an astronaut's space helmet, certainly doesn't look like any other camera in the HomeKit ecosystem at the moment, but given its exclusivity to HomeKit - aside from the company's own app - it generally offers pretty much the same feature set of other HomeKit cameras at a basic level, which is compatibility with HomeKit Secure Video, for example. Unlike some HomeKit cameras, however, the Homam doesn't just offer on-device storage - it's actually built into the device, as opposed to a removable SD card. Instead of simple storage, the camera uses a special chip that takes recordings regardless of whether there is an internet connection or not, with the chip able to store up to 64GB of footage. The chip uses a proprietary technology called VIS (Verona Index Storage) that uses RSA EAS for security. The company claims that this recording protocol "dramatically reduces the required network bandwidth, with no loss of quality". They further state that "...A unique network system finds the shortest path between the phone and Homam, connecting them directly to the local network", which results in "Faster response, very little buffering, and long storage life achieved by the proprietary video file system." It all sounds very impressive, but of course this could all be marketing spin....

The camera does have decent specs, with 7 glass, low-distortion fisheye lens, a field of view of Diagonal 156°, Horizontal 134°, Vertical 75° and a resolution of 5MP, with a focal length of 2.39mm. It also offers HDR image quality for both overexposed and low-light scenarios, at 30fps, and offers what sounds like a bucket list of image correction enhancements, including;

• Image demos
• Gamma Correction
• Optical black clamp
• Color Correction
• Correction of shadows
• Spot correction
• Flicker Correction
• Texture enhancer
• IR optimizer (night mode)
• High light compensation
• Correction of lens distortion
• Lens vignetting correction

As expected, the camera features night vision, with eight IR diodes divided into four separate zones, each offering 1,024 levels of brightness. A camera with such impressive specs can connect to 2.4 or 5.0 GHz WiFi networks, though it still only offers 1080p resolution, in part perhaps due to resolution caps within HomeKit. The camera also has a Bluetooth 5.0 connection, though this is likely only for pairing devices.

the camera is 75mm (WDH), with a separate magnetic stand that can remain on a flat surface or be attached to a wall or ceiling. The Homam is powered by a USB-C cable and a USB power block (5V, 1.5A), but is only designed for indoor use. The kicker here, especially in light of recent budget-priced cameras is that the Homam will cost you US$399.00. However, whether the above specifications are worthy of the price will depend on the individual. You can check out all the details via the company's website website.

 

While HomeKit can't compete with the number of devices compatible with Google's or Amazon's own ecosystems (maybe not for much longer as Matter works out...), there are still a large collection of products that HomeKit enthusiasts either own or want, and a new app by Yannic Fries, the main man on the German Apple/HomeKit site Smartapfel.de, has released an app that not only catalogs HomeKit devices, but also shows what a particular device is capable of, which in many cases will help consumers decide if a particular product is right for them, and also potentially save money along the way.

This is all achieved with the help of owners, enthusiasts and consumers themselves, who upload details of the devices they already own by simply granting access to your HomeKit home, although Yannic is keen to stress that no personal data is shared, only the technical specifications for the devices themselves are uploaded to the database for all to see. Since this is essentially a crowdsourced effort in terms of the data collected, many devices from all regions can be collected, not just products available in your region.

The new app is simply called HomeDevices, and is a free download from Apple's App Store now.

While there is a wide selection of smart locks from both Aqara and Xiaomi, many with HomeKit compatibility these days, but that's not stopping the last company of the two from releasing yet another smart lock, this time under the name the Smart Door Lock X. What makes this lock different you might ask, to which the answer would be that the latest 'lock on the block' comes with built-in facial recognition technology. Before you get too excited though, from all the information we've seen so far, this particular aspect of the lock is not exposed to HomeKit, even though the lock itself is. That probably won't deter some, as the feature will still help unlock the door no matter what app you're primarily using.

The lock itself, which like pretty much all of Xiaomi's locks is designed for doors with mortice type mechanical parts, as opposed to the simple deadbolt design found in the US. This means that the lock is almost certainly only for Chinese customers, at least officially.

The new model features many methods to unlock the door, including the aforementioned facial recognition, fingerprint, passcode, NFC, as well as app control via Mi Home and HomeKit, and standard keys. The lock has a special chip to store facial recognition data locally, and not in the cloud. A special '20-digit virtual password' feature allows you to type in random numbers before and after your own actual code, to disguise the real code from anyone who might check the keypad entry (however unlikely it may be). Once the camera detects a face, a notification, along with a live stream or still image (depending on settings) is pushed to your phone.

Returning to the face recognition feature, the lock features an array of sensors built into the top of the lock, using them to confirm the person's identity, in what looks like similar depth-sensing technology used by FaceID on iPhones and iPads. The other sensors include an additional IR LED for poorly lit areas, an RGB camera lens, a photosensitive sensor, a proximity sensor so it knows when to start IDing a face, and a separate infrared camera.

The lock also features a full-colour mini AMOLED display that lets you see the status of the lock, among other things. For power, the lock uses a rechargeable and replaceable 6250mAh battery, which should easily last six months.

I regularly review Eve products for HomeKit because I've come to appreciate their support for Thread and their privacy orientation. One of their products that I'm just now starting to use is the Eve Aqua with Thread support.

HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything related to Apple's smart home framework.

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The Eve Aqua product has been around for several years, but an updated 2020 version brought support for Thread, so it's a good time to invest in automating your outdoor watering. In my hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee, summers can be dry, hot and humid, so plants need extra watering.

Even if you don't have a permanent sprinkler system, I have found this product to be very useful when you go on vacation, and no one is available to check on your plants. No matter how hot the summers are here, a week without rain or water can take plants from blooming to dying.

Setting up Eve Aqua in HomeKit

One of the parts of HomeKit that I love is how easy it is to add new products to your Home. Because Apple has standardized the QR code, it's a process that's easy to repeat for any new product you want to add.

Eve Aqua is powered by two AA batteries. Eve has said that the batteries should last an entire watering season. During unpacking, you will see the batteries in the box along with some accessories to connect the Eve Aqua to your outdoor faucet. Next, you slide the bottom part of the unit out to insert the batteries and then slide it back in.

Once you have it turned on, you'll want to scan the HomeKit code. Since Eve Aqua is meant to stay outside, I would recommend keeping a copy of the code in Apple Notes, Homepass or Controller for HomeKit. I had to immediately apply a firmware update using the Eve iPhone app. The firmware update was to enable Thread support that was unlocked after the HomePod mini was released.

Eve Aqua install

Eve Aqua fits a standard 3/4 inch faucet, but there is also an adapter for a smaller hose. If you have problems with water leaking from the top, you can use the extra sealing ring that comes in the box. After it is connected to your faucet, you can connect it to your home. After that, turn on the water from the faucet, and you're good to go.

Using Aqua in the Home app

One of the easiest ways to use the product is to tap the icon in the Home app. The device will open the spigot and begin watering. The icon will change to a "running" state to indicate that water is flowing. When finished, you can tap the icon to stop watering.

Automations

The real fun is when you can set some automations. Unlike many HomeKit accessories, you have to use the Eve app to set up the automations. I'm not sure why you can't create a basic schedule in the Home app, but the Aqua wasn't available to me to create an automation based on the time of day.

In the Eve app, find the Eve Aqua in your device list and look for a schedule section. For example, you can create a schedule to start at 6:00 every morning and run for a preset time.

If you want to go a step further, you can integrate the Shortcuts app into this schedule to check for weather before running the program. Go back to the schedule section of the Eve app, tap the cog under that section for Eve Aqua, and look for Schedule Suspension. Tap "Install Siri shortcut." Once it's installed, you can say, "Hey Siri, check for watering," and once the forecast is checked, your watering can proceed. You can also do this directly from the shortcuts app.

Wrap-up

This product is not for everyone. You need to have an outdoor sprinkler system, even if it's just a hose and a traditional sprinkler. If you plan on going out of town for a week or so during the summer, you can set up a makeshift sprinkler system to water your plants and grass on a schedule or run it on demand. I'm happy with Eve Aqua's features and appreciate Eve's commitment to HomeKit and Thread technology.

It seems that after a long wait, and a bit of a disappointment over a year ago, TP-Link have finally added a smart plug with HomeKit support to their smart home lineup - the HomeKit smart plug KP125. Originally, the company announced on CES 2019 that their HS105KIT Smart plug would receive an update to support HomeKIt. However, by the time it was August, the company released the following statement;

Due to changes in our roadmap, the Kasa Smart Plug Mini (HS105) smart plug will not support Apple HomeKit. Despite the change in direction for this particular SKU, our team is dedicated to developing innovative smart home solutions that will continue to delight our customers around the world.

At the time, this was met with some disappointment, but since then, a slew of smart plugs have been released, leaving you to wonder why the company has finally added a HomeKit model, which, by the way, isn't even the one originally scheduled for HomeKit support.

This aside, the HomeKit smart plug does indeed seem to exist, with the plug listed in the company's Kasa app (originally spotted 3 nonths ago by Reddit user u/talldrin). However, it is not found on the company's website, although it is listed as available for purchase in both BestBuy and Target in the US, with a 2-pack available in the last shop for only US$29.99.

As strange as it may seem, especially since it's been over two years since the original cancellation of a HomeKit product, people seem to value these plugs rather highly. It will be interesting to see what else TP-Link has in the pipeline with HomeKit compatibility.

Back in 2019, Apple announced it was partnering with Samsung, Amazon, Google and the Zigbee Alliance to create a more open and secure standard for smart home accessories. Then referred to as "Connected Home over IP" and eventually renamed "Matter", the launch has now been delayed until 2022.

The first Matter-compatible accessories were due later this year, with Apple laying the groundwork for support in iOS 15. Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) CEO Tobin Richardson announced the delay today in a blog post, as reported by The Verge.

Although Matter itself has a "feature-complete specification," the group still needs to finish the SDK and certification program that will allow developers to have both existing and new hardware officially labeled as Matter-approved. While the original goal was to have much of that work done this year, with the first Matter-certified hardware rolling out by the end of 2021, the new timetable pushes that out to somewhere vaguely in the first half of 2022.

Companies like Philips Hue have promised to bring Matter support to their existing accessories, which could happen in early 2022. However, as Stacey Higginbotham notes, new Matter-compatible accessories are not likely until the second half of 2022. Higginbotham writes in her excellent newsletter:

Richardson gave several reasons why the Matter Working Group (formerly known as the Project Connected Home over IP Working Group) decided to delay the specification. They included the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the addition of another 29 companies to the Matter membership, and the challenge of providing a high-quality software development kit as part of the spec.

The delay is disappointing, but it's not a huge shock. What the people behind Matter are trying to do is bold. The goal is to deliver an interoperable smart home protocol that lets devices talk to each other and share their capabilities. It will help break down the challenges of building a smart home, where consumers have to worry about whether their lamp will work with Alexa or Google, or whether their door locks can talk to their security sensors. All Matter-certified devices will be able to work with each other; consumers can choose from multiple digital assistants, hubs, and apps depending on their needs.

Ideally, once the first Matter-compatible accessories hit the market, everything will have been worth the wait. Apple has promised that Matter will make it easier for device manufacturers to build devices compatible with smart home and voice services such as Amazon's Alexa, Apples Siri, Google's Assistant and others.

Nanoleaf is releasing an update today that transforms its Shapes and Elements smart light panels into Thread border routers. That means faster performance and better connectivity, along with other benefits such as Thread being self-sustaining and self-healing.

HomePod mini was one of the first mainstream smart home products with Thread support. Now Nanoleaf is enhancing its HomeKit-enabled Shapes smart light panels and Elements smart light panels (via the included controllers) with Thread edge router support thanks to the latest software update.

Smart lighting pioneer Nanoleaf today announced the launch of their proprietary Thread Border Routers through the Nanoleaf Shapes and Elements Controllers. With the new Nanoleaf Border Router, Essentials devices will automatically start using the Thread network once their Shapes or Elements Controller is connected to Wi-Fi. iOS users can enjoy this update immediately and Android users will soon be able to update their Apps as well (currently in public beta on Android). This will eventually open up Thread capabilities to all users.

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Related: Review: Nanoleaf Shapes offer fun and flexible HomeKit modular lighting

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Devices that support Thread can be endpoints or routers, and as you'd guess, Nanoleaf turning its Shapes and Elements smart light panels into Thread edge routers offers the maximum benefit of the new peer-to-peer mesh smart home networking standard.

That also means Nanoleaf's Essential smart bulb and light strip will work with Thread even if you don't have a HomePod mini after this update - again, as long as you also have Shapes or Elements.

Here's how Nanoleaf explains the benefits:

The Thread Border Router feature is built into the Nanoleaf Shapes Controller, Nanoleaf Elements Controller, and eero line of mesh Wi-Fi routers that bridges the Wi-Fi network to a Thread network, eliminating the need for additional hubs. This will help connect all your Thread devices, forming a mesh network that allows each device to speak the same universal language. The result is a much more reliable network where devices can communicate with each other, rather than relying on a single connection source like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

If you are an existing Shapes/Elements customer, you can update the Nanoleaf app to version 6.1 to start using Thread now.

Existing users with a Shapes or Elements Controller can use Thread immediately with a software update currently available in the Nanoleaf App (version 6.1). To install the latest update, go to More > Firmware Updates. Essentials will need to be updated to version 1.6 and Shapes and Elements will need to be updated to version 6.1.

A new Philips Hue Spotify integration has been announced, rolling out to the Hue app from today. This will sync your lights to the music you play on Spotify, fully automatically or with some degree of manual control.

Unlike third-party apps like Hue Disco, the integration doesn't rely on your iPhone's microphone to listen to the music ...

Instead, it extracts all the music data it needs from the metadata already embedded in Spotify tracks.

Weave light and music.

It's the first of its kind. We've partnered with Spotify to offer a unique light and music integration that links your Philips Hue and Spotify accounts, making your lights respond to the Spotify music you love.

With Philips Hue + Spotify, the Hue app analyzes the metadata of each Spotify song in real time, resulting in a light script that not only includes the beat of the song, but now also displays the mood, genre, tempo, segments, loudness, pitch and more.

Whether you're relaxing on the couch for a nice night out, having friends over for a party, or doing your chores on a custom playlist, you'll experience music like never before.

If you don't like the default light show, you can instruct the app to respond more softly or dramatically to the song.

If your Hue app has a Sync tab in the bottom center of the home screen, tap it. Otherwise, tap the Explore tab and swipe through the screens to the Spotify tab. If you don't see either option yet, the update has yet to roll out to your device and should appear within the next few days. (Annoyingly, the way new features are added to the app means that the app will claim to be up-to-date even if it's still waiting for the latest updates).

Dynamic scenes are included in the same update.

Slowly transition your color-capable Philips Hue lights in a room or zone through the different colors of any color scene in the Hue scene gallery. To use dynamic scenes, press the play button that appears on the scene map.

With this first release, the dynamic effects will be subtle. You may not notice your lights changing at first. In a future release you will be able to control the speed of dynamic scenes - stay tuned for the update!

Only color scenes you've added to My Scenes from the Hue scene gallery can be dynamic. In the future, you will be able to make all color scenes - even those you create yourself - dynamic.

The Philips Hue Ambience Gradient Lightstrip that was reported back in July has now landed. Instead of choosing a single color for the entire light strip, you can now choose gradients that display different colors along the length of the strip using scenes created by Philips.

An 80-inch strip costs $149.99, with 40-inch extension strips available for $59.99.

Also available are the Signe Gradient floor and table lamps, which bring the same multi-color options to floor lamps.

In addition, Philips now offers more powerful standard lamps - up to 1600 lumens (100w equivalent) and a White Ambience version of its artful filament lamps.

We are expanding our range with brighter bulbs and now offer 800 lumens (60W equivalent), 1100 lumens (75W equivalent) and 1600 lumens (100W equivalent).

The Filament collection now includes lamps that offer thousands of shades of warm to cool white light for the perfect light throughout the day.

Watch the promo video for the Spotify integration below.

Aqara Matter support has been added to two of its existing hubs, upgrading them to the HomeKit-compatible connectivity standard for smart home devices. Updating the hubs will provide Matter connectivity to much of the company's product range, including sensors, switches and plugs.

The company says Matter compatibility is coming first to two hubs, theAqara M1S and M2 ...

Background

Matter is an open-source secure connectivity standard for smart home devices. Originally known as CHIP (Connected Home over IP), it is supported by over 200 companies, including Apple.

Matter has two main advantages. First, it is a royalty-free way for any smart home device to gain compatibility with HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Weave ecosystems. This removes one of the barriers to HomeKit compatibility.

Second, any Matter-compatible device can pass signals around the house, so if you have a hub on one side of your house and a device on the other side of your house, and not enough signal strength to reach it, any Matter device between the two can pass the command.

Apple first announced its support for the standard back in 2019, with the name change occurring earlier this year.

Aqara Matter support

Aqara made the announcement today.

Aqara, a supplier for smart home products, today announced its commitment to Matter, a new connectivity standard for IoT devices. The company plans to offer global consumers a variety of Matter-compatible products. As a first step, Aqara will integrate Matter into its existing hubs - Aqara M1S and M2 - via a software update (OTA). The updated Aqara M2 and M1S hubs will ensure that certain new and existing Aqara end devices are compatible with Matter*.

The first Matter-compatible Aqara end devices will include the latest sensors, wall switches and smart plugs. Integration of Matter will not disrupt current Aqara smart homes, as users will continue to enjoy the same features and benefits of Aqara's existing Zigbee devices […]

The OTA update for the Aqara M2 and M1S hubs will be available shortly after Matter's rollout. According to the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), the Matter certification program and the first Matter-certified devices are expected to be available in the first half of 2022. As a member of the Matter Working Group, Aqara has been actively monitoring the latest Matter developments and specifications to ensure a seamless launch next year.

The asterisk simply refers to the fact that not all Aqara devices support Matter.

The August Lock is one of my favorite HomeKit devices I own, so when I came across the Yale Smart Cabinet Lock, it was something I was immediately curious to try to see how it worked with HomeKit, as I’ve not used an indoor lock before.

HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.

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Where the August Lock is a great device for securing the outside of your home, the Yale Smart Cabinet Lock is meant for securing cabinets in your home. What kind of cabinets could you use this for? Well, depending on your home setup, it could be useful to secure a liquor cabinet, medicine cabinet, personal documents, cleaning supplies, or anything you want to keep somewhat secure in your home.

If you’re familiar with the August Lock app, you’ll be familiar with the Yale Access App. It looks very similar. You can use the August app to control all of your Yale products as well. The integration means it’s going to be a natural extension of your August experience. If you’re comfortable using the August app for your door, then you’ll enjoy the same experience with the Yale Smart Cabinet Lock.

Installation of the Yale Smart Cabinet Lock is straightforward, but it’ll require following the instructions pretty closely for it to work correctly. You’ll need to have a Phillips screwdriver to completely install it into your cabinet, and Yale has put a nice video together showing the entire process.

Thankfully, the screws are on the small side, so if you end up removing the Yale Smart Cabinet Lock in the future, the holes will be pretty easy to fill. Since they’re on the inside part of the cabinet, you might get away with not repairing them as well.

Yale Smart Cabinet Lock with HomeKit

Like the August Lock, you can add the Yale Smart Cabinet Lock to HomeKit as well. You’ll be able to lock and unlock it using the Home app, similar to how you do the August Lock. If you put it on your liquor cabinet, you could build a HomeKit automation to automatically unlock it based on when the parents are home, etc.

Bluetooth vs. Wi-Fi

Similar to the August Lock, you have the option of buying a Bluetooth-only package, or one with the Wi-Fi Bridge. If you’re using HomeKit, you technically don’t have to use the Bridge. I like having it so I don’t have to worry about connecting with Bluetooth if HomeKit is being a bit flaky for some reason. The Connect Bridge is required for Google Home and Amazon Alexa as well.

Wrap-up

The Yale Smart Cabinet Lock is a super-simple device. It’ll take you around 20 minutes to install, and it’ll keep a cabinet perfectly secure. If you have teenagers at home for periods by themselves, it’s the perfect way to secure your liquor cabinet or medicine cabinet and keep track of when (and who) last opened it.

While there are some significant hardware differences, the choice between the Nest Cam (2021) and the Logitech Circle View comes down to your preference of mobile operating system. For those who prefer Android, the Google Assistant, or want to view their cameras on a Nest Hub, the Nest Cam (2021) is the perfect choice. However, if you're an Apple supporter, the Logitech Circle View is one of the best HomeKit cameras on the market thanks to its seamless integration with iOS, iCloud, and HomeKit.

Nest Cam vs Logitech Circle View: The breakdown

Source: Logitech

At their core, both the Nest Cam and Logitech Circle View offer the best in smart home security by providing timely notifications, live check-ins, and cloud recording. Both cameras simplify the setup and installation process by leveraging hub-free Wi-Fi connectivity and their respective smart home platforms. Voice control also makes viewing a feed accessible to anyone in the home, via phones or smart assistant devices.

Depending on your choice of mobile phone, however, your experiences will vary dramatically. You must take into account your totally household before buying. Before we dive too deep into the fray, let's take a look at the full specification.

	Nest Cam (2021)	Logitech Circle Overview
Price	$180	$160
Power	Battery or Wired	wired
Weatherproofing	IP54	IP64
Field of view	130-degrees	180-degrees
Resolution	1080p	1080p
Framerate	30fps	30fps
Aspect ratio	16x9	16x9
HDR	Yes	No
Night Vision	IR, 20 feet	IR, 15 feet
Speaker	Yes	Yes
Microphone	Yes	Yes
Local Storage	Yes, 1 hour	No
Smart alerts	Yes	Yes
Person/Face recognition	Yes	Yes
Movement zones	Yes	Yes
Theft protection	Yes	No
Wi-Fi	2.4GHz/5GHz	2.4GHz
Bluetooth	Yes	No
Ethernet	No	No
Voice assistant compatibility	Google Assistant	Siri/HomeKit

As you can see, there are a few key differences to keep in mind when choosing between the Nest Cam and the Logitech Circle View, but for now we'll focus on the similarities. Both cameras sport all the smart security essentials: two-way audio with built-in microphones and speakers, high-definition video, and smart alerts.

The Nest Cam and Logitech Circle View are also weatherproof, so you can monitor outdoor spaces year-round without worrying about protecting them from the elements. Finally, both cameras rely solely on Wi-Fi for smart home connectivity, no hardwire options are available. Now let's move on to the differences, starting with the hardware and design.

Nest Cam vs. Logitech Circle View: Design

Source: Google

The Nest Cam and the Logitech Circle View each have a premium design and are only available in one finish, but that's where the similarities end. For starters, the Nest Cam has a two-piece detachable design, making it more flexible in terms of mounting options. Google's camera comes with a magnetic mount and a traditional hardware mount in the box, but oddly not a stand for tabletop placement.

Another key difference is that the Nest Cam includes an internal rechargeable battery. Combined with the magnetic mount, you can install the Nest Cam almost anywhere in seconds. Disassembling it to charge it thus becomes a breeze. The internal battery will last up to seven months before it needs to be recharged, but weather and the amount of activity in front of the camera will affect the overall battery life. Finally, if you're worried about someone making off with your camera, Google also offers free theft protection with purchase.

Source: Christopher Close / iMore

This means that even though it's "wireless", you still have to plug it in for power - which may limit placement options.

The Circle View is a slim, all-black Logitech camera, making it slightly more discreet outdoors. The Circle View is a one-piece camera, with the lens rotating above a metal base that serves as a stand and wall mount. The camera comes with the necessary hardware for wall mounting, but there is no magnetic mount option available.

Also, unlike the Nest Cam, the Circle View lacks an internal battery. The lack of a battery means that although the camera is "wireless," you still have to plug it in for power - which may limit its placement options. The advantage of the Circle View is that you can pretty much set it up and forget about it, but if you're mounting it outdoors, you'll need to plan it carefully.

Nest Cam vs. Logitech Circle View: Video and recording

Source: Google

As mentioned earlier, both smart cameras record video and stream video in high definition - 1080p at 30fps, to be exact. Both cameras use the standard 16x9 widescreen format, but they offer a different overall view of the environment. The Logitech Circle View uses an ultra-wide 180-degree field of view that's better suited for outdoor use, while the Nest Cam has a narrower 130-degree field of view. However, the Nest Cam is able to use HDR, which should provide a slightly better picture.

For recording, both cameras mainly store videos in the cloud - which of course means another new subscription. For the Nest Cam, the Nest Aware service is available in two plans starting at $6 per month for unlimited cameras. The basic Nest Aware plan offers an ongoing 30 days of recorded events, while the $12 Plus plan boosts this to 60 days and adds ten days of 24/7 continuous recording. Regardless of the plan, the Nest Cam also stores one hour of events on the device, in case your Wi-Fi goes down while you're on the go.

Source : Google

Cloud storage for the Logitech Circle View works a little differently than you might expect. Instead of purchasing a subscription through Logitech, the camera records video directly to Apple's iCloud service. Through iCloud, the camera uses your existing storage plan, so you don't have to sign up for anything extra. You can also rest easy knowing that events in your home are encrypted and stored securely in Apple's cloud.

If you don't already have an iCloud storage plan, you'll pay from $0.99 per month for one camera, $2.99 per month for five cameras, and $9.99 per month for an unlimited number of cameras. Each plan gives you access to ten days of continuous recording in Apple's Home app, but 24/7 continuous recording and local storage are unfortunately not available with the Circle View. One nice perk of the iCloud subscription is that recorded video doesn't count against your storage capacity, so you don't have to worry about your cameras eating your photo backups.

Nest Cam vs Logitech Circle View: Smart home integration

Source: Logitech

What really sets the two cameras apart is how they integrate with smart home assistants and apps. As you might have guessed, the Nest Cam leverages the power of the Google Assistant and other Nest devices. For example, with a Nest Hub, you can summon a live image from the Nest Cam on-demand with just a shout, and you can even speak to whoever is lurking outside your home.

What really sets the two cameras apart is how they integrate with smart home assistants and apps.

With a Nest Aware subscription, the Nest Cam analyzes activity to determine who - or what - is within its view. Image analysis allows you to filter out potential nuisance notifications, such as a pet running across your yard or vehicles if your camera is focused on a street. Image analysis also adds face detection, so you can set the camera to only notify you if it detects an unfamiliar face.

As mentioned earlier, Logitech's Circle View camera is built exclusively for Apple's HomeKit smart home platform. While exclusivity means that you can only view and manage the camera on Apple devices, it also means that the camera features anything that HomeKit has to offer - including HomeKit Secure Video and Siri.

Using HomeKit, the Circle View gets the same image analysis features and smart alerts as the Nest Cam. Yet it does so privately by processing activity locally on devices like the Apple TV and HomePod mini. Siri lets you call up a live view of your camera on your iOS device with just your voice, and you can always view recordings and more through the Home app built into your iPhone. And if you have an Apple TV, you can even view all the events and alerts about activities on the big screen.

Nest Cam vs. Logitech Circle View: Which one should you buy?

Source: Logitech

Ultimately, the choice between the Nest Cam and Logitech Circle View essentially comes down to your household's preferences when it comes to mobile devices and smart assistants. If your family is all about Apple's ecosystem, the Logitech Circle View offers the best possible integration. Using the Home app that's already on all your Apple devices or Siri, managing and sharing your camera is about as seamless as it gets when combined with iCloud storage.

On the other hand, if your home contains a mix of Android phones and iPhones - or if you don't want to live within one platform, the Nest Cam is the way to go. Not only is Google's camera more flexible on the software side of things, but it's also more flexible with its integrated rechargeable battery and magnetic mounting options. Add in the one-hour local backup recording and theft protection, and you've got a camera that meets all the requirements.

The Logitech Circle View Doorbell and the Nest Doorbell are among the best video doorbells you can buy today. The Nest Doorbell's built-in battery, free three hours of local storage, and support for a wider range of mobile devices make it our choice for most homes. The Nest Doorbell works with or without existing wiring, and because it supports iOS and Android, anyone in your home can access it regardless of phone.

On the other hand, Logitech's doorbell delivers all the latest HomeKit features, including packet detection, activity zones, facial recognition, and cloud storage, making it the go-to for all-Apple homes. Other highlights include the ability to use your HomePod as a bell and the ability to watch a live feed on the big screen via an Apple TV - all made possible by Circle View's deep integration with iOS.

Logitech Circle View Doorbell vs Nest Doorbell: The breakdown

Source: Logitech

As video doorbells, both the Logitech Circle View Doorbell and the Nest Doorbell keep an eye on the front door of your home by providing on-demand live images and storing recordings of all events within their view. Both doorbells also provide timely notifications when a visitor rings the doorbell or when someone is lurking around your home.

Despite having similar core functionality, how you interact with the Nest Doorbell and the Logitech Circle View depends heavily on the devices in your home. To get the most out of your doorbell, you need to consider your family's phones, TVs, smart assistants, and computers. If you don't keep these in mind, you may be missing out on some Showcase features, like calling up your doorbell's live feed with a voice command. But before we get too deep into that, let's start with the technical specifications.

	Logitech Circle View Doorbell	Nest Doorbell Battery
Price	$199.99	$179.99
Finish	1, black	4, snow, linen, ivory, ash
Power	Wired	Wired and battery option
Battery Life	AFTER	6 months
Connectivity	2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi	2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi
Weatherproofing	Yes, IP 65	Yes, IP 54
Field of view	160-degrees	145-degrees
Aspect ratio	3:4 portrait	3:4 portrait
Resolution	1,200 x 1,600	960 x 1280
Frame Rate	30 fps	30 fps
Sensor	5 MP	1.3 MP
HDR	Yes	Yes
Night Vision	IR and 4,000K LED, 6 feet	IR, 10 feet
Local Storage	No	Yes, 3 hours
Uninterrupted recording	No	No
Speaker	Yes	Yes
Microphone	Yes	Yes
Chimes required	Yes, 8-24V	No
Smart alerts	Yes	Yes
Person/Face recognition	Yes	Yes
Package Detection	Yes	Yes
Movement zones	Yes	Yes
Preset Responses	No	Yes
Smart Compatibility	Siri/HomeKit	Google Assistant

As you can see, there are quite a few technical specifications to digest, so let's first start with the similarities between the two doorbells. Both the Logitech Circle View and the Nest Doorbell feature all the essential video doorbells, such as built-in microphones and speakers, infrared night vision, and, of course, weatherproofing.

Another similarity is that both doorbells use a higher 3:4 aspect ratio. The larger aspect ratio allows you to see more of the ground right outside your door, perfect for keeping an eye on your deliveries. Thanks to smart app integration, both doorbells also notify you of events within their field of view, thanks to Wi-Fi networking that doesn't require a smart hub. Now that we've discussed the similarities, let's move on to the main differences.

Logitech Circle View doorbell vs. Nest doorbell: Design

Source: Google

Video doorbell design has come a long way over the years, and it shows in the Logitech Circle View and the Nest Doorbell. Both doorbells have sleek, high-quality designs that, while slightly bulkier than the traditional doorbell button, still manage to look great on all types of outdoor surfaces. As for the finish, Logitech keeps it simple with a one-size-fits-all approach. At the same time, the Nest Doorbell is available in four different colors: snow, linen, ivory, and ash - each with neutral tones of their respective colors.

The Nest Doorbell also offers more installation and mounting options than the Circle View. Google's doorbell has an internal rechargeable battery that allows the doorbell to be installed virtually anywhere outside the door. Without wires, you can stick the Nest Doorbell on the trim of your door to make it easier for your guests to find it, or on the side of your porch to give you the perfect angle.

Source: Logitech

The biggest drawback to a completely wireless solution like the Nest Doorbell is that you'll need to top it up from time to time. However, thanks to its generous six-month battery life, the Nest Doorbell is a little easier to manage. If you do get tired of charging, you always have the option to plug it in. Another thing to keep in mind if you go for wireless is that you'll have to rely on your phone or devices like Google Home or Nest Hub for a ring signal.

In contrast, the Logitech Circle View Doorbell is requires existing doorbell wiring, a transformer, and an indoor bell for installation. While this should not be a problem for most homes, compatibility issues can arise and you should definitely check before purchasing.

Logitech Circle View doorbell vs Nest doorbell: Video and recording

Source : Google

Over to video, both the Logitech Circle View and the Nest Doorbell take and stream video in HD quality and support HDR. The Logitech Circle View's 1200x1600 video resolution should provide a slightly better picture than the Nest Doorbell's 960x1280 resolution, but you probably won't see too much of a difference, as both are more than capable.

The Logitech Circle View also offers a wider field of view of 160 degrees versus 145-degrees on the Nest Doorbell. While it doesn't sound like a huge difference - unlike resolution, every little bit counts when it comes to making sure your entire porch is covered, especially with the larger aspect ratio.

The Circle View relies on Apple's cloud storage service for recorded video, which means you don't have to take out an extra subscription if you're already paying for a plan.

Because both doorbells store video in the cloud, a subscription is required if you want a good security solution. For anything longer than the included three hours of local storage, the Nest Doorbell requires the Nest Aware service, starting at $6 per month. Nest Aware stores 30 days of events for an unlimited number of cameras and doorbells in the base level, and the $12 per month Nest Plus subscription doubles this to a total of 60 days.

While Logitech's doorbell doesn't offer any kind of local storage, it does have a trick up its sleeve - iCloud. The Circle View relies on Apple's cloud storage service for recorded video, which means you don't have to take out an extra subscription if you're already paying for one. iCloud subscriptions start at $0.99 per month for one camera, $2.99 for five cameras, and $9.99 for unlimited cameras. With each plan, you can view ten days of events in a timeline in the Home app. And while you'll need a storage plan, videos don't count against your data limit - a nice perk.

Logitech Circle View Doorbell vs. Nest Doorbell: Smart home integration

Source: Google

How each doorbell integrates with your existing smart home and voice assistants is also something to consider. Since Google makes the Nest Doorbell, it comes right out of the box with support for both iOS and Android. Whether you're using an iPhone or the latest Pixel, you get essentially the same experience: an on-demand live view, video history, and smart alerts.

As you might expect, other Google devices - like the Nest Hub and Chromecast - get additional controls and features. The Nest Hub lets you watch your front door with a simple voice command, and a Chromecast lets you use your TV as an always-on monitor. When combined with a Nest Aware subscription, the Nest Doorbell gets access to image analytics, which can identify who's at the door or if there's a package outside. Image analytics can also filter out nuisance reports from animals or vehicles.

Source : Apple

Although not built by Apple, the Logitech Circle View Doorbell is built exclusively for iOS and HomeKit. By going exclusively for HomeKit, the Logitech Circle View takes advantage of all the HomeKit Secure Video features available today, such as facial recognition, activity zones and smart notifications, as well as new features introduced along with annual OS updates.

Another benefit of the deep HomeKit integration is that the Logitech Circle View Doorbell works on all your Apple devices - iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV and HomePod, all without additional setup. With an Apple TV, you can access your doorbell's feed at any time, in a full-screen view or on top of your content as a floating picture-in-picture window. With a HomePod and image analysis via HomeKit Secure Video, Siri can announce the name of whoever is at the door, and yep, you can even use the HomePod as an additional bell.

Logitech Circle View Doorbell vs Nest Doorbell: Which one should you buy?

Source: Logitech

Regardless of which doorbell you choose for your home, the Logitech Circle View Doorbell and the Nest Doorbell offer the best smart home security you can buy today. If you or your household are Apple die-hards and want everything HomeKit, Logitech's doorbell is a natural choice. The Circle View works with the Home app that's already on all your devices, and thanks to iCloud storage support, you may be able to skip a new subscription if you have an existing plan.

If your family uses both Android and iOS devices in your home, or if you need a doorbell that works without existing wiring, you should go for the Nest Doorbell. Google's doorbell plays nicely with a wider variety of phones, so you can share your porch view or recordings with anyone, regardless of device, and its built-in rechargeable battery makes it more accessible than the Circle View.

Although we're comparing two of the newest video doorbells in this versus battle, the truth is that both options are among the best video doorbells on the market. Both the Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell and the Nest Doorbell (Battery) offer dual-powered installation options and excellent battery life, and they both offer sharp HDR images - so it's hard to go wrong with either one.

That said, the Nest Doorbell's built-in three-hour local storage gives it a slight edge overall when it comes to making sure all of your home's activity is covered 24/7. However, if your home includes Alexa devices, or if you want a doorbell with a siren that you can activate on demand, Arlo's offering might be better suited to you.

Arlo Essential Doorbell vs. Nest Doorbell: The breakdown

Source: Google

With front porch security in mind, the Arlo Essential Wireless Doorbell and the Nest Doorbell give you the ability to call up a live view on-demand and capture motion events throughout the day. When someone rings the doorbell or motion is detected, you'll receive an alert on all devices so you can talk to your visitors or keep an eye on a potential intruder.

Because both doorbells are from different vendors, some features and alerts will come through differently depending on the devices in your home. If you already have a voice assistant and want to use it as a wireless doorbell, or if you want to call up a live feed while you have your hands full in the kitchen, you'll need to pay close attention to compatibility with smart homes. But let's start with the easy stuff, by taking a look at the technical specifications.

	Arlo Essential Wireless Doorbell	Nest Doorbell Battery
Price	$199.99	$179.99
Finish	2, Black, White	4, Snow, Linen, Ivory, Ash
Power	Wired and battery option	Wired and battery option
Battery life	6 months	6 months
Connectivity	2.4 GHz Wi-Fi	2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi
Weatherproofing	UV & Weatherproof	Yes, IP 54
Field of view	180-degrees	145-degrees
Aspect ratio	1:1	3:4 portrait
Resolution	1536x1536	960 x 1280
HDR	Yes	Yes
Night Vision	IR, 20 feet	IR, 10 feet
Local Storage	None	Yes, 3 hours
Uninterrupted recording	No	No
Speaker	Yes	Yes
Microphone	Yes	Yes
Siren	Yes	No
Chimes required	No	No
Smart alerts	Yes	Yes
Person/Face Recognition	Yes	Yes
Package Detection	Yes	Yes
Movement zones	Yes	Yes
Preset Responses	Yes	Yes
Smart Compatibility	Alexa, Google Assistant	Google Assistant

As you can see, the Nest Doorbell and the Arlo Essential doorbell have a lot in common. Both doorbells support all the package security staples, for starters: two-way audio, notifications, night vision, and smart home integration. Installation is also incredible, as both sport batteries that allow you to place them just about anywhere, and they last up to six months on a charge.

Both video doorbells also feature weatherproofing, keeping them safe from nature's elements year-round. Additionally, both doorbells offer hub-free Wi-Fi connectivity, meaning you can add them to your home network without having to manage another smart hub. Of course, technical specifications don't always tell the whole story, so let's take a look at what makes each doorbell unique.

Arlo Essential Doorbell vs. Nest Doorbell: Design differences

Source: Arlo

Make no mistake about it; neither the Nest doorbell nor the Arlo Essential wireless doorbell will fool anyone into thinking there's no camera watching. However, both doorbells offer the latest trends in design, making them slightly less noticeable than video doorbells of the past with sleek modern frames.

The Nest doorbell is slightly more decor-friendly than the Arlo Essential doorbell, as it is available in a total of four color options.

The Nest Doorbell is slightly more decor-friendly than the Arlo Essential Doorbell, as it is available in a total of four color options. Despite having more than one color to choose from, all four of Nest's finishes - ivory, linen, ash and snow - are subtle and not over-the-top flashy. Meanwhile, the Arlo Essential Doorbell is available in just two finishes: black and white. Finishes aside, there's not much in the way of significant visual differences between the two. Inside, however, something you can't see is the inclusion of a siren in Arlo's doorbell, which you can manually activate at any time.

As mentioned earlier, the Arlo Essentials Doorbell and the Nest Doorbell support wired and wireless options. If you choose wireless, you have additional mounting flexibility because you can install the doorbell anywhere for optimal visibility or convenience.

With wireless use, you do have to consider some drawbacks: battery management and compatibility of the bell. For the most part, charging both doorbells is not a major ordeal, as they both last for months before needing to be recharged. However, the bell part can be a problem, as without wiring, you'll be relying on your phone or a smart speaker to let you know when someone is at the door. The good news is that you can always connect either one - if your home has the right wiring, transformer and compatible bell.

Arlo Essential Doorbell vs Nest Doorbell: Video and recording

Source : Arlo

The most important aspects to consider when choosing a video doorbell are video quality and recording capabilities. The Nest Doorbell and the Arlo Essential Doorbell are no underdogs in this department. They both support HD-quality video with support for HDR - albeit in different resolutions and aspect ratios.

Technically, Arlo's doorbell should produce a better overall picture with a resolution of 1536x1536 versus the Nest Doorbell's resolution of 960 x 1280. Still, it will be hard to tell the difference - especially when viewing on your phone. The field of view is where you'll see the difference, with the Arlo Essential Doorbell featuring a wider 180-degree FOV and a square 1:1 aspect ratio that allows you to see more area than the Nest Doorbell's 3:4 image and 145-degree FOV.

Source : Google

When it comes to storing recordings, both doorbells rely on cloud services. Neither doorbell works with services like Dropbox or local NVRs or FTP servers, so to get the whole security experience, you have to pay a small monthly fee. The Nest Aware service - starting at $6 for 30 days of events on unlimited cameras and doorbells - goes up to $12 for 60 days.

Service plans for the Arlo Essential doorbell are a bit more complicated, with multiple tiers and varying prices depending on the number of cameras. The basic Arlo Secure plan starts at $2.99 per month for a single camera, which gives you 30 days of history, and $9.99 for the same with an unlimited number of cameras. The Arlo Secure Plus plan, priced at $14.99 per month, adds Emergency Response, which lets you use the location of your doorbell to notify authorities of potential problems, and unlimited cameras.

Arlo Essential Doorbell vs. Nest Doorbell: Smart features and smart home integration

Source : Google

Along with cloud storage, both doorbell subscriptions include intelligent alerts and additional security options. Leveraging the power of the cloud, both doorbells use image analytics to determine who - or what - is in their view, so you can set notification preferences that filter out vehicles or pets. Image analytics can also determine when a package arrives and send a custom notification.

Arlo's Secure service plans also include a few additional security features that you don't get with the Nest Doorbell. One is the Emergency Response feature that provides one-tap access to police, fire, or paramedics. Another is the detection of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, although this is more tailored to indoor cameras, unless the alarms in your home are loud enough to reach the doorbell outside.

The Nest Doorbell plays nicely with Google's Android phones, Chromecasts, and voice assistant devices.

Another thing to consider is the app experience and smart home integration with the two video doorbells. The Nest Doorbell works well with Android phones, Chromecasts, and voice assistant devices from Google. With direct integration, you can use your TV as a big screen monitor for your doorbell, or you can have notifications sent directly to your Nest Hub screen, allowing you to quickly respond or view events.

The Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell, on the other hand, takes a more agnostic approach by working with Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa. Working with multiple platforms means viewing your Arlo doorbell feed on a wider variety of devices like an Echo Show or Nest Hub, but it does require additional setup. One last thing to note is that neither works with Apple's HomeKit. If you want an option you can manage in the iOS Home app, you'll need a solution like the original wired Arlo Video Doorbell.

Arlo Essential Doorbell vs. Nest Doorbell: Which one should you buy?

Source: Arlo

With monitoring deliveries being one of the biggest reasons to purchase a video doorbell, the Nest Doorbell gets our pick in this battle of porch guards. The Nest Doorbell's ability to record video for up to three hours, even if the Wi-Fi goes down, ensures that you'll always have footage of a potential theft available. Plus, the fact that it can be accessed for free without a subscription is the icing on the cake.

If you value flexibility in your choice of phone or devices in your home, we recommend going with the Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell. Arlo's doorbell offers nearly the same level of integration with voice assistants and smart home platforms, so you can watch and respond to visitors from all your existing devices. Plus, if you ever decide to change things up, you can rest easy knowing that you'll still be able to receive alerts and monitor your front door.

Meross has announced the release of the company's latest HomeKit-enabled accessory on Tuesday, the MAP100 Smart Wi-Fi Air Purifier. The newest Meross accessory combines powerful air purification with smart home conveniences found in the best HomeKit air purifiers — all at an affordable price.

Purification Up to 207 ft², Ultra Quiet: The compact frame and 360° Air Inlet help the air purifier fresh the air effectively. Coverage up to 207 ft², CARD 160m³/h, suitable for the bedroom, kitchen, living room and office. With a 24dB noise level at sleep mode, air purifier releases a pleasant sound, one that can easily fade into the background and not be noticed. 3 speed settings(Low, Medium, High) allows to adjust fan speeds and noise volume more flexible.

The Meross Smart Wi-Fi Air Purifier covers small to medium-sized rooms — up to 207 square feet, with a three-stage filtration process that lasts up to six months. According to Meross, the included True HEPA filter captures 99.97% of common household particulates, including dust, pollen, and pet dander, while an activated carbon filter removes odors and VOCs.

The Meross air purifier has a total of three fan speed settings — each accessible through HomeKit or via the Meross app, with the lowest operating at just 24 decibels. Other smart features include timers, scheduling, automation with other accessories, child lock, filter status notifications, and voice control.

The Meross Smart Wi-Fi Air Purifier is available now through Amazon at a retail price of $146. If you are interested in adding one to your home, you can take advantage of a special launch discount that takes $30 off the retail price when you clip the coupon found on the Amazon product page.

Aqara has announced plans to bring the upcoming smart home connectivity standard — Matter, to the company's range of smart home accessories in 2022.

Matter, previously known as Project CHIP (Connected Home over IP), is a new, open-source, and secure connectivity standard for IoT devices. Aqara shares Matter's vision of having a unifying language for the IoT industry to improve consumers' smart home experiences. The Company is part of the Matter community of more than 200 global companies with a common goal of increasing interoperability across IoT devices, brands and systems, and boosting adoption of the smart home worldwide.

Formerly known as Project CHIP (Connected Home over IP), Matter aims to unify the smart home market by offering a universal language that allows interoperability between devices and smart home platforms. In addition to Apple, Matter is currently backed by over 200 companies, including Amazon, Google, Signify, and IKEA.

Aqara's Matter support will be enabled through free OTA updates to the company's M1S and M2 Smart Hubs shortly after the standard launches next year. Once updated, Aqara's accessories — including our picks for best HomeKit temperature sensors and motion sensors will work with Matter. However, Aqara notes that not all device types will work "due to the lack of Matter support for specific device type(s)".

The Aqara M1S Smart Hub and the Aqara Smart Hub M2 are available now through online retailers such as Amazon and in Apple stores in specific markets globally. Pricing for the M1S and M2 hubs starts at $49.99 and $59.99, respectively, and both are also available in bundles that offer additional accessories at a discounted price.

TP-Link is expanding its outdoor product line by introducing a pair of new smart plugs on Monday. The latest Kasa accessories bring smart home convenience to the great outdoors with extra-long range, weather resistance, and smart app and voice control.

"We are excited to introduce our latest outdoor smart home innovations to easily control outdoor appliances and lighting," said Jeff Barney, COO of TP-Link USA. "Our amazing outdoor plugs offer a long Wi-Fi range allowing users to easily stay connected all while being controlled with simple voice commands or with the Kasa Smart app."

TP-Link's Kasa KP401 Smart WiFi Outdoor Plug provides a single, hub-free, smart outlet that connects to existing home networks at distances of up to 300-feet. The KP401 sports an IP64 weather-resistance rating for year-round use, and it is ETL certified with support for loads up to 15A and up to 1875W.

Users can say goodbye to dead spots in their backyard with the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug-In Dimmer (KP405). It connects directly with existing 2.4 GHz in-home wireless network, no additional hub or device required to bring Wi-Fi outdoors up to 300 ft. It has an IP64 rating and features a weather-resistant cover that ensures protection against dust intrusion and splashes of water. With the KP405, users can adjust the brightness of their connected outdoor lights to set the perfect ambiance and control schedules from sunrise to sunset to automatically save energy.

The new KP405 Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug-In Dimmer also offers a single, smart outlet with weather resistance and 300-foot range but adds dimming capabilities to the mix. With dimming controls, users can adjust brightness levels on compatible outdoor lighting on-demand, and through schedules, lighting can automatically turn on to the perfect level.

In addition to the Kasa app, both the latest plugs support voice controls via Alexa and the Google Assistant. However, like previous Kasa releases, the new plugs do not work with Apple's HomeKit.

The TP-Link KP401 Kasa Smart WiFi Outdoor Plug is available now through Amazon for $16.99. The TP-Link KP405 Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug-In Dimmer is also available now for $29.99.

With the latest update from Apple to iOS15 or your iPhone, it's easy to forget the improvements made to other devices in the Apple ecosystem, such as tvOS for example, especially regarding HomeKit. An addition to Apple TV is the ability to not only get a picture-in-picture notification from your HomeKit-enabled video doorbell but now yours too HomeKit cameras at! This is especially useful for outdoor cameras, where you might be watching TV and not have your iPhone to hand, but still want to be notified if someone is lurking in your yard, for example. In my case, it's helpful to keep an eye on our 1-year-old dog Bubble...

It's easy enough to set up if you follow these steps, but if you have a lot of cameras like me, you might want to think about which cameras you want to get notifications on to avoid a flood of notifications when you're watching your favorite show. or trying to watch a movie.

The following instructions are based on the assumption that you have an Apple TV HD or 4K that can run tvOS15 and that you have updated to the latest firmware.

• Go to the settings section of your Apple TV and select AirPlay and HomeKit
• From there, scroll down to the HomeKit subsection and select Cameras & Doorbells

• Choose the camera(s) to display on Apple TV, both for display and motion alerts
• For each camera, select whether you want to receive notifications and what kind of detection is reported

• If you select: When specific motion is detected, you have the choice to activate up to four different options - People, animals, Vehicles, or Packages (NEW ONES)
• Once you're all set, you'll receive notifications on your Apple TV via a Photo in photo (PiP) pop-up screen

• If you happen to have HomeKit-enabled cameras that don't have the capability for HomeKit Secure Video (HSV) functionality, then most likely you can only Activity Notifications on or off. You can see this in the Residence Iota cam and the D-Link Omna 180 camera in the screenshot above.

• If you have an HSV compatible camera, but it is not set to the Allow streaming and recording option in HomeKit, you will see this warning. You can still see the live stream, but you won't get any notifications.

• If you receive a lot of notifications at a certain time when you don't need them, from the full screen view of the specific camera you can Snooze activity icon
• A screen will appear with three snooze options: snooze for 15 minutes, snooze for an hour, snooze until tomorrow.

• When viewing a live stream from one of your cameras, whether it's recording or not, you'll see two separate icons, one for devices related to (but not limited to) the room the camera is in, and a others to view all your cameras in a grid format.
• The device icon, once pressed, shows the devices relevant to the room the camera is in, as well as devices you deem relevant via the Home app.
• From here you have basic controls - on/off for the most part, so you get no control over lights with dimming and color capabilities other than on or off.

• In addition to cameras and doorbells, certain devices can also report their status, such as door locks. You can see in the corner of the screen that my Nuki Lock 2 is unlocked.

There's probably a little more to explore with tvOS15, but this is an addition that was most welcome - if only to keep an eye on a mischievous dog...

Since I live in a house with blinds in every bedroom, it was a goal of mine to get at least some of these blinds automated. Since the cost of custom automated blinds is out of my reach, 'Retrofit' options (meaning a solution that adds smart functionality to existing blinds) seem like the easiest option.

Fortunately, Aqara has now released the Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1. It uses Zigbee, so it works with your Aqara hub, and it's officially supported in HomeKit, and because it uses Zigbee (basically Zigbee 3.0), the response times are fast and reliable.

So today's video puts this new device to the test to determine if it's right for your home. The E2 is currently being resold Amazon.co.uk, although this product is sold out at the time of writing, with new stock coming in a few weeks.

UPDATE: Aqara has found a few problems with the 2.2.2 update so decided to remove it to avoid further problems but now a new problem has started - 2.2.3 - which solves the problems that have arisen for those who managed to update to 2.2.2 before it was removed, while adding the extra features and compatibility with underlying devices as originally intended.

akara started rolling out a new one today firmware update for their very popular Smart Camera, the G2H Camera Hub. The new update, which appears to be global, is listed in HomeKit as version 2.2.2, or 2.2.2_0002.0526 in the Aqara Home app, offers the usual bug fixes, but now states that additional devices are now supported. One such device that has since been released internationally was the Aqara TVOC sensor (read our review HERE), which wasn't really fully compatible with the G2H until this latest update, allowing the multisensor to be added to the hub, but unfortunately not being exposed to HomeKit.

With the new update, the TVOC sensor is now exposed to HomeKit and thus fully compatible. Other devices that can now be added to the G2H and exposed to HomeKit include the H1 Wireless and H1 Wired EU Switches, the upcoming Roller blind drive E1, and the Wired and Wireless E1 Switches (the latter two are currently "China only" products).

To update to the latest firmware, login to your Aqara account, click 'Profile' and select Firmware Update to check. If it's not listed yet, it's just a matter of waiting for it to roll out to your region, which should be very soon.

Thanks to Richard B Line for the heads up.

the Ripple is a smart ultrasonic diffuser (for rooms up to 30 m2). It includes a 'rainbow spectrum' mood light with 16 million colors, has multiple smart controls, can run for up to 8 hours and comes with a 220ml water tank capacity. It has the ability to turn off automatically, uses Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and is of course compatible with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

Specifications:

• Multi-color LED lighting – up to 16 million colors
• Voice control (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant) or
• VOCOlinc (features such as fog settings and intensity, lightning effects, etc.)
• Automatic shutdown when the tank is empty
• 220ml water tank capacity
• Add your favorite aroma oil to create a fragrant atmosphere
• Works with HomeKit, Alexa and Google Assistant
• 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
• BPA-free
• Perfect for rooms up to 30 m2
• ON / OFF timer
• Maximum working time 8 hours
• Dimensions: height 16cm x average 11.2cm

I've worked my way through all of Eve's products sold in the US, and I'm continually amazed at the tight integration with HomeKit and the reliable products. If Apple was planning to buy a vendor to build first-party HomeKit products, Eve should be at the top of the list. A recent addition to my office was the Eve Room monitor for indoor air quality.

HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything related to Apple's smart home framework.

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I set a goal to monitor the air quality in all rooms of my home, and I chose the Eve Room for my bedroom/home office. It tracks VOC, temperature and humidity using an e-ink display. One of my favorite features of the product is that it's rechargeable via mini-USB. So many wireless HomeKit products use regular batteries, so I have to replace them all once a year or so. I love that Eve has gone the extra mile and incorporated a rechargeable battery. Eve Room lasts about six weeks on a single charge.

Details to follow

Eve Room tracks all of its measures in historical detail that can then be viewed on the Eve iPhone. This data allows you to see how simple changes in your environment can affect air quality over time. It is also useful to track the temperature and air quality in a specific room of your home (baby's room, etc.). It can also be insightful to see how cooking, burning candles, or introducing new electronics into a room can affect the quality of the room.

The Home app includes all the tracked data on a live basis, so it's great for giving alerts if the air quality drops below a certain level, etc. It can track and display temperatures between 32 degrees and 122 degrees Fahrenheit on its 200×200 e-inks creek.

HomeKit installation

Eve includes the HomeKit code on the box, so a quick scan in the Home app wizard for new devices is all it takes to track the air quality and temperature in each room of your home. Once the device joins your HomeKit environment, you can tell the Home app which room it's in. Eve Room sends its data via Bluetooth Low Energy, so if you're having trouble connecting, you might consider Eve's Bluetooth extender. I hope a future revision of Eve Room Thread includes support.

Once it's in HomeKit, you can track air quality in the Home app and build automations to turn on HomeKit fans or an air purifier.

Is Eve Room worth the price?

The Eve Room is on the high end of the price range for HomeKit air quality tracking devices, but the rechargeable battery makes it a great option. If you want something cheaper, check out the Qingping option I reviewed a few weeks ago.

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After a few leaks earlier this month, Ikea has now officially unveiled its latest product in the Symfonisk range of speakers, in partnership with Sonos. Earlier in the summer, the company released their Symfonisk wall speaker, with generally positive feedback, but while the wall speaker was a new design, this latest offering can be considered an update to the currently available speaker/lamp, which was released in 2019. released. , in addition to the bookshelf speaker, which is still available today.

The updated speaker/lamp is smaller than the original, in part due to customer feedback;

“Since the launch of the first SYMFONISK table lamp speaker, we have learned a lot about how and where they are used. For example, many people use the lamp speaker on a bedside table, so we have made a new, slightly smaller lamp base. We are now also offering customers more design choices, making the lamp speaker better suited to their individual home,” said Stjepan Begic, product owner at IKEA of Sweden. “By integrating a speaker into a table lamp, we can save space, reduce clutter and create atmosphere with both light and sound,” he adds.

The new table lamp speaker allows for greater personalization as the product is now divided into the speaker lamp base and speaker lamp shade, which are sold separately. Customers can choose between a black or white version of the lamp base, as well as two lampshades in different styles and colours: a fabric or glass lampshade, in black or white. The new bulb also supports a wider range of incandescent bulbs thanks to the added E26/E27 socket.

The new Symfonisk table lamp speaker features a completely new acoustic architecture that uses a modified waveguide, creating a great sound experience from every angle. The lamp speaker connects via WiFi and can be used as the only sound source in a room, or it can be connected to other Sonos products, including those from the Symfonisk range. As with all Symfonisk products, this speaker is also part of the Sonos system, allowing listeners to easily connect to over 100 streaming services, but it's also compatible with Apple's AirPlay 2 audio ecosystem and, as such, will are exposed to HomeKit and the HomeKit app.

From October 2021, the new table lamp speaker will be available in IKEA stores and on IKEA.com, both in most European areas and in North America.

Looking for the perfect motion sensor for your HomeKit smart home? In this video I compare 6 of the leading motion sensors that can work with your smart home. You may be surprised with some of the extra features that are included and add even more value. Motion sensors can be a great way to take your smart home to the next level, but if not used properly, they can cause frustration! Let me share some of what I've learned over the course of my smart home journey so you avoid making the same mistakes I did along the way!

Poland-based company Tedee has announced a new firmware update that adds official HomeKit support and connectivity to existing tedee Smart Locks. This is in addition to the official release of the tedee slot that will be released in early September, with HomeKit compatibility out-of-the-box. The long-awaited HomeKit feature set was introduced in the latest firmware update and is Backwards compatible with all existing Tedee smart locks. The integration enables full HomeKit functionality without the need for the tedee smart bridge.

“We promised to make the smart lock work with Apple HomeKit. Now we not only supply, but make it easy and free - a regular firmware update," said Grzegorz Chuchra, CEO, Tedee. "We pushed our R&D team to the utmost to make this massive change as effortless as possible. It affects not just new users, but all tedee locks already on the market - and thousands of doors.”

Luckily, even if you're not a HomeKit user, the Apple HomeKit certification builds on a comprehensive range of tedee's smart home integrations, including Google house, Amazon Alexa, Domestic, Fibaro, Consolomio, eedomus, and Grenton.

Tedee Smart Lock (review)

You can also read our comprehensive and in-depth review of the tedee Smart Lock above. Also check out the company new and updated website for more information on the latest developments, as well as any discounts etc. as well as detailed information about the lock itself.

Related

Ikea announced its first-ever smart air purifier this week, which goes by the name Starkvind. The Starkvind will be available in October in two different versions, and according to a report from HomeKit Authority, it will support integration with HomeKit and Apple's Home app.

In the press release announcing the Starkvind air purifier, Ikea explained that it will be available in a floor standing model and a side table model, designed to "cater to different tastes and needs." The company explained:

STARKVIND air purifier has a 3-filter system. The pre-filter captures large particles such as hair and dust. The particle removal filter is optimized to filter out approximately 99.5% of smaller airborne particles such as PM2.5 particles, dust and pollen. The gas cleaning filter absorbs various gaseous pollutants such as formaldehyde and other VOCs and reduces unpleasant odours such as those caused by smoking and cooking.

STARKVIND air purifier has five different fan speeds and an auto mode. In auto mode, the fan speed will be adjusted according to the amount of PM2.5 in the air with a built-in air quality sensor.

One detail that the press release glossed over, however, was specific information about smart home compatibility. The press release only indicated that the Starkvind will connect to Ikea's Tradfri smart home gateway for control with the Ikea Home application.

The company confirmed to HomeKit Authority, however, that the Starkvind smart cleaners will also support integration with HomeKit and Apple's Home app, as well as Google and Amazon smart home platforms. Ikea's promise should be treated with some skepticism, however, especially given how long it took for HomeKit support to be rolled out to Ikea smart blinds last year.

Sales of the Starkvind begin in October, with the standalone unit going for $129 and the side-table combo going for $189. Are you planning on buying the Ikea smart air purifier? Let us know in the comments.

Qingdao-based smart lighting manufacturer Yeelight strengthens its presence in the US with the official launch of the award-winning* Yeelight smart bulb D2 (check out our comprehensive review) HERE). The D2 bulb is of course compatible with Apple HomeKit, like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and offers a compact bulb that still puts out a decent amount of brightness for use as a bedside lamp or for use in accent lighting. For a limited time, the company is also offering € 29.99 discount the normal selling price of €59.99, for a limited number of customers, effectively making the lamp half price for just US$30.00. This deal is valid from September 16-22, but is limited to the first 100 customers.

Use the exclusive coupon code to take advantage of this special offer HOMEKITNEWS when you buy the lamp from Yeelight's new US online store - us.yelight.com

* Winner Red Dot Design Award 2019

The lamp comes with a number of unique controls, including touch sensitive strips on either side of the lamp base to control the brightness, hue or color temperature, with a touch sensitive main button on the front of the unit. You can also turn the lamp on or off with a new double tap on top of the lamp itself.

Capable of producing 16 million colors by default, the D2 can also produce cool to warm whites, while also being able to be set to super low brightness levels with night mode (via the Yeelight or Mi Home apps and Siri Shortcuts).

One update the company has implemented for the lamp since its initial launch is gamer compatibility, with Razer Chroma and Overwolf integration, allowing the D2 lamp to interact with the gaming action on your computer screen. The company also offers this additional feature through their 1S color bulbs and 1S light strip. You can check out the Razer Chroma integration with the company's light strip below;

Again, to take advantage of this limited offer of the lamp with 50% off, go to us.yelight.com and use the code HOMEKITNEWS at check out.

Related

I can’t speak for anyone else, but since I live in a home with roller blinds in each bedroom, it had been a goal of mine to at least get some of these blinds automated. With the cost of custom automated blinds being out of my reach, ‘Retrofit’ options (meaning a solution that adds smart functionality to existing blinds) seemed to be the easiest option.

In 2020, this was realised when I tested out and reviewed the Soma Smart Shades 2 (read the review HERE or watch the video HERE). I’ve been using the Soma product for over a year now, and generally, I’ve been very happy with it. I’ve really had no issues, except for a few minor, but insurmountable, details that I’d come to accept; One was that it wasn’t officially HomeKit compatible, and therefore the separate Soma Connect hub was needed. I’ve got no issues with using hubs, but to have one for the sole purpose of controlling one device, and it being a requirement to expose it to HomeKit – even uncertified – was a bit of an ‘ask’. Add to this the fact that the Soma blinds use Bluetooth to either connect directly to your iPhone or the hub, meant that quite often there would be an initial ‘no response’. This wasn’t as noticeable until I eventually started using a HomePod Mini, where I’d use Siri to open or close the blinds, whereupon I’d be greeted with the following response – “The Soma blinds failed to respond”. A second request would be successful, but it began to be all too predictable and a little tiresome. This is the fault of Bluetooth more than Soma, so even if they had official HomeKit support, I dare say the same issue would exist.

Fast forward to 2021, and Aqara release their answer to the Soma Smart Shades 2, with the equally wordy Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1. What are we getting? Well, it’s the same kind of device in terms of function, and it still needs a hub, as it uses Zigbee, but it’s officially supported in HomeKit, and as it uses Zigbee (Zigbee 3.0 in fact) reaction times are fast and reliable. So, today’s review puts this new device through its paces to determine if it’s a good fit for your home.

PACKAGING/CONTENTS

Aqara sent this – the international version – to me for testing and review purposes and as such will work in regions other than Mainland China. One obvious note to show it’s the international version is that “voice control via Apple Siri, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and more…” is emblazoned on the front of the box. You won’t find the ‘Works With Apple HomeKit’ logo, as this is a Zigbee 3.0 child device that requires a hub, and it’s the hub that does the handshaking with Homekit on behalf of child devices like this one.

The back of the box gives you some information on the device itself, including a typical automation scenario that includes the E1, an M1S, and a motion sensor. This particular automation example involves the seldom-used ambient light sensor within the M1S to detect when it’s too bright in the room (in the afternoon), thereby keeping the room from getting too hot, with the motion sensor detecting your return (in the evening) so as to open the blinds again. Obviously, this kind of automation can be adjusted to individual tastes or requirements, but it should be noted that if you’re going to use the ambient light sensor inside the M1S, logic dictates that it has to be in the same room as the blinds, as well as ensuring that the hub is in a place that can fairly determine the ambient light – so having it sat in a dark cupboard is not going to work! This is where the company’s own T1 Light Sensor could be of use, especially if you don’t have an M1S, to begin with.

The side of the box lists a set of features, that are, to be fair, par for the course with smart blinds. These include obvious things like automation support and app control, alongside slightly more unique features like user-defined opening/closing. The box also states ‘long battery life’, as well as ‘one-button control’.

The full contents of the box include the following;

• The Roller Shade Driver E1, including a separate wall plate
• A manual in the following languages: EN, IT, FR, DE, ES, RU, KR, JP, CN
• A large double-sided adhesive strip for wall mounting
• A set of screws and rawl plugs for permanent wall mounting
• three additional cogwheels *

Not pictured is a USB-A to USB-C cable for recharging the built-in lithium battery.

* The E1 comes with a standard cogwheel already in place, that’s suitable for a regular beaded cord

THE DEVICE

The E1 is a fair bit longer than the aforementioned Soma device, coming in at 42 x 37 x 165mm / 1.69 x 1.52 x 6.89in (W,D,H). The front has a couple of buttons, a hole for a small LED, and a removable head cover that protects the included cogwheel. The physical buttons allow direct control of the motor, so pressing the up or down buttons makes the motor retract or unfurl the blinds respectively if the motor is not actively moving at the time. if you press either button when the motor is active, it will stop the motor. The LED indicator in the centre has no function other than to show when pairing or updating its firmware and doesn’t light up when the E1 is being controlled.

The base of the E1 is home to a reset button that you’ll also use for initial pairing to an Aqara hub. Next to that is a USB-C port to either power the device permanently, or recharge it periodically with the included USB cable.

The top of the device has a removal ‘head cover’ that protects the cogwheel from coming into contact with anything that might get entangled within it. In order to allow the beaded cord for your blinds to move around the cogwheel, you’ll eventually need to remove two of the tabs from the cover, which is easy enough as long as you take care when you do it. I’m not sure why it didn’t just come with these tabs removed in the first place though. If you’re not familiar with how this works, essentially, the cord that you pull in order to open or close your blinds is looped around the cogwheel, and when the cogwheel starts to turn, it pulls the cord, thus opening or closing the blinds. It’s quite straightforward really.

The E1 comes with additional cogwheels for different types and sizes of cords, so hopefully, there’s a suitable fitting for most types.

PHYSICAL INSTALLATION

As you may have gathered by now, the E1 has replaced the Soma that was in the same location for the last 12+ months. As we’re renting, I elected, like last time, to rely solely on the double-sided adhesive sticker that came with the E1. The adhesive patch was really firm in the time I used it and figured the adhesive strip that comes with the E1 would be just as strong. Obviously, only time will tell.

The motor doesn’t directly connect to the wall, instead, connecting to the mounting plate that it clicks into. The mounting plate sticks (or is screwed on) to the wall. This is probably the only part you need to take much care about, as you need to make sure the beaded cord is as straight and possible, and reasonably taut, although not overly so. Once it’s all set up to your liking, you just need to remove the tabs on the head cover, so the beaded cord can move freely (as can be seen in the last picture above). With that all done, you need to configure the blinds within the Aqara app.

INITIAL SETUP IN THE AQARA APP

It’s a common thing for some Aqara product users to not want to use the Aqara app or to even set up an account, let alone log in. However, while there may be many Aqara devices that can be managed in HomeKit mode (i.e. not signed into the Aqara app), in the case of the E1 you do initially have to configure the motor, or you won’t be able to control the blinds in HomeKit. To do this, you first proceed with the onscreen instructions, so you know that when you press the buttons on the device, they go in the expected direction. They might not, depending on which way round your blinds are fixed around the tube holding the blinds, but if that’s the case, once you confirm that the direction the blinds moves in is not consistent with the controls, the app will simply switch things so that they match the direction from then on.

Once that’s out of the way, you just need to set the highest and lowest points you want your blinds to stop at, which is done within the app. After these steps are complete, your blinds are ready to use in both the Aqara app and HomeKit.

IN THE HOME APP

In the Home app, things are pretty straightforward, with just one tile to represent the blinds, as expected. Tapping on the tile closes or opens the blinds fully, whilst a long press reveals the slider, which allows you to set a custom position for the blinds. The Settings screen for the E1 shows whether an obstruction is detected, as well as the battery level and whether the battery is being charged. Aside from these, there are only automations or scenes with which to involve the E1, like many HomeKit accessories.

If you happen to use Siri to control the E1, saying “Set the blinds to 80%” will set the blinds to be 80% open, so setting the blinds to 100% will effectively open the blinds fully. Of course, with the reasonable power of scenes and automations in HomeKit, you can come up with all sorts of positions for the blinds to be set at, as well as have them interact with other devices that can trigger the blinds to open or close.

IN THE AQARA APP

The main interface panel for the E1 (which is pretty much the same for other Aqara blinds devices, like the Aqara T1C for example) has a graphical representation of a window including a roller blind, zebra blinds, or Venetian blinds. The graphic for the Shangri-La blinds is the same as the Zebra blinds. On all screens, you get to see the battery levels as well as Up, Down, and Stop controls. The blinds with the exception of the roller blinds, all have ‘Rotate Up’ and Rotate Down’ options. AS I don’t have these kinds of blinds, I’m not able to test these controls out, unfortunately.

Also on the main screen, you’ll notice a ‘Scenario’ section. This option allows you to set up special scenes that can open or close the blinds to specific positions, over a set period of time, ranging from as little as one minute, all the way up to seven hours and fifty-nine minutes. This doesn’t operate the blind motor at a slower speed, but instead, opening the blinds in increments, with periods of rest time between each incremental move that alter depending on the overall duration of the ‘scenario’. you also get a small set of icons to choose from. Unfortunately, at the time of writing, these ‘scenarios’ are separate from standard Scenes, as you can’t trigger them via automations, so controlling them has to be done from within the app. There isn’t even an option to set these up as Siri Shortcuts, so whilst I like the idea of the concept, it’s a little hobbled by the lack of any way to interact with it automatically.

The main settings page for the E1 is like most other Aqara devices, so you get access to location and name options, as well as logs and Zigbee signal strength. Additional settings allow you to reset the direction, upper and lower limits for the blinds, if necessary. You can also choose which type of blinds you’re using, with the aforementioned four options.

Finally, here are the options available when using the E1 as part of an automation or scene, which includes the basics, like open, close, stop etc., as well as ‘Open to’, where you can set a specific open percentage. You also get a couple of options called ‘Opening ratio+’ and ‘Opening ratio-‘. I haven’t worked out what these do I’m sorry to say, having only the one type of blind, although I suspect it may have to do with the other types of blinds the E1 is capable of controlling.

IN USE / THOUGHTS

I’ve already stated my feelings regarding the Soma option, and so it comes as no surprise that both official HomeKit support and Zigbee easily outdo unofficial support via a custom RPi, and Bluetooth. It’s slower than the Soma, which in its second iteration managed to increase the speed fourfold over the original version. That said, it’s a LOT quieter, and given these are used in a bedroom, that counts for a lot, and so I can live with a slightly slower motor. In my tests I came up with the following results;

Aqara Roller Shade Driver E1

• 4.43cm / 1.73in per second
• 46 seconds (open and close) to cover a length of 204cm / 80.31in

Soma Smart Shades 2

• 5.68cm / 2.24in per second
• 35 seconds* to cover a length of 212cm / 83.46in

* Mean average of closing and opening times.

So for the sake of eleven extra seconds, the much quieter operation is well worth it.

It should be noted – and has been in online forums – that the E1’s design is actually in use with other existing products by a few different manufacturers, so if you think it looks familiar, you’ve probably seen it before. Still, none of the other versions of this product uses Zigbee, with some electing for Bluetooth, whilst others, WiFi. Not only that, but none are HomeKit compatible, at least not officially, so that’s another thing to take into account.

I think overall, Aqara has brought something sorely needed to market that’s not only reliable and fast in terms of response but very well priced. If you don’t already have an Aqara hub, the combined price of the E1 and an Aqara hub still presents better value than the Soma, I’m afraid to say, as the cost of the Aqara hub pays for itself once you start adding other devices to it. This is not the case with the soma Connect. It could have been a different story for Soma, but the amount of time they’ve seemingly had in order to get official HomeKit support has been frittered away, with Aqara coming up and effectively pulling the rug from under their feet, although there are always going to be consumers that won’t buy products from China-based companies, so I guess there’s still a market for both.

In essence, this is a triumph for Aqara that hasn’t been too hard to pick up on, so I recommend it thoroughly.

Related

After the first surprise release in mainland China, Aqara Roller Blind Driver E1 is now rleased in the UK (Sept 22) via Amazon.co.uk, followed by a release in France in the coming weeks via Aqara's brand new store on Amazon France (amazon.fr). Other EU and Asian countries will follow in the coming months through independent and established distributors.

If you are unfamiliar with this device, it is essentially a retrofit product, meaning you add it to existing hardware (in this case your roller blinds) to add smart functionality to it. the Akara Roller blind drive E1 works in much the same way as other products on the market, by pulling on the bead chain or string attached to your blinds, causing the blinds to move up or down, to the open or closed position - or anything in between.

The other main product currently on the market that does this job is through somaAlthough their product — the Soma Smart Shades 2 — isn't officially compatible with HomeKit, relying on the company's bridge to show the motor (unofficially) to HomeKit. The E1 uses Zigbee 3.0 and so uses an Aqara Hub (M1S etc) to expose it to HomeKit, although in this case everything is officially certified to work with HomeKit. The E1 uses a lithium battery and can be charged via the USB-C port, using the included USB-C cable.

The E1 comes with four different sprockets for different sizes of beaded cords that you would find on many roller blinds, while the E1 is also suitable for blinds, although it wouldn't be able to tilt your blinds, at least not as much as raising or lowering them. The E1 also comes with on-device controls for quick access should you prefer not to pull out your phone or shout instruction to Siri, so it has a lot of control that the Soma lacks.

The international version of the E1 can work with: Amazon Alexa, House of Akara and Apple HomeKit, like IFTTT, while the Chinese model only works with HomeKit. The Chinese model is also listed in the Mi Home app when it's set up on the mainland Chinese server, although at the time of writing it's not listed when it's set up on other overseas servers.

The price on Amazon.co.uk is UK £59.99, but to celebrate the launch of Aqara's latest product, the company is offering a 15% discount, with the coupon code RSDE1PR1, valid until September 24, bringing the price down to UK £50.99.