The Aqara LED Strip T1, launched in mid-August, is Aqara's first light strip offering. While there are numerous light strip options available on the market, many of which are cheaper, the Aqara LED Strip T1 stands out with its versatile features. It offers adjustable white and RGB lighting, customizable segmented zones, dynamic lighting effects, and wide ecosystem compatibility, including support for Matter and HomeKit. Here are the specifications:

• Model: LEDS-K01/LEDS-K02
• Power Rating: 5 W/m (30 x 5050 LEDs (0.2 W, RGB), 60 x 2835 LEDs (0.2 W)
• Input [LED Strip): 24VDC ≤0.25A/m
• Colour Temperature: RGB+2700K-6500K
• Input (Power Supply): 100-240V-50/60Hz 1.2A Max
• Wireless Protocol: Zigbee
• Dimensions: 2000 x 12 x 2.8 mm
• Operating Temperature: -10°C ~ 40°C (14°F ~ 104°F)
• Operating Humidity: 0 – 95% RH, no condensation
• What is in the Box: Light Strip (2m) x 1, Power Adapter x 1, Controller x 1, User Manual x 1

People often inquire about the lumens of the Aqara LED Strip T1. Although Aqara does not provide a lumens specification, some ecommerce sites mention 600 lumens. Another site suggests a maximum brightness of 1,200 lumens (600 lumens per meter) with a color temperature range of 2,700 to 6,500 Kelvin. This is comparable to competing options such as the Philips Hue Lightstrip Plus and Eve Light strip.

The Aqara LED Strip T1 is compatible with various smart home ecosystems, ensuring seamless integration and avoiding compatibility issues. It also supports Matter, providing enhanced interoperability and linkage. With 16 million colors and tuneable whites, users have endless options for lighting customization. Additionally, the strip's segmented RGBIC allows for unique configurations of colors, dimming levels, and effects, making it suitable for illuminating different areas of a room. The Aqara Home App offers a range of features for operation and customization, including adjustable length and hassle-free installation. The strip itself is cuttable into segments and extendable up to 10 meters. It has an IP44 rating, making it dust-resistant and suitable for outdoor use. With Zigbee 3.0 and its mesh repeater function, the strip enhances the Zigbee network without clogging up the smart home network.

The Aqara LED Strip T1 comes with an adaptable plug for both the UK and EU markets and has a user-friendly design with manual control buttons on the controller unit. It can be cut to size based on individual needs and can be extended using 1-meter strips. The strip is compared to the TP-Link Tapo L930-5, highlighting its separate LEDs for color and whites and its PU coating, which improves durability and achieves an IP44 rating.

To set up the Aqara LED Strip T1, users need to add it to an Aqara Hub via the Aqara app, following a similar process used for other Aqara products. Matter support allows for easy integration with Home Assistant, providing access to all connected devices. The Aqara app offers a range of features, including light grouping, music sync, and various lighting effects. However, within Home Assistant, the functionality is more limited, allowing users to switch the lights on/off, adjust brightness, and select the color temperature.

The Aqara LED Strip T1 is priced at £49.99 for a 2-meter length, with a 1-meter extension kit available for £15. This is Aqara's first light strip offering, showcasing its commitment to providing versatile and high-quality smart home lighting solutions.