Aqara M3 Hub vs M2 - Which Hub Is For You?

[@AdamsTechLife]

Which Aqara hub are you using in your smart home?

[@TenshiR]

I have two M3s. I’m debating getting two more. This video helped A LOT

[@sarabradley919]

Love any aqara product! They are elite!

[@AdamsTechLife]

They are great. Thanks for watching! 😊

[@LibapingStunt]

Thanks for your video. I have 1 question : if I take M2, and I make automation in apple home app, does Aqara devices use zigbee ? Or WiFi ? Zigbee can be use for automation with other brands for example hue bulbs ?

[@AdamsTechLife]

it varies by what the device supports, either zigbee or thread.

[@LibapingStunt]

@@AdamsTechLife ok, thanks !

[@JoshsSmartHome]

Nice video Adam. We have the M2 and I’ve been using it merely as an IR blaster as I’ve moved our zigbee devices directly to Home Assistant.

[@AdamsTechLife]

That's a sweet setup, haven't tried home assistant.

[@SayWhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat]

@@AdamsTechLife WHAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT??????????????? DOING VIDEOS ON SMART STUFF AND DONT EVEN TRIED THE ONE AND ONLY THE GODS OF ALL GODS HA???????? HOW DA FUK YOU MAKE REVIEWS THEN?

[@FairplaySid]

Very good work. Thank you! Greedings from Germany

[@AdamsTechLife]

Glad I could help! Thanks for watching! 😊

[@camron1053]

So I have 2 mini HomePod and the latest Apple TV. Would you recommend the M3 or M2 at this point.

[@AdamsTechLife]

i'd recommend watching the part in the video about which hub to buy ;) depends what aqara devices you wanna use

[@cindykenward]

I only want to buy the aqara water shut off valve. But I will need an aqara hub even for this one device. I want to get this into HomeKit BUT I also am using an Eero Mesh system for my router. It can be very dificult to add things to HomeKit. I’m thinking Matter may be the way to go.What do you think? Is it only the M3 that supports Matter? It’s a lot of money for just one aqara product. Please advise.

[@NabsterBG]

Hi. Thanks for the comparison. Indeed other non-zigbee products cannot be connected to Aqara M2 but can‘t I just add these products in Apple Home and have all there? (of course if those products support Apple Home)

[@AdamsTechLife]

correct

[@YandiMulyadi]

Sorry aqara m2 or m3 can connect with Mi Home or not?

[@AdamsTechLife]

i think the m2 yes, not sure about m3

[@YandiMulyadi]

@@AdamsTechLife once again, aqara support smart life too?

[@Sah-dd1zh]

Thanks for the video Adam, i think you’re spot on and this is one to let pass for now, particularly at that price point. I know Matter is all the craze, but i still just buy only HomeKit supported devices as they seem to work much smoother more reliably. As far as hubs, i have (3) Aqara G3 cameras but actually have most accessories paired to an E1, the very first hub i got from Aqara that still works fantastic.

[@AdamsTechLife]

That's great to hear!! Nice setup, too. Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@levik12]

I always enjoyed your informative and honest advices on all smart home products, specifically on Apple echo systems platform! Thanks.🙏😀

[@AdamsTechLife]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@林子翔-c3t]

M2 also have new PoE version in other country.

[@AdamsTechLife]

I didn't know that so thanks for sharing!!

[@Anonsbdofjrnwodb]

Since this has IR blaster doesn’t that mean you’d have to have one of these in every room?

[@AdamsTechLife]

you'd have to have it plugged in nearby what you want to control i believe, i think there's a range limit

[@AndreasLow]

Will the AC controller be exposed to HomeKit??

[@AdamsTechLife]

I do believe so, it looks that way from aqara's website. I don't have an ac unit so I can't test it for sure but i believe so

[@AndreasLow]

@@AdamsTechLife I’ve solved it. Just connect M3 Hub to Apple Home via Matter. Not HomeKit.

[@ceegee777]

Will the new M3 Hub work with the Aqara water leak detectors? I hope so because thats what I ordered (M3 hub) with my Aqara water leak detectors....

[@AdamsTechLife]

yes :)

[@ceegee777]

@@AdamsTechLife Thank you!!! 😊

[@_Bogdan_]

So you can’t ad all matter devices to the m3 hub and then generate a matter code and ad that to Home app?

[@AdamsTechLife]

yes you can do that

[@Lynderella]

I have 2 Aqara U100 locks that I directly connected to Homekit. If I heard you right, I’ll need to completely factory reset the 2 locks and remove both devices from HomeKit before connecting them to the M3 hub then connecting the hub to HomeKit? Can’t I just delete the two devices from HomeKit but keep them in the Aqara App before pairing to the M3?

[@AdamsTechLife]

yes, when upgrading devices form the m2 hub to the m3, they will be removed from the home app and from scenes or automations and will need to be re-set up. it won't remove it from the aqara app.

[@josephiyere4491]

Nice one very good clip well explained and clear ❤

[@AdamsTechLife]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching! 😊

[@AmanSingh-us7bc]

I just ordered the M3 hub bc my U200 Aqara lock was lacking some remote features and that was one of the reasons why I bought this lock. I would like to add this hub to alexa and homekit too but I'm not sure if the lock would work in those ecosystems. I tried connecting the lock in homekit without the M3 hub bc it said thread-border-router required. Alexa discovered the device but didnt actually connect. All my echo dots and shows have been upgraded with matter. Will this hub now let me add the lock in Alexa and Homekit?

[@AdamsTechLife]

the hub should allow the lock to work in all platforms. maybe try resetting the lock? sounds like the echo devices support thread too

[@AmanSingh-us7bc]

@@AdamsTechLife No my Echo devices doesn't support thread, just matter. I dont have a Homepod or Apple TV. I integrated the M3 hub in both Alexa and Homekit. It showed all my Aqara devices in those platforms except the lock. I have reset the lock multiple times already. I also wanted to ask if SONOFF MINIR4M Matter WiFi Smart Relay Switch would work in the Aqara Ecosystem with the M3 hub?

[@notachef291]

New to Aqara. I bought M2. Is there a way to connect 2 or more phones to M2 Hub?

[@AdamsTechLife]

i think you can login to the same aqara account from two different phones

[@ChillumT]

Hey Adam. Thanks for a great and informativ video. I watched it because I just received the Aqara U200 lock via Kickstarter. I own the M2 hub. I thought I would be able to connect this lock to my M2 hub. I hoped I would be able to arm and disarm my aqara alarm on the keypad (somehow)

[@AdamsTechLife]

Isn't that feature possible? I feel like that should be something the lock can do.

[@MFG485]

Some applications, such as Apple Home Key, require Matter support. Additionally, Thread and Matter represent the future of home automation. Therefore, anyone purchasing a new hub should definitely opt for the Aqara Hub M3!

[@JohnFisher1974]

Do you see any performance differences with the FP1 sensor? On the M3 it lags and will go 'absent' quickly when movement stops.

[@AdamsTechLife]

i haven't used the fp1 with the m3 hub :/

[@phuctran2396]

Hi Adam. Thanks very much for your videos and share. I need your advice. My Merros garage opener keep notifying me on HomeKit main screen is ( Obstructed ). It’s not show open or closed. How to fix it. Thanks Tran.

[@AdamsTechLife]

Maybe try restarting the garage door opener? I don't use the meross garage door opener so i'm not sure how those work exactly. You could also reach out to Meross support.

[@phuctran2396]

@@AdamsTechLife Thanks very much

[@penningtonsm]

I have both the Aqara p1 and p2 motion sensors. Will they both work on the m2 hub? Or will I need to buy both hubs? I just got them by the way.

[@AdamsTechLife]

the video will answer your question ;)

[@falcon11700]

I don’t think the p2 will work with the m2, which kinda blows

[@schmixty60]

What do you do if your ISP, who also provides their own "wifi hub" (router), doesn't yet support IPv6?

[@AdamsTechLife]

you won't be able to use matter devices. it's a requirement for matter technology. i'd recommend getting your own mesh router for complete control tbh.

[@schmixty60]

@@AdamsTechLife Yeah, currently coming up with a way to bypass the ISP's hardware to add my own router (not necessarily mesh as my apartment's size doesn't justify the cost), and will likely just set up an IPv6 tunnel for that until my ISP catches up to the 21st century.

[@NinaNng]

Thank you for sharing.

[@AdamsTechLife]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@Carlos76gato]

Hello, I need help, I have a hard time for my automations, after I installed the M3 hub, I don't know if It has to do with the whole process but when I tried to automate in HomeKit it says couldn't complete any operation, I don't know what to do, I deleted once the hub and reinstalled again I have updated my network settings, It is very challenging any ideas about what I can do are greatly appreciated. Thanks again for any possible input Regards Adam .

[@AdamsTechLife]

I've had that happen before. Usually when i try again later it works. so you could maybe restart the hub and or internet and try again? you could also reach out to aqara for support

[@Carlos76gato]

@@AdamsTechLife yes I have done that as well I will try it again and we will see I am not sure if the hub m3 messed it up everything in HomeKit, because even other automatons for example with the flic buttons or smart blinds or with the even they don’t work in the home kit but this happened after I replaced and migrated from the hub m2 to the m3. Thanks for the input, we will keep trying, very frustrated at this point with this Even Apple they can’t figure it out

[@comm2001]

For me all Aqara child devices works only with Apple Home Kit. Both Smartthings and Google Home works only with Aqara Door sensor, Temp sensor and Plug EU. Wall Light switches, leak sensor doesn't work. And I tried used all Aqara HUBs - no progress :(

[@AdamsTechLife]

not all aqara devices support all smart home ecosystems. I know the smart switch works with alexa and Apple Home cause I use it in both ecosystems. you may have to re set up the alexa skill.

[@comm2001]

@@AdamsTechLife I thought that if an ecosystem connects to AQARA HUB, it will accept it with all its belongings, and it won't choose which device it wants and which it doesn't :(

[@designhurricane]

So basically if I want to connect any other Zigbee device which is not made by Aqara, I will not be able to?

[@AdamsTechLife]

Correct, not to an Aqara hub. A device that uses Zigbee requires it's respective hub...ie philips hue lights connect to hue bridge over zigbee and can't be paired to an aqara hub using zigbee. aqara zigbee bridge only supports zigbee devices from aqara.

[@versus023]

@@AdamsTechLife it can you do this if using Aqara m3 ? Like I have a Phillips hue and casera bridge. Will I need them still if I purchased Aqara m3?

[@phuctran2396]

The Meross Model is MSG100 with Apple home kit. Thanks

[@alondinbar6193]

M2 is also matter support

[@AdamsTechLife]

Yes, but not in the same way as the M3 (as discussed in the video). m2 is a matter bridge, not a matter controller like the m3 hub. huge difference.

[@joshk333]

Are you saying “child” or “chow” devices? And what on earth is that?

[@AdamsTechLife]

Child. Other Aqara devices - sensors, controllers, etc

[@BlaqViper]

If only it supported ZWave…

[@AdamsTechLife]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@swedendive]

M1 is much better. It have flashing light

[@Anonsbdofjrnwodb]

Since this has IR blaster doesn’t that mean you’d have to have one of these in every room?

[@AdamsTechLife]

there's a range for the ir sensor, the device you want to control has to be relatively close