Why the Aqara Hub M3 Might Disappoint You: A Brutally Honest Review!

Today, I'm diving into the much-anticipated Aqara Hub M3, which has been creating quite a buzz in the smart home community. geni.us/AqaraM3Hub (Amazon Affiliate Link) I've been testing this device to provide you with an honest, unfiltered review. Despite the high expectations, there are some key aspects you need to know before considering it for your smart home setup. Is the Aqara Hub M3 the game-changer it's touted to be, or does it fall short? Let's find out together in this detailed review.
The Aqara Hub M3 boasts improved connectivity with support for multiple protocols like Zigbee, Bluetooth, and now Thread. This should, in theory, enhance its integration capabilities, especially with Apple Home. However, my experience revealed some limitations in functionality and compatibility with third-party devices that you might want to consider. So, stick around as we dissect the features, pros, cons, and ultimately, whether this hub deserves a spot in your smart home arsenal. Don't forget to hit that like and subscribe button for more honest tech reviews coming your way!
Video Update: If you bring the Hub into Apple Home via Matter, you will not have the alarm settings exposed. So use the HomeKit code.
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[@ModernDayTech]

For More Information and Pricing, please visit - geni.us/AqaraM3Hub (Amazon Affiliate Link) PRODUCT UPDATE: If you bring the Hub into Apple Home via Matter, you will not have the alarm settings exposed. So use the HomeKit code. *LET'S BE FRIENDS!* ➸ Amazon - www.amazon.com/shop/moderndaytech ➸ X: x.com/moderndaytech ➸ Instagram: instagram.com/modern_day_tech/ ➸ TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@moderndaytech ➸ Join my FREE Discord with other Smart Home Enthusiasts- mdfm.co/Discord

[@robertmiller7849]

I appreciate your decision to steer clear of sponsorships, as this pervasive trend erodes viewers' trust gradually, akin to the proverbial frog in slowly heating water, unaware of the danger. Ironically, viewers unwittingly foster this erosion, which ultimately harms them. Thus, your commitment to genuine reviewing, featuring, or spotlighting-regardless of the label-is commendable. Thank you for resisting the tide and upholding integrity.

[@DIYSmartHomeGuy1]

Excellent review! Seems like we've all kind of come to the same conclusion on the M3. Thanks for joining us on the livestream Tuesday.

[@BrandonDoyleMN]

I appreciate the honesty!

[@garyhenderson9303]

Great honest review. The M3 was the smart Device I was most excited about for 2024 and wanted to get one directly after the launch. Having watched several reviews today I get the impression it is overpriced for an Early access Product which is not yet fully offering the Smart features I was expecting. It is double the price of the M2 which I have but cannot see double the performance or benefits. Will watch what happens and maybe reconsider during prime day if a good deal is offered.

[@myHomeKithome]

Nice! Other than Access to it library of automation triggers, I'm still struggling to figure out what the benefits of having a separate matter controller and thread border router are, especially as an apple Home user or Amazon or Google, for that matter.

[@Dr_Cole]

My thoughts as well. Appreciate the honest review. I am a regular user of Aqara products but this one is a head scratcher. It’s basically the answer to a problem almost no one is having.

[@ModernDayTech]

I think it's not just about the Matter but the limitations of the major three platforms. When they don't support "such and such" protocol, or they don't have advanced automations (at least not easily or effectively), that's where a lot of experienced users are looking for a hub that can handle everything with the least amount of time and effort.

[@CuriosityCatCascade]

Why would Aqara launch such an underdeveloped product at twice the price of the M2? It appears overly greedy. I appreciate your candid feedback, especially since others often gloss over the truth to stay in the brand’s good graces.

[@ModernDayTech]

Thanks! I'm always going to tell it like it is because I don't answer to any brand. NEVER SPONSORED, except for free product. One day I might stop that too. But anyways, I can only imagine what it costs to work with third parties because every company is in it for themselves. But it's a shame to pass that cost along to the consumer before the product is even close to being ready. If the M3 would integrate and do what the marketing says, then it would be worth the cost, but until it does, it's way, way, way overpriced

[@didipkerabat]

I think this thing main selling point is to bring in other/old protocols like Zigbee and IR blaster into Matter. If it can't, then it's kind of useless.

[@Anonymousboy96]

So basically the Homey Pro is all in all a better and more universal option? The Problem is that the M3 cannot connect Zigbee devices without a matter code.... i figured that out too late and now i´m looking for an better option... so could you recommend me the Homey Pro? :)

[@ModernDayTech]

Yep, the M3 is very limited but its slowing growing it's partners. I LOVE the Homey Pro but its not perfect and it doesn't work with everything (although a lot) so you'll have to do your research on your very specfic Zigbee products. It's night and day compared to the M3 though.

[@sendo427]

Yeah I got mine today and really disappointed cuz I really was looking forward to changing the settings to the matter motion sensor P2 and the matter door sensor and you can't change any of the settings.

[@adsadam1]

Great review that just saved me £90!

[@ModernDayTech]

Glad I could help

[@robertoadami4848]

IR with this is complete other level! You can synch IR with remote!

[@ModernDayTech]

Not mine. It didn't work. I talked about the IR issue I had in the video. Aqara is working with me to fix it.

[@Rem-Tech-Smarthome]

Great video Eric. So let me get this right. You can add Zigbee devices into the hub and it will show up as a child device but adding a thread device doesn’t show up as a child device 🤔. And as of right now your limited on adjusting other features on there thread devices once it is inside the hub. And you want a $130 dollar for it. And they say if the hub goes down another hub will pick it up and keep on working. I’m sorry Aqara but my hub never goes down unless I lose power. And what it seems like to me is. If you buy one hub are going to need to buy other hub “ just in case the hub goes down the M3 “ to pick up the other hub?

[@ModernDayTech]

Thanks! You are correct. Aqara Thread devices (P2 Contact & P2 Motion) are not listed as child devices and do not automatically come over to Apple Home. Once you add them to the Aqara app via the Matter code, you'll have to get a new Matter code in the Aqara app to apply to Apple Home. You can probably do the reverse as well-add them to Apple Home first and then Aqara. I agree, my Aqara hubs have never been down unless I fully lost power. Aqara has a lot of marketing plays.

[@Rem-Tech-Smarthome]

@@ModernDayTech it is very misleading by Aqara. The way I’m taking it is you need to buy two hub just in case one hub goes down. And for someone new to the smart home. They’re going to think that they need to buy two hubs for it to work correctly in their smart home.

[@ModernDayTech]

@@Rem-Tech-Smarthome True, my Aqara hub has never been down unless I totally lost power so there's no need for a second M3 so its a bunch of marketing noise.

[@Rem-Tech-Smarthome]

@@ModernDayTech One question I have for you is this. It says you can add Matter devices to the hub. But after watching your video it seem like they lied about that. Only a couple of devices can be added to it. The ones that you said. To me it seems like Homey Pro is the way to go in my personal opinion. Yes you pay a little more but you get a lot more for your buck than what Aqara. And you can add different devices into it. I’m going to keep my M2 hub right now.

[@ModernDayTech]

@@Rem-Tech-Smarthome Yep, the M3 hub is very limited to 3rd-party integrations and kinda misleading in the marketing unless you read the fine print that I actually zoomed in on in the video. Yes, Homey Pro is the way to go and well worth the price especially since you can also bring in Aqara Zigbee and Thread Matter sensors right in to Homey Pro even without an Aqara hub. Don't get me wrong, Homey Pro is not perfect and doesn't work with everything but its still light years ahead, plus it has z-wave which Aqara will never have, (at least in the M3.)

[@kithem8308]

Can m3 hub bridge aqara FP2 to smartthings or homey pro?

[@DIYSmartHomeGuy1]

Man, you're everywhere! Yes, it can bridge into both smartthings and homey pro. Only aqara zigbee devices, not wifi devices like the fP2

[@sportzspaz6303]

Tell it like it is BRUH!

[@AlexManMe]

After the unreliability of the cameras and this price increase, I am out

[@supernova8962]

where is the server/cloud service at...I heard China (friends) they are collecting data and recently someone tried to hack my iphone from China ..not kidding