NEW Aqara M3 : The Ultimate Smart Home Hub?
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- Опубликовано: 5 июн 2024
- Everything you need to know about Aqara's new M3 smart home Hub.
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In this video we dive deep into all of the specs, features, and limitations of the new Aqara Hub M3. Is it the ultimate smart home hub?
Aqara Hub M3
US: amzn.to/4b5m0BP
UK: amzn.to/3ULWxrr
Code: (20% off) May 8 -12
US - USCAM3KO
UK - HUBM3UK1
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Other Product Seen in Video:
Homey Pro Smart Home Hub
geni.us/HomeyPro2023
Hubitat C-8 Smart Home Hub
geni.us/HubitatC8
Eve Motion Sensor
geni.us/EveMotion-2
Aqara P2 Motion & Light Sensor
geni.us/AqaraP2Motion1
Aqara T1M Ceiling LIght
geni.us/Aqara_T1M
Aqara T1 Light Strip
geni.us/Aqara_T1
NOTE: This description contains affiliate links that allow you to find the items mentioned in this video at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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CHAPTERS
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0:00 Chapters
1:25 What is the Hub M3?
2:48 Trend Micro - Sponsor
3:37 What’s in the Box?
4:43 Setup
6:44 Hub Migration
9:52 Matter vs. HomeKit Integration
11:00 Adding Aqara Accessories
12:35 Adding 3rd Party Accessories
15:22 Adding IR Accessories
16:47 Edge Computing
17:56 Security System
18:49 Aqara Automations
19:50 Aqara Scenes
20:11 Should You Buy?
22:25 The Ultimate Smart Home Hub?
23:53 Price & Availability
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#HomeKit #SmartHome #AqaraM3 #trendmicro #premiumsecuritysuite #cybersecurity #antivirus
![[#73] Новый Matter-хаб Aqara M3 - разбираемся с Ark 2.0 и интеграциями в HomeKit и Алису](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/507We0zUJtY/mqdefault.jpg)
![[#73] Новый Matter-хаб Aqara M3 – разбираемся с Ark 2.0 и интеграциями в HomeKit и Алису](/img/tr.png)
⭐ UPDATE: Aqara is listening to us. They have just released this statement:
"We've always been committed to Matter interoperability principles, and based on user feedback to the Hub M3, we have expanded connectivity to more third-party Matter devices. Following the standard Matter protocol, the Hub M3 now supports these Matter-compatible device types:
- Contact Sensor
- Occupancy Sensor
- Light Sensor
- On/Off Light (Wall) Switch
- Dimmer (Wall) Switch
- Thermostat
- On/Off (Smart) Plug
- Matter Bridge
Due to limited resources, we haven't tested all third-party Matter devices, and as third-party support is still a "lab feature", interoperability issues may arise. Nonetheless, by broadening Matter connectivity, we aim to offer users greater choice in crafting their ideal smart home. Our engineers continue to work on extending the M3's support to additional device types via Matter, and please stay tuned for further updates. "
Hub M3 on Amazon:
US: amzn.to/4b5m0BP
UK: amzn.to/3ULWxrr
Let's Connect!
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Shane, they have unlocked third party support recently which means that they're listening what people say
Even this is badly done on Aqara’s part. The app will not add matter devices from other platforms; HomeKit, SmartThings etc. The only rest I’ve gotten devices in was to delete them from the other platforms and then add to Aqara first and then share to other platforms. Which is a total pita when automation etc have already been set up; having to set it up again is just ridiculous
@@howardschweitzer8847 I don't know maybe you forgot to enable pairing mode. I've added from Alexa without any issues
I managed to add the following matter devices via Homekit turn on pair mode. ThirdReality Multicolor Smart Night-light, TapoSmart plug, TapoSmart Color bulb and Meross Smart plug. Nanoleaf Essential Smart bulb failed.
@@user-ld4yb8ip8r my Nanoleaf bulb even has issues adding to Apple Home, lol
I don’t think any hub should be able to advertise itself as supporting Zigbee (or Matter) if it does not support third party devices that meet that standard. In fact I suspect in my country Australia that would be considered false & misleading conduct.
Agree , in Australia too
They have already unlocked the third party devices in M3
This was very helpful, thank you so much Shane
Fantastic video Shane! It’s too bad Aqara missed the mark here on Thread but I’m still a self-described Aqara Fan-Boy 😂
Hey Shane, great video as always! How did you create the custom ringtones? I'd like something similar for my garden gate! Very professional sounding!
Thanks for the video! Knew you had it early when your live pundits kept shutting down my questions about the M3 on your live Q&A 😂
Enjoyed your video you did a great job
Hi Shane, thanks for the information! Any updates to third party Zigbee support in the new hub? I checked the website but information there is minimal at best.
Happy with Home Assistant Yellow and HomeKit. Glad I saw this. In fact I think I’m done with Zigbee. Matter & ESP devices are there for what I need. But I’ll see if that sticks long term.
Great video….I ready do believe we should be very critical on these companies that release half baked products. Overall it seems like a “Okay” product. Great review!
Thanks for watching!
Aqara products have proven to be very reliable in my setup of over 30 sensors and hubs and are cost effective.
They have been unreliable for me in two of three setups. Camera (hub) constantly fails and smart buttons (connected to a different M2 hub at a different location) failed. Disappointing but have to pass on these guys in the future.
Agreed! Thinking bag, my Aqara devices and hubs have been so reliable that I don't even think about them. And their number has grown to more than 50 spread across two home.
They're don't offer as many capabilities as some of their competition. But their, pricing, reliability and ease of installation and use makes up for any limitations I can think of.
Shane, super review as always. I will order one but only because of the migration option!
Thanks for watching and supporting the channel!
Thanks for the honest video Shane. I like the Ir blaster in the M2 we have, so no reason to upgrade for me.
Companies are consistently releasing unfinished products with promises of firware updates. I completely agree that it's ridiculous to say it supports 3rd party Matter over Thread devices with a fine print of "coming soon". Just wait till the product is finished before it's released. It's that simple and that goes for numerous companies.
Yep. It’s time to government stepped in and did something about false advertising.
All the promises of Matter & Thread being the NEW compatible easy smarthome protocol working with older devices, is not the NEW protocol we need right now.
Great review. ❤ This will be my first hub. I’ve had a bad smart home experience with lots of wifi bulbs, probably because I foolishly didn’t use a dedicated hub. They were constantly failing, and dragged my wifi network to a crawl. (I think). What bulbs do you recommend with this hub? I’ve got both Apple and Alexa devices now. THANKS!!!
Thank you, Shane for the excellent video. Unless my M2 hub quits, this will be a pass for me.
Hi Shane, I really hate contradicting you however the eve energy UK connects and works perfectly.
Great Video Shane... Very Thorough. I love Aqara Stuff. I have been really disappointed in the Aqara Door and Window Sensor P2. It randomly disconnects and becomes unavailable every day. However, their LED Ceiling light rocks.
This one is definitely going in the right direction and maybe a worthy upgrade over the M2, but there are a lot of caveats which doesn't instill a ton of confidence. Happy to see a louder speaker though!
Thanks for watching Dustin!
I have a M1S Hub connected to my A100 doorlock and it’s sometimes unstable or just unresponsive… do you think changing that hub to a M3 might help?
Hey Shane great through vid as usual,.Do you know if the hub is region locked as its not available yet in Australia but readily available on Ali express
Yes, it's region locked unfortunately.
Can I control my nest thermostat pro and add it to HomeKit since it can connect to “WiFi” devices?
Will this M3 hub work with existing M2 hubs if internet access is blocked? IOW, can I set up an M3 hub as the master hub, then block internet access to all Aqara hubs and still have a usable system?
Yes finally!!! 🤤🤤 all this is yours simba 🤲
Quick question though Shane: I know you mentioned the matter devices, but can we connect non Aqara zigbee devices to the hub?
I have some zigbee Fingerbots I’d like to use but they need a hub? Would the M3 hub be the one? Thanks in advance.
Thanks for watching. I don't believe you can do this. I have not been able to add any 3rd party (Tuya) Zigbee devices to the M3, unfortunately.
@@ShaneCreates Very disappointing, I was hoping to add my IKEA Tràdfri Zigbee devices to it and then getting some Aqara ones to have one hub running everything.
Hi sir, Can the IR remote be added to HomeKit?
Can this be logged into from the internet or does it need home assistant or homekit? Many ask.
Great video explaining the pros and cons of the new M3 hub. Dissapointing that the M3 so far does not support other Matter devices in general.
Come on now they have unlocked the third party support
As always a great review. I wish the matter door sensor was smaller.
Thanks for watching!
Is there any other that is smaller?
Actually, my house was prewired with mag switches on every door and window and set up with an ADT alarm system when I bought it. I've found that, hardwiring Aqara door and window sensors on each wired door sensor circuit is giving me a much more detailed, adjustable and customizable alarm system than ADT (or any like it) could. And, there are no monthly fees!
Hey Shane, I’m new to Aqara and HomeKit, have a goal of being completely HomeKit and have both the p1 and p2 motion sensors. I only have a gen 1 Apple TV. Should I get a Gen 3 Apple TV, a m2 or m3 hub? Thank you bro.
There is no “manage access” for the u100 lock under HomeKit when paired with the hub as abridge?
Can m3 hub bridge FP2 to smartthings and homey pro?
Is there a way for the IR receiver function to trigger an automation when an IR Remote button is pushed?
I currently have an M2 hub connected through Ethernet, which is upstairs due to that being where the router is. I have a sensor in the mailbox outside but it is too far away to be recognized. If I were to purchase the M3 I had a couple of questions.
1) can you move some aquara devices but not all to the new hub and leave some on the current hub?
2) would having the m3 downstairs and closer to the mailbox help connect that sensor?
Is such a combination possible... Apple HomeKit application, Aqara M3 hub with storage option, Eufy wireless battery cameras?
The IR blaster on M3 is so much better than M2. I’ve used it to automate our hood vent fan and light in our kitchen. The state of 3rd party device support is a bummer. I was hoping it could connect to 3rd party zigbee devices directly, but that’s not the case.
Will Samsung smart things devices connect and show up in home kit
Thank you for this video. It would be greatly appreciated if you can mute trigger words such as "Alexa". Appreciate it
Thank you for the review. Unfortunately a bit of a disappointment after waiting for the hub quite some time. Although you said it’s not possible to add matter over thread 3rd party child devices (like eve) directly to the hub, I wonder whether it’s possible to add such devices to the security system within the aquara hub if they are already connected via Apple TV as a thread boarder router. I ask because I would like to add my eve door and window sensors to my aquara security system since I saw an old video of yours a while ago and nought the aquara camera hub g3. Thanks in advance.
Can you use this new M3 hub with a chinese m1s and child devices? There on the Chinese server. Or would you have to get the Chinese m3 hub?
Thanks for this review. I was looking to buy one of these but until they get better matter support I will skip
Good review, thank, i agree with the marketing scam. I get irritated with companies do stuff like that, just be transparent and honest, not honest with an exceptbut…. Good job
Thank you for the nice clip for now I am fine with my m2 and e1 hub and until Aqara allows third party devices including zigbee thread matter and WiFi devices to be able to connect to the hub I will stay clear from it and better invest in hubitat
Thanks. Nothing compelling for me. I have no problem with my M2 hub and lots of sensors, and a fan in my office via IR when I'm too lazy to use the remote or walk the 4 feet to the window - no real need to have that in Homekit. I might set up an Aqara automation for it since I have a temp sensor in here, maybe need a presence sensor to go with that.
I was kind of hoping to bring non-Aqara zigbee devices in, but I guess "ultimate" isn't really. What's up with the Bluetooth? Is that only for Matter pairing?
Maybe they should bridge the IR commands to Matter and open the Zigbee to other brands of devices. Aqara is trying to become the new "homekit" with their proprietary restrictions.
I thought the whole point of Thread/Matter was to have stuff "just work" together? If manufacturers have certify compatability with ever single device I can't image this being a viable option.
Thank you for the honnedt video ! None of the other testers explained the Matter limitation, they just relayed the press release !
Also it’s unfortunate Amara didn’t elaborate on the reason for the limitation. An honnedt reason could be, they just want their system to work 100% fine and not have bad press because of devices that ´almost’ work (Nanoleaf Essentials and Onvis switch users, hello 👋)
Great review of the new Aqara M3 hub. From what you said, I agree it’s a glorified M2. However I’m curious your thoughts on this being a vessel for that hub you were anticipating/ being claimed, yet we the consumer just need to be patient for Aqara to start sending the updates to firmware etc?
Well, experience has taught me otherwise. I've got several devices that were supposed to have future upgrades to make them more compatible than their market introductions allowed. But those upgrades never materialized or, were faulty.
At least in one case (Rachio 3 irrigation controller) they even stopped trying to make it HomeKit compatible and just said, "Oh well. We tried." I'd never have wasted my money if I thought that was going to happen and, won't make that mistake again!
Hey Shane, great video quick question. How did you do the security announcements?
Thanks for watching! So you have to first have an mp3 audio file that you can import into the aqara app. I used a shortcut to create the Siri voice message. Then saved it as an mp3 and imported it into the aqara app.
He has an older video about how he did this same thing on his HomePod. I followed it and managed to get a barking pack of dogs sound to play when someone comes on my front porch and we are not at home.
Essentially you'll need a custom mp3 audio file. I created them using Siri and shortcuts to get the clip of siri saying something.
I wish it could also do RF, then it could also replace my Bond Bridge which I use to integrate my ceiling fans into Homekit (via Bond+Homebridge)
Just getting into smart home. Should I buy the M3 or the G2H Pro/G3?
I think it depends on your needs. If you need an indoor camera, the G2H Pro or the G3 are great. The G3 has a lot of the features that the M3 has like the IR capability, but the big advantage of the M3 is that it can be hard-wired over ethernet. If you plan to get a lot of child accessories and pair to your hub, having it hard-wired is always a good plan.
Homey pro or Hubitat? Which one is best if I want the most out of my smart home and apple home. Building my new house and trying to figure which is best to get. Any other options let me know.
Both are very capable. I give the edge to Homey Pro, simply because their interface for device control and automations is so much better. It's a pleasure to use, whereas Habitat, while very capable, always felt more like a chore to setup and use.
How compatible is it with cheaper Tuya wifi or Zigbee products to get it working under Apple HomeKit?
Good question. It's not compatible as far as I can tell. I was unable to get any tuya zigbee sensors to pair with it.
What door sensors do you suggest with the M3 Hub? the new P2 Matter or the older Zigbee ones. I know the P2 did not work with older Hubs till this came out.I want to be able to see everything in Homekit not the Aqara app. I'm trying to replace my old Nest Secure i had in Homekit with Starling hub.
I'm still a big fan of the older zigbee door sensors. The batteries last forever, they are much smaller than the P2 door sensor, and they are super reliable.... and they are cheaper I think. If I'm using an Aqara hub in my setup anyways, I'd be using the zigbee sensors.
Great video! Quick question, you mentioned multiple system integrations, does it let you integrate all of your Aqara child devices to the hub “and” also have them integrated with Homey? I like Aqara’s automations for some things but would like to get the child devices also in my Homey. Thanks!
Thanks for watching. If you add the Aqara hub to Homey Pro via Matter, your child accessories that are paired to the hub will come over to Homey Pro. You can also still use them in the Aqara app.
@@ShaneCreatesAwesome. Thanks!
What about the LinknLink hub. It sounds like a better option for more devices
Not supporting rf is a major miss. Would be great if it supported the 2way functionally like it does ir
So my M3 will be here this weekend, I already use an M2 so I was wondering something. Once I migrate everything over would it benefit me to plug the M2 back in somewhere in my house and if so will it be added to the M3 as an accessory? Or will it just show up as another hub in the Aqara app or how does that work? And will it benefit me in any other way other than as an IR blaster?
It will show up as another hub (not a child accessory), but as a secondary device in your "hub cluster." There's probably not a huge benefit to keeping it on your network other than the IR blaster.
What if you run google home as your primary automation platform can this take over that, run as primary or even replace it?
I would like to know too
The lights behind you are nanoleaf lines?
Yes
Having a ZWave Schlage smart lock, the absence of ZWave on the M3 has the be a pass for me, especially with the limited Matter support.
Thanks for clearing this up. I didn't see Z-Wave on it so big pass.
All in one with no z-wave?
Thank you for another informative video review. I was had pretty high hope for M4. But with Aqara migration process, I will have to re-add all my 100+ aqara devicess and associated automation back into Home App again! The migration has only advantage if you are using Aqara ecosystem only! Not impressed and definitely won’t do upgrade and migration.
Aqara has been proprietary on the zigbee side, now they are locked to other proprietary third party brands. Did you hear about the new Thirdreality Smart Bridge MZ1?
Do you know why they did not include Z-Wave protocol to this hub? That is the only protocol missing, that would really make this the ultimate hub.
Do I need an M3 hub and Homey Pro? Can I make an alarm with Homey Pro?
It depends on what trigger devices you plan to use for your alarm system.
Hello Shane, what security system do you use now ?
I am using the Abode Security System. It integrates with HomeKit.
@@ShaneCreates Shane - I am curious about your rationale to use the Abode system for security versus the comparable Aqara sensors. I think everyone would benefit greatly from a current review of the Abode system. The reviews are consistently “meh” - which was a significant factor in my decision to use Aqara instead. That said - the keypad and the remote monitoring are attractive aspects that Abode offers which Aqara doesn’t. I was also disappointed to learn that Abode discontinued its pay per day monitoring plan and now requires the monthly/yearly plan. But that is just my take. Inquiring minds want yours! Bring it soon! As always, 1000 thank yous for all you do for this smart home community!
Hi Shane. I am traveling but when I get back home, I will be purchasing the Aqara M3 hub. Your review is making do that with eyes open, but for me there are 2 main reasons. 1) I like the Aqara devices (considering the Aqara lock for my front door), 2) I want to use the IR automation features (no other device or hub I own already does that). and 3) I'd like to stick with Apple Home (vs the more customizable solutions you mention). Also, I am hopeful that the Matter support will continue to get better. In that vein, I'd like to get a Floor lamp and I like the Govee which supports Matter (price much better than comparative solutions from Phillips Hue). Any thoughts about whether there is a chance (wither now or later) that the M3 hub makes that available to HomeKit? Thanks,
Hey, thanks for watching. You do not need the Aqara hub to connect the Govee Matter lamp to homekit. The Govee Floor Lamp 2 supports HomeKit over wifi. You can connect the lamp directly to Apple Home.
Is Hubitat C8 better than Aqara M3? or not?
I am very beginner in this field, so I am trying to make my homework very thoroughly. I am so much into details that I am close to abandone smart home ideea as it is annoying because of so many characteristics and detailed involve in. I start understanding them and in the same time I understand that there are a lot of misunderstandings in the systems and brands ... :))))))
Is it possible to add one hub to the HomeKit through the Aqara integration (let's say G3 Camera Hub to have a video in HomeKit as well) and add non-Matter Zigbee child devices to that hub, and at the same time add M3 hub through Matter and add all Matter-compatible Zigbee child devices to M3, and at the same time have single Zigbee mesh at home? Or will it split everything between two meshes, what can affect my coverage? :)
This should be possible, regarding integrating multiple hubs to homekit through matter and homekit. However, I'm not 100% sure how the zigbee network will be configured behind the scenes. I'm not sure if each hub creates a separate zigbee mesh network.
I can’t get an answer out of Aqara so I’m hoping you can help me.
If I’m on a 5ghz wifi network with HomeKit (along with the newest Apple TV and some HomePod minis) am I able to buy an M3 hub to make the Roller Shade Driver E1 work in my Apple Home? I can’t find a straight answer anywhere, I’ve been wanting that E1 for a while as well as the FP2 sensor (which apparently can’t connect to a hub at all which means I’ll have to wait for matter support in 12 years)
Yes, you should be able to connect the E1 roller shade to your M3 hub, which would expose the device to homekit.
@@ShaneCreates thank you very much for replying, I appreciate it. This is really good news, because I’ve been wanting to control my blinds and this hub means I’ll be able to do it.
While I’ve got you, the other use I was hoping to get out of the M3 is controlling my ‘dumb’ TV. I assume any TV can be compatible? And that controlling the TV would be in HomeKit? Sorry if you already answered in the video but I missed it if so.
Great video Shane! answered a lot of my questions but also made me think of more questions.
I don't currently use any Matter devices (mostly because reviews have not been great) but I do have a ton of Aqara products. I love the idea of the single all-mighty hub and have been wanting to do a major rehab on my smart home (no kidding like start fresh).
I'm leaning towards getting the Homey Pro. In your opinion, would this new hub be a good addition to start fresh with in conjunction with Homey Pro? I am currently using the M1S as my Aqara hub.
Also, looking to switch out all my Aqara cameras. The G3 has been super unreliable since I got it in Nov and my G2H pros have been finicky with playback =\
The M3 hub is a great product, if you look at it for what it really is (right now anyways)... a hub for your other Aqara child accessories. If you plan to use a lot of the Aqara zigbee child accessories, then yes, I think the M3 would be a great addition. You can connect those child accessories to the M3, and then easily add the M3 and all child accessories to Homey Pro, HomeKit, or any other smart home platform.
Some Aqara zigbee devices can be paired directly to the Homey Pro, but not all of them. And it's sometimes hard to get them added for some reason. So having the accessories paired to an Aqara hub would make it all easier in my opinion. This is how I will continue to use the M3 hub.
@@ShaneCreates thanks Shane, appreciate the reply!
Matter has limitations that need to be worked out as well. The lack of a standard for alarm systems as in the Aqara hub case, is a prime example.
I upgraded both my M1S's when I added and M2 hub via matter. Only to find out that the alarm function in HomeKit went away. It took a while before I found out that was true of any alarm device using matter. Because there was no matter standard for alarms yet. I had to revert my Aqara hubs to HomeKit to get the alarm functionality back. Which was my primary use for them.
Shane, if you choose the HomeKit option rather than matter like you did in the video, and you import your devices from another hub, will it keep the devices in HomeKit? Or, do you need to pull them all into HomeKit again? Thank you for the honest review. The hub sounds like a good one, but it is so much more expensive than the M2 or the M1 S.
Good question.It will result in the same outcome even if you use the homekit integration because it will add the hub to homekit as a new hub.
Hey Gregg. You will still need to reconfigure your accessories, related automations, etc. in Apple Home because it will see it as a new hub.
Just bought mine
Is there anything close to a Matter/Thread/Zigbee all in one hub that you'd recommend?
Homey Pro is probably the closest that I've used. Home Assistant may be another option, but not as "plug and play"
Remember that full Matter integration covers two directions: bringing third-party matter capable devices into your platform and being able to “bridge” devices connected to your platform out to another platform. At the time of this posting. Homey and Hubitat are only one way “Matter in” systems. The Philips Hue bridge supports Matter one way out: you can add the Hue bridge to other platforms, and it will bring along many of its attached devices, but you can’t bring other matter devices into its app.
One of the things that is so new with the aqara M3 is that it’s offering two-way matter integration. Eventually, you should be able to bring most matter devices into the aqara app, but you will also be able to use the M3 to bring many of its connected non-devices, specifically zigbee, out to other platforms, such as Homey or SmartThings.
Sorry, that should be “connected non-Matter devices” not “non-devices.”
Great video as always. I know a lot of people were interested in this and eagerly awaiting its release. I however, will be passing on it. I have four M1S hubs that I will continue to use as my security system. I will be replacing my five G2H camera hubs and my G3 PTZ camera with Ubiquiti Protect cameras. I still really like Aqara and think they make some amazing products, especially for the price; but for now I think this is a swing and a miss.
Thanks for sharing!
Does it support Z-Wave? Didn’t hear if it did and if not it’s not even close to being an all in one hub
No z-wave.
Thank you Shane for the honest review. Hardware-wise it seems very capable and I'm thrilled that it can be powered by PoE! But it seems like for whatever reason, the software development team was far behind. Yes it has the potential to be real competition for the other all-in-one hubs but as of now it seems rushed to market. It's a shame because I have little to complain about with my other Aqara hubs and devices or the app. Also, it is concerning that they mention supporting third-party devices by "brand". Hopefully that was just a poor choice of words in their statement and not what they are actually doing.
I see this as more their ”homepod”, not many reasons to get this over the m2 if already in the apple home eco system…
no wave ?
What about Bluetooth devices (some door sensors)??
I don't believe you can pair bluetooth devices to the hub. Bluetooth is generally used for commissioning products to your network. I would go with zigbee or thread sensors over bluetooth if given the choice.
Looks like Aqara opened it up to a lot more third party devices, any chance of an update video covering it that’s working well?
More than the three Shane mentioned?
@@tharaisfrom their post in the Aqara subreddit:
based on your insights, we've ramped up connectivity to fully unlock the support of third-party Matter devices in Aqara Home. The Hub M3 is all in with the Matter standard, so now it fully supports the following device types with no regard to the brand:
Contact Sensors
Occupancy Sensors
Light Sensors
On/Off Light (Wall) Switches
Dimmer (Wall) Switches
Thermostats
On/Off (Smart) Plugs
Matter Bridges
thanks for your honesty.
Excellent video! You make really good points that brand should not be an issue if it’s a matter certified device: that’s just odd. And frustrating.
Personally, I blame the matter-certifying organization, the CSA. They put out all these statements about what the matter logo would be, but then they didn’t enforce it. So they allowed companies to start using the matter logo when their platform only supported specific limited features.
I realize that different companies will have different timelines, but while they only have matter in beta, which is pretty much everyone right now to be honest, they shouldn’t be allowed to put the matter logo on the box.
We as potential customers shouldn’t have to be researching to see if this platform supports matter bridges, or supports multiple device classes, or even, as in the M3 case, only supports a few specific brands. The matter logo should mean just what you said: you can easily connect any matter-certified device.
I think the M3 has a lot of promise and the new local networking features are cool. It’s Matter that is disappointing, still, and this is just one more example.
If the matter logo is going to mean anything, it needs to mean the same thing for every platform. But we’re a long way off from that, it seems.
Thanks for watching. Appreciate your comment. Well said.
I’ve never really figured out what these hubs do and what there purposes are.
The main purpose is to handle the message traffic for devices that use specific protocols like Zigbee. So the question is, why would you want a Zigbee sensor versus a WiFi sensor (that doesn’t need a hub)? And that’s one of those “different things will work for different people” situations.
Zigbee, thread, and zwave all use way less power than Wi-Fi devices. Like more than 10 times less in many cases. As long as what you’re trying to do are tiny messages sent infrequently. So, for example, the battery life of a motion sensor that requires a hub is typically one to two years, where a similar sensor that uses Wi-Fi might only be two or three months.
On the other hand, those power-efficient protocols typically just can’t handle the bandwidth for audio or video. So Wi-Fi is important for device classes like security cameras, and video doorbells.
There is another issue that comes up, particularly for people who want to use a lot of home automation devices like lots of sensors or lots of smart bulbs. This is that many Wi-Fi routers will top out at about 50 devices. Certainly between 100 and 200. That’s fine for most households when you’re talking about Streaming TV boxes and video doorbells and a few tablets and Mobile phones, but it just may not be enough for a fully automated house with a lot of sensors. In positive contrast, Zigbee and thread can usually support a network with many more devices.
So from a practical pov, for most people the biggest advantage to using a hub will be the ability to use small batterypowered devices with excellent battery life. And potentially being able to have many more devices than your usual WiFi plan.
@@jdroberts9825 thanks for that reply. Very informational. I guess from hearing that, thread would be the way I would go.
Yeah, the Matter Device issue. Tht's why I bought it for my EVE Matter devices and....nope.
Really disappointing. I'll probably return it and just use my M2 and M1 hubs.
It sucks that you need to add all Matter devices to all other ecosystems again and name all of them during the hub migration. I have 53 Aqara accessories and it will be a pain to add all of them to HomeKit and Home Assistant, rename all of them and renew all automations to use new devices :(
And that's bad that I can't select which devices will be added to HomeKit through the Matter and which will be added through direct Aqara-HomeKit integration, because I have some accessories without Matter support and it would be nice to add them to HomeKit directly and at the same add all other devices through Matter and do not have duplicates in a HomeKit.
Can’t see any benefits over M2 other than PoE support
If you have more than one Aqara hub, the M3 has a bunch of network management features which are new and very cool. Automatic failover, local hub to hub, better local Matter support, etc. also, the M3 is a matter controller so you can bring some third-party devices in, but as Shane mentions, it’s really crippled as of the time of this posting. Limited to only a couple of devices. Hopefully that expands in the future. But if you only have one aqara hub and you’re happy with how it’s working now, then, yes, you’re not going to get many advantages from the M3.
Here is the main question sense we know you have home assistant how well does the hub work with home assistant
I plan to tinker around with Home Assistant also in the near future, but I have not done so yet.
Having to reassign names in home app itself is a show stopper for me. Also since all child devices are being added again, all the automations tied with them will also be lost right? Big disappointment
Why would one need a third party hub that serves no other purpose besides hub features. Apple has hubs, and they do stuff besides being a hub (Apple TV, HomePod, etc.). Are the third party products that work only on third party hubs really worth adding *another* hub to a smart home? Seems like more complexity than it’s worth (to me), but I’m curious if people think I’m overlooking something crucial about third party hubs.
My thinking is the same. Only one advantage of this hub - is the communication of Aqara zigbee and other thread devices without relying on WiFi.
For example, when you use aqara’s motion sensor and Nanoleaf’s thread bulb.
I too was against hubs in general....some time back. I wanted wifi communication and HomeKit control of all devices for purposes of simplicity.
But, time and experience have convinced me otherwise. Wifi communication isn't as reliable and universal as I had originally assumed. And, "No Response" in HK is all too common. But, native apps and product hubs mean I can at least still have control of devices when there are wifi or HK issues. Redundancy has it's advantages.
Aw darn, I was hoping this one would have smart wifi remote capabilities, for making single-button entertainment system automations (for my mom's tv and streaming devices). 😆 Guess I still have to build her that Home Assistant hub. Great video, thank you for making it! .
Thanks for watching! The hub does have an IR blaster, so if the entertainment system can be controlled by IR remotes, you should be able to create something like that. Just a thought. Hope it helps!
I’m sorry…. HOW MUCH!… £130, I was expecting £99 tops since the M2 is £55 (£46 on sale). If it could take Zigbee devices from ANY manufacture, like IKEA (Without a Philips Hue hub), then maybe but as it is, it’s far too expensive in my eyes. I was hoping to ditch my IKEA hub and have everything ran through one hub, the limited third-party Matter support is laughable for the price.
So i will still need a Philips Hue Bridge to connect a Philips Hue light to the M3 ?
yep
@@ShaneCreates that is super disappointing ...
@@ShaneCreates Just to let you know that 3rd party zigbee lights linked via the Philips Hub do come across via Matter not just the ones you mentioned in the video. I have successfully brought cross Ikea tradfri LED bulbs and lightstrip drivers. The Ikea Dirigera Matter hub is not yet supported though as you mentioned.
I think it's got potential, but for now the 3rd is a deal breaker. Sadly marketing at Aqara speak the BS talk, and developers there are 6months behind finished hardware. They need a quick return on investment and let you be their beta tester. Typical Chinese development.
Matter is still a joke I had my Aqara hub update to matter ages ago and I was excited and it’s just taking away features that are already available
This really advertised itself as the next Homey Pro but utterly failed to deliver the ability to bring everything into one management system, thereby allowing automations not otherwise possible. Oddly, their recent requirement that reviewers launch their reviews on the same day (and many within minutes of each other) compounded the overall negative reviews.
For $130 I'd rather have the Aeotec Smart Things hub, I know that's not for Apple Home users, but way more useful than the Aqara M3, and as I have an M2 hub running in Alexa app, I have no desire to pick this up...Thanks for the honest review, I can scratch this off my list of possibilities unfortunately
In Sweden it would not be lawful to market this as a matter hub. It’s just a joke. Otherwise it looks ok.
PoE, nice!
Power over Ethernet. A single, Ethernet connection provides communication AND power to a device through a single cable.
People using security cameras swear by this now. As an improvement over battery power and wifi communication. As I've recently found out that car thieves - teenagers no less! - have been using $30 Amazon devices to jam peoples wifi security cameras while they steal their cars, I can understand why the PoE cameras might be desired.
z wave