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Smart home tech is everywhere these days from thermostats, security cameras, switches, plugs, and more. While there are countless brands out there pushing one or two products, Aqara is one of the few to offer a broad ecosystem of devices that are a little less visible but equally as important with over two dozen products that include specialized sensors to monitor doors, windows, temperature, humidity, air quality, security and a whole lot more, giving you more control of your homes and make our lives easier.
So whether you’re in need of a smart home security camera system, an air quality monitor, and door, and window sensors, Aqara has you covered, and here are some of their best products that we found.
Aqara Camera Hub G2H
Starting off with the Aqara Camera Hub G2H. As the name implies, this is a two-in-one product, acting as a security camera for inside your house and also a hub for other Aqara products to connect to since the company’s products are all Zigbee verified.
If you’re not familiar with Zigbee, it’s a communication protocol that’s more reliable and less power-hungry than Bluetooth or Wifi. This is especially important since most of Aqara’s devices are battery operated and Zigbee allows them to last quite a bit longer than if they were connecting over Wifi or Bluetooth.
Getting the Camera Hub set up is simple:
- Plug the camera hub in with its included USB cable
- Download the Aqara app on your Android or iOS device
- Create an account and then click the “Add Accessory” button right in the middle
- You will see a few different categories and devices. Tap the Camera Hub G2H and then follow the on-screen instructions
Getting it up and running will take you less than 2 minutes, and in the process, you have set up a new security camera and a hub that you can connect all the other Aqara devices to. The setup process for all the other devices is pretty similar, just follow the steps above and select the device you’re trying to connect to.
The Camera Hub has some pretty impressive specs. We’re talking about features such as:
- Motion detection
- 1080p video capture
- Super-wide 140-degree field of view
- MicroSD card slot for on-device storage
- Intercom feature with 2-way audio
- IR night vision so that you can see what’s going on even when it’s pitch black
If you happen to be an iOS user, you’ll be pleased to hear that the Camera Hub also comes with HomeKit integration, allowing you to save videos directly to your iCloud account and even allowing for two-way calling from HomeKit on your smartphone or tablet through the camera.
The design of the camera is also very practical and comes with a built-in stand at the bottom that allows it to be mounted practically anywhere. It can be mounted on a wall, pointing straight out,; swivel it to the sidesl or even just have this on a shelf and have it pointed any direction you want.
Aqara TVOC Air Quality Monitor
If you’re a stickler for fresh air or simply want to know the quality of the air in your house, this is the perfect device for you.
For those who don’t know, TVOC stands for Total volatile organic compounds which can be anything from aerosols, fumes from cleaning products, glue, new furniture, electronics and hundreds of other harmful carcinogenic air pollutants that can degrade the air quality in your house.
The sensor also monitors humidity and temperature, making it extremely versatile since it comes with integration with the most popular smart home platforms like Google Home, Apple’s Homekit, and even IFTTT, the Air Quality Monitor can be used in so many ways. It can be used as a remote trigger to control your smart thermostat, turn a fan on that’s connected to a smart plug or turn on a dehumidifier if humidity levels reach a certain threshold.
Aqara’s accompanying app also gives you the ability to monitor TVOC, humidity and air quality over time. This lets you have a more detailed look at the regular conditions in your home and you can even see how things can quickly spike to potentially unsafe levels when you open the door to receive a package or even move a new piece of furniture into the space.
It also helps that it’s not prohibitively expensive, so you should be able to install a few of these sensors around your house and various rooms that you might spend more time in.
Aqara Vibration sensor
The sensor is built to detect vibrations, drops, or tilts. You can place it on the inside of a drawer to see is anyone is opening it without your permission, slap it on the back of a video game console so you know when and how long your kids are playing video games, or place it on the candy jar so that you know when your spouse is sneaking those midnight snacks.
It’s basically a mini alarm sensor for practically anything in your house. Once it’s synced to the app, just place it wherever you want.
One possible use for it is to place it in your mailbox so that you get a notification when the mail is delivered, especially if it’s something that’s valuable or important that you don’t want to be just left unattended. It’s an incredibly versatile tool that opens up all kinds of possibilities.
Door and Window sensor
The Camera Hub is a great product for home security so that you can keep an eye on the inside of your house when you’re away, but if you’re looking for a more comprehensive security setup, the Door and Window sensor from Aqara is the way to go.
The functionality is pretty simple. Using magnets, the sensor is able to detect when a door or window is opened or closed. The obvious use is for the sensor to trigger an alarm, but it can also be used to automate other smart products in your house.
One of the best uses is to have it automatically turn on your lights when you open the front door, but there are a thousand different possibilities if you have a variety of different smart devices throughout your house.
Final Thoughts
These are just a few of the smart devices in Aqara’s smart home product lineup. You can find all these products and more on Aqara’s Amazon page.
If you’re just getting started with your smart home setup or are looking to expand your current system, I’m sure you’ll be able to find something within their lineup that will make your smart home setup even better, and don’t forget they will be having a flash sale on the 18th of September, so you don’t want to miss out on that.
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