Thanks for the video Adam, very helpful! I prefer to buy products - that support Matter and thread - from one company (and that’s Aqara). Because then I have only 1 more app in my iPhone/iPad. For example Aqara app is needed to update the firmware in their products. I have to have many apps for all these different automation products.
Great vid! Thank you for being honest and not sugar coating the deficiencies of these devices. I can't understand these companies making incremental updates to the devices but not caring about design/layout. Who tf wants a large hockey puck and/or brick on their doors!?
I want to use the Eve contact sensor outside on a metal gate under my eave. The existing seals look pretty good so I was thinking I'd just seal it a bit more with silicone sealant - Do you think that would work ok?
I'm skipping Matter for the moment. It is still just half baked and needs time to be fully mature. For me I am using mainly the original Aqara contact sensors and one Eve contact sensor (original HomeKit version) and they work really well for me as long as my Apple TV 4K is the Home hub. As soon as one of my HomePod mini's takes over as a home hub, the Eve contact sensor used in my morning automations stops working every time and some of my Aqara sensors on closet doors that activate the closet ceiling lights stops working (not all, just some). So very weird. Anyway, I stick with what I have for now.
Thank you for this video. It helped me understand why my decision to stay with the original Aqara contact sensor is (currently) the correct one. It also helped me understand why the matter/thread contact sensors are so much larger than the original Aqara sensor. It appears matter requires more energy, which requires larger batteries. While I like the concept of matter-enabled devices and look forward to using matter devices in my smart home, I think I prefer my Zigbee contact sensors. Matter might allow the flexibility to use a different smart home platform, but that's not a benefit in my situation. I want a single platform so members of my family don't have to remember which app they need to control which device. The video also prompted the following question: Is it possible to use the original Aqara contact sensor to control the Aqara U100 Smart Lock? If it can, I could use the contact sensor to lock the door 5 seconds after the door is closed. (The Aqara U100 has the ability to automatically lock the door. For the most part, this works well. However, around 10% of the time the U100 will 'lock' the door while it is still open. The motion sensor used in the U100 doesn't seem to be as reliable as a contact sensor.)
that is a good thought that matter devices require more power and thus need bigger batteries, and makes an even stronger case for zigbee devices that can work with all ecosystems and have a smaller battery. you are able to use the original aqara sensor to control the u100 lock. you can use a delay action to trigger the lock to lock/unlock. that should do it.
Tried TUO and Aqara. TUO lasted 3 weeks before began getting offline constantly. TUO terrible. Aqara little bit better. One out of two sensors kept becoming unstable after 4 weeks. The other Aqara became offline only twice in last 3 months of use. And btw, I have 8 Thread outlets serving as repeaters, and 3 different Thread Border routers (HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home). At end of day, I don’t think Thread devices are stable enough to be worth the trouble yet. At least from my testing.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. I too haven't had the best experience with the vast majority of thread enabled devices. I appreciate your experience testing the sensors long term!
@@AdamsTechLife No Problem Adam. I’m usually not an “early adopter”, but I was really excited to leverage the theoretical benefits with Thread devices, and offload some of my ZWave and Zigbee devices, but like I indicated, it’s just still wildly unstable for me.
So the Elgato Eve now supports Matter, but does it support just HomeKit out of the box without a Matter router so even if using Apple TV 4K (1st gen, which doesn't support Matter)?
"Matter" Smart Plugs Comparison ➡ th-cam.com/video/TtpgXvP--I4/w-d-xo.html
The Aqara sensor does report battery level but Apple Home isn’t picking it up. Home Assistant does.
i don't use home assistant so i wasn't aware of this. thanks for sharing!
Great video Adam!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching and commenting! 😊
Great video. I love contact sensors
Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching! 😊
Thanks for the video Adam, very helpful! I prefer to buy products - that support Matter and thread - from one company (and that’s Aqara). Because then I have only 1 more app in my iPhone/iPad. For example Aqara app is needed to update the firmware in their products. I have to have many apps for all these different automation products.
Yeah, having too many apps gets things out of hand. I'm a huge fan of Aqara in general as well!
Have you done a update video on the Aqare with the new m3 hub how was it
yes, check my channel :)
@@AdamsTechLife i just order the new u300 cant wait to use it
Great vid! Thank you for being honest and not sugar coating the deficiencies of these devices. I can't understand these companies making incremental updates to the devices but not caring about design/layout. Who tf wants a large hockey puck and/or brick on their doors!?
Thanks for your comment. I completely agree! Design is just as important as features. Thanks for watching! 😊
I want to use the Eve contact sensor outside on a metal gate under my eave. The existing seals look pretty good so I was thinking I'd just seal it a bit more with silicone sealant - Do you think that would work ok?
the protective cover for the eve sensor in the description of this video is all you need to but silicone sealant could work too if you'd like
Great video. Subscribed..
Glad you enjoyed the video! Thanks for watching! 😊 ❤️
SmartThings ?
yep
I'm skipping Matter for the moment. It is still just half baked and needs time to be fully mature. For me I am using mainly the original Aqara contact sensors and one Eve contact sensor (original HomeKit version) and they work really well for me as long as my Apple TV 4K is the Home hub. As soon as one of my HomePod mini's takes over as a home hub, the Eve contact sensor used in my morning automations stops working every time and some of my Aqara sensors on closet doors that activate the closet ceiling lights stops working (not all, just some). So very weird. Anyway, I stick with what I have for now.
Couldn't agree more! the homepod being a home hub and creating issues is strange. it's a shame we can't manually choose the home hub.
Awesome videos sorry I’m soo late
Thanks for watching! 😊 ❤️
TUO supports Matter OTA through the Home Hubs!
yep, you need an apple matter controller
Thank you for this video. It helped me understand why my decision to stay with the original Aqara contact sensor is (currently) the correct one. It also helped me understand why the matter/thread contact sensors are so much larger than the original Aqara sensor. It appears matter requires more energy, which requires larger batteries. While I like the concept of matter-enabled devices and look forward to using matter devices in my smart home, I think I prefer my Zigbee contact sensors. Matter might allow the flexibility to use a different smart home platform, but that's not a benefit in my situation. I want a single platform so members of my family don't have to remember which app they need to control which device.
The video also prompted the following question: Is it possible to use the original Aqara contact sensor to control the Aqara U100 Smart Lock? If it can, I could use the contact sensor to lock the door 5 seconds after the door is closed. (The Aqara U100 has the ability to automatically lock the door. For the most part, this works well. However, around 10% of the time the U100 will 'lock' the door while it is still open. The motion sensor used in the U100 doesn't seem to be as reliable as a contact sensor.)
that is a good thought that matter devices require more power and thus need bigger batteries, and makes an even stronger case for zigbee devices that can work with all ecosystems and have a smaller battery. you are able to use the original aqara sensor to control the u100 lock. you can use a delay action to trigger the lock to lock/unlock. that should do it.
I agree man the original Aqara door and window sensor is a prime example of the old saying “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” lol 😂 but fr tho
you are exactly right LOL Thanks for watching! 😊
With the Aqara sensor, more features will come with the M3 hub I believe
yeah, i mentioned those features in the video :)
Tried TUO and Aqara. TUO lasted 3 weeks before began getting offline constantly. TUO terrible. Aqara little bit better. One out of two sensors kept becoming unstable after 4 weeks. The other Aqara became offline only twice in last 3 months of use. And btw, I have 8 Thread outlets serving as repeaters, and 3 different Thread Border routers (HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home).
At end of day, I don’t think Thread devices are stable enough to be worth the trouble yet. At least from my testing.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience. I too haven't had the best experience with the vast majority of thread enabled devices. I appreciate your experience testing the sensors long term!
@@AdamsTechLife No Problem Adam. I’m usually not an “early adopter”, but I was really excited to leverage the theoretical benefits with Thread devices, and offload some of my ZWave and Zigbee devices, but like I indicated, it’s just still wildly unstable for me.
So the Elgato Eve now supports Matter, but does it support just HomeKit out of the box without a Matter router so even if using Apple TV 4K (1st gen, which doesn't support Matter)?
elgato eve? what is that?
but the original Aqara sensor is NOT compatible with Matter ???
it doesn't use the matter technology but it can work with all major smart home assistants with an aqara hub by using zigbee technology
1 sensor should not be $30. Looks like ill keep buying zigbee stuff directly from china.
i agree with you! Thanks for watching! 😊
I’m just starting research on door sensors. Is the zigbee u are referring too the same as the aqara?
@@williammendez2230 zigbee is a radio, Aqara is a manufacturer.
I don’t like the design of any of these three. Too large or too weird in some way.
I totally agree lol Thanks for watching! 😊