The Aqara hub is an essential tool in any smart home, providing both security features and energy optimization. With Apple HomeKit or the Aqara Home apps, you can build automated systems that make your daily life easier.
Aqara Hub M3 – The Next Generation Smart Hub
The latest model, Aqara Hub M3, offers improved connectivity and functionality. It supports both 5GHz Wi-Fi and Zigbee 3.0, ensuring fast data transmission and stable performance even with a large number of smart devices. The Hub M3 stands out with a built-in IR transmitter, allowing control over devices like TVs and air conditioners that use infrared signals.
It’s also worth noting that the Aqara Hub M3 supports Matter – the new universal smart home standard, which ensures compatibility between devices from different brands. Thanks to Matter, the Hub M3 makes it easy to add and manage devices from various brands using a single platform.
If you’re not sure which Aqara Smart Home Hub to choose, check out the comparison table below to find the best one for you:
| Protocol | Child devices | Zigbee 3.0 | Power | Alarm modes | Speaker | LED light | Extras | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqara Camera Hub G2H Pro | WiFi 2.4GHz | 128 | Yes | USB | Away / Home / Sleep / Off | Yes | No | Camera - 1080p, Facial recognition |
| Aqara Camera Hub G3 | WiFi 2.4/5GHz | 128 | Yes | USB-C | Away / Home / Sleep / Off | Yes | Yes | Camera - 2K, Pan & Tilt, Facial, Gesture recognition, IR transmitter |
| Aqara Hub E1 | WiFi 2.4GHz | 128 | Yes | USB | Away / Home / Sleep / Off | No | No | Built-in WiFi repeater |
| Aqara Hub M1S Gen 2 | WiFi 2.4GHz | 128 | Nē | Built-in plug | Away / Home / Sleep / Off | Yes | Yes | – |
| Aqara Hub M2 | WiFi 2.4GHz / Ethernet | 128 | Yes | USB | Away / Home / Sleep / Off | Yes | No | IR transmitter |
Which Aqara Smart Home Hub to Choose?
If you're new to Aqara Smart Home Hubs, we recommend starting with the Aqara G2H Pro Camera. It offers full 1080p resolution with good night vision, supports HomeKit Secure Video, and also works as a Smart Home Hub. The camera has a speaker that works for alarms, doorbell, and intercom, so you save money by not having to buy a separate camera and hub.
If you already have an Aqara Smart Home Hub but need another one for a larger apartment or house, we suggest the Aqara E1. It's compact, runs on USB, and is the most affordable and convenient hub option available.
If you don't need a camera, we recommend the Aqara M2. This hub comes with a built-in speaker that provides full alarm, doorbell, and intercom functionality. You can place it near your Wi-Fi router and connect it with an ethernet cable for a more stable and faster connection. The M2 has a sleek design and an IR transmitter that lets you control devices like TVs, speakers, or air purifiers using the Aqara or HomeKit apps.
You can also consider the Aqara G3 Camera, which is one of the most advanced smart home hubs. It supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, providing faster and more stable connections with other smart home devices. While most devices still use the 2.4GHz network, 5GHz support will become more important as newer smart devices start using it. That makes the Aqara G3 a modern and long-term investment.
The camera offers 2K video resolution, giving you high-quality images and clear video recordings, especially useful for security. It also has excellent night vision with infrared technology, allowing you to monitor spaces even in complete darkness. Note that Apple HomeKit currently supports only 1080p (Full HD) resolution, but with the Aqara Home app, you'll be able to enjoy the full 2K experience.
One of the coolest features is the camera's 360-degree rotation, which lets you view the entire room where it's installed. While this feature isn’t fully integrated into any smart home ecosystem, including Apple HomeKit, you can use it with the Aqara Home app, making the camera very versatile and easy to use. Additionally, the camera has a speaker that handles alarms, doorbell, and intercom functions. So if you need a security system, doorbell, or two-way communication, the Aqara G3 is a solid option.
Like other Aqara products, the G3 comes with a built-in IR transmitter that allows you to control any device with infrared control, such as TVs, audio systems, or air conditioners. Using this feature, you can create scenarios in the Aqara app and integrate them with HomeKit for convenient and unified control of multiple devices. Although the Aqara G3 is more expensive than the previous Aqara G2H model, it offers significantly more features, making it a good choice for those looking for the latest technology and a long-term solution for home automation.
Aqara M1S is another good option with a built-in nightlight and a loudspeaker. It plugs into a wall outlet, which means it will take up one socket, but it offers solid performance for your smart home system.
The Aqara Hub M3 stands out among other smart home hubs with its power and compatibility. It supports both 5GHz Wi-Fi and Zigbee 3.0, ensuring fast and stable performance even with many devices connected. The built-in IR transmitter lets you control not just smart devices but also traditional devices like TVs and air conditioners. The Matter standard support means you can integrate devices from different brands on one platform, making your home automation simpler and ready for the future. The Ethernet connection option also ensures faster and more reliable connections, which is especially useful in larger households.
