I’ve been an Aqara user for a while. Then had a chance to meet some of the team at an event last year, and after a passionate chat, we stayed in touch. I was glad to finally stop by their headquarters and see the place where all the ideas actually come together.
The team was incredibly welcoming, and we spent about an hour and a half together. They showed us some interesting examples of smart living and where they are taking the tech next, all while patiently answering our deep-dive questions.
Upon arriving at the company entrance, you could immediately feel the festive mood of the approaching 春节 (Chūnjié) — Spring Festival. The decorations were a warm reminder of the season.
The Model Room: Invisible Technology
After our greetings, we went directly to the model room. This wasn’t a typical showroom cluttered with devices; instead, it was designed as a luxurious living area where, at first glance, you couldn’t tell how “smart” it was.
This was the most impactful part of the visit — the space was designed around the experience, not just to showcase hardware. In fact, in that space we barely talked about hardware at all or how complicated those automations are.
That felt intentional.
At one point, I asked whether they routinely swap out older devices for newly released ones. The answer was simple:
“No - we usually just add new devices when they’re actually needed.”
It was a good reminder that while many of us enjoy following new releases and want the latest tech, the real goal is simply making the home work effortlessly.
That said, one piece of hardware immediately caught my attention — even before we fully stepped into the model apartment. Right at the entrance stood the V100 Smart Door. It’s a robust piece of engineering, featuring a tamper-resistant lock, a massive 15.6-inch interior screen, ten unlocking methods, and backup battery power lasting up to one month.
What’s truly impressive is how Aqara treats the entire door as a single product in the app. You add it the same way you’d add a smart bulb or a sensor — just click the “+” button and add the “Door”. Magic.
While logistics, certifications, and the need for professional installers make it difficult to bring such a product to the international market just yet, it represents an interesting glimpse into where things might be heading.
Automation Without Intrusion
The automations in the model room were remarkably precise, yet they didn’t feel intrusive. I’ve always believed that technology should enhance a home without overriding manual habits. I loved seeing that with some products, you could still do things the “old-fashioned way” like closing the curtains by hand, without the tech getting in the way.
Cinema Mode
Some light related automations…
The behavior of the environment was guided by a mix of gesture-based controls and presence routing. Whether in the living room, the bar, or the tea room, each area had its own unique touch.
I was particularly amused by the “bartender” setup. Beyond the typical drink tricks, the bartender could also trigger environmental “tricks” using the Cube T1 Pro. It felt very complementary and natural to a typical bartender’s scope of actions.
Cube T1 Pro
In some setups, you simply used the Voice Mate H1 — an accessory for the M3 Hub — to tell your house what to do, with no “Hey Siri” required. I’m planning to test this with my parents and see how they like controlling their home with voice commands via the Voice Mate H1, without needing to open an app.
Voice Mate H1
Tea room light experience (Sky Light H1, Cube, Knob Switch,…)
The Human Element and GenAI
As smart home enthusiasts, we’re happy to memorize every “triple-long-click” we’ve created. However, our family members — especially the elderly — don’t always share that same enthusiasm for learning complex gestures or button sequences.
During our talks, it was inspiring to hear how Aqara is working on GenAI solutions. The goal is to lower the barrier to entry, allowing anyone to trigger or create new automations simply by telling the AI how they want their home to behave. It will be interesting to see how this near-future development evolves.
Beyond the Basics
We also briefly touched on the integration of established smart building standards like KNX and how their control can be consolidated into the ecosystem via Aqara Studio. I’m excited to explore its core capabilities, such as complex logic design (Logic Flow), graphical editing (Graph), and multi-protocol device integration.
This technical depth, the clear enthusiasm for “reapplying and mixing” technology in a new way, plus a strong product sense, is why I have stayed with the brand and continue to see strong potential in it - especially for the reliability needed when managing separate setups in different locations, thousands of kilometers apart.
A “Forest” of Products
We ended with a visit to the Experience Center (智能家居体验馆). It felt like a “forest” of innovation, showcasing everything from the previous gen products that built Aqara’s success to the sleek, refined units they’ve released recently. If you follow the Aqara YouTube channel, you might recognize this space, as it’s a frequent backdrop in their product introduction or announcement videos.
In the End
The visit reinforced something I’ve believed for a while: the best smart home feel is when you barely notice how technology works, and home just reacts to your needs.
I left with a lot of ideas for refining my own setup — especially around simplifying control for family members. Curious how others here balance their automation triggers with usability for non-tech users?
A big thank you to the team for the hospitality.
Wishing you all a restful Spring Festival and a creative, successful year ahead.
春节快乐! (Chūnjié kuàilè)
马上有福！ (Mǎshàng yǒu fú)
Happy Spring Festival!
May good fortune arrive right away!
A small highlight of NY2026 before leaving:
哭哭马（Kūkū Mǎ）- “Crying horse,” a manufacturing accident that ended up becoming a hit this New Year in China.
