Aqara & Smart Home Automation Without Apple – Possible?

Hey everyone, quick question from someone who’s mostly on Android and not in the Apple ecosystem at all. I’ve been eyeing some Aqara gear—motion sensors, door sensors, maybe even the G4 cam—but everything I read online feels super HomeKit-heavy.

Is anyone here running Aqara in a fully non-Apple setup? Like, Android phone, maybe using Alexa or Google Home or even Home Assistant? I’ve seen mentions of Zigbee2MQTT or the Aqara app itself, but I’m curious what the actual experience is like.

Can I get real automation going without an iPhone or iPad lying around? Stuff like motion-activated lights or alerts when a door opens—basic automations. Also curious how the notification delays or responsiveness compares outside of HomeKit.

Would love to hear from anyone making it work! What’s your setup and any weird things I should look out for?

Appreciate the help!

@DoorBellDude It’s great to see your interest in setting up a smart home system with Aqara products without relying on the Apple ecosystem. The good news is that you can definitely run Aqara devices using an Android phone, and integrate them with platforms like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, or even Home Assistant.

Here’s what you can do:

  1. Using the Aqara Home App: The Aqara Home app is available for Android, and you can control your devices through it. It allows you to create scenes and automations such as motion-activated lights or door alerts. For example, you can set up a timer to automatically turn devices on and off or have lights turn on when a door sensor is triggered.

  2. Integrating with Google Home and Amazon Alexa: Aqara devices can integrate with these platforms via their cloud-based skills. This provides you with voice control capabilities and the ability to include Aqara devices in routines and automations.

  3. Matter Support: If your Aqara hub supports Matter, you can expose your devices to any Matter-compatible ecosystems, including Google Home and Amazon Alexa. This can enhance the interoperability and responsiveness of your smart home setup.

  4. Home Assistant: Aqara devices supporting HomeKit can be integrated into Home Assistant, providing a robust platform for creating complex automations and monitoring device states.

Regarding your concerns about notification delays or responsiveness, using platforms like Google Home or Home Assistant generally offers a smooth experience, though it can vary based on your network setup and specific devices.

If you’re considering using Zigbee2MQTT, it’s a popular choice among DIY enthusiasts for integrating Zigbee devices with home automation systems. It requires a bit more technical know-how to set up but offers flexibility and control.

Feel free to share your experiences or any additional questions you might have. The community is always here to help brainstorm and troubleshoot!