With so many options out there (Aqara Hub M2, M3, Home Assistant, etc.), what’s currently the best hub or ecosystem for managing Aqara devices? I’m aiming for reliability, local control, and Matter support if possible.
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The best hub for Aqara smart home is the M3 hub, this is the top hub at the moment. the best universal hub Aqara 
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I have a handful of the G5 Pro Camera’s that are working fine for as a hub for me.
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The obvious choice would be Aqara M3 Hub, a bit more expensive than previous gen but definitely worth it and assures that you get support for upcoming devices.
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Definitely M3 Hub for inside use. If u want to expand ur system later u can then add an GH5 Cam outside. Then the 2 Hubs secure each other.
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Been playing with a bunch of Aqara gear in my big, multi-floor house - M2 hub, M3 hub, Home Assistant (with Zigbee dongle), and the G5 Pro cam. Quick thoughts:
M2: Solid for small setups, but mine choked a bit past ~30 devices. Zigbee coverage was fine-ish, but garage/attic sensors sometimes dropped.
M3: Total upgrade. Handles way more devices without hiccups. Matter support’s awesome - Apple Home + Alexa setup took minutes. Put it in the middle of the house and high up, mine covers 3 floors no problem.
Home Assistant: Great if you like tinkering. Lets me tie Aqara sensors to non-Aqara stuff. Way more flexible than the Aqara app alone.
G5 Pro: Handy for outdoors/detached spots, but Zigbee range isn’t as strong as the M3. Better as a mesh booster than your main hub.
Tips:
30+ devices? Go M3.
Zigbee plugs/repeaters = dead spot killers.
Update firmware - old Matter devices can be flaky.
Coolest thing I’ve got running: 1 button at night = curtains close, door locks, alarm arms, lights dim. Works flawlessly on the M3.
Anyone here got Aqara running in a shed or garden? What’s your go-to for outdoor range?
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@piranha @mxkissnr Recommend using one standard hub (e.g., M2, M1S, etc.) per room, then deploying an M3 hub to manage multiple standard hubs, forming a hub cluster. This multi-tiered, distributed network architecture can enhance the stability of home automation systems. For reference, here’s a ’s experience implementing a robust setup with multiple Aqara hubs:Robust Smart Home Setup Using Multiple Aqara Hubs: Observations & Best Practices
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For matter support and control other brands of devices in one place, I only recommend Homey Pro
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Good question — and an important one if you want to avoid frustration later. I’ve already been through the valley of tears…
Aqara currently doesn’t let you migrate devices between hubs. In my loft, I’ve got 64 Aqara downlights. If I switched hubs, I’d have to remove, reset, and re-pair every single one. Nightmare.
Think about:
- Project size – M100: max 20 devices. Others: 256 (Matter devices count too).
- Distance – closer is better. I use an S1+ Panel hub in each main room.
- Power – USB, regular plug, or PoE (better connectivity).
- Internet independence – Only the M3 supports local automation .
- Matter – Essential for future-proofing.
And remember: your car shouldn’t be smarter than your house! 
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The M3 hub is currently the best solution
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Thats not complete korrekt. If you switch from an M2 Hub to an M3 Hub, then there is a Migration Button which transfers all your Aqara Devices very quickly to the M3 Hub. I know this cause i did it personaly 
But i think that you are right if you switch from an older Hub to the M3
For slightly more advanced use cases (eg home assistant, remote hub) smlight do a range that are poe powered and come with both zigbee/ thread matter (or zwave) on the same stick
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No opinion about the M100 yet?!^^