Hey everyone, just wanted to share a bit of my noob-to-somewhat-smart-home-enthusiast journey with Aqara.
I started from scratch—literally didn’t even know Zigbee was a thing last year. Got hooked after getting my first Aqara hub and a couple sensors as a gift (thanks bae). Fast forward a few months, and now I have motion sensors triggering hallway lights, my robot vacuum dancing on a schedule, and even my AC turning on before I get home via door sensors and scenes. It’s been fun… stressful fun 
Some bumps though: pairing can be hit or miss, especially with older sensors. The app UI isn’t super intuitive at first, especially bopping around between Aqara Home, Apple Home, and then throwing Matter into the mix… my head still hurts thinking about it. Also, battery life on some sensors kind of tanked during winter.
But building automations is super addictive once you get into it. My personal win? Setting up a “movie night” scene that dims lights, closes curtains, and turns the fan on, all triggered by one button. Felt like Tony Stark for a second.
If you’re just starting out, happy to share what worked for me and what definitely didn’t. Tag me if you need setup help!
Anyone else stumbled through their Aqara setup and lived to tell the tale? Let’s trade stories!