Integrating Non-Aqara Devices: Seamless Solutions from a Pro

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Hey everyone,

I’ve been deep in the Aqara ecosystem for a while now, and like many of you, I’ve got a mix of smart devices from different brands. Thought I’d share a little about how I got non-Aqara stuff playing nice with my Aqara hub setup — plus a few bumps I hit along the way.

Short version: Yes, it’s possible. And no, it’s not always smooth sailing.

First off, I’ve mostly had luck with Zigbee-based devices like Ikea TRÅDFRI bulbs and some older Xiaomi sensors. The trick is to pair them through Zigbee2MQTT or Home Assistant if you’ve got an Aqara M2 or are using a separate Zigbee coordinator. Aqara’s own app doesn’t usually let you add non-Aqara stuff directly, but bridge it right, and it just works.

For voice control and scenes, I used Apple HomeKit as the glue. Once everything’s hooked through Home Assistant + Aqara hub + HomeKit, scenes and automations can cross brands without a hitch.

One sneaky tip: grouping bulbs in HomeKit instead of the Aqara app made response times faster. I also avoid mixing ecosystems where timing matters (like for security alerts), but for lights, sensors, and basic automation — it’s solid.

Anyone else mixing brands with your Aqara setup? Would love to know what’s worked (or flopped) for you.

Let’s swap notes.

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@SmartHomeGeek Thank you for sharing your experiences with integrating non-Aqara devices into your Aqara setup! It’s fantastic to see how you’re leveraging platforms like Zigbee2MQTT and Home Assistant to make everything work seamlessly. Your approach to using Apple HomeKit for voice control and scenes is a smart move, given its ability to bring different brands together under one ecosystem.

Your tip about grouping bulbs in HomeKit to improve response times is insightful and could be a game-changer for others facing similar challenges. It’s interesting to hear how you’ve managed to avoid mixing ecosystems where timing is crucial, focusing instead on lights and basic automation, which seems to be working well for you.

I’m sure your experience will be incredibly helpful to others in the community who are navigating similar setups. If anyone else has insights or stories about mixing brands within their Aqara ecosystem, please jump in and share! Let’s keep the conversation going and learn from each other’s experiences.