So here’s the deal — I’ve been knee-deep in smart home stuff for the past 6 months, but I don’t use any Apple gear. Yep, no iPhone, no iPad, no Mac. Just a good ol’ Android and a Windows PC. I still wanted to build a stable, well-connected smart home without selling a kidney to join the Apple club.
I started with a few Aqara sensors (motion, door, temp) and a couple smart plugs. The challenge? Most of the setup guides are super Apple-focused. But if you’re like me and on Android or using a Raspberry Pi with Home Assistant, there’s definitely a way.
Enter Home Assistant (HA) + Aqara Hub E1 + Zigbee2MQTT 
It took a bit of digging and messing around with firmware and integrations, but once I got Zigbee2MQTT up and running, it was like unlocking god mode. Suddenly, I had way more control over automations than anything through the Aqara app or HomeKit.
Quick tips from my trial and error:
- Use the Aqara Hub just for initial pairing, then migrate to HA/Zigbee2MQTT if possible.
- Some sensors drop off randomly. A USB extension for your Zigbee dongle helps A LOT.
- MQTT looks scary at first, but it’s not rocket science. Plenty of guides out there.
I’m honestly blown away at how much you can do WITHOUT any Apple gear. And the bonus? I’ve avoided ecosystem lock-in and saved some serious cash along the way.
Anyone else rocking a similar non-Apple setup? Would love to see what you’ve done, especially on the automation side!