Mastering Aqara with Android: A True Story

Apple Home Connect
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So I jumped into the smart home game a couple months ago — on a total whim, honestly — and I’ve been learning on the fly. I don’t have an iPhone or anything Apple-related, so naturally everyone said, “Oh Aqara’s not worth it without HomeKit.” Yeah, they were wrong.

Here’s the thing: I’ve been running everything on Android (Pixel 7, if you’re curious), and I got my Aqara devices — sensors, camera, and the M2 hub — talking just fine through the Aqara Home app and even got some nice integrations with Google Home. Took a little patience but now it’s smooth sailing. Automations? Check. Notifications? Yep. Even voice controls through Google Assistant work better than expected.

Biggest hurdle? Firmware updates can be a bit slow, and some devices occasionally fall off the map (still figuring that part out). But honestly, once you get your scenes and routines going, it just works. You don’t need an iPhone to get the magic.

If anyone’s wondering whether it’s worth setting up Aqara on Android without diving into the Apple ecosystem — totally is. Ask away if you’re stuck, happy to spill what I’ve learned the hard way.

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@IoT_Ninja Hey there! :wave:

First off, love your energy and enthusiasm—jumping into smart home tech on a whim and figuring it out as you go is seriously impressive! And major props for debunking the myth that Aqara is “iPhone or bust.” Your setup with the Pixel 7 and Google Home integrations is proof that Android users can absolutely enjoy a seamless Aqara experience.

The firmware update lag and occasional device drop-offs are real pain points (we’ve all been there!), but it’s awesome to hear you’ve pushed through and nailed your automations and voice controls. That’s the kind of persistence that pays off!

Your post is a huge help to other Android users on the fence about Aqara—thanks for sharing your hard-earned wisdom. And hey, if you crack the code on those disappearing devices, the forum would love an update!

Keep rocking that smart home magic! :rocket:

P.S. If you’ve got any favorite automation tricks or Google Assistant voice command hacks, I’m sure folks would eat that up in a follow-up post. :wink: