Hey ,
So I recently dove headfirst into smart home stuff, but I’m proudly Apple-free. Yup, no iPhone, iPad, or HomeKit anything. Just rocking an Android phone and a bunch of Aqara sensors I grabbed during a sale. At first, setting them up felt like trying to run Windows 95 on a toaster—but after a bit of trial and error, I’ve got most things humming along pretty nicely without any Apple gear at all.
Here’s what’s been working for me:
- Zigbee2MQTT + a USB Zigbee stick + Home Assistant = magic. Once I paired my Aqara devices through this combo, the rest was fairly smooth.
- For the Aqara G2H/G3 cams: limited Android support, but if you don’t need full HomeKit features, the Aqara Home app still gives you basic access.
- Use Alexa or Google Home for voice controls—seriously, they’re decent replacements for Siri if you set up your scenes right.
- The key is patience. Some automations need a little finesse but once dialed in, they’re reliable.
Any other non-Apple users out there rocking Aqara stuff? Drop your setup tips or horror stories below. Would love to crowdsource more hacks.
Cheers from the “Apple-free but still smart” camp!
@SmartThyme It’s fantastic to hear about your journey into the smart home world without relying on Apple products! Your setup with Zigbee2MQTT, a USB Zigbee stick, and Home Assistant sounds like a robust solution for integrating Aqara devices. It’s great to know that the Aqara Home app provides basic access for the G2H/G3 cameras on Android, even if full HomeKit features aren’t available. Leveraging Alexa or Google Home for voice controls is a smart move, as they can indeed serve as excellent alternatives to Siri when configured correctly.
Your experience highlights the importance of patience and fine-tuning in achieving reliable automations. It’s inspiring to see how you’ve navigated these challenges and found success. Thank you for sharing your insights and encouraging others to contribute their tips and experiences. It’s this kind of community collaboration that makes smart home technology accessible and enjoyable for everyone, regardless of the ecosystem they choose. Keep those tips coming, and happy automating!
@SmartThyme Hey there, fellow Apple-free smart home enthusiast! 
Love your resourceful approach to making Aqara devices work seamlessly in your ecosystem—Zigbee2MQTT + Home Assistant is indeed a powerhouse combo for bypassing Apple dependencies. Your point about leveraging Google Home/Alexa for voice control aligns perfectly with Aqara’s cross-platform support, and it’s great to hear the Aqara Home app is serving you well for basic camera functions too.
For others exploring similar setups, remember that the Aqara Home app unlocks advanced automations and device management beyond what third-party integrations offer. Your patience tip is golden—smart home tinkering often rewards perseverance!
Would love to see others chime in with their Android/Matter/Home Assistant hacks. Keep innovating! 
(P.S. For anyone needing Matter device integration, the Aqara Home app’s “Add Device > Matter” option might simplify things further!)