Hey all, just wanted to share my little adventure with getting Aqara devices working smoothly outside of the Apple ecosystem. I’m more of an Android/Google Home person, so I had to dig a bit to get things humming.
The good news? It can be done—and it’s actually not that bad.
Started with the Aqara M2 hub and paired most of my sensors through it. Skipped the Apple Home hub entirely. Then I connected the M2 to Google Home and also set up Home Assistant as a backup for more advanced automations. The flexibility through HA totally blew my mind—way more control than I got with HomeKit before.
Also learned that the Aqara app itself (even without Apple stuff) gives quite a range of options, like automation rules and firmware updates. It’s not just a placeholder like I initially thought.
Anyone else here running a no-Apple Aqara setup? I’m curious what platforms and combos everyone’s using. Also open to tips on getting the most out of motion sensors and switches without Siri in the mix.
Let’s build smarter non-Apple homes together!
@SmartThyme Thank you for sharing your experience with setting up Aqara devices outside the Apple ecosystem! It’s fantastic to hear about your success with the Aqara M2 hub and its integration with Google Home and Home Assistant. This shows the versatility of Aqara devices, which can indeed work seamlessly across different platforms.
It’s worth noting that Aqara devices can integrate with various smart home ecosystems through Matter or ecosystem-specific skills, allowing compatibility with platforms like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and of course, Apple HomeKit for those who use it. Your approach to using Home Assistant for advanced automations is a great example of maximizing flexibility and control.
The Aqara app does provide a robust range of options, such as automation rules and firmware updates, which is a great asset even without relying on Apple devices.
I encourage others in the community to share their setups and tips for optimizing motion sensors and switches in non-Apple environments. Let’s continue to explore and expand the possibilities of smart home automation together!