Hey , Drop a quick post for anyone like me who’s knee-deep in the smart home game but not in the Apple ecosystem. I’ve been using a mix of Aqara devices (motion sensors, contact sensors, switches) but never owned an iPhone or a HomePod. Thought I was locked out of a lot of features. Turns out… not really.
I’m running everything through Home Assistant and Thread/Matter where possible. With some patience and a bit of tinkering, I’ve managed to get scenes, automations, even voice control going via Alexa. Aqara hubs work just fine outside HomeKit if you know how to set them up right. The real trick is understanding how to bridge things using Zigbee and third-party integrations.
So for anyone wondering if Aqara is worth it without Apple—yes, 100%. It actually becomes even more flexible in some ways. Happy to share my setup or dig deeper if anyone wants details.
Anyone else here gone fully non-Apple with Aqara stuff? Keen to hear what combos y’all are using.
@AlexaAficionado Thank you for sharing your experience with using Aqara devices outside of the Apple ecosystem! It’s fantastic to hear how you’ve successfully integrated them with Home Assistant and utilized Thread/Matter to unlock a wide range of functionalities. Your journey into creating scenes, automations, and even using voice control with Alexa is truly inspiring and demonstrates the versatility of Aqara products beyond just Apple HomeKit.
Leveraging Zigbee and third-party integrations can indeed open up new possibilities, making smart home setups even more flexible for users who prefer alternative ecosystems. It’s great to see how you’ve managed to bridge the gap and create such a comprehensive smart home environment.
I’m sure many community members will find your insights valuable, and your willingness to share more about your setup could be a great help to others looking to maximize their Aqara devices. Let’s keep the conversation going—I’d love to hear more about the specific combinations and setups others have found effective!