Hey folks, just wanted to share my experience as a non-Apple user diving into the Aqara ecosystem—and let me say, surprisingly smooth ride so far!
I’m an Android + Google Home guy, and honestly was a bit nervous picking up a bunch of Aqara gear (sensors, switches, Cube, even the camera hub). Everyone kept saying “It’s made for Apple HomeKit” which had me second-guessing at first. But here’s the thing—it absolutely doesn’t mean you can’t make it work outside of Apple’s world.
I’ve got everything running through the Aqara app + Google Home integration. Set it up with the M2 Hub via Zigbee, linked it with Google Home, and now I can trigger routines like lights on when motion detected, or get alerts when a door is opened, all through Google—not a single Apple device involved.
Even better, if you throw Home Assistant into the mix, that’s when it goes next level. Automations get way more powerful, especially when chaining events or using Aqara’s sensors for ambient triggers.
My two cents: don’t let the Apple-focus scare you off. If you’re in team Android or rocking an Alexa/Google setup, Aqara still plays surprisingly well—with a little bit of patience and the right Hub.
Curious if anyone else is rocking a full Aqara setup without Apple—how have you customized your integrations?
Let’s swap ideas.