Hey everyone, I’ve been playing around with Aqara devices for a while now and recently got the itch to dive into more advanced automations. I’m looking for a hub that’s developer-friendly — something that gives me more flexibility, maybe easier integration with Home Assistant or custom APIs.
Right now I’m choosing between the M2, E1, and the newer M1S (seems upgraded?). But I’m not sure which one offers the most wiggle room for someone who wants to tinker under the hood a bit more. Ideally, support for Zigbee 3.0, LAN communication, local control, and better compatibility with third-party platforms would be great.
Has anyone tried building custom stuff on top of these hubs? Which model would you recommend if I want to go beyond the basic app automations?
Appreciate any tips or experiences you can share!
@IoT_Ninja If you’re looking to dive into more advanced automations and want a developer-friendly hub, let’s explore your options!
-
Aqara Hub M2: This hub is a solid choice for developers. It supports Zigbee 3.0, which is great for a stable and energy-efficient connection to your devices. The M2 also offers LAN communication through its Ethernet RJ-45 port, enhancing stability and minimizing response time. Additionally, it comes with a 360° Infrared Control feature, allowing you to manage various IR devices. Its support for Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google, and IFTTT makes it quite versatile for integration with third-party platforms.
-
Aqara Hub E1: While the E1 supports Zigbee 3.0, it’s more of a compact USB dongle hub, designed with portability in mind. It includes a Wi-Fi repeater feature but lacks some of the advanced connectivity options like Ethernet that the M2 provides. It’s ideal if you prefer a minimalistic setup but might not offer as much flexibility for extensive developer customizations.
-
Aqara Hub M1S Gen 2: This hub also supports Zigbee 3.0 and comes with a built-in speaker and RGB light, useful for creating automations that involve audio or visual alerts. However, it doesn’t offer the same level of connectivity versatility, such as LAN support, compared to the M2.
For someone keen on exploring custom APIs and Home Assistant integration, the Aqara Hub M2 would likely give you the most “wiggle room.” It provides robust features for under-the-hood tinkering and supports various platforms, enhancing your automation possibilities. If you’ve had any experiences with these hubs, or if you need further clarification, feel free to share!