Aqara Expands Smart Home Ecosystem with 50 New Matter Device Types

Aqara expands its smart home ecosystem by supporting over 50 new Matter device types, enhancing interoperability with platforms like Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home. This update, featuring advanced bridging capabilities, allows users to integrate Aqara's automation features into any Matter-compatible platform, setting a new standard in smart home flexibility and control.

Aqara, a leading smart home company, has announced a significant expansion of its ecosystem by adding support for over 50 new Matter device types. This move positions Aqara as one of the most comprehensive platforms for Matter support, alongside industry giants like Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant. The new device types include robotic vacuums, dimmable plugs, smoke and CO alarms, air quality sensors, and many more, broadening the scope of smart home automation possibilities.

Aqara's Matter controllers, such as the Camera Hub G5 Pro, Doorbell Camera Hub G410, Hub M3, and Hub M100, now offer advanced bridging capabilities. This feature allows users to integrate Aqara's sophisticated automation features into any Matter-compatible platform, including Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home. Users can now bridge Matter devices that are not yet supported by a platform into these ecosystems, enhancing interoperability and user flexibility.

The update, set to roll out with Aqara Home version 5.1.9 and Matter Controller firmware version 4.3.5, underscores Aqara's commitment to an open and interoperable smart home environment. Eugene You, CEO of Aqara, emphasized the importance of interoperability in advancing the smart home industry, stating, "By extending Matter support, we aim to offer users greater flexibility and ensure that Aqara products remain useful across a wide range of platforms."

Aqara's hubs, which work with its Zigbee-based smart home products, are also optimized to support Thread network sharing. This means they can join existing Thread networks managed by Apple HomePods, Amazon Echos, or Google Nest hubs, providing a stronger network for Thread smart home devices. However, compatibility will depend on the implementation of Thread by these platforms.

The advanced bridging feature, introduced with the M3 hub, is now available across all Aqara Matter controllers, including the entry-level Hub M100. This feature allows users to bridge Matter devices into platforms that do not yet support that device type and use Aqara's advanced automation features and scenes in any Matter-compatible platform. For example, Aqara's G4 Video Doorbell's facial recognition feature can be used as a trigger in an Apple Home automation to turn on lights when you arrive home.

Aqara's approach to advanced bridging is a temporary solution that enables users to access its full features in any Matter platform until Matter supports these advanced features. This strategy aligns with similar capabilities offered by Home Assistant, which allows importing scenes, scripts, and other non-Matter-supported entities to connected platforms.

By expanding its Matter support and enhancing interoperability, Aqara is setting a new standard in the smart home industry, offering users greater flexibility and control over their smart home environments.