These Aqara Smart Sensors Are on Sale for Black Friday and They Are Awesome
Many companies make smart sensors, but some are better than others. And Akara, in my opinion, is the best at this. They make more consumer smart sensors than anyone else and I find them to be consistent and stable. An added benefit is that Aqara’s customer service is much better than most others. I’d use Black Friday to take advantage of sales on their best sensors, and here’s what I’d buy.
Presence sensor Aqara FP2
The occupancy sensor is where Aqara made its name, and it’s a huge improvement over the old “motion” sensors. The motion sensor uses light to detect movement, and you can use it to turn lights on and off, for example. But if you’ve ever sat in an office and worked at night, you know that eventually the lights go out because you’re not moving . An occupancy sensor uses light in a different way (lasers!) to determine if someone or something is in the room, even if they don’t move.
Motion sensor Aqara P1
Having said all this about occupancy sensors, it doesn’t mean motion sensors don’t have a place. For example, I used one to let me know that my dog was running away from my backyard and up the side of my house. Since motion sensors are technically also light sensors, I have one in my chicken feed and once the chickens have eaten enough feed and the sensor is exposed to light, I know it’s time to top them off. It makes sense to install a motion sensor on the refrigerator to see when someone is snacking, or in the hallway to get an alert when someone is approaching.
Temperature and humidity sensor Aqara
It’s funny how often I buy these sensors and throw them around, like in my pop-up greenhouse in the spring to activate the heater or fan; my chicken coop so I can get a warning if the girls get too hot; my plant corner so I know if I should move them; my car so I know if I need to warm it up before driving anywhere; and my outdoor freezer so I’ll be alerted if anything goes wrong. They are so comfortable.
Aqara Water Leak Sensor Kit
Pro Tip: Never buy just one water leak sensor. You buy a few and throw them around. It’s 2024, so if you don’t have a water heater, you’re behind the times. Ideal places are under sinks, automatic watering systems, next to the washing machine and refrigerator.
Set of sensors for doors and windows Aqara – 3 pcs.
If you’re not ready to dive into the whole home security system, this is a great place to start. I like these sensors on some windows because they give me a sense of peace. If I left the house, I can check to see if I left the window open. I can also automatically turn off the air conditioner if the sensor knows the window is open, or turn on the fan. I like to get a simple notification that the door has been left open rather than having the alarm go off.
Aqara 2K Security Indoor Camera Hub G3
If you are using Aqara sensors, you will need a hub. There are less expensive ones – don’t buy them. Get the G3 Hub, which is also the world’s most adorable security camera. It’s just a camera; this is really great.