Aqara Announces Four New Products, Talks Matter Support at CES 2023
Smart home device maker Aqara is gearing up for a big 2023. The company is introducing four new products and detailing its move to Matter at CES in Las Vegas.
A Smart Lock, Video Doorbell and More
First up, the Video Doorbell G4 can be battery-powered or use existing doorbell wiring for the most flexibility at your front door. It also offers AI-powered facial recognition that can be used to trigger different automatons depending on the person seen.
There is also 7-day free could storage or the optional ability to record locally via a microSD card. It supports Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video and streaming to Amazon Alexa and Google smart home displays.
Aqara also promises that the doorbell will work with the Matter protocol after specifications for cameras are ready.
The Smart Lock U100 is the company’s first deadbolt. It supports HomeKit along with Home Key features in Apple Wallet. Other authentication options include fingerprint biometrics and a password.
Presence Sensor FP2 detects human presence, even when someone is sitting still. Using zone positioning, it will allow users to create different automations for where the person is located in a room.
Finally, the LED Strip T1 features up to 16 million colors and tunable white light and also sports gradient effects. The Zigbee-based product uses lower power than the more congested Wi-Fi network.
Along with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home support, the strip will support Matter after it launches using a compatible Aqara hub like the M2. Find out more about thatsmart home hub in our original review.
No prices were announced for the products. Aqara said that all four will be available “in the following months.”
Matter Support Coming in 2023
Speaking of Matter and smart home hubs, Sara said it will start using OTA updates in 2023, starting with the M2 Hub so they can act as Matter bridges and connect any Zigbee device to Matter.
Aqara also confirmed more Thread-based products with native Matter support landing later this year including the Door and Window Sensor P2 and the Motion and Light Sensor P2.
Another Company Moving to Matter
As expected, a number of companies are jumping head first into the Matter smart home protocol with new products. And Aqara is no exception. It’s shaping up to be a great year for the smart home.
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