The competition in the field of smart home is becoming more and more fierce. Overseas Apple takes the lead in building HomeKit ecological chain with a large number of devices, while Domestic Mijia continues to launch affordable smart home devices to seize the market. The two smart home giants seem to be at loggerheads, but the good news is that Aqara is about to break the ice.
It is well known that two smart home equipment manufacturers compete with each other, their equipment is not compatible with each other. Basically, hardware vendors will either connect to HomeKit or partner with Mi. If I have an iPhone and a mini stereo at home, a HomeKit device and a non-HomeKit device, it’s a headache. Control the ceiling light by Shouting “Ai classmate”, turn off the night light by Shouting “Hey Siri”, the user experience is very fragmented.
Isn’t there a good piece of hardware that supports both HomeKit and Mi? Yes, it is the Aqara gateway. Aqara gateway is a smart home hardware released by Aqara company in the middle of this year. After the release of firmware 1.4.7 update, Aqara Gateway can support HomeKit and access Mijia. More importantly, as a gateway, the device can also act as a hub for the entire smart home, allowing all of its sub-devices hanging below it to connect to Mijia, and most of them to HomeKit.
Add Aqara gateway in Mijia App and Family App
Aqara gateway can be added to the smart home system using Mijia App and iOS Home App. The gateway can be added by scanning the HomeKit code on the box at the “plus” button in the upper right corner of the two apps. The following figure shows the process of adding Aqara gateway to Mijia App. During the process, the application will prompt to add Aqara gateway to HomeKit at the same time.
In the home App, the Aqara gateway is identified as a light bulb and a security system. In mijia App, only one Aqara gateway device is displayed, which contains functions such as alert and sensing night light.
If your Aqara gateway cannot access mijia App and Home App at the same time, it may be because your gateway firmware has not been updated to version 1.4.7. You will need to update the firmware through the Aqara Home App first.
Aqara gateway’s sub-devices can also access home apps
As a gateway device, the core function is as the hub of the whole smart home, we can mount multiple sub-devices under the gateway. In the case of homeKit-enabled Aqara gateways, most of the children it supports can access home apps. We only need to use Mijia App to add sub-devices in the “Devices” page of Aqara gateway. Once added, eligible sub-devices will automatically appear in the home App.
As of press time, the only sub-devices that can be added to Aqara gateway are ZigBee protocol enabled devices, including most of Aqara’s own devices and some of Mijia’s devices. These equipment Aqara home temperature and humidity sensor, human body sensor, wireless switch, wall switch, door and window sensor, LED bulb, and mi home temperature and humidity sensor, human body sensor, door and window sensor, smart socket, wireless switch, etc. But popular devices like Yeelight smart bulbs, Mijia sweeper robot, and air purifiers are not yet accessible.
We can see that the bulbs, sensors, switches and other Aqara devices have been included, so the scenes I mentioned in the previous article, such as alarm when the door is not closed, automatic light on when coming home at night, light on when getting up at night, and no one turning off the light, can be established on mi Jia and Homekit platforms. You can control related devices through Xiao Ai, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Mac.
Another wonderful phenomenon is that some responsive devices can achieve dual control. In HomeKit, you can set the wireless switch to work as a Gateway night light. Both lights are controlled at the same time when you press the switch.
Aqara took the lead in supporting both Mijia and HomeKit, which greatly expanded the audience of Aqara brand. If you are considering building a smart home, now the time is approaching maturity, Aqara’s device supports two smart home manufacturers’ apps at the same time, can be said to be the most worth buying smart home equipment. You can learn more about Aqara’s products on its official website.