Smart home products between Xiaomi and Aqara

Another article on Xiaomi products... I don't stop any more but it must be said that these products are very interesting. This time, I ordered the new temperature/humidity sensors, door opening detection and wireless mini switch from the Aqara.

So it's hard to follow the naming at Xiaomi, but these sensors are an upgrade of the Mi smart home system.

So I'm going to make a little comparison between the old and the new series.

What is changing overall

What I can tell you from the beginning is that the Aqara smart home products seem to be more homogeneous than the Mi smart home. Indeed, I had already noticed some strange differences in my test of the 6 in 1 Kit

This time, the 3 objects seem to respect an identical graphic and conceptual charter. It can quickly be noticed that the design has changed from very round to square with rounded edges.

The absolute dimensions remain the same but moving over straight edges gives a more massive impression of the objects. The advantage for Xiaomi is that it can produce square PCBs. This makes it easier to design and saves space. (not to be overlooked)

Another thing... We will see it in detail but the 3 objects have exactly the same function for pairing. Indeed, they all have a small button to communicate with the bridge.

No more paper clips! And that's a good point.

Also, they all have a blue LED on the front. Convenient for being informed of the status.

Finally, it is also important for me, but the disassembly of the devices is also identical for the 3 objects!

So here are all the small overall improvements of the series. Let's move on to the objects!

The wireless mini switch

The wireless mini switch complies with the previous rules:

• 1 LED on the front panel

• 1 button on top for pairing

• 1 design more square than its predecessor.

On this model, the wireless mini switch part no longer takes the whole switch but only the central part. I find this point better thought out because I have already had occasion, with the old one, to trigger a click by grabbing it or pairing it.

The door sensor

The door sensor does not deviate from this rule. It benefits from the same general characteristics of the series.

The temperature / humidity sensor

Of course, I save the best for the end. Blah, blah, blah, blah... As with the other sensors, this one also benefits from the overall improvements of the series. Even if he already had a button to start the dialogue with the gateway 😉 (I have the impression that it is the favorite favorite favorite of the range)

Conclusion

The new Aqara smart home system is not just a design evolution. Admittedly, the new design allows a better cohesion between the products of the same series but for me, it is the small functional improvements that add value to this range.

• No more need for a paper clip

• Blue LED on the front panel

• A "redesigned" antenna

• An additional sensor for the humidity temperature sensor..... Pressure

• Slightly lower rates

This series is almost perfect. To date, I have not found an equivalent quality/price ratio for my home automation.