Aqara, a maker of hardware and software solutions for the smart home, is now integrated into the Matter smart home protocol, a huge step for the company and its consumers.
The name ‘Aqara’ is a combination of the Latin words “Acutulus” (smart) and “Ara” (home). The company was founded in 2009 and has grown to be one of the largest manufacturers of smart home products in the world. Aqara has over 12 million customers in more than 170 countries and territories that have activated over 36 million devices.
Adding its products to the Matter platform marks a “significant advancement … across the Aqara ecosystem,” the company said in a statement. The Aqara Home platform is set to integrate over 50 unique types of Matter-enabled devices, making it easier than ever for users to manage and automate their connected home devices in one centralized platform.
“By advancing Matter support, we offer users more flexibility, customization, and enhanced experiences across platforms, while providing even more value to our customers regardless of the platform they prefer,” Aqara Founder, Chairman, and CEO Eugene You said in the statement.
New Matter device types that are supported by Aqara Home include:
- Robotic Vacuums
- Dimmable Plugs
- Smoke and CO Alarms
- Air Quality Sensors
- Leak, Freeze, and Rain Sensors
- Curtains and Shades
- Fans and Air Purifiers
- Air Conditions and Heat Pumps
- Water Valves and Pumps
- Pressure Sensors
- Solar Panels and Battery Storage
- Vehicle Chargers
- Laundry Washers and Dryers
- Refrigerators
- Cooktops, Hoods, and Surfaces
- Ovens and Stoves
- Water Heaters
- Video Players and Speakers
Support for additional Matter device types is included in Aqara Home version 5.1.9 and firmware version 4.3.5 for the Matter Controllers. These updates are expected to be rolled out later this month.
In addition, Aqara has announced that their Advanced Matter Bridging feature will be expanded from just their M3 Hub to all their Matter controllers and bridges. Advanced Matter bridging allows users to convert customized Scenes and Signals, created within the Aqara Home app, into virtual plugs and occupancy sensors, which can then be synchronized to other Matter compatible ecosystems.
For example, AI person detection on an Aqara camera is not an event that is supported by the Matter smart home standard. However, using Aqara’s Advanced Matter Bridging, this event can be communicated to other Matter compatible ecosystems, and they can take actions based on it.
Similarly, other Matter compatible ecosystems can communicate through Advanced Matter Bridging with Aqara Home to trigger advanced features of Aqara devices that are not yet supported by the Matter smart home standard.
Finally, Aqara has announced the launch of the Aqara Forum. Through the forum, smart home users can share ideas, showcase automations, obtain the latest Matter updates, and stay up to date with the latest product news from Aqara. “Aqara is fully committed to embracing cross-platform interoperability with Matter,” said You. “We believe an open ecosystem is essential for the widespread adoption of smart home technology.”
