Aqara has introduced the Aqara M100, a new smart home hub that is available at a low price and still promises modern functions such as Matter support and local automation without a cloud connection. The compact device is particularly suitable for beginners and users who want to set up a cost-effective smart home system.
Highlights
- Affordable entry: The Aqara M100 is inexpensive and yet offers extensive functions.
- Matter integration: Supports Matter over Wi-Fi and acts as a Matter bridge for Zigbee devices.
- Local automation: Enables automation without internet connection or cloud services.
- Compact design: Easy to install and ideal for smaller smart home setups.
Technical details and connectivity
The Aqara M100 is powered via USB and connects to the home network via the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band. It supports up to 20 Zigbee and 20 Thread devices, making it ideal for smaller smart home installations. As a Matter Bridge, the M100 enables the integration of Zigbee devices into various smart home ecosystems such as Apple Home, Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings. This facilitates the central control and automation of various devices from different manufacturers.
An outstanding feature of the Aqara M100 is its ability to automate locally. This means that defined automations can be executed directly on the device. An internet connection or active cloud services are not required for this. This increases the reliability and speed of automation while protecting user privacy.
Possible applications and expandability
The Aqara M100 is particularly suitable for users who want to set up a simple and reliable smart home system. Thanks to the support of Matter and the ability for local automation, various scenarios can be realized. A practical example would be automatically switching on the lighting when movement is detected or regulating the room temperature based on sensor values.
For larger installations or more complex requirements, Aqara offers the Aqara Hub M3 (€ 119.99 *). This supports up to 128 devices and offers additional functions such as infrared control and Power-over-Ethernet. However, the M100 can also be used in such setups as a supplementary hub to control certain areas or device groups separately.
Conclusion
The Aqara M100 offers a cost-effective entry into the world of the smart home with modern functions such as Matter support and local automation. If you want to set up a low-cost smart home system, you can now buy the Aqara M100 at a price of € 19.99 *. If you want to set up a camera system, you should also take a closer look at the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro (Review | € 199.99 *). Here, the manufacturer has integrated the hub directly into the camera.
