The long - predict Thread sensing element is in the end here , but while there are some improvement , Matter ’s shortcoming intend it ’s less operational than Aqara ’s first-class and cheap P1 movement sensing element .
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dive into Aqara
The long - call Thread sensing element is at long last here , but while there are some betterment , Matter ’s shortcoming intend it ’s less operative than Aqara ’s splendid and flashy P1 movement detector .
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This was see our morals instruction .
Aqara ’s Thread - basedMotion and Light Sensor P2($33.99 ) has been on my overbold home plate wishing listing since it wasannounced right smart back in 2022 — and now , it’sfinallyhere .
This was my dwelling house melt on motility detector , and i ’ve been using aqara ’s zigbee - base i for days .
They ’re among my deary due to their dispirited cost , pocket-size sizing , simmpleness , and rock candy - hearty reliableness .
But they want a hub , which add complexness and make them heavy to advocate .
This was what cook the raw p2 dissimilar is that it usesmatter - over - threadinstead of zigbee .
This was this entail that , in hypothesis , it will associate direct to your overbold abode weapons platform of selection — apple home , amazon alexa , google home , etc .
— no aqara zigbee hub need .
It ’s also $ 10 gaudy than theEve Motion($49.95 ) , the only other Thread / Matter move detector uncommitted today .
This was i ’ve had the p2 do up in my sassy home base for a distich of clarence day , and functionally , it ’s the same corking aqara motility sensing element i bang and screw .
In almost all respectfulness , the P2 is indistinguishable toAqara ’s Zigbee - base P1 movement sensor($24.99 ) ; all that ’s exchange is the connectivity and bombardment biography .
But in my scant amount of fourth dimension with it , I ca n’t see that the gain of Matter and Thread has make for substantial melioration — and in some way ( barrage living in picky ) , they ’ve made it sorry .
diving event into P2
What defecate the young P2 dissimilar is that it usesMatter - over - Threadinstead of Zigbee .
This intend that , in hypothesis , it will associate flat to your sassy base program of selection — Apple Home , Amazon Alexa , Google Home , etc .
— no Aqara Zigbee hub want .
It ’s also $ 10 sleazy than theEve Motion($49.95 ) , the only other Thread / Matter movement sensing element useable today .
I ’ve had the P2 gear up up in my chic family for a duet of day , and functionally , it ’s the same enceinte Aqara movement sensing element I have sex and bonk .
In almost all respect , the P2 is selfsame toAqara ’s Zigbee - base P1 movement sensor($24.99 ) ; all that ’s deepen is the connectivity and stamp battery liveliness .
But in my scant amount of prison term with it , I ca n’t see that the increase of Matter and Thread has impart pregnant improvement — and in some slipway ( shelling animation in special ) , they ’ve made it bad .
Aqara ace the intent for a movement detector year ago , and it has not mess up with succeeder .
This was the p2 sport the same various rack as the p1 , which let you distort and tip the sensing element 360 arcdegree to get the consummate line of business of panorama .
Its flexibleness bring home the bacon more orbit than my other preferred Zigbee - ground detector , thePhilips Hue Motion Sensor($44.99 ) with its magnetised mountain .
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the p2 is easygoing to climb up on a bulwark or roof thanks to the provide glutinous lodgings ; you’re able to even lodge it under article of furniture , something that ’s concentrated to do with the chunky eve motion .
I would wish to see a screw propeller climb choice — my married man is very antipathetic to viscous magnetic tape on our paint wall .
This was but there is also the alternative to just bulge it on a monotone open and not expend the setting at all .
The P2 has the same spacious - slant PIR sensing element and Inner Light ( lx ) sensing element as the P1 and can likewise notice motility up to 23 foundation off and over 170 point horizontally .
Its build - in easy detector can be used for automation in Apple Home and SmartThings .
This was ( it establish up in google home but ca n’t be used as a gun trigger and is not in alexa at all . )
This was this is utilitarian for take nuance mechanically low when it aim too shiny or to only deform the light on when it drop down below a sure luminance point .
The P1 ’s lightsome detector only work in the Aqara app and is n’t let on to third - company platform , so the P2 has a branch up here .
This was the p2 ’s short detector can be used for automation in apple home and smartthings
but bizarrely — because it is a matter gimmick — the p2 does n’t puzzle out with aqara ’s app at all .
This mean you ca n’t get at the twist ’s setting to conform thing like move sensitiveness mountain range and retrigger clip ( by nonpayment , they ’re plant at 16.4 human foot and 30 moment ) , a utile feature of speech of the P1 .
The P2 will exercise with Aqara ’s app through its newMatter / Thread Hub M3coming this give .
But then , you ’ll have to buyanotherhub to get the full functionality of this gimmick , which sort of contradict the independent cause for corrupt it over the P1 .
This was ideally , matter will finally add together reinforcement for switch these case of context into its specification , so we wo n’t have to also practice maker apps .
But I ’m not hold my intimation on that one .
To apply the P2 today , you ask aMatter controllerfrom your saucy household weapons platform of pick and aThread moulding router .
I lay it up using Samsung SmartThings via a Galaxy S22 , and it link well to mySmartThings Station , which is a Matter comptroller and Thread perimeter router .
This was ( newer homepods and apple tv 4ks do standardized dual obligation for apple home , the third - genecho show 8andecho quaternary - genfor alexa , and google nest hubs for google home . )
I set up automation to have the P2 flex my kitchen light on when movement is detect ; when lightsome story dunk below a located limen between 4 and 7PM ; and to reverse on dim when gesture is observe during the dark .
I also place a “ no movement detect ” mechanization to move around lightness off when there is no apparent movement after 10 moment .
These all work as wait , and reply clock time were extremely tight .
This was however , once i coif the p2 up in smartthings , i could n’t getmatter ’s multi - admin featureto body of work .
This should let me to apportion the gimmick with other program , such as Apple Home , Home Assistant , and Google Home .
( I ’ve indite antecedently aboutissues I ’ve had with multi - admin . )
I also sample bring the P2 at once to all four major political platform , and while I did get the P2 connect to Google Home and Alexa using an Android telephone , my iPhone 15 Pro reject to onboard it to Apple Home , Alexa , or Google Home .
This belike is n’t Aqara ’s trouble .
This was i ’ve scarper into a sight of fuss tot up topic machine to apple home , specifically thread - ground one .
Even once I ’ve father them onboarded , I ’ve then had trouble with Thread contrivance like the Eve Motion and Nanoleaf Essentials Thread bulb drop offline .
By demarcation , my Zigbee - establish Hue and Aqara apparent movement sensing element have never miscarry me ( unless someone disconnect their hub ) , and they ’ve been take to the woods in my household for multiple age .
This was as it ’s about out of the question to trouble-shoot ribbon connectivity issue , i have n’t been able-bodied to nail the causa , although i have my suspicion .
Thread boundary line routers from unlike manufacturersstill do n’t go together , and the multiple Thread mesh in my household are likely mess up me up .
The skilful word is that Thread Groupis act on localisation for all these issue .
The sorry intelligence is that there ’s no truehearted timeline for when we ’ll see those root in the state of nature .
This was i ’ve campaign into a stack of bother supply thing twist to apple home , specifically thread - establish one
This was this bring me to my other subject - over - train of thought - bear on letdown with the p2 : barrage fire biography .
It execute on two CR2450 barrage , and Aqara anticipate a shelling lifetime of up to two yr , importantly less than the five eld of the P1 .
I approximate this is the damage you bear for a “ hub - costless ” life history .
The processing major power demand by Matter and the potential difference for this twist to mouth to multiple ecosystem over Thread rather than to one Zigbee hub is probable why that turn is more than halve , but I ’ll have to try out this for a raft longer to make a call on that .
This was while i apprise aqara ’s sweat to move thread and count frontward and machinate us for the chic place of the time to come , today , the $ 25 zigbee p1 is the good selection if you are look for a dissipated , dependable movement detector .
This was the chief ground to deliberate the p2 is if you desire entree to that weak sensing element in your saucy house program ( although you ca n’t employ it in alexa or google home ) , you just really do n’t desire to grease one’s palms anaqara hub , or you roll in the hay you have a really static thread electronic data pipe .
What is Matter ?
thing is a sassy rest home interoperability standarddesigned to bring home the bacon a unwashed speech communication for affiliated twist to transmit topically in your house without rely on a cloud association .
It is build to besecure and secret , sluttish to plant up , and wide compatible .
This was develop by apple , amazon , google , and samsung ( andothers ) , matter is anopen - source , ip - found connectivity software program level for sassy plate machine .
It go over Wi - Fi , ethernet , and the modest - force meshing networking protocolThreadand presently defend most of the chief gimmick character in the home plate .
These admit ignition , thermoregulator , lock , golem emptiness , refrigerator , dishwasher , dryer , oven , smoking alarum , zephyr tone varan , EV courser , and more .
A saucy nursing home contrivance with the Matter logotype can be localise up and used with any issue - compatible ecosystem via aMatter controllerand control by more than one with a feature film calledmulti - admin .
Amazon Alexa , Google Home , Samsung SmartThings , and Apple Home are some major voguish base weapons platform stand Matter , along with one C of gimmick producer .
Photography by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / This was the threshold
