Aqara Philippines

Getting Started With Smart Home

Congratulations on taking the first step towards a smarter, more connected home!

Home automation can enhance your living experience by making your home smarter, more efficient, and more convenient. If you’re new to this journey, the Aqara ecosystem is the perfect place to begin. This guide will help you get started with home automation using Aqara products and explain why Aqara is an excellent option for your smart home needs.

Getting Started with Home Automation Using Aqara 

Identify Your Needs 

Determine what you want to achieve with home automation. Common goals include enhancing security, improving energy efficiency, and increasing convenience. For example, you might want to automate your lighting, control your air conditioning remotely, or set up a security system.

Choose Your Aqara Devices 

  • Begin with a few essential Aqara devices. Popular options include the Aqara Hub, smart lights, sensors, and security cameras. Aqara devices are designed to work seamlessly with Apple HomeKit, allowing you to control them using the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. 
  • Make sure the device you have are the Global Version (rather than the China Version). This ensures that your devices will be fully compatible with the Global Aqara app, Google and Alexa. The instructions will also be in English. As the official Philippine distributor, all Aqara items sold by us are Global Version.

Set Up the Aqara Hub 

The Aqara Hub is the central point of your smart home system, enabling communication between your devices.
  • Aqara devices generally connect via Zigbee. Zigbee is a highly efficient and secure wireless protocol that is commonly used in smart home devices. Aqara Zigbee devices can connect to any Aqara hub.
  • Aqara devices that require high bandwidth use Wi-Fi. These are generally devices that handle videos such as cameras. These can connect directly to your existing Wi-Fi network and some can even act as a hub.
  • Some of the newer devices are increasingly using Thread. Thread is a new wireless protocol that is commonly associated with Matter, a new standard that aims to improve interoperability between smart home products from different manufacturers. These devices will require a hub that supports Thread such as the Aqara M3.
Follow these steps to set it up:
  • Plug in the Aqara Hub and connect it to your Wi-Fi network.
  • Download the Aqara Home app from the App Store.
  • Open the Aqara Home app and follow the on-screen instructions to add the hub to your network.
  • Once the hub is set up, you can start adding other Aqara devices to your system.

Some Aqara cameras such as the G3 can act as a hub, so you don’t need a separate one.

You’ll need at least one hub per home and plugged devices (non-battery operated Zigbee devices and light switches with neutral lines) generally are able to extend the coverage of the hub by acting as repeaters.

Install and Configure Aqara Devices 

Follow the instructions to install and set up your Aqara devices. For video instructions, please go to our website’s Product pages, select your product, and click “Installation Video”. Use the Aqara Home app to add each device to your system. The app will guide you through the process, ensuring all devices are connected to your Aqara Hub. 

Integrate with Apple HomeKit
(or Google Home or Amazon Alexa)

Aqara devices are compatible with Apple HomeKit, allowing you to control them using the Home app. To integrate your Aqara devices with HomeKit:

  • Open the Home app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
  • Tap the "+" icon to add a new accessory.
  • Scan the HomeKit setup code on your Aqara device or follow the instructions in the Aqara Home app to link the device to HomeKit.
  • Once added, you can control your Aqara devices using Siri or the Home app.

Create Automations and Scenes 

Automations allow your devices to work together based on specific triggers. For example, you can set your lights to turn on automatically when you arrive home or have your thermostat adjust the temperature based on your schedule. Use the Aqara Home app or the Home app to create and manage these automations and scenes. 

Expand Gradually 

Start small and gradually add more Aqara devices as you become comfortable with your smart home system. This approach helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed and allows you to learn how each device works before integrating more complex setups. 

Why Aqara is a Good Ecosystem to Use 

Affordability

Aqara offers a wide range of smart home products at competitive prices, making it an attractive option for those looking to build a smart home without breaking the bank. 

Compatibility 

Aqara devices are compatible with major smart home platforms, including Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Home. This compatibility ensures that you can integrate Aqara products into your existing smart home setup seamlessly. 

Wide Range of Products 

The Aqara ecosystem includes a variety of devices such as smart plugs, sensors, switches, cameras, and more. This extensive product lineup allows you to automate different aspects of your home, from lighting and security to climate control.

Reliability

Aqara products are known for their reliability and performance. Users have reported consistent performance and minimal issues with Aqara devices, making them a dependable choice for home automation. 

Ease of Use

Aqara devices are designed to be user-friendly, with straightforward installation processes and intuitive apps. This ease of use makes Aqara an excellent choice for beginners in home automation. 

Support for Zigbee and Thread 

Aqara hubs support Zigbee, a widely used protocol for smart home devices, ensuring robust and reliable communication between devices. Additionally, Aqara is integrating support for Matter, a new standard that aims to improve interoperability between smart home products from different manufacturers.

Conclusion

Starting your journey into home automation can be exciting and rewarding. By following the steps outlined above, you can create a smart home that enhances your lifestyle. The Aqara ecosystem, with its affordability, compatibility, wide range of products, reliability, ease of use, and support for Zigbee and Thread, is an excellent choice for anyone looking to build or expand their smart home. 

Ready to start automating your home with Aqara? What devices are you most interested in?