Smallest Hub Yet? The Aqara Hub E1 - Homekit Smart Home

Summary

Debra Lloyd introduces Acara's new E1 USB-powered smart home hub, compatible with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, and IFTTT. The hub is compact, affordable, and supports up to 128 Zigbee devices. Despite its small size, it offers reliable performance, although it lacks the speaker and light found in other Acara hubs. It can also act as a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi repeater. Debra highlights Acara's affordability and reliability, encouraging viewers to explore the ecosystem. A promo code for a discount on the E1 hub is available in the video description.

Takeaways

• 😀 The new Acara E1 hub is a small, USB-powered smart home hub that was released on October 26th.
• 🔌 It is the smallest hub from Acara, about the size of a USB drive, and weighs only 58 grams.
• 🏡 The hub is compatible with HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, and IFTTT, but the focus is on HomeKit in this video.
• 💡 The E1 hub can connect to up to 128 devices and uses Zigbee 3.0 for fast and reliable communication.
• 📉 This hub is more affordable than other Acara hubs, costing only $39.99 CAD, making it a budget-friendly option for those starting with smart home devices.
• 🚫 The E1 hub lacks a speaker and light for alarm features, which are available on other Acara hubs like the M1S.
• 📶 A unique feature of the E1 hub is that it can act as a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi repeater, capable of connecting up to two devices.
• 🧩 Acara's ecosystem includes a variety of affordable sensors and devices that integrate easily once you have the hub.
• ⚙️ Setup is simple through the Acara app, with quick installation and firmware updates to ensure smooth performance.
• 🎁 The E1 hub is a good entry point for building a reliable and affordable smart home, especially with Acara’s ongoing innovation and product development.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The video introduces Aqara's newest smart home hub, the E1 hub, and discusses its features, benefits, and affordability for building a smart home ecosystem.

What is unique about the size and design of the Aqara E1 hub?

The Aqara E1 hub is extremely small, about the size of a USB drive, and weighs only 58 grams. Its compact design allows it to connect to any USB port, making it unobtrusive and versatile for installation.

What are the compatible smart home platforms for the Aqara E1 hub?

The Aqara E1 hub is compatible with multiple smart home platforms, including Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, and IFTTT.

Why did the creator initially not consider Aqara products for their smart home?

The creator initially overlooked Aqara products because they were not available in Canada. Later, they avoided Aqara because they required a hub, opting for other more expensive products to avoid purchasing a hub.

How does the cost of Aqara products compare to other smart home platforms?

Aqara products are more affordable compared to other smart home platforms, especially when considering their sensors. Although a hub is required, the overall cost is lower once the hub is purchased.

What communication protocol does the Aqara E1 hub use and how many devices can it support?

The Aqara E1 hub uses the Zigbee 3.0 communication protocol and is capable of connecting up to 128 devices, providing fast and reliable communication.

What key features are missing from the E1 hub compared to other Aqara hubs?

The E1 hub lacks a speaker and light, which are present in other Aqara hubs such as the M1S. However, it still supports all four alarm modes via phone notifications.

What is a unique feature of the Aqara E1 hub not found in other hubs?

The Aqara E1 hub can function as a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi repeater, allowing it to create a Wi-Fi hotspot and connect up to two devices that might benefit from boosted Wi-Fi coverage.

How does the affordability of the Aqara E1 hub benefit smart home beginners?

The affordable price of the Aqara E1 hub, at only $39.99 CAD, makes it an attractive option for beginners looking to enter the Aqara ecosystem and build a reliable, affordable smart home.

What additional features and accessories can users explore once they are in the Aqara ecosystem?

Once users have the Aqara hub, they can explore a variety of accessories including door/window sensors, motion sensors, leak sensors, buttons, switches, and other innovative smart home devices that Aqara continues to develop.