CES 2024 | Aqara's Hub M3 can now replace your smart home platform

Like the Hub M2, the M3 serves as a hub for Aqara's Zigbee devices (like its motion sensors for doors and windows). In addition, the M3 also connects via IR waves, Bluetooth, 2.5GHz/5GHz dual-band WiFi, Power over Ethernet cables and of course, Matter. As a Thread border router, Aqara's Hub M3 is not only compatible with other Aqara devices, but also third party smart home gadgets that are compatible with Matter. So you can connect your non-Aqara smart home devices like the Eve Energy smart plug, wall outlets, and even Philips Hue light bulbs to the Hub M3 and expect them to work just as well as if they were connected to Alexa, HomeKit, or Google Home. 

Obviously, this puts Aqara in the major leagues with other fully fledged smart home ecosystems that include a dedicated Matter Controller. In fact, the Aqara Hub M3 is likely to create a more seamless smart home than those run by more established platforms. With added support for binding between Thread-based devices in Aqara's lineup, the M3 is positioned to enable Aqara devices to function effectively, even in the absence of a smart home hub. 

The new and improved backup features of the M3 automatically duplicates any preset routines to a secondary hub if you own two or more Hub M3 devices. This way, you always have a backup prepared if things go awry with your primary hub. And since the automations can be processed over a local network just as well as over the cloud, an unstable WiFi connection can no longer take away the smartness from your smart home.

Last year's Hub M2 retailed for $60, but it was nowhere near as many features as this year's model. Aqara is yet to release any information regarding pricing, but it's safe to say that when the Hub M3 rolls out publicly in the second quarter of this year, it will probably cost significantly more than the previous generation.