Aqara used CES 2025 to unveil its new touchscreen smart home controllers, designed to replace an existing light switch. Versions are available for the EU and US markets.
Panel Hub S1 Plus and Touchscreen Dial V1
The Amazon Echo Hub and Control4 systems before it have shown that there’s a market for touchscreen devices that provide full smart home control. Aqara hopes to capitalise on this demand with two controllers of its own, both of which can replace an existing light switch.
The Panel Hub S1 Plus is the top-of-the-line model, which can automate up to two existing lights. It has a 6.9-inch touchscreen and can control and automate multiple devices, including thermostats, lights, curtains and more. It’s also a Matter bridge and a Zigbee hub for Aqara devices.
Joining it is the Touchscreen Dial V1, which has a 1.32-inch display. Again, it’s designed to replace an existing light switch and control two existing lights. Smart-wise, the Dial V1 can control multiple devices via its rotary dial, including lights, curtains and blinds, and more.
EU versions of the products will go on sale later this month, with a North American version of the Hub S1 Plus due later in the year.
Expanded Thread portfolio with new sensors
Aqara is also revamping and expanding its range of Thread sensors and border routers. The Presence Multi-Sensor FP300 uses PIR and millimetre wave (mmWave) sensing for accurate presence detection, and uses both Zigbee and Thread, allowing it to work across multiple platforms. The sensor also has light, temperature and humidity sensors, which can be used to trigger a wide range of automation.
The Climate Sensor W100 also has Thread and Zigbee, and has temperature and humidity sensors. It can also show a secondary set of data on its display, such as local weather information. Three programmable buttons are there for smart device and scene control.
The Hub M100 is Aqara’s entry-level Matter Controller and Thread Border Router, and has Wi-Fi, Thread and Zigbee onboard, allowing it to control and manage all of Aqara’s devices, plus hundreds of third-party Matter devices.
The Doorbell Camera Hub G410 is an interesting addition to the line-up. As well as 2K video and a 176° field of view, the camera supports RTSP support, so you can stream its video to other clients, such as Home Assisant. With Zigbee, Thread and Wi-Fi onboard, the doorbell doubles as a smart home controller, for both Aqara and Matter devices.
