CES 2023: Matter support is also coming soon
Aqara is getting in on the action at CES by announcing a slew of new smart home gadgets – a light strip, motion sensor, video doorbell and smart lock.
After the company updated its Cube T1 Pro back in November to include HomeKit support, it’s Apple’s ecosystem that’s once again central to the budget maker’s new wares.
The Video Doorbell G4 is compatible with Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video and is scheduled to land in February, while the Smart Lock U100 – Aqara’s first deadbolt lock – supports both HomeKit and the Home Key feature, which allows users to add functionality to Apple Wallet and share more easily.
As you would expect, the LED Strip T1 and Presence Sensor FP2 also work with HomeKit, as well as Alexa and Google Assistant.
Crucially, Matter integration is coming to the doorbell and lock, too.
The Zigbee-connected Smart Lock U100 will support the new smart home standard when linked up to a compatible Aqara hub, which should be getting an update before the end of January.
The 11080p Video Doorbell G4, meanwhile, will support Matter when the spec rolls out to cameras later in 2023, though local streaming to Amazon and Google smart displays will be available at launch.
Elsewhere, it boasts all the typical doorbell features, such as AI facial recognition and local storage via microSD, and even comes with a chime that doubles up as a Wi-Fi extender. Users also have plenty of flexibility when it comes to installation, with it able to be wired in or run using battery power.
Pricing and specific launch dates for the new quartet aren’t yet confirmed, though we expect this will be detailed for the US, UK and Europe over the next few weeks.
