Aqara Unveils New Hub M3 With Thread Support [CES 2024]

Aqara unveiled a new Hub M3 with Thread, Zigbee, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and infrared connectivity at CES 2024. The hub will expand the Aqara ecosystem with the capability to connect and manage a growing number of Matter devices from Aqara and third-party brands.

The Hub M3 is the cornerstone in the Matter-enabled Aqara ecosystem. Beyond the expansive range of Aqara accessories and infrared-compatible gadgets, users can now integrate third-party Matter devices into the Aqara Home automation engine, enabling a unified and comprehensive smart home experience with this single product. The M3 will also expose the connected IR devices to Matter, allowing users to control and automate their infrared ACs and TVs via Aqara Home or any Matter ecosystems of their choice.




Edge Capabilities
Designed for decentralized and robust operation, the M3 offers edge capabilities for local control and automation. Its substantial eMMC storage enables local, end-to-end encrypted data storage, and locally processed automation, which reduces system latency and minimizes reliance on cloud services. The M3 can also connect to the Aqara Home app via a local network (LAN), ensuring continuous control of the Aqara system during cloud service or internet outage. The M3 also features dynamic leadership and automatic backup. When an extra M3 hub is deployed to the network, automations can be automatically mirrored, preparing the new hub to take over the network if the leading M3 fails. Ultimately, the M3 hub will support binding between Aqara Thread devices, allowing some automations to remain functional even without a hub. These features provide users with seamless connectivity as well as enhanced security and privacy.

Hub M3 Features
● Two-way, 360° IR blaster: The M3 transmits commands and recognizes when a conventional IR remote is utilized, allowing for better status detection. Furthermore, it can function as an AC thermostat when connected to a temperature sensor from Aqara.
● Enhanced functionalities for Aqara devices: The M3 serves as a Matter bridge for classic Aqara Zigbee devices, and gives additional functionalities to Aqara Thread devices, such as adjustable sensitivity and tamper alarm for the Aqara Door and Window Sensor P2.
● Powerful speaker and custom ringtones: The M3 features a powerful 95dB speaker that can be used as a siren of the Aqara Home Alert System or for the custom voice announcements.
● Privacy focus: The M3 preserves users' privacy as it is not equipped with a camera or microphone. It also supports local, end-to-end encrypted storage of device logs and user data, ensuring that home events remain private.
● Flexible installation: The M3 includes a mount, screws and a sticker for flexible installation options, from horizontal placement to wall and ceiling mounting. MagicPair is also supported for easy binding to Aqara Home.

The Aqara Hub M3 is expected to ship globally in Q2 2024. You can check out the full selection of Aqara smart home products here.