Aqara, a prominent provider of smart home solutions, has announced a significant expansion of its Matter integration, introducing the Advanced Matter Bridging feature across its range of Matter-compatible hubs. This development aims to enhance interoperability and automation capabilities for users across various smart home ecosystems.
Advanced Matter Bridging: A New Era of Interoperability
The Advanced Matter Bridging feature allows Aqara’s unique functionalities to seamlessly integrate with third-party Matter platforms. For users of Apple’s HomeKit, this means that custom scenes and signals created within the Aqara Home app can now appear as virtual devices—such as plugs or motion sensors—in the Apple Home app. This integration facilitates the creation of complex automations that were previously confined to the Aqara ecosystem.
For instance, presence detection from the Aqara FP2 sensor or AI alerts from Aqara cameras can now be utilized within HomeKit automations, providing users with more flexibility and control over their smart home setups.
Firmware Updates and Compatibility
Initially exclusive to the Aqara Hub M3, the Advanced Matter Bridging feature is now being rolled out to other Matter-compatible hubs, including the M2, M1S, E1, and Camera Hub G3. This expansion is facilitated through a free firmware update, ensuring that a broader range of users can benefit from the enhanced interoperability.
To access these new features, users should update their Aqara Home app to version 5.1.9 and ensure their hubs are running firmware version 4.3.5 or later. These updates are expected to be available later this month.
Integration with a Wide Range of Matter-Enabled Devices
Beyond bridging Aqara’s own devices, the latest update also enables the Aqara Home app to integrate with over 50 types of Matter-enabled devices, including robotic vacuums and more. This broadens the scope of devices that can be managed and automated within the Aqara ecosystem, offering users a more cohesive and versatile smart home experience.
Future Developments: Thread Border Router Communication
Looking ahead, Aqara has announced plans to enhance its Thread Border Routers to facilitate communication across local area networks (LAN). This feature is currently under development and is anticipated to be released in the second quarter of 2025. Once implemented, it will further strengthen the connectivity and reliability of smart home devices within the Aqara ecosystem.
Conclusion
Aqara’s commitment to expanding Matter support and introducing advanced bridging features underscores its dedication to providing users with a seamless and integrated smart home experience. By enabling complex automations and enhancing interoperability across platforms, Aqara continues to position itself as a leader in the smart home industry.
