$20 – $30
Zigbee 3.0 motion sensor with 170° detection angle and 5-year battery life. Built-in light sensor. Configurable timeout (1-200s). Requires Aqara hub.
You prioritize long battery life
Up to 5-year battery life with LED off and 30+ second timeout. Works reliably even in low temperatures.
You have pets and want to reduce false triggers
Three sensitivity levels (high, medium, low) help reduce pet-triggered false alarms. Adjustable detection distance.
You need configurable detection timeout
Timeout adjustable from 1 to 200 seconds in Aqara app. Previous generation was stuck at 60 seconds. Great for bathroom/hallway lighting.
You want affordable HomeKit motion detection
At ~$25, significantly cheaper than Philips Hue ($42) or Eve Motion. Works with HomeKit, Alexa, Google, and IFTTT through Aqara hub.
You do not have an Aqara Zigbee 3.0 hub
Requires Aqara hub - not compatible with other Zigbee hubs like SmartThings or Hubitat without workarounds.
You need the light sensor exposed to HomeKit
Built-in lux sensor is NOT exposed to HomeKit. Only works in Aqara app automations. Philips Hue exposes light sensor.
You need outdoor or wet environment placement
No IP rating. Cannot be used outdoors or in bathrooms with direct moisture exposure. Eve Motion has IPX3.
Light/lux sensor not exposed to HomeKit - only motion triggers available. Cannot automate based on brightness in Apple Home.
User ReviewsPairing with ZHA or zigbee2mqtt can be difficult. Some users report sensors going unavailable after months of stable use.
Home Assistant CommunityDetection range on high sensitivity only reaches ~1.5m for some users, despite 7m official spec. Placement critical.
Amazon ReviewsSensor sometimes stays stuck in "occupied" state and never clears. Requires re-pairing to fix.
Aqara ForumConnection instability after months of working fine
commonCause: Zigbee mesh issues or sensor moving out of hub range
Detection range much shorter than advertised 7 meters
occasionalCause: Real-world range varies by sensitivity setting and environment
Light sensor not available in HomeKit automations
widespreadCause: Aqara design choice - lux data only in Aqara app, not HomeKit
Slow response or missed motion detection
occasionalCause: Timeout period still active from previous detection or weak Zigbee signal
Some units received appear used or missing battery tab
rareCause: Quality control issues with some sellers
Pointing sensor toward heat sources (appliances, sunlight)
False triggers from infrared interference
Tip: Install away from radiators, TVs, direct sunlight, and kitchen appliances. PIR sensors detect heat, not just motion.
Installing on glass, tile, or smooth moist surfaces
Adhesive fails and sensor falls, or false readings
Tip: Use on dry, textured surfaces. The included stand allows tabletop placement as alternative.
Placing sensor more than 10 meters from Aqara hub
Weak connection causes missed detections and dropouts
Tip: Keep within 10m of hub. Add Zigbee repeaters (smart plugs) if needed for distant locations.
Remote notifications, Alexa/Google integration, firmware updates. Aqara app features when away from home.
Local Zigbee communication with hub. HomeKit automations work locally via Apple Home Hub. Local alarms continue.
Motion events, battery status, device usage patterns through Aqara cloud
No camera or video - PIR sensor only detects heat/motion. Privacy-friendly for bedrooms. Data stored on Aqara servers if cloud enabled.
Detection range: 170° up to 2m, 150° up to 7m (advertised). Real-world high-sensitivity range often 1.5-3m. Place within 10m of Aqara hub.
Aqara hub required. Maximum number of devices per hub varies by model. M2 hub supports up to 128 child devices.
Philips Hue Motion Sensor
If: Need light sensor in HomeKit or better magnetic mounting
Eve Motion
If: Need outdoor use or Thread/Matter support
Aqara Motion Sensor P2
If: Want Matter support or more frequent lux updates
You already have an Aqara hub
Best value motion sensor for existing Aqara setups. $25 with 5-year battery and configurable timeout is hard to beat.
You need light sensor in HomeKit automations
Lux sensor not exposed to HomeKit. Pay more for Philips Hue if light-based automations are important.
You want to avoid buying a hub
Requires Aqara hub ($30-60 extra). Consider Eve Motion with Thread or Hue sensor with Hue Bridge instead.
You need bathroom or kitchen motion lighting
Configurable 1-200 second timeout is perfect for rooms where you need quick on/off. Pet immunity reduces false triggers.
Official specs: 170° up to 2m, 150° up to 7m. Real-world testing shows high sensitivity often reaches only 1.5-3m. Medium and low sensitivity have shorter range.
Source: Product Specs/ReviewsNo. The built-in lux/brightness sensor is only accessible in the Aqara app. HomeKit only sees motion detection. Philips Hue exposes light sensor to HomeKit.
Source: User ReviewsYes, from 1 to 200 seconds in the Aqara Home app. This is a major improvement over the original sensor which was fixed at 60 seconds.
Source: Aqara FAQUp to 5 years with LED indicator off and detection timeout of 30 seconds or more. Shorter timeouts and LED on will reduce battery life.
Source: Product SpecsYes, it requires an Aqara Zigbee 3.0 hub (M1S, M2, E1, etc.). It cannot connect directly to your phone or work with other Zigbee hubs without workarounds.
Source: Aqara FAQ