The first Matter-over-Thread sensor from Aqara is now available for purchase. The Door and Window Sensor P2 costs $29.99 / £29.99 / €32.99 and works with current Matter-enabled smart homes because it doesn’t require an Aqara hub to function. Those that pair the sensor with Aqara’s future Hub M3 will gain access to additional capabilities such as a built-in programmable button.
A feature of the Door and Window Sensor P2 that can be used in a variety of smart home automation is the usage of a magnet to detect whether a window or door is open or closed. For instance, they can be utilized to increase security, serve as a reminder to shut windows when it starts to rain or warn you when a freezer door has been left open for an extended period of time. The Door and Window Sensor P2 include an adhesive attachment “that will not damage the wall if removed,” according to Aqara, and a thin magnetic plate for additional mounting choices.
Fortunately, Aqara’s plain white two-part sensor is unobtrusive, with no obvious branding or wordmarks. This is critical if you want to place dozens of such sensors throughout your home without turning it into Times Square. I know a lot of people who paint their sensors to match their doors and windows but bear in mind that there’s a small Matter logo and pairing code buried on the inner edge of this new Aqara sensor that you’ll need to keep care of.
The main sensor device is substantially more durable than the company’s Zigbee-based Door and Window Sensor because it incorporates a new large-capacity 1,400mAh CR123 battery. Its dimensions are 77 x 22 x 22 mm, which is about the same length and width of a conventional smartphone. The new battery’s longevity is not guaranteed by Aqara, who notes that it depends on the frequency of low-energy sensor polling as well as the apps and border router it is connected to. Strange because the manufacturer claims the outdated sensor “can last over 2 years under normal usage.”
The Thread-based P2 sensor is compatible with any Matter-enabled Thread border router, in contrast to the company’s previous Zigbee-based Door and Window Sensor that needed to be connected to an Aqara hub. As a result, it may easily integrate with any ecosystem that supports Matter, including those of Google, Apple, and others. In your house, you may already have a Thread border router in the form of, to name a few, a fourth-generation Echo, an Apple TV 4K, or a second-generation Nest Hub.
In early 2024, Aqara will ship its first Thread border router, the Hub M3, coupled with an update to the Aqara Home app to enable Matter. When coupled with the Hub M3, Door, and Window P2 sensors will gain tamper alert, adjustable sensitivity between one and three centimeters, and a programmable button that, when hit, can launch a personalized home scenario or automation. Until then, the main unit’s button functionality is limited to setting up and resetting the device.
At CES in January 2022, the business first teased the Door and Window Sensor P2 together with a Thread-enabled Motion and Light Sensor P2. In an email conversation with The Verge, Aqara representative Michelle Li stated that the motion sensor would still be released “later this year.” Yes, compared to the initial “early 2023” release schedule, that is a delay.
In order to connect its collection of historical Zigbee devices to the new unified smart home protocol, Aqara is also well underway adding Matter support to its current hubs. In addition, “various smart sensors, dimmer switches, smart plugs, and lights” are still on its Thread-enabled roadmap.
