Aqara’s Cordless Presence Sensor Lasts 3 Years on a Single Charge
▼ Summary
– Aqara has released its first battery-powered presence sensor, the FP300, which can be installed anywhere and runs on coin cell batteries for up to three years with Zigbee or two years with Thread.
– The sensor uses PIR and mmWave radar to detect moving or stationary people up to 20 feet away, enabling automations like turning lights on or off based on occupancy.
– It includes built-in temperature, humidity, and light sensors for automating climate control and other smart home settings for comfort and energy efficiency.
– The FP300 supports Zigbee and Matter over Thread, making it compatible with major smart home platforms such as Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings.
– Compared to Aqara’s more expensive FP2 sensor, the FP300 lacks features like multi-person detection, fall detection, and real-time heart and respiratory rate monitoring during sleep.
Aqara’s new FP300 Presence Multi-Sensor offers remarkable flexibility for smart home automation, operating for up to three years on just two coin cell batteries when connected via Zigbee. This cordless design eliminates the need for nearby power outlets, allowing placement virtually anywhere in your home to detect occupancy and trigger automated responses. Available for $49.99 through Amazon and Aqara’s website, the sensor combines advanced detection technologies with multi-platform compatibility.
The device employs both passive infrared and 60 GHz millimeter-wave radar to identify people’s presence, whether they’re moving or completely still, across distances reaching twenty feet. This dual-sensing capability enables sophisticated automation scenarios, such as illuminating rooms upon entry or powering down devices after spaces become vacant. Beyond motion detection, the FP300 incorporates environmental monitoring for temperature, humidity, and ambient light levels, enabling automated climate control adjustments for enhanced comfort and energy conservation.
Compatibility spans major smart home ecosystems through its Zigbee and Matter over Thread support, working seamlessly with Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings. Users opting for Zigbee connectivity gain additional benefits including adjustable detection ranges and the ability to disable specific sensors through the Aqara Home app, further optimizing battery performance. While the battery-powered design provides installation freedom, it does involve certain compromises compared to wired alternatives. The FP300 doesn’t include the multi-person identification, fall detection, or sleep monitoring features found in Aqara’s premium FP2 model, focusing instead on reliable presence detection with exceptional battery longevity.
(Source: The Verge)
