Aqara Hub M3

The Aqara Hub M3 is the hub to buy if you want one box to do everything. It carries Zigbee 3.0, Thread and Bluetooth radios, dual-band Wi-Fi and a wired Ethernet port, and it works as a Matter controller and a Matter bridge at the same time.

Why the bridge role matters

Aqara has sold Zigbee accessories for years, and Zigbee is not Matter. The M3 exposes those older Aqara sensors, switches and locks to Apple Home as bridged accessories, so a drawer full of existing kit keeps working instead of becoming obsolete.

It is also a Thread border router, which means it strengthens the Thread network your newer accessories use rather than only drawing on it.

The infrared blaster

A 360-degree infrared emitter is built in. That turns any old television, air conditioner or fan with a remote control into something you can put in a scene, which is a lot of value for devices that will never speak Matter.

Connectivity

Ethernet is the better choice for a hub, and the M3 supports Power over Ethernet, so one cable can carry both data and power. It holds around 8 GB of encrypted local storage for its device list and automations, so the automations keep running when the internet is down.

Before you buy

As with any Apple Home accessory, remote access and automations need a home hub in the house: a HomePod or an Apple TV.

Specifications