Aqara MagicPad S1 Plus

The Aqara MagicPad S1 Plus is three products in one wall plate: a light switch, a smart home control screen and a Zigbee hub. It fits a standard 86 mm back box, so on many walls it goes straight in where the existing switch was.

The screen

A 6.9-inch touchscreen at 1440 by 720 fills the plate. It shows and controls your accessories at the wall, including third-party Apple Home accessories, not only Aqara ones. For anybody who is tired of hearing “where’s your phone?” when somebody wants the lights off, a screen by the door is the answer.

It is a real switch

Behind the glass are three 10 A relays driving up to 2200 W in total, so it genuinely switches the lighting circuits rather than only sending commands. It is a neutral-wire switch, so the box needs a neutral present.

Six additional wireless buttons are available on screen for scenes that are not tied to a circuit.

It is also a hub

Zigbee is built in, and the panel carries up to 60 Aqara accessories into Apple Home. If you already run Aqara sensors, this can replace a separate hub.

Sensing and audio

An infrared presence sensor with a range of about 2.5 metres wakes the screen as you approach, and a light sensor dims it to suit the room. Stereo speakers and a four-microphone array handle Siri and announcements.

Before you buy

Check the back box depth. At about 43 mm deep this needs more room than a plain switch, and a shallow box will not take it.

A neutral conductor is required. This is mains work behind a faceplate, so have an electrician fit it.

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

Specifications