At IFA 2026, Aqara unveiled advanced devices demonstrating the evolution of smart homes, featuring precise presence detection with mmWave radar, expanded security options, and a layered connectivity system that seamlessly blends Zigbee, Thread, and Matter protocols for enhanced flexibility and local control.
Aqara used IFA 2026 to show how far the smart home has moved beyond simple app control. The company’s latest devices point towards homes that can detect where people are, react to different zones in a room, secure European-style doors, and record video locally rather than pushing every function into the cloud. The strongest theme across the range was flexibility: Zigbee and Matter over Thread are being used side by side, with hubs bridging older and newer devices rather than forcing a clean break.
The most significant new sensor was the Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400. Aqara says it uses 60GHz mmWave radar to track presence, movement and position without a camera, with support for up to ten people and as many as eight custom zones. The company also says the sensor can distinguish between people and other motion, such as pets or robotic vacuum cleaners, which should reduce false triggers in busy homes. T3 reported that the device is designed for Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, SmartThings and Homey, and that it supports Matter, Thread and Zigbee.
Aqara’s own product information adds that the FP400 can be configured through Aqara Home using a finer spatial grid and that it supports dual-protocol operation. In practice, that means it can work directly on Matter over Thread or through Zigbee with an Aqara hub, depending on the installation. The result is more useful than simple room occupancy sensing: automations can be tied to a sofa, a desk or a doorway, not just to whether someone is present.
On access control, Aqara is broadening its lock range for different European door types. The Smart Lock U250 is a retrofit model intended for existing locks, but with a smaller body than the U200 and a brushless motor. Aqara says it supports Matter over Thread, Aliro and Apple Home Key via the keypad, alongside fingerprint, PIN and NFC access. The company is also targeting the UK and Ireland with the U600, a lock designed for multipoint doors, while the U500 series covers gates and other specialist installations, including glass doors that do not require drilling.
The Outdoor Plug H2 EU extends Aqara’s H2 line outdoors with Thread or Zigbee connectivity, energy monitoring and an IP44 rating. Aqara says it can handle loads of up to 16A, making it suitable for garden equipment, patio devices and other protected exterior appliances. A more ambitious product is the Boiler Thermostat W700, which is still in development and is intended to bring Matter over Thread to conventional boilers through a dry contact connection. If it reaches market as described, it could allow heating control to be added without replacing the boiler itself.
Aqara also used the show to underline how much more complicated the hub layer has become. The Security Station M410 is intended to store camera recordings locally, with expandable storage and an integrated siren, while also acting as a Matter hub. The Edge Hub M300 is a more advanced unit for professional use, combining Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee and Thread with Ethernet support, PoE power, and compatibility with KNX/IP, BACnet/IP and Modbus TCP. Aqara says it can serve as a gateway, Thread Border Router, Matter Controller and Matter Bridge.
For room-based control, the Panel Hub S1 Plus Desktop Version turns a 6.9-inch touch screen into a Zigbee hub and Matter bridge, so Aqara Zigbee devices can be exposed to broader ecosystems. The Touchscreen Dial V1 Desktop Version takes a different route, pairing a display with a physical haptic dial for more precise adjustments, while the Cube T1 Pro remains a Zigbee controller that still depends on an Aqara hub. Together, these devices show Aqara trying to make the home easier to operate for non-technical users without reducing the underlying sophistication.
Video products followed the same pattern. Aqara’s Camera G510 Battery is designed for outdoor use without mains power, using a 10,400mAh battery, solar charging and local recognition of people, vehicles and parcels. The company is also pushing local recording through the M410. Meanwhile, the Camera Hub G350, already shown earlier this year, combines a 4K camera, a second 2.5K lens, motorised movement and Aqara’s broader hub functions in one unit. The Doorbell Camera G400 Wired remains a separate product, with 2K recording, Wi-Fi 6 or PoE connectivity, and support for HomeKit Secure Video, RTSP and ONVIF rather than Matter.
The broader picture from Berlin is that Aqara is no longer treating Zigbee as a legacy stopgap. Instead, the company is building a layered system in which older devices, new Thread products and Matter bridges can coexist. For households that already have Aqara hardware, that should make incremental upgrades easier. For new installations, it means there is a clearer path to start with Matter over Thread while still keeping room for specialist devices that work best through Zigbee.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
