Aqara cuts the cord on presence sensing using a battery model that can be installed almost anywhere.
The Presence Multi Sensor FP300 is powered by two CR2450 coin batteries, eliminating the need for a central wall outlet or cumbersome cabling. Aqara estimates a battery life of up to three years when used with Zigbee and up to two years when used with Thread, and is priced at $49.99.
The FP300 supports both Zigbee and Matter over Thread, so it can be inserted into Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings. Stick with Zigbee to get the longest battery life and additional controls with the Aqara Home app. You can also adjust the detection range and disable individual sensors to further extend the coin battery.
Detection combines two approaches to detect moving and stationary people. It has passive infrared for motion and a 60 gigahertz millimeter wave radar that can sense presence up to 20 feet.
This combination opens the door to more natural automation, such as turning on lights when you enter a hallway or turning fans down when a room is unoccupied for a few minutes. The FP300 also allows for climate control thanks to the addition of temperature, humidity, and ambient light sensors. That said, you can tie your comfort and energy rules to what the room actually looks like rather than a fixed schedule.
There are also trade-offs when compared to Aqara’s more expensive FP2. One is that the FP300 does not support multi-person detection. Another is to skip fall detection and real-time sleep metrics such as heart rate and breathing rate. If these are your must-haves, then wired FP2 still ranks high. But if you prioritize flexible placement and a set-it-and-forget battery, the FP300 is the way to go.
Once paired with your platform of choice, setup should be quick and easy to manage. Choose Zigbee or Thread based on your hub and place it where it makes the most sense. After all, its ease of use is a big part of its appeal. Because you can get a small sensor that will work for years and keep your home responding the way you want without clutter.
If you’re ready to add the FP300 to your setup, the FP300 is already available on Amazon and Aqara’s online stores.
