M1 iPad Pro offer: $150 off Amazon

We may earn commissions by using our links. learn more.

Whenever I talk to anyone about smart home technology, the reason they usually choose systems based on Alexa or Google Assistant is price. Although most people I know are happy to splurge on the best iPhone or iPad, what keeps them out of the HomeKit ecosystem is usually the high cost of entry.

If you have been using HomeKit trains for a while, you will know that the best HomeKit devices are indeed generally more expensive, especially when you also factor in manufacturer-specific hubs.

This is the problem that the up-and-coming HomeKit accessory manufacturer Aqara has set out to solve with its affordable device series-not to mention its latest hub to connect them: Aqara Hub E1. With a space-saving design and a cash-saving price tag, it may be the best entry point for HomeKit for many people.

VPN benefits: $16 lifetime license, monthly plans of $1 and above

Bottom line: If you are starting to use HomeKit or want to add more sensors to your home in an affordable way, it makes sense to use Hub E1 to enter the Aqara ecosystem. Its compact rotating design helps save space, and its price can help you save some cash.

Aqara's Hub E1 is by far the most affordable hub, with a retail price of only $30. In the HomeKit bridging device market, this is an excellent value proposition and one of the main advantages of the product, which I will mention later in this review.

It can be purchased in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and France, and Amazon is the best place to buy in these regions.

When looking at a single HomeKit device (such as a camera, sensor, switch, or light), there is a lot to say about features, functions, and performance, but looking at a HomeKit hub is slightly different.

A hub or bridge device is usually a "forget it after setting up" type of device, you only need to connect it once, and you don't really think about it until you need to pair more accessories. If you have many ideas about hubs, this may be a bad thing. Ideally, if the hub is working well, you would hardly consider all of this, and it is through this lens that I review the Aqara hub E1.

It is not much larger than a USB flash drive.

Compared with other Aqara hubs such as Aqara Hub M2, Aqara Camera Hub G2H and Aqara Hub M1S, Hub E1 is a more basic product with additional functions such as infrared transmitter, camera and night light, and only the essentials are kept.

In terms of physical design, it is much smaller than other hubs — not much larger than a normal USB flash drive — and it is directly connected to the power supply through the integrated USB-A connector. Its compact design means it takes up as little space as possible and only takes up one USB port, which is now available in many sockets and power strips, so you can easily find space.

Even better, the USB connector is located on a rotating hinge, so you can tilt the hub to fit various positions, whether it's behind a sofa or in your smart home hub cabinet (we have one of them, right? ).

Its smaller and more basic feature set means its price is also more affordable. At only $30, it is half the price of other Aqara hubs, making it the best entry point for general Aqara or HomeKit newbies. Hub E1 makes the entire Aqara ecosystem more attractive (and it is already very cheap).

Although the Aqara Hub E1 does not have the built-in cameras, night lights, infrared transmitters or alarms of other hubs, it still supports up to 128 Aqara devices, the same as those of the more expensive models. However, some still require "repeater" devices that are always powered like smart plugs or wired light switches.

I only have a few Aqara devices, but I transferred them all from my Aqara Hub M2 to Hub E1 to thoroughly test the new hub. After pairing, although Hub E1 does not have Ethernet functionality, I did not notice any major changes in reliability or speed. It still connects to Aqara's accessories via Zigbee 3.0, so maybe this is not surprising.

Aqara devices work reliably and do not cost a lot of money-this is a huge advantage in the HomeKit field.

After setting, Hub E1 appears in the home app as a security system with default off, home, out and night settings. These can be used as DIY security systems in home application scenarios and automation, although Hub E1 does not have a speaker, so it cannot be used as a siren.

One feature of Hub E1 over alternatives is its ability to operate as a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi extender. This is easy to set up in the Aqara app, although it only supports two connected devices, so its usefulness may be limited unless you have several devices within range of your main router.

We introduced a lot of Aqara products on iMore, and the company always seems to bring new devices to the market. Its products are not the most gorgeous or advanced, but they usually work reliably and do not cost a lot of money, which is a huge advantage for HomeKit.

When setting up Aqara Hub E1 for the first time, I cannot add devices through the Aqara app because Hub E1 is not displayed in the list of supported accessories. Instead, I had to use the QR code to set it up in the Home app, after which it did appear in the Aqara app to manage its settings. Other than that, it works well, but for people who might encounter the same problem, this is a strange quirk worth noting.

Although I am a big fan of direct USB connections, especially rotating hinges, the Aqara Hub E1 is wider than a normal USB cable, so it can block adjacent ports or sockets according to your settings. This is a small inconvenience that can be easily corrected by connecting it to a USB wall plug, but it is worth considering when considering its location in your home.

Regarding USB, I prefer Hub E1 to use USB-C (or at least include an adapter). As I gradually transfer everything in my life to USB-C, this device will be stuck in the past USB-A. However, most people may not care.

However, my main problem with the Aqara Hub E1 is the lack of speakers. Although the one in the Hub M2 I reviewed earlier is trivial to use as a doorbell or siren, it is useful when pairing devices because it confirms that the process has been successfully completed. On Hub E1, you must rely on blinking LEDs to accomplish less obvious tasks.

Manufacturer-specific hubs only really compete with other hubs of the same brand, so Aqara's Hub E1 competes with HomeKit-compatible Hub M2, Hub M1S and Camera Hub G2H. Having said that, Aqara has done a good job of differentiating its products.

If the infrared transmitter is useful to you, please choose M2. If you want a loud siren or night light, M1S is for you. Want a hub that doubles as a security camera? Get G2H. The highlight of Hub E1 is the price. If you want the most affordable entry point for the Aqara ecosystem, then if you can forgo the bells and whistles of other hubs to save some cash, this will be the obvious choice.

Those who are new to HomeKit will not have much misunderstanding about Aqara's inexpensive product lineup. Its hub is already quite affordable, but the lower price of the hub E1 makes Aqara's products more attractive.

If you want the most affordable Aqara hub, Hubs E1 is the best choice, but if you have already set up an existing Aqara hub, it is certainly not worth switching to. If you want or need the more advanced features of other Aqara hubs, or the direct USB connection is not suitable for you, then please look for an alternative Aqara hub to meet your needs.

Bottom line: Newbies to the HomeKit or Aqara ecosystem have little reason not to consider Hub E1. Except for some niche functions, it is as powerful as Aqara's other hubs, and at a lower cost, still allowing you to benefit from Aqara's reasonably priced series of switches and sensors.

We may earn commissions by using our links. learn more.

Secretlab's TITAN Evo is its 2022 product. This is a great upgrade of its 2020 model and the perfect gaming chair for any gamer.

Apple added a new in-app switch for macro mode on iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max in iOS 15.2

Get three layers of fall protection, enhanced grip, antibacterial defense and MagSafe features in this lightweight recycled plastic shell.

The HomeKit video doorbell is a great way to keep an eye on the precious packages at the front door. Although there are only a few to choose from, these are the best HomeKit options available.

Register now to get the latest news, offers and more from iMore!

I want to receive news and offers from other Future brands.

I want to receive emails from future partners.

No spam, we guarantee. You can unsubscribe at any time and we will never share your details without your permission.

Adam Oram is a senior writer at iMore. He studied media at Newcastle University and has been writing articles on technology since 2013. He previously served as the Deals Editor for Apple Genius and Thrifter. His spare time is watching football (two kinds), playing Pokémon games and eating vegetarian food. Follow him on Twitter @adamoram.