Aqara Motion Sensor P1 Review
By Naila Syifa
Updated July 2023
If you're looking for a reliable and affordable motion sensor for your smart home, the Aqara Motion Sensor P1 is definitely worth considering.
Priced at only $24.99, the Aqara Motion Sensor P1 offers a lot of capabilities that you would normally find in more expensive devices.
In this review, we'll take a closer look at several key consideration aspects that will help you decide whether the Aqara Motion Sensor P1 is really the right choice for your smart home needs.
Aqara Motion Sensor P1
Affordable but Reliable
✓ Motion, ambient light
✓ 170° field-of-view
✓ Requires Aqara Zigbee 3.0 Hub
✓ Adhesive attachment
#1 What's in the Box
Aqara Motion Sensor P1
The Aqara Motion Sensor P1 comes in a small, compact box that includes the motion sensor itself, a user manual, a stand holder optional for installation, and a small adhesive strip for mounting the sensor. The sensor is powered by two reliable CR2450 batteries, which are also included in the box. The battery has a 5-year lifetime.
#2 Design
Aqara Motion Sensor P1
The Aqara Motion Sensor P1 has a sleek and minimalist design that will fit in with any home decor. With a dimension of 33.1×33.1×41.6 mm, the motion sensor is small enough to be discreetly placed in any room without drawing much attention.
The device has a tubular shape with the sensor covering a wide surface of its body. This supports an extra wide field of view, covering a 170° angle for up to 2 meters and 150° for up to 7 meters. The holder stand which is 360° rotatable also allows you to adjust the viewing angle easily according to your preference.
This motion sensor also comes with a blue LED light that flashes when motion is detected. This allows you to quickly verify that the sensor is working and picking up movement in the room. If the light is bothering you, you can also disable it easily in the app settings.
#3 Features
Aqara Motion Sensor P1
The Aqara Motion Sensor P1 can detect body motion in real time and send alerts to your smartphone via the Aqara Home app. This feature allows for constant monitoring and security, as you will be alerted when there is unexpected motion in your home.
However, it is important to note that the sensor uses passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect body motion, so the motion of your books falling off the shelf may not trigger the sensor. Additionally, the sensor can detect pets, so it's recommended to install the sensor in a higher position if you don't want your pets to be detected. Another drawback of this PIR is that any heat source within the detection range (such as an oven) may also trigger the sensor.
Other than the motion sensor itself, the Aqara P1 is equipped with a light sensor that can detect the ambient light level in the room. This becomes an additional benefit, as it allows you to have your lights turn on only when the room is dark and when motion is detected. However, this built-in sensor cannot be triggered separately from the motion sensor.
The Aqara Home app provides you with customization settings that you can configure to suit your needs and preferences. Some of those settings include:
• Sensitivity. You can adjust the distance from which the sensor will be triggered: Low, Medium, or High. If you want the sensor to trigger only by nearby movements, set the configuration to low.
• Detection Interval. From 1 second to 200 seconds, you can specify the minimum time interval between motion detections. For instance, if the interval is set to 10 seconds, no additional motion will be detected within that timeframe after the previous detection.
• Home automation. You can connect the motion sensor to trigger the automation of other smart home devices. For example, you can have the sensor turn on the lights with Aqara Smart Wall Switch when motion is detected.
The Aqara Motion Sensor P1 is compatible with Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT. However, to use Apple HomeKit, an Apple Home Hub will be required.
#4 Installation
Aqara Motion Sensor P1
Installing the Aqara Motion Sensor P1 is incredibly easy without any tools required. Using the adhesive sticker included in the package, you can place it directly on any horizontal surface, or mount it to a wall, ceiling, or even furniture by using the holder.
However, it is important to note that an Aqara Zigbee 3.0 hub and a 2.4GHz WiFi network will be necessary for the installation. Aqara also recommends an installation height of 1.2-2m.
Additionally, as the motion sensor relies on adhesive attachment for installation, you should be careful about the surface you choose to attach it to. To prevent the sticker from loosening, it is not recommended to install the device on tile, glass, marble, or other smooth and easy-to-moisten objects; on the surface of a lighting tube or other high-temperature and heating objects; on the surface of wall coverings and other rough and uneven objects.
The PIR sensor is also sensitive to heat. Thus, you should not face the sensor against electrical appliances and other heating sources to prevent infrared jamming from causing a false trigger.
Final Thoughts
Aqara Motion Sensor P1
Aqara Motion Sensor P1 is affordable, easy to install, covers a wide field of view, and offers extensive features including the alert system and ambient light detection. However, it also has several drawbacks including sensitivity to heat and concerning adhesive installation.
If you're looking for an affordable and reliable motion sensor, the Aqara Motion Sensor P1 is definitely worth considering.
If you like to read more about Smart Sensors, check out our other relevant guides here:
Best Smart Sensors Singapore
Aeotec MultiSensor 7 Review: The Best Multipurpose Smart Sensor
Philips Hue Motion Sensor vs Aqara Motion Sensor P1: Which One is Better?
Eve vs Aqara: Door and Window Sensors Comparison
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