Any hyperlinks to on-line shops needs to be assumed to be associates. The corporate or PR company supplies all or most overview samples. They don’t have any management over my content material, and I present my sincere opinion.
I beforehand reviewed the Aqara Good Radiator Thermostat E1 and thought it was a superb, comparatively reasonably priced radiator valve for anybody invested within the Aqara ecosystem.
Aqara has now launched the W600 thermostat, with the primary promoting level being that it helps each Zigbee for native Aqara integration and Matter over Thread, permitting you to combine it with third-party techniques instantly.
Associated Opinions
Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 Options
The Radiator Thermostat W600 combines sensible automation with vitality financial savings. Appropriate with well-liked valve varieties (RA, RAV, RAVL, Caleffi, Giacomini, M28×1.5), it helps Thread and Zigbee and provides:
- Good scheduling and automations
- Prolonged 2-year battery life
- Energy monitoring for insights and automations
- Overheat & overload safety
- RGB LED standing gentle
- Baby lock button lock
- Energy-off reminiscence
Aqara Local weather Sensor W100 Options
Twin-Protocol with Matter Compatibility
The sensor helps each Matter over Thread and Zigbee protocols. Matter compatibility permits for integration with third-party ecosystems, together with Apple House, Amazon Alexa, and Google House. Utilizing the Zigbee protocol with an Aqara hub supplies entry to unique Aqara House options. Customers can change between these protocols as required.
3 Good Button Customisation
The system is provided with three customisable buttons that help single, double, and lengthy press actions. These may be configured to set off as much as 9 completely different automations or scenes, reminiscent of activating a consolation mode or controlling different linked units wirelessly.
Precision Sensor with LCD Show
This system features a sensor for temperature and humidity with a precision of plus or minus 0.2 levels Celsius and plus or minus 2 p.c relative humidity. It shows real-time environmental information on an 8.6 cm LCD display. The sensor is appropriate for monitoring circumstances in numerous settings, together with dwelling areas, storage areas, and greenhouses.
Exterior Sensor Integration
When working in Zigbee mode, the system can hook up with an exterior Aqara temperature and humidity sensor. Knowledge from the exterior sensor is then proven in a secondary space on the display, enabling the monitoring of two places without delay. If no exterior sensor is linked, this secondary space shows the native temperature and humidity data by default.
HVAC Distant Management Integration
The sensor may be paired with an Aqara thermostat by way of an Aqara hub, or with a third-party infrared-controlled air conditioner by way of the Aqara Hub M3. This integration permits for wi-fi distant management of the HVAC system, offering the flexibility to regulate settings reminiscent of temperature, humidity, and operational mode instantly from the system.
Lengthy Battery Life with Configurable Efficiency
The system is powered by two CR2450 batteries, offering an estimated battery lifetime of as much as 2.4 years in Zigbee mode and a pair of.3 years in Thread mode beneath commonplace utilization circumstances. The sensor’s sampling and reporting frequency may be adjusted, permitting the person to stability efficiency with energy consumption.
Unboxing / Design
The W600 will not be a lot completely different from most different sensible radiator valves. Although the design has modified from the E1.
The primary distinction is that the show is now moved from the highest to the aspect of the valve. Then, high of the valve is white, making it stand out lower than the E1.
Whereas the show will not be simply seen when the ability is off, if you energy it on, it’s going to present you the temperature or the standing code if it has not been arrange.
The highest of the valve encompasses a button that’s used to place the valve into pairing mode.
Construct high quality is first rate sufficient, however it feels cheaper than my Tado X valves (which value way more)
Included within the packaging is numerous adaptors for differing valve varieties.
Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600 Set up
The W600 set up is actually the identical as that of most radiator valves. I happily have commonplace connectors, so I used to be in a position to screw the W600 instantly onto the radiator with no need all the extra adapters.
Set Up
While you pull the battery tabs out, the W600 will present F1 on the show, which signifies that it’s in pre-installation standing. You then press the highest of the valve thrice to enter set-up mode, and the show will change to F2.
From there, it’s the similar as all different Aqara merchandise. I’ve used Zigbee with all my current Aqara critiques, as this usually exposes extra performance inside the Aqara app. However, for this, I made a decision to go along with Thread.
I’ve had just a few points with getting Thread units up and working previously; they are often temperamental, however this paired up for the primary time.
Out of curiosity, since Tado X helps Matter over Thread, I attempted to pair it instantly with Tado, however had no luck, because it informed me the QR code was not recognised.
Moreover, I disconnected the valve and tried to modify to Zigbee, nevertheless, when making an attempt to do that, I bought repeated errors saying Obtain failed (Code: 30204). An analogous problem for the FP300 indicated the issue was that the Zigbee drivers had not been totally rolled out.
I’ve had this valve for a number of weeks, and my points with altering it, Zigbee, continued. Round two weeks in the past, I checked once more. The valve had a firmware replace accessible, so I up to date that, and after resetting it, I used to be in a position to convert it over to Zigbee.
The difficulty was doubtless resolved with the firmware, however it’s also doubtless person error.
Zigbee vs Thread Performance
With Thread supposedly being a superior protocol to Zigbee and touted as its successor, it’s a bit disappointing that a number of the performance of Aqara merchandise is restricted to Zigbee solely.
Issues like the sunshine switches require Zigbee if you wish to use energy monitoring, which is without doubt one of the promoting factors of the Aqara switches (with earth).
With this, one of many foremost promoting factors is lacking from Thread, the sensible schedules.
So, if you wish to use Thread, you will want to manually create automations. Should you plan to solely management it inside House Assistant, then I don’t assume there may be any perceivable performance distinction.
I assume the distinction in performance is because of Thread being in its infancy, and I hope that Aqara will finally make it in order that each protocols have the identical options.
Good Local weather Sensor W100
Aqara kindly despatched me the Good Local weather Sensor W100 to pair with this. Beneath the settings, there may be an choice to set the supply of temperature and humidity. With this setting, you possibly can change to a devoted sensor just like the W100.
The advantage of that is extra correct temperature readings. Valves inevitably have the temperatures skewed because of the proximity to the radiator. With an exterior sensor, you possibly can place it near the place you sometimes sit and get way more dependable efficiency.
This has been a critical annoyance for me with sensible radiator valves. In my TV room I’ve Tado X, and it really works nice, however I usually really feel colder than the temperature signifies, so I’m usually boosting the temperature to get snug.
Aqara App, Good Schedules and Automation
With the W600 linked to Aqara by way of Zigbee, you could have full entry to the options. While you initially set it up, Aqara will immediate you to arrange the sensible schedule.
By default, it units up House, Away, House, Wind Down, and Sleep, to copy a typical day for most individuals.
I’ve an uncommon schedule, so I instantly needed to modify the settings to align with my routine. However it’s a easy course of.
You even have the choice to make use of handbook fashions, so you possibly can set it to house mode with the choice to remain in probably the most for set occasions, till the subsequent schedule change, or perpetually.
Matter and House Assistant Integration
In Zigbee mode, this system may be added to third-party ecosystems by means of Matter Over Bridge by way of Aqara gateways that help Matter (besides Digicam Hub G2H Professional).
In Thread mode, this system may be added to third-party ecosystems by instantly scanning the Matter code on the system physique. The corresponding ecosystem must have a border router that helps Matter & Thread.
I initially paired this with my Aqara Hub M3 after which from there into House Assistant, however I later paired it instantly into House Assistant.
Inside House Assistant, you possibly can change the valve on or off and have direct management over the temperature, and you’ve got loads of triggers and actions to create automations.
Moreover, you possibly can utilise this along side the Aqara Local weather Sensor W100, enabling you to set triggers for temperature and humidity.
At first, I believed switching between Thread and Zigbee appeared to have little impact on the performance in House Assistant, however it seems this isn’t fairly the case. Although I’m not certain how vital the variations are.
The system dashboard options the identical capabilities, however in Zigbee mode, the accessible actions are restricted to altering the HVAC mode and urgent the Establish button. The HVAC mode provides you the choice to open the valve to warmth. There is no such thing as a auto mode accessible.
This implies you need to create barely extra sophisticated automations the place you create a set off primarily based on the measured temperature, permitting you to open/shut the valve.
With Thread, you could have much more choices, however these embrace:
- Change HVAC mode on Radiator Thermostat W600
- Press Radiator Thermostat W600 Establish button
- Change Radiator Thermostat W600 Temperature show mode to first possibility
- Change Radiator Thermostat W600 Temperature show mode to final possibility
- Change Radiator Thermostat W600 Temperature show mode to subsequent possibility
- Change Radiator Thermostat W600 Temperature show mode possibility
- Change Radiator Thermostat W600 Temperature show mode to earlier possibility
Sadly, I didn’t take a look at these actions earlier than switching modes.
Efficiency and Battery Life
I’ve solely had the valve for just a few weeks, and the climate has been gentle just lately, so it hasn’t been used extensively sufficient to gauge the battery life.
As I take advantage of Tado X as my foremost valves for sensible heating, I used this in a hallway the place the schedule is much less vital.
I’ve discovered it has carried out reliably. I tweaked the schedules to align with what I’ve set in Tado, and it seems to have labored as anticipated.
I like the choice to view historic information, so you possibly can then modify the settings primarily based on heating efficiency, maybe extending or lowering the period of time the valve is open.
My Tado valves sometimes final a yr, so if I can get 2 years out of this valve, I’d be extraordinarily impressed.
Worth and Various Choices
On the time of writing, I’ve not been given the official RRP of the Aqara Radiator Thermostat W600, however one EU retailer has listed it at 50 Euros, which is roughly £43.39.
The present Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 has an RRP of £55 and is obtainable for £44.
The Aqara Local weather Sensor W100 has an RRP of £40 and is obtainable for £34.
Competing sensible thermostatic radiator valves embrace:
TP-Hyperlink Kasa KE100 is without doubt one of the most reasonably priced choices in the marketplace at beneath £30 – I initially criticised this because of the Tapo and Kasa interoperability. But it surely now works with the Tapo Hub and has Matter help.
The Tado Good Radiator Thermostat X is obtainable for £60 and makes use of Matter over Thread – These even have rechargeable batteries, however I’ve discovered that they final slightly beneath a yr. You may as well purchase alternative batteries for £20.
The older Tado V3 valves are £80 for a two-pack.
Eve Thermo has a variant that helps Matter over Thread and is priced at £70
General
Whereas I had some teething issues initially, I did get this overview pattern a lot sooner than the launch date, and since a firmware replace, I haven’t had any points.
Should you plan to make use of or management this in House Assistant or different ecosystems, reminiscent of Homey, then Thread is probably going the higher possibility, because it has extra motion choices, however I doubt the extra accounts would offer a lot profit.
After all, the primary advantage of this in comparison with the E1 is the Matter over Thread help, permitting you to bypass the necessity for an Aqara hub and combine it instantly into issues like House Assistant.
It’s a bit disappointing that you simply don’t get the complete performance with Aqara merchandise when utilizing Thread (with the Aqara app), however I assume that is both a limitation of the protocol or that it’s going to take some time for Aqara to catch up in creating options compared to the well-established Zigbee.
I personally use and like Tado, because it supplies management over my boiler and radiators. I additionally discover the setup simpler, particularly in comparison with House Assistant if you need to create schedules. Nevertheless, I utterly perceive why some folks don’t need to be locked right into a model like Tado, or others. You by no means know when they could abandon the product, fiddle with the performance, or introduce subscription charges.
So, for anybody wanting full management over their radiator valves, with native management, then the Aqara valves are very interesting.
If the £44 value is appropriate, then this may make a fantastic selection for anybody desirous to have sensible heating with out being tied to costly manufacturers like Tado.
I’m James, a UK-based tech fanatic and the Editor and Proprietor of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Keen about all issues expertise, my experience spans from computer systems and networking to cellular, wearables, and sensible house units.
As a health fanatic who loves working and biking, I even have a eager curiosity in fitness-related expertise, and I take each alternative to cowl this area of interest on my weblog. My various pursuits enable me to convey a novel perspective to tech running a blog, merging life-style, health, and the newest tech traits.
In my tutorial pursuits, I earned a BSc in Data Methods Design from UCLAN, earlier than advancing my studying with a Grasp’s Diploma in Computing. This superior research additionally included Cisco CCNA accreditation, additional demonstrating my dedication to understanding and staying forward of the expertise curve.
I’m proud to share that Vuelio has persistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of many high expertise blogs within the UK. With my dedication to expertise and drive to share my insights, I goal to proceed offering my readers with participating and informative content material.
