Aqara Hub M2 vs Aqara Hub M3

The Aqara Hub M3 is the better hub, winning on connectivity, protocols and integrations with dual-band Wi-Fi, Thread, Matter, PoE and SmartThings support. The Aqara Hub M2 remains the more affordable choice for a simpler Aqara Zigbee and IR setup.

Protocol and connectivity range. The Aqara Hub M3 adds a Thread border router, a Matter bridge, dual-band Wi-Fi and PoE that the Aqara Hub M2 does not have, while both share Zigbee, Bluetooth, IR and a speaker. The M3 is a future-proof multi-protocol hub; the M2 is a Zigbee-plus-IR hub.

Yes. The Aqara Hub M3 is a Thread border router and a Matter controller and bridge, so it can expose Aqara devices over Matter to other platforms. The Aqara Hub M2 has no Thread or native Matter bridge, which is one of the main reasons to step up to the M3.

Buy the Aqara Hub M3 if you want Aqara's flagship hub with Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Bluetooth, IR, dual-band Wi-Fi and PoE, plus support for HomeKit, Google, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant and a 95dB speaker. It supports up to 127 devices.

Choose the Aqara Hub M2 if you want a lower-cost hub for Aqara Zigbee sensors, switches and blinds with a 360-degree IR blaster, HomeKit and a built-in speaker. It supports up to 128 subdevices over Ethernet or Wi-Fi, but has no Thread or native Matter bridge.