Updated November 2026
Data from the official Aqara and Eve sites.
2026 verdict
Thread or Zigbee at the radiator? The Eve Thermo is the better smart radiator valve of the two, better reviewed and connected over Thread and Bluetooth with native Matter.
It needs no vendor hub, works locally without a cloud account and documents a child lock, which Aqara does not list for the E1. The Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 answers with support for external temperature sensors, which the Eve lacks, geofencing documented without the Apple home hub the Eve needs for it, and a rated one-year battery life, but it needs a Zigbee hub and reaches Matter only through an Aqara hub. Both work with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa and Home Assistant, show the temperature on a screen and offer frost protection and manual schedules. Choose the Eve Thermo for an Apple or Matter home that wants local control, and the Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 for a Zigbee setup that uses room sensors.
Connectivity
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Winner
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| Feature | Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 | Eve Thermo | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.9 | 4.2 | Eve Thermo |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 years | Eve Thermo |
| Connectivity | Zigbee | Bluetooth, Thread Protocol | Eve Thermo |
| Geofencing | YES | Hub required | Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 |
| Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter | Tie |
| Screen | YES | YES | Tie |
| Sensors | Temperature | Temperature | Tie |
| Frost Protection | YES | YES | Tie |
| Local Control | YES | YES | Tie |
What the differences mean
Hub and protocol
The Eve Thermo runs on Thread with a border router, plus Bluetooth, and supports Matter directly. The Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 is Zigbee only, so it needs a Zigbee hub, and it reaches Matter and SmartThings only through an Aqara hub.
External temperature sensors
The Aqara can take its reading from a sensor elsewhere in the room, which avoids heating to the warm air right next to the radiator. The Eve measures only at the valve.
Geofencing
Both can heat by presence. The Eve needs an Apple home hub (HomePod, HomePod mini or Apple TV) for it; the Aqara documents geofencing without that condition.
Batteries
Both take 2 AA cells. The Aqara is rated for about a year and its owners report longer; the Eve's battery life is not documented.
Which one to buy if
- you have Apple Home with a HomePod or Apple TV
The Eve Thermo is built around Apple Home, and that hub is what runs its geofencing.
- the radiator sits under a window or far from the sofa
The Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 accepts an external temperature sensor; the Eve does not.
- you want control that never depends on the cloud
Eve owners value that it works locally without an internet connection or account.
- you already run an Aqara hub or Zigbee2MQTT
The Aqara pairs straight into that Zigbee network, which its owners describe as fast.
- + Geofencing: YES
- - Rating: 3.9 vs 4.2
- - Warranty: 1 year vs 2 years
Winner
£69.95
- + Rating: 4.2
- + Warranty: 2 years
- + Connectivity: Bluetooth, Thread Protocol
- - Geofencing: Hub required vs YES
What owners say
Owners of both valves praise quick pairing, frost protection and geofencing that warms the home before they return, and both groups report a motor that can be noisy when it adjusts. Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 owners single out external temperature sensors for accurate room control and batteries that last years, but a meaningful share of long-term owners report brittle mounting splines, housings pushed loose by the motor or lost pairing after a year or two. Eve Thermo owners value working with no internet connection or cloud account and several valves staying in sync, and they complain that build quality varies from unit to unit and that some connections turned flaky after a few weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Eve vs Aqara: which is better, the Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 or the Eve Thermo?
The Eve Thermo: it is the better reviewed valve, works over Thread with native Matter and needs no vendor hub. The Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 is the pick for Zigbee homes that want external temperature sensors.
Is the Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 worth it?
Its owners praise easy setup, external sensor support, geofencing and long battery life, but a meaningful share report mechanical or pairing problems after a year or two. The Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 is a good value first step into zone heating, while the Eve Thermo is the better reviewed alternative.
Does the Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 need a hub?
Yes, a Zigbee hub or coordinator, and an Aqara hub for Matter and SmartThings. The Eve Thermo needs no vendor hub, only a Thread border router, and it also connects over Bluetooth.
Do both work with Apple HomeKit?
Yes. The Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1 and the Eve Thermo both work with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa and Home Assistant.
Who should buy the Aqara Radiator Thermostat E1?
Zigbee and Home Assistant users heating several rooms who want external temperature sensors and geofencing, and who will check the mounting over time.
Who should buy the Eve Thermo?
Apple Home and Matter households that want private, local radiator control, presence-based heating through their home hub and no vendor bridge.
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