Winner
Updated November 2026
Data from the official Aqara and Heiman sites.
2026 verdict
These two alarms watch for different hazards, and the Aqara Smart Smoke Detector takes this comparison on price and owner rating.
It is the cheaper of the pair, is better reviewed, and folds smoke detection into Zigbee, HomeKit and Home Assistant automations through a hub, with a loud 85 dB siren. The Heiman Smart CO Alarm is not a substitute: it senses carbon monoxide, not smoke, and it speaks Matter over Thread natively, so Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant all see it without a vendor hub or cloud account. Choose the Aqara Smart Smoke Detector to cover fire where you run a Zigbee or Aqara hub, and the Heiman Smart CO Alarm for carbon monoxide near a gas appliance in a Thread home, ideally with both present.
Connectivity
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Connectivity
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| Feature | Aqara Smart Smoke Detector | Heiman Smart CO Alarm | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 | 3.6 | Aqara Smart Smoke Detector |
| Battery Life | 10 years | 10 years | Tie |
| Connectivity | Zigbee | Thread Protocol | Tie |
| Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter | Tie |
| Screen | NO | NO | Tie |
| Sensors | Smoke | CO | Tie |
| Alerts | Fire Alerts, Low Battery Alerts | CO Alerts, Low Battery Alerts | Tie |
| Built-in Siren | YES | YES | Tie |
| Built-in Light | YES | YES | Tie |
| Tests Itself | NO | NO | Tie |
| Pathlight | NO | NO | Tie |
| Steam Check | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
What it detects
The Aqara Smart Smoke Detector senses smoke and fire only. The Heiman Smart CO Alarm senses carbon monoxide only, using a FIGARO electrochemical sensor, so a home really needs one of each rather than a choice between them.
Radio and hub
The Aqara Smart Smoke Detector is a Zigbee device that needs a hub such as the Aqara Hub M3, with no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. The Heiman Smart CO Alarm is Matter over Thread and needs a Thread border router, with no Wi-Fi, Zigbee or Z-Wave fallback.
How it reaches platforms
The Heiman Smart CO Alarm is native Matter, so Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant see it equally with no vendor hub. The Aqara Smart Smoke Detector reaches Alexa and Google through a Matter-capable Aqara hub, and SmartThings directly over Zigbee.
Automations
A smoke trigger on the Aqara Smart Smoke Detector is used to turn on lights, unlock doors or change a bulb red. A CO trigger on the Heiman Smart CO Alarm is used to shut off a boiler or open a vent, the response people want for a gas hazard.
The shared basics
Both run on a battery rated for ten years, both sound a siren of at least 85 dB with a flashing light, both send low-battery alerts, and neither offers a self-test, a display or smoke steam checking. Neither detects the other's hazard.
Which one to buy if
- you need smoke and fire detection
The Aqara Smart Smoke Detector senses smoke and fire; the Heiman Smart CO Alarm has no smoke sensor.
- you need carbon monoxide detection near a gas appliance
The Heiman Smart CO Alarm is built for CO; the Aqara Smart Smoke Detector does not measure it at all.
- you already run a Zigbee or Aqara hub
The Aqara Smart Smoke Detector pairs straight into that hub and its Home Assistant or HomeKit automations.
- you run a Thread network and want native Matter alerting
The Heiman Smart CO Alarm reaches every major platform through Matter over Thread with no vendor hub.
- you want the cheaper, better rated of the two
The Aqara Smart Smoke Detector is the lower priced and the better reviewed alarm here.
Winner
- + Rating: 4.4
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- - Rating: 3.6 vs 4.4
What owners say
Owners of the Aqara Smart Smoke Detector describe it as a smoke sensor that earns its place in a smart home rather than a plain alarm: they praise how quickly it pairs with Home Assistant or an Aqara hub, the genuinely loud 85 dB siren, and the way a smoke trigger can turn on lights, unlock a door or fire a notification. Several set up multiple units so any one alarm sounds the whole group, and kitchen owners note it resists false alarms from cooking steam. The recurring complaint is battery life: despite the ten-year rating on the CR17450 cell, buyers report the percentage reading low out of the box and draining far faster than advertised, especially under Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA, so it pays to watch battery status through the hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Aqara Smart Smoke Detector or Heiman Smart CO Alarm?
They are not direct substitutes, because the Aqara Smart Smoke Detector senses smoke and fire while the Heiman Smart CO Alarm senses carbon monoxide. On price and owner rating the Aqara wins; the right pick depends on which hazard you need to cover, and many homes want both.
What is the biggest difference between the Aqara Smart Smoke Detector and the Heiman Smart CO Alarm?
The hazard. The Aqara Smart Smoke Detector detects smoke and fire, while the Heiman Smart CO Alarm detects carbon monoxide only, so neither replaces the other and a complete setup includes both.
Do both alarms need a hub?
Yes, in different ways. The Aqara Smart Smoke Detector needs a Zigbee hub such as the Aqara Hub M3, and the Heiman Smart CO Alarm needs a Thread border router for its Matter alerts. Neither has a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth mode.
Which platforms do these alarms work with?
The Heiman Smart CO Alarm works with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant through Matter over Thread. The Aqara Smart Smoke Detector supports Apple HomeKit, Home Assistant, IFTTT and Matter, and reaches Alexa and Google Home through a Matter-capable Aqara hub, with SmartThings over Zigbee.
Does either alarm detect both smoke and carbon monoxide?
No. The Aqara Smart Smoke Detector detects smoke and fire only, and the Heiman Smart CO Alarm detects carbon monoxide only. A home wanting both hazards covered needs one of each, or a combination alarm from another line.
Who should buy the Aqara Smart Smoke Detector?
Buyers in a Zigbee, Aqara, HomeKit or Home Assistant setup who want an affordable smoke sensor with a loud siren and automations that react to smoke, and who will monitor its battery through their hub.
Who should buy the Heiman Smart CO Alarm?
Households that need carbon monoxide monitoring, especially near a gas appliance or attached garage, and that run a Thread border router so the alarm can alert every major platform without a vendor hub.
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