Smoke & CO Detectors · Head to head

Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm vs X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm

Full Smart Smoke & CO Detectors comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from the official Heiman and X-Sense sites.
2026 verdict
Zigbee sensor or Wi-Fi alarm: for a smart home, the Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm is the better smoke alarm of these two, because it reaches more platforms.
Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm
Winner
Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm
£32.99
Buy on Amazon UK
Paired with a Zigbee hub it works with Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant and can drive automations, while the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm only lists Home Assistant and runs no automations of its own. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm answers with the simpler setup: it joins 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi straight from its app with no hub, sends phone alerts on its own and carries a documented 5-year warranty, which Heiman does not publish. Both detect smoke only and both have a built-in siren and light, though the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm has the longer battery rating, 10 years against 5. Pick the Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm if you already run a Zigbee hub, and the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm if you just want phone alerts without extra hardware.
Works with
Connectivity
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Works with
Connectivity
  • Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz
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FeatureHeiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke AlarmX-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke AlarmWinner
Rating4.64.3Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm
Battery Life5 years10 yearsX-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm
IntegrationsSamsung SmartThings, Home AssistantHome AssistantHeiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm
ConnectivityZigbee2.4 GHz WiFiTie
ScreenNONOTie
SensorsSmokeSmokeTie
AlertsFire Alerts, Low Battery AlertsFire Alerts, Low Battery AlertsTie
Built-in SirenYESYESTie
Built-in LightYESYESTie
Tests ItselfNONOTie
PathlightNONOTie
Steam CheckNONOTie

What the differences mean

How it connects

The Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm talks Zigbee, so it needs a hub such as SmartThings or a Home Assistant Zigbee stick before it can alert your phone. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm connects to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi directly, so its app is all you need for remote alerts.

Smart home platforms

Through its hub, the Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm works with Samsung SmartThings and Home Assistant and supports automations, such as switching on lights when smoke is detected. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm lists Home Assistant only, with no Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit or SmartThings, and no automations.

Size

At 60 x 60 mm the Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm is the smaller of the two, which is why owners put it in campervans and on bedroom walls. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm is 78 x 78 mm, still compact but closer to a regular detector.

Battery life

The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm is rated for 10 years on its battery, the Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm for 5. Some Heiman owners report their cell falling short of that rating, so the gap may be wider in practice.

Warranty

X-Sense documents a 5-year warranty on the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm. Heiman does not publish one for the HS1SA, so check what the seller offers before counting on long coverage.

Which one to buy if

What owners say

Owners of both alarms agree on the basics: the siren is loud, installation takes minutes, and neither detects carbon monoxide. Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm owners keep coming back to how loud it is for such a small, discreet unit, and to mounting it with screws or the adhesive pad in bedrooms, hallways and campervans. Their complaints are about the battery: some say it did not last its rated five years, others struggled to find the exact replacement cell, and a few found the adhesive mount loosening. X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm owners single out how quickly it joins Wi-Fi and the app, the solid build and the replaceable battery, and value the real-time alerts when away from home. What they mention against it is the missing smart home integration and an app some found available only in English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better: Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm or X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm?

For a smart home, the Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm, because through a Zigbee hub it works with SmartThings and Home Assistant and supports automations. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm is the better choice when you have no hub and only want Wi-Fi phone alerts plus a 5-year warranty.

Are Heiman smoke detectors good?

Owners of the Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm consistently describe it as far louder than its small size suggests and easy to install with screws or an adhesive pad. The recurring caveat is the battery, which some found did not last the rated five years and was hard to replace with the exact cell.

Does the Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm need a hub?

Yes, for anything smart. The Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm uses Zigbee, so phone alerts and automations need a Zigbee hub such as SmartThings or Home Assistant. Without one it still works as a standalone alarm with its built-in siren. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm, by contrast, connects over Wi-Fi with no hub.

Do either of these alarms detect carbon monoxide?

No. The Heiman HS1SA-E Zigbee Smoke Alarm and the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm both detect smoke only, so a home with gas appliances or a fireplace needs a separate CO alarm.

Who should buy the X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm?

Anyone who wants a connected smoke alarm without building a smart home around it: rentals, holiday homes and first-time buyers. The X-Sense Wi-Fi Smoke Alarm pairs with its app over Wi-Fi in minutes and sends phone alerts, but it offers no Alexa, Google Home or HomeKit support.

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