AqaraMotion and Light Sensor P2, Motion Detector with Light Sensor, Matter Over Thread, Requires 2-in-1 Matter Controller & Thread Border Router, Supports Apple Home, Alexa, SmartThings

Overall, this is a neat little motion sensor that runs by Matter over Thread.It is exposed to various platforms as “occupancy” rather than motion not due to failings on the sensors part, but rather as the current limitations of the developing Matter Standard. Also, exposed to various platforms is the light/illuminance sensor.All in all, it functions exactly as you would expect for a motion sensor to work. If there is motion, it gets triggered. Light levels only update as motion is triggered, not a constant update; I would imagine otherwise battery brain would be obscene.(Important to note is: You do need to have a functional thread network set up for this device to work, as that’s the communication protocol of the device)Visually, it’s a nice looking sensor. Small, solid feeling plastic casing, feels and looks niceTo pair, you can either scan the QR code provided on the booklet that’s enclosed, but if you lose that or your QR camera is not working, the booklet provides the numbers to input. ***As well as this the Matter Code is printed on the top of the sensor it is associated with.*** Nicely discrete but accessible, should the page of the booklet be misplaced.The batteries are 2 (two) CR2450 coin batteries. As this is a brand new sensor, battery life is still to be determined, but even so it’s not something I’m too worried about. Even the “lower” estimate of two years depending on usage is nothing to sneeze at. I’d be more concerned if it was only estimated to last a few months.The only thing I’m not too pleased with is the inability to adjust distance/level parameters of the sensor without the, at time of writing, unreleased Aqara M3 Hub

I bought one in Jan 2025. Set it up with HomeKit and used it in my garage for a few weeks to detect motion to turn the garage light on / off (with a Tapo light switch). The P2 stopped working after a few weeks, dead and non-responsive. So I contacted Aqara support and they sent me a replacement. I think it is a refurbished one (box was opened, the top the device does not have the Matter # on it like the original P2 I purchased). I've been unsuccessful in connecting the replacement. After going through the first steps it sits forever in the "connecting..." phase. I tried 30 different times, with two different iPhones (13 and 14, both running 18.3.1), same issue. I'm going to try and Onvis or Eve motion detector and see if I have better luck.I should note that I have an Aqara M2 hub and a Aqara P1 Motion Sensor used in combination with an Aqara light switch and Aqara smart plug in my utility room which works flawlessly (turns lights on/off). I also have a dozen Aqara leak detectors in my house.

The Motion Sensor is a compact powerhouse that excels in speed and simplicity. Its sleek design and quick setup make it a breeze to integrate into any smart home. I’ve mounted mine in a ceiling corner of the laundry room and paired it with HomeKit via Thread.The results are astonishing: the lights turn on in less than half a second after entering the room, thanks to a simple HomeKit automation. This level of responsiveness is truly impressive. The sensor accurately detects motion without being triggered by my pets, and the ability to remove unnecessary labels adds a clean, modern touch.While I appreciate the sensor’s current sensitivity, the lack of adjustable options within Apple HomeKit is a minor disappointment. Additionally, the absence of USB-C charging feels like a missed opportunity.Despite these small drawbacks, the Motion Sensor is an excellent choice for anyone seeking reliable and fast motion detection. Its performance in my laundry room has significantly improved convenience and energy efficiency. The sensor uses an easily replaceable coin cell battery, and while I can't speak to battery life yet, the overall value for the price is impressive.

I had trouble adding it to Aqara but was able to get it to work with home kit. It reports a lot of false positives. It turns on lights at night inside when nothing is happening maybe 4 ish times per 12 hour period of darkness. It's no good if it matters to you that it only activates when something is actually happening. Maybe there is a setting to turn down sensitivity in the aqara app, but I wasn't apple to get it to pair so I'll never know. The hue motion detectors work with home kit, are ultra ultra reliable and the batteries last for years. They're about twice as expensive but worth it in my opinion. I was hoping for a lower cost replacement, but this is not the answer.