Aqara Motion Sensor vs P1 – Which is the Best Motion Sensor?

What is the difference between the Aqara motion sensor vs P1 motion sensor? Yes, Aqara motion sensor and Aqara P1 motion sensor are two versions of motion sensors offered by Aqara.

I recently tried to figure this out myself when upgrading the motion sensors in my smart home. I wanted to find the best motion sensor to control my home’s lighting and security automations.

After dealing with false alarms and short battery life from my old cheap sensors, I knew it was time for an upgrade. But was the newer P1 version from Aqara worth the extra cost over the original model?

After lots of research and testing, I finally learned the key differences and which provides a better experience. Keep reading to understand the complete comparison and see which Aqara motion sensor is right for you.

Overview of the Aqara Motion Sensors

Aqara is a company that specializes in smart home devices and home automation products. They are owned by Lumi United, which is a subdivision of Xiaomi, known for making smartphones and other consumer technology devices.

Aqara aims to provide affordable smart home sensors, controllers, and hubs that integrate with various ecosystems like Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant and more.

Some of Aqara’s most popular products are their motion sensors. They currently offer two main models – the original Aqara Motion Sensor and the newer Aqara Motion Sensor P1.

These devices provide wireless motion and activity detection using passive infrared (PIR) technology. They can detect human body heat and motion up to several meters away.

The Aqara motion sensors are primarily designed to integrate with smart home and home automation systems. By detecting occupancy and activity, they can trigger lighting, cameras, alarms, or other responses.

For example, an Aqara motion sensor in a room can turn on smart lights when someone enters. Or trigger a security camera to record if unexpected motion is detected at night.

Key features and functions of the Aqara motion sensors include:

• Battery powered for flexible wireless installation
• Passive infrared for human body heat and motion detection
• Adjustable sensitivity and timeout durations
• Detection range up to 7 meters
• Wide 120° – 150° field of view lens
• Compatible with HomeKit, Alexa, Google Assistant
• Integrates with other Aqara and Xiaomi ecosystem products

Some of the primary use cases and benefits of the Aqara motion sensors include:

• Smart lighting automation – Turn lights on/off based on occupancy
• Home security and monitoring – Trigger cameras or alarms when unexpected motion events occur
• Energy efficiency – Automatically turn off lights and devices when a room is vacant
• Activity monitoring – Get notifications when family members arrive home or motion is detected
• HVAC and thermostat control – Adjust temperature based on occupancy patterns
• Alarm system augmentation – Add motion detection to complement alarm sensors

The Aqara motion sensors provide an affordable way to add human detection and occupancy awareness to smart home and home automation systems.

Their wireless design, long battery life, and compatibility with major smart ecosystems make them very convenient to install and integrate.

Both the original and P1 models share the same core functionality, but the P1 does offer some hardware improvements.

How Motion Detection Works

The Aqara motion sensors use passive infrared (PIR) sensing technology to detect motion and human body heat. This allows them to monitor occupancy and activity in the area they are installed in.

PIR sensors can detect minute changes in infrared radiation, allowing them to sense the presence of humans and animals.

The infrared energy emitted by a human body is different from the background levels in a room. When a person moves within the detection range, the sensor can identify the infrared signature and movement pattern.

The exact detection range and field of view depends on the specific Aqara motion sensor model:

• Original Aqara Motion Sensor – Up to 6 meters range & 110° field of view
• Aqara Motion Sensor P1 – Up to 7 meters range & 150° field of view

With a wide field of view spanning 110° to 150°, the Aqara motion sensors can monitor a large area for occupancy and motion. The newer P1 model has a slightly longer detection range and wider viewing angle.

The sensors have adjustable sensitivity and timeout durations to reduce false triggers. Sensitivity controls the strength of infrared signature needed to trigger the sensor.

Higher sensitivity means the motion events need less intense infrared signatures to be detected.

Timeout durations control how long the sensor remains triggered after detecting initial motion. This can be set from 60 seconds up to 5 minutes. Longer timeouts help ensure lights or devices remain active even during minor motion stops.

An important note is that the Aqara motion sensors are triggered by detecting human body heat signatures. They incorporate algorithms to filter out infrared from ambient light changes.

This prevents false triggers from light turning on/off, sunlight changes, etc. The sensors specifically identify human motion.

However, the P1 model adds an ambient light sensor in addition to the PIR motion sensor. This light sensor can be used independently or in conjunction with motion. It detects light intensity changes in a room.

For example, automations can be programmed to only trigger the motion sensor during nighttime when the room is dark. Or trigger based on both motion and low light conditions being met simultaneously.

This further reduces false alarms and allows more customization.

To summarize, the key points of understanding how Aqara motion detection works:

• Senses human motion via passive infrared heat signatures
• Adjustable sensitivity and timeout durations
• Wide field of view up to 150° for full coverage
• Dual sensing via PIR motion and ambient light (P1 model)
• Filters out false triggers from lighting or sunlight changes
• Triggers based on detected human occupancy and configured rules

The PIR technology provides reliable motion detection within the product specifications. Sensitivity and timeouts can be tweaked as needed per use case. The P1 ambient light sensor adds more customization for advanced automation.

Aqara Motion Sensor vs P1 – Which is the Best Motion Sensor

Aqara Motion Sensor Review

The original Aqara Motion Sensor was released in 2017 and still remains available today. It provides reliable motion detection for smart homes at an affordable price point. Here is an overview of its key features and capabilities:

Zigbee Connection

The Aqara Motion Sensor uses Zigbee to connect to the Aqara hub or other compatible hubs like SmartThings. Zigbee is a low power, mesh wireless protocol ideal for IoT devices.

The sensor acts as a Zigbee child device with communication rates up to 100m line-of-sight from the hub.

Compatibility

The Aqara Motion Sensor is compatible with major smart home ecosystems:

• Apple HomeKit
• Amazon Alexa
• Google Assistant
• IFTTT

It can be controlled via voice commands, automations, or directly within the Aqara Home app.

Battery Life

Two replaceable CR2450 coin cell batteries power the Aqara sensor. Battery life is rated at around 2 years based on triggering 100 times per day. Less motion yields longer operation.

Detection Performance

The Aqara Motion Sensor can detect movement over a 6 meter range with a 110° field of view angle. It is set to ignore pets under 11lbs. Sensitivity and timeout can be configured.

Settings & Options

Within the Aqara app, the motion sensor sensitivity and timeout duration can be adjusted as needed. Sensitivity ranges from low to high, while timeout goes from 60 seconds up to 5 minutes. An LED indicator light can also be disabled for a stealthier installation.

Ideal Use Cases

The Aqara Motion Sensor works well for basic motion activated lighting, home security notifications, automating devices based on occupancy, and augmenting alarm systems.

It provides affordable and reliable motion detection for single rooms.

Pros

• Inexpensive pricing
• Easy wireless installation
• 2 year battery life
• 6 meter detection range
• 110° field of view
• HomeKit, Alexa, Google compatible

Cons

• Limited settings and options
• Lower sensitivity than P1
• Narrower field of view

Overall, the original Aqara Motion Sensor is a great value for basic motion detection needs. It covers a 6 meter range at 110° to trigger lights, cameras, automations, and alarms based on occupancy.

While the P1 version offers improvements, this sensor still provides an affordable starting point for motion-based smart home projects.

Aqara Motion Sensor P1 Review

The Aqara P1 Motion Sensor is an updated version of the original model, released in 2021. It provides several hardware improvements for enhanced motion detection capabilities.

New Features

Compared to the original, the P1 motion sensor includes:

• Support for Zigbee 3.0
• Increased 7 meter detection range
• Expanded 150° field of view
• Ambient light sensor
• 4x higher sensitivity
• 50% longer battery life (3 years)

Zigbee 3.0 Compatibility

The P1 uses Zigbee 3.0 compared to Zigbee HA for the original model. It maintains broad ecosystem compatibility while improving wireless performance.

Improved Battery Life

With a larger capacity CR2450 550mAh lithium battery, Aqara rates the P1 at around 3 years of battery life. That’s 50% longer than the original sensor’s 2 year rating.

Detection Performance

The P1 improves upon the original with a 7 meter detection range and 150° field of view. This allows it to cover larger rooms and wider areas. Sensitivity is also 4x higher for detecting smaller motions.

Ambient Light Sensor

In addition to PIR motion detection, the P1 includes an ambient light sensor. This enables occupancy automations based on both motion and light conditions.

Ideal Use Cases

The enhanced performance makes the P1 better for large rooms, high ceilings, and advanced automations factoring the light sensor. It’s overkill for small spaces.

Pros

• 7 meter detection range
• 150° field of view
• Zigbee 3.0 support
• Ambient light sensor
• 3 year battery life
• 4x higher sensitivity

Cons

• More expensive than original
• Light sensor not exposed to HomeKit

The Aqara P1 Motion Sensor improves upon the original in almost every way. It costs more but provides better performance and battery life. The light sensor adds unique automation options.

For large rooms or advanced setups, the upgrade to the P1 makes sense over the older model.

What’s the Difference Between Aqara Motion Sensor and Aqara Motion Sensor P1?

While the original and P1 Aqara motion sensors share core functionality, the P1 version includes several hardware improvements that enhance its motion detection capabilities.

Design and Hardware

Physically, the P1 is slightly larger than the original sensor. It uses one CR2450 battery instead of two CR2032 batteries. The housing includes the new ambient light sensor lens on the bottom. A pairing button was also added to the side to simplify setup.

Motion Sensing Performance

The P1 really outperforms the original when it comes to actually detecting motion:

• 7 meter range vs 6 meters
• 150° field of view vs 110°
• 4x higher sensitivity for smaller motions
• 3 year battery life vs 2 years

The wider 150° field of view combined with longer range allows the P1 to cover more floorspace than the original. And improved sensitivity means it will detect subtle motions like hand gestures for automation scenes.

Ambient Light Sensor

A major new hardware addition is the ambient light sensor on the P1 model. This enables creating automations based on occupancy AND light levels.

For example, only trigger at night, or only when dark and motion is detected simultaneously. This further prevents false alarms.

Unfortunately, the light sensor itself is not directly exposed to Apple HomeKit or other platforms. But its readings can influence the motion sensor behavior which is exposed.

Longer Battery Life

The higher capacity CR2450 battery improves expected battery life to around 3 years – a 50% increase over the original’s 2 year rating. Less frequent battery changes make the P1 more convenient.

Increased Range & Field of View

The P1 simply provides better physical coverage than the original, with improved range and field of view. The 7 meter, 150° ratings allow it to monitor larger rooms or spaces more effectively.

While the original Aqara motion sensor is good for basic needs, the P1’s hardware improvements make its motion detection much more versatile for only a small premium in price.

The wider range, field of view, light sensor and heightened sensitivity justify the upgrade cost for most users.

Aqara Motion Sensor P1 Smart Home Human Body Induction ZigBee Connection

The Aqara Motion Sensor P1 is a smart home device that uses human body induction to detect motion. It is equipped with a highly sensitive infrared sensor that can accurately capture movement within a range of 7 meters.

The motion sensor utilizes ZigBee connection technology, ensuring a stable and reliable connection with other smart home devices. This allows users to create automated actions, such as turning on lights or triggering an alarm, when motion is detected.

The sensor is also equipped with an ambient light sensor, which can detect the brightness level of the surrounding environment and adjust its sensitivity accordingly.

With its compact and sleek design, the Aqara Motion Sensor P1 seamlessly blends into any home decor. Whether for home security purposes or energy-saving automation, this smart device provides convenience and peace of mind to its users. 

Which Should You Choose?

With two solid motion sensor options available from Aqara, how do you decide whether to go with the original or upgraded P1 model? Here are some key considerations:

Summarize Differences

The P1 has better motion sensing range, field of view, sensitivity, and battery life compared to the original model. It also adds an ambient light sensor. But it costs more.

Consider Upgrade Benefits

The improved performance metrics of the P1 deliver tangible benefits:

• Wider 150° view monitors more area
• 7 meter range reaches larger rooms
• Light sensor enables more automation triggers
• 4x sensitivity detects smaller motions
• 3 year battery reduces maintenance

For most homes, these represent meaningful upgrades over the original sensor.

Use Cases Where P1 Excels

The P1 is the clear better choice when:

• You need to cover large, open spaces
• Installing high on ceilings over 7 feet
• Wanting to automate based on light levels
• Maximizing battery replacement intervals
• Detecting minor motions like hand waves

When Original Model Suffices

The original Aqara motion sensor is likely sufficient if:

• Monitoring single small-medium rooms
• Installing in tight spaces like hallways
• Basic motion detection needs
• Budget constraints

The original may have narrower specs but it still provides reliable motion detection at a lower price point.

Other Considerations

Keep in mind a few other factors:

• Original model color options (white/black)
• Physical size constraints
• Number of sensors needed
• Future extensibility needs

The Bottom Line

For most homes, the Aqara Motion Sensor P1 represents an easy choice for the performance upgrade over the original model. But the older sensor still works well for basic needs.

Compare your specific use case needs against the differences to decide which version fits best.

With either option, you get an affordable, wireless Aqara motion sensor to activate home automations based on occupancy and motion detection.

How To Change Battery Aqara Motion Sensor? 

To change the battery in an Aqara motion sensor, first, remove the device from its mounting bracket by twisting it counter-clockwise. Then, open the device by sliding the back cover downwards.

Carefully replace the old battery with a new one, ensuring correct polarity. Finally, close the back cover and twist the device back into its mounting bracket. 

Final Thoughts

After reviewing the capabilities of the original and P1 Aqara motion sensors, it’s clear the P1 model provides noticeable improvements in several key areas. However, the original sensor still offers a compelling option at a lower price point.

P1 Provides Meaningful Upgrades

The Aqara Motion Sensor P1 upgrades the motion detection performance in almost every way:

• 50% longer battery life up to 3 years
• Wider 150° field of view
• Farther 7 meter detection range
• 4X higher sensitivity level
• Ambient light sensor

These hardware improvements create a superior motion detection experience compared to the original Aqara sensor. The expanded coverage area, heightened sensitivity, and extra light sensor combine to make motion triggers more reliable and customizable.

Upgrade Worthwhile for Many Users

For most homes, the upgrades highlighted above will prove worthwhile for enhancing automation capabilities. The longer battery life also improves convenience. Unless you have a tiny space or basic needs, the P1 makes sense.

Original Sensor Still Provides Good Value

However, the original Aqara motion sensor still has a place for cost-conscious shoppers. It delivers solid performance for smaller rooms when you don’t need the wider range or extra features of the P1.

Compare Needs to Choose Best Option

No universal recommendation can be made between these two products. You have to compare your specific use case and budget considerations to select the right Aqara motion sensor for your smart home goals.

If maximizing the detection coverage area or tweaking automations based on light levels is important, go for the P1. But if you just need basic motion detection on a tight budget, the original sensor won’t disappoint either.

Whichever Aqara motion sensor you choose, you get a reliable and versatile wireless trigger device for home automation scenes and security notifications.

The P1 offers compelling upgrades, but both models can serve smart homes well with the right expectations set.

FAQ

What Is The Difference Between Aqara And Aqara P1?

The Aqara P1 is an upgraded version of the original Aqara motion sensor. Key differences include 50% longer battery life (3 years vs 2 years), wider 150° field of view, 7 meter detection range compared to 6 meters, 4X higher sensitivity, and an ambient light sensor on the P1 model. The P1 costs more but has better performance.

What Is The Aqara Contact Sensor P1?

The Aqara Contact Sensor P1 is a separate sensor for doors and windows. It detects when a contact is opened/closed.

The P1 contact sensor has longer battery life, louder alarm, and faster response time versus the original contact sensor. It does not have motion detection capabilities.

What Is The Distance Of The Aqara P1?

The Aqara P1 motion sensor has a detection range of up to 7 meters. This allows it to monitor larger rooms compared to the 6 meter range of the original Aqara motion sensor.

How Do I Pair My Aqara Motion Sensor P1?

To pair the Aqara P1, open the Aqara Home app and press the pairing button on the side of the sensor. Follow the in-app instructions to connect it over Zigbee to the Aqara hub. The process takes about one minute.

Does Aqara Motion Sensor Detect Light?

The original Aqara motion sensor only detects motion using its PIR sensor. But the P1 model adds an ambient light sensor to also detect changes in light levels to trigger automations.

How Accurate Is The Aqara Motion Sensor Temperature?

The Aqara motion sensors do not actually detect temperature. Any temperature readings in the app are estimates based on the internal sensor temperature only.

For accurate remote temperature measurement, use a dedicated Aqara temperature/humidity sensor.

Does Aqara Work Without Internet?

Aqara devices connect locally to the Aqara hub via Zigbee. Automations will function without internet connectivity. But controlling Aqara devices remotely and integrating with third-party services does require internet access to the hub.

Can Aqara Motion Sensor Be Used Outdoors?

No, the Aqara motion sensors are designed for indoor use only. For outdoor motion detection, consider a wireless outdoor PIR sensor or outdoor security camera with person detection.

What Is The Range Of Aqara Motion Sensor?

The original Aqara motion sensor has a 6 meter range. The newer P1 model has an increased 7 meter range. Make sure to mount the sensor appropriately to reach full coverage for the detection area.

How Do I Add Aqara Motion Sensor P1 To Homekit?

Once paired to the Aqara hub, open the Apple Home app, tap “Add Accessory”, and select the P1 sensor to add it. You can then create HomeKit automations triggered by the P1 motion detection.

How Do I Reset My Aqara P1 Sensor?

To reset the P1, press and hold the pairing button for 5 seconds until the LED blinks rapidly. This will reset the sensor and make it discoverable for pairing again through the Aqara app.

How Does Aqara Motion Sensor Work?

The Aqara motion sensors use passive infrared technology to detect human body heat signatures and movement within the covered range. This triggers configured automation rules like turning on lights when motion is detected. Sensitivity and timeouts can be adjusted.

Conclusion

When choosing between the Aqara and Aqara P1 motion sensors, there are a few key points to remember. The P1 model offers upgrades like longer range, wider field of view, light sensor, and better battery life.

For most homes, the P1 represents the better performance upgrade. But the original Aqara motion sensor still provides reliable basic motion detection at a lower cost.

Assess your needs and smart home goals to decide which Aqara motion sensor fits best.

To get started automating your lights, cameras, security system, or other devices based on occupancy, the Aqara motion sensors provide versatile wireless triggers.