You videos are so well done and you even put the results in the title. The fact you took that effort at the risk of people not watching it shows that your videos are above and beyond.

I can only imagine the obscene amount of work and data that went into making this video, great job doing this and great video!

Update: So I got the Aqara D&W sensors, combined with the Sonoff USB Zigbee dongle, and I must say: wow. The delay is non-existent and I haven't lost a single update yet. I'm so glad I waited all those months for you to finish this test, absolutely worth it.

I'm almost done switching out all my Wifi sensors and switches to Yo-link. It's been super dependable and could not be easier to setup. And my internet "fiber" has only went out twice in 5 years, so I don't sweat the "lost internet" issue. All the serious sensors like "water leak detectors" are D2D with the water shut off valve and don't need internet or grid power to operate, its all automated.

Ok - instant follow on the animated battery graph. Well done sir!

Opposite results here. I bought a bunch of those Aqara sensors a while ago for my doors and windows and after some usage I noticed they are very unreliable, mostly when opening or closing the door/window very slowly, they won't update the state. I would say that about 50% of the time they don't update. It's not a defective unit because I bought 6 of them and they all failed similarly. Then I replaced them all with the ones from BlitzWolf and they work a lot more reliably. Not perfect, but they fail to update their state very rarely. If you hear the "click" of the magnet from both devices, the Aqara one sounds more "loose", like a spring and the BlitzWolf one sounds more "smooth", like a car's signals/blinkers sound. Also, the BlitzWolf one have a red LED that blinks once everytime it opens or closes, which gives us extra confidence that the magnet toggled. Anyway, I use them mostly for the alarm system, which requires all windows and doors to be closed. While I used the Aqara ones, I found myself going downstairs constantly just to go open and close a random window to make the sensor update its state. Like, almost everyday, sometimes for more than one sensor. Since I'm using the BlitzWolf ones, it doesn't happen for several weeks in a row! Huge difference. The battery life has been great aswell, I've installed them in march/april and they're still at 75%. Your workbench is very cool, but it has one flaw: the open/close movement is always the same, at the same angle and at the same speed, so the results are very limited to those factors.

OMG you built a testing rig that ran for FOUR months???! You're my hero! :)

I’ve been using Aqara contact sensors and motion sensors for about 3 years now. Never had to change the batteries in any of them so far. Super cheap and reliable

Impressive job, love the test rig. I'm picking up some of these Aqara sensors now! Thanks for your work compiling all the data.

I already use ring and don't plan on changing sensors, but since you included the result in the title I sat through this entire video, subscribed to the channel, liked the video, and am now commenting. Hopefully that helps the channel metrics!

like the features, setup was difficult for some of my devices (August Door lock, kzfaq.infoUgkxhB5YOMNj04GuoAosExygP4cH-dKeb4aB Bose speaker)... but all switches and outlets (5), thermostat, tankless water heater. Unfortunately all I can do is turn on/off Bose. It doesn't support volume or changing channels, but I believe that is due to the particular speaker I have.... Worth getting if you already have other devices to use it with... I don't sit around and ask Alexa questions much so that doesn't really matter to me....

I just bought a Moes contact sensor from Amazon a few weeks ago. It appears similar to the Aqara. It is Zigbee and works with my new Amazon speaker. This replaces my Wyze Sense sensor which went belly up after 2.5 years. I have a plastic mailbox about 50 feet (16m) from my house. I didn't know what I was doing, but the Alexa app worked fine. When the mailbox is opened, my smart speaker announces that I have mail and two of my home lights change to red. I use my Google Home routine to reset the lights. I could have used Alexa for that too, but the Google Home was already set up. Nice review.

You are a legend Rob! That test rig is amazing! As always your comparison is excellent and it’s crazy how much better the Aqara is!

Thank you Rob, great video as always. Just to let you know I am disabled and have trouble with legs. you have changed my life, with credit to Paul and Brian. I came close to not being here and if it wasn't for your ideas that has made my life so much easier and given me purpose again. Thank you so much for everything you done for everyone. Just amazing how you can change somebodies life This is more than home automation, to some people its a life line. God bless x

I have like 20 of these sensors (not aqara, original xiaomi) for two years now. Have not changed a single battery and they all report above 50%. There is zero lag, my automations are immediate and I can't recall a single issue over the time. Paid like $8 each.

Man, I dropped some serious money on a houseful of 5800MINIs (SDR to receive signal) because I thought they were the smallest around. Any future openings are getting the Aqaras! Small, easy to pair/use (ConBee dongle -> hass -> Node-RED)... thanks for going through all this testing labor for our benefit! You're so concise with your videos... much appreciated.

I’ve been using a couple of the Aqara sensors for almost a year now. They haven’t missed a beat. I have one on my sons bedroom door and if he opens the door after 9pm, it turns on the lamp in our bedroom. That way we know he’s up and he has a clear path to our room. The other one is on a baby gate at the top of the stairs. If the sensor breaks contact (gate open) a light at the top of the stairs comes on as a reminder to close the gate. Once it’s closed the light turns back off.

GREAT Video. Aqara has been my device of choice as I liked the combination of size, cost and reliability with HomeAssistant. It is good to know how well it stacks up against the competiion. The only other one I have used is the Sonoff device and whilst slightly larger it is lower in cost. I think people underestimate the utility of these devices if you are prepared to do a little surgery on them by removing the magnetic reed switch and extending the terminals outside of the device using wires I have turning my devices into rain monitors, liquid level sensors and door lock sensors.

more than 2 years have passed since this video first came out. Any new products you'd expect to top this list? I'm looking for something simple to monitor if/when my toddler tries to leave their room at night as well as simple entry door chimes to our house

I'm watching and liking the video solely because you answered the question in the title. Thank you for not click-baiting!

So much time went into making this video. Incredible! I really like your setup for thoroughly testing these sensors and loved the battery power over time animation. Thanks so much! 😃

Really appreciate you giving us your answer / best choice right off the bat. Top notch video.

Can confirm! Was in the market about 2 months ago for 20+ sensors for my new home and was looking for the most affordable Zigbee-compatible contact sensor. Bought an Aqara sensor to test, and at the time Amazon had them for 15 dollars. I already had a few z wave sensors and these came out to be half the size at half the price. I ended up purchasing all Aqara sensors after that.

I smashed subscribe by knowing the fact that you tested it for 4 months with a diy rig, content is all bonus for me at this point.

Another great video, and thanks for somehow being both thorough and concise!

Been using these for over a year now and have to second the recommendation. Lowest battery is at 44% because it is in my garage in the cold. They are also small enough to put on some mouse traps! Alexa announces a successful kill and I get a push notification to my phone...got the @#!%&

Great video and lead in with the data. 4 months is a dedicated amount of time to help suggest a quality sensor. Awesome.

Thank you for immediately providing the answer on not wasting time. Subscribed, liked, watched the full video.

Unreal. I was JUST looking for this for the first time and hoping you had a video on it. And here you are having posted one TODAY! Thank you sir!

Your videos are really the best smart home videos out there! I also own and use more than 10 Aqara door and window sensors across my house for over 2 years now and I can absolutely second your opinion on those sensors. They are very reliable and have a great battery life. Thanks for the video! BTW: The Aqara temperature, humidity and pressure sensor is also very good!

I really love the Aeotec sensor, as it detects vibrations and I saw in some tests that it has one of the biggest range (between the sensor and the magnet). More expensive but worth it IMO.

Thanks for being on point and not wasting anyone's time.

your videos never seize to amaze me. the selfless act of purchasing a series of products to test and recommend is not only generous, but extremely knowledegable. and though i don't have a zigbee network myself because i've been on the fence about it.. i am definitely going to move that to the top of the list because accurate affordable contact sensors have been something i've been wanting to add to my home assistant network. thanks again for an amazingly helpful video review!

I've got several of the aqara contact sensors embedded behind the strike plate for each of my doors, with a magnets added into the end of the deadbolt, so I get a nightly notification it's any of my doors are not locked, or if they open after 10pm. Batteries going on 2 years now on all of them.

I could not agree more. Been using these for at least a year. My home is mainly zwave, wifi and insteon so I didn’t have much Zigbee. I added a Conbee stick to Home Assistant to use with these. I have to say that initially I was disappointed with their performance. But after adding three strategically placed Zigbee plugs around my house, these have become one of my most reliable components. And I have not had to replace any batteries yet. Similar great experience with Aqara motion sensors too.

I loved that you skipped the BS and told us the result. And I still stayed to watch the entire video. Thank you.

Great, I made the right choice about a month ago :) Only the built in temperature sensors are completely useless showing 26 and 27C on a pair that are sitting on my desk in a

I have been pleased with all of the Aqara equipment that I have. They haven't steered me wrong yet. I just wish they had outdoor versions of the motion sensors, although I might be able to get my Reolink cameras to fill that duty once I get the wires run.

I have several Aqara sensors, the battery is still at 40% after 2 years. With a small mod, I hooked it up to a pressure mat, place it under my bedsheets and Wa-La, a Zigbee bed occupancy sensor.

Great review and thank you for putting in the time and effort to make these videos! Just picked up a few of these using your link. Would love to see a similar one for motion sensors.

The key reason that the Aqara contact sensor is so battery efficient is because it does NOT broadcast a Zigbee message at the standard Zigbee intervals. A custom device driver (like the one in Home Assistant) takes this into account. However, a standard Zigbee device driver will NOT. Therefore, these devices constantly "fall off" a standard Zigbee mesh. Buyer Beware.

Definitely agree on the aqara sensor. I have several and they've been going strong for over a year now.

I personally use the Aeotec Door/Window sensor pro. I already had low voltage power runs where I needed them so there's no battery cost and instant response on zwave.

I second your recommendation. I’ve a few of these on doors and the batteries last for ever it seems. They read temperature too - which is handy.

This video has convinced me to switch to ZigBee. I've been using wifi and tuya (plus some Shellies) since forever. How've tuya sucks (keeps becoming unresponsive and some devices randomly require me to start them) even though I live in an apt and thus the distances aren't large. And forget anything with a battery, things eating batteries left and right.

Thansk for the test. i followed your linkto order 10 pcs from Aliexpress. i hope you received your reward.

This remains the definitive test to this day!

Phew I have only these ones in my house so glad they are the best ones haha. Great video as always. The amount of effort you put in is amazing and so well done. 👍

You and Shane Whatley are quickly selling me on the Aqara products. Great job!!

Love these, and agree completely about the Aqara, best by far.

Another great video, I much prefer this short and sweet approach.

Can't help but agree the aqara sensor is by far the best contact sensor I have used

Never heard of or considered Aqara but I’m definitely interested now, as I currently use Smarthings! Thanks for a well put together comparison and breakdown!🙌🏾

OMG. This review redefined committed

Awesome effort on the testing rig and letting it run for so long.

I have more than 10 GS-WDS07 (EV1527 chip)from Aliexpress those cost like 7 USD now. If paierd with a 433MHZ hub (i have a tasmotized Sonoff RF), is the best deal imo. Cheap and reliable, and also pretty. I use them everywhere ( on a dumb AC unit to know if is on, on windows/doors, hooked on a pressure sensor in my sofa to detect sitting there etc. They work with a standard AAA battery and they work a pretty damn long time.

It would have been great to see a Thread based sensor like the one from Eve in this comparison. Love the rig, who would’ve thought it could use an automatic lubricator!

1:58 - wow that is an awesome test rig. Love it!

Nice work, I had purchased 4 of the Aqaras and was quite happy with them. I’m using these with HA and love that there’s also a temperature entity presented from them.

Thanks. So much time invested and summarized in 6 minutes. Awesome work.

I've been using a ring door sensor for some time, but this week I got an Ecolink ZWave sensor. The cool thing about is it has two terminals, when closed will report. So I added it to a dry contact relay to monitor my power outlet Sump Pump, which has a separate circuit breaker, and recently I found out it was out of power.

I purchased a 3 pack and connected them to my Smartthings hub. They were a little difficult to pair but finally got them working. Since then I have had nothing but trouble with them going offline. I have to re-pair them constantly.

Slowly changing my sensors over to Ring (from Samsung multipurpose). What I like about Ring is how easily it is to remove the sensor to replace the batteries. For your next updated video on this subject, maybe add the distance to register the change event as windows and doors are seldom flush. I'm sure the Ring sensor's battery life can be improved by changing the heartbeat interval but this video is about the OOB experience.

Instalike when I saw your testing machine for battery life. You rock

That testing rig is next level commitment.

Thank you for this video, I've been patiently waiting for it after seeing you were testing these. Thanks to you, now I'll also have the option to use Zigbee devices from now on ;).

Got 9 of them around the house and haven't had any issues with them. All original batteries over 3 years later. Looks like the prices have jumped up a bit but still good value.

Literally yesterday I was wondering where is your new video and I though "this guy's probably doing some big comparison video" and there it is haha 😁

I just installed an aqara contact sensor a few weeks ago - glad I made the right choice 🤠 ….but that eco link zwave tilt sensor (I know not contact) has been using the same battery for 3+ years and still at 99%

Good video. The only suggestion I can make is that you add the Aqara hub to your list of affiliate links.

Another spectacular job Rob!

this is exactly what i needed, thanks! My Wyze contact sensors are great but lately have been starting to fail, plus they discontinued the ones i have so it’s only a matter of time before they all stop working. These Aqara sensors look like they’ll fit nicely into my Home Assistant setup!

Great work! I´m not even looking for door sensors, but it is plainly brilliant. Thanks! Have the host and everybody here a great 2022 start!

Nice, short and to the point :) Really appreciated this video and for discovering your channel! Wish you an awesome new year!

Great video as always. I have just one of these running on Home Assistant and its been flawless since I put in on my door.

Brilliant, I was looking for new sensors and considering the aqara, and you've given me the push I needed. I'm going to use a sonoff zigbee bridge to connect to my node red setup! Thanks

@The Hook Up - Really enjoy your videos, they are informative and saves us lots of time. Please keep doing them !!! Are you planning doing the same for MOTION sensors ? I am pretty sure many users would appreciate that too !

Short sweet and concise love it! Keep bringing great videos!

Great video Rob! You got right to the point!

Thanks for the extensive test and comparison. I ordered me one thru your link. I will probably order more.

Huge thanks for the video, you do save a lot of time for many people. Keep up the good work!

My favourite sensor is Eve and aqara. 2 months in the testing phase.

Great job. I appreciate you getting to the point (recommendation) quickly.

This is amazing. Please do something like this for Motion Sensors, presence sensors, and any other sensors you can think of. I would also be very interested in a test of the new Ikea sensors that just came out, and the new Aqara Matter-enabled Thread sensors that are much more expensive.

Rob - Great video. I have played with the Sonoff Zigbee and the Shelly WiFi contact sensors, with rather poor results... I have had good luck with the one aqara contact sensor I bough; seeing your video gave me the confidence to order a bunch more for a whole slew of automations I have planned. Keep up the great work!

Thanks for another great, practical video!

Another great on point video! You've inspired me to dig into low powered zigbee capable microcontrollers for temp control project. Cheers!

Great video! I love how you get right to it and don't bury the results way down in the video. I'm looking for something for an outdoor gate but really don't want to go with anything cloud only. Did you try any methods of waterproofing the aqara by any chance? I'm curious if you might be able to get away just plastidipping one or something like that.

Affiliate link used, thanks for the great video as always!

Either by luck or good management I fitted my home with Aqara door sensors. They work great with Conbee II and Home-Assistant and have not failed me once in a year.

The test rig is incredible 😮

Thanks Rob. I recently purchased Aqara sensors and they work great. Happy New Year!

Wow! What a review. I loved the testing rig!

best video of the year. Thanks rob.

Hmm, nice video, but Sonoff SNZB-04 is notably missing and is half the price of Aqara. Also, Aqara zigbee devices tend to "stick" to a single zigbee router or coordinator, so there might be connection issues if you move devices around the house.

The real winner here? Your testing table!

Amazing well done comparison! Thanks for this video!

Did you use all new batteries from a reputable brand when testing? I run into extremely varying battery life based on what battery brand, distance from hub, etc. Just curious, and great review!

You ran the test for 4 months 👏👏👏👏

Great videos as always. Bought a half dozen of the Aqara sensors from Amazon via your affiliate link.