Aqara Multi-Sensor FP400 Review: Not Quite the mmWave of the Future

The latest offering from Aqara, the Multi-Sensor FP400, has been generating significant buzz in the smart home industry. This device promises to revolutionize automation with its advanced mmWave sensors, detecting our presence and absence with unprecedented accuracy. However, my testing experience left me feeling underwhelmed by the FP400’s limitations.

The FP400 is an update to Aqara’s previous FP2 model, which has been on the market since 2003. This new device boasts improved tracking capabilities, allowing up to 10 people to be detected simultaneously. Additionally, it includes a built-in light sensor and supports custom detection zones, making it more versatile than its predecessor.

Despite these upgrades, I couldn’t help but feel that Aqara has taken a step backwards in terms of innovation. The omission of posture detection, which was touted as one of the key benefits of the FP400 when it was first announced, is particularly notable. Instead, this feature will be offered separately in a professional-grade device called the FP400 Pro.

This decision raises questions about Aqara’s priorities: are they catering to consumer needs or simply trying to create more products to upsell? The exclusion of posture detection may not be a deal-breaker for some users, but it represents a significant missed opportunity for innovation. With this feature, the FP400 could have truly differentiated itself from other mmWave sensors on the market.

The FP400 still manages to impress in many areas, outperforming its predecessor with improved accuracy and responsiveness. The addition of detection zones is also a welcome feature, allowing users to create bespoke automations for specific areas of their home. This is particularly useful for multi-room setups or households with complex lighting schemes.

However, this raises an important question: what exactly does it mean for a smart home device to be “accurate” in the first place? Is it simply about detecting our presence and absence without generating false positives, or should these devices strive for more nuanced understanding of human behavior?

As we continue to push the boundaries of smart home technology, manufacturers must prioritize innovation over gimmicks. The FP400 is a step in the right direction, but its limitations serve as a reminder that there’s still much work to be done in this space.

The integration of mmWave sensors with third-party ecosystems is a significant advancement, enabling users to create complex rules and automations across multiple platforms. However, this also raises concerns about fragmentation in the industry. With each manufacturer developing its own proprietary solutions, we risk creating a patchwork of incompatible systems that ultimately hinder user experience.

Aqara’s expertise in the mmWave space is undeniable, but it also raises questions about the company’s commitment to innovation. If Aqara is content to rest on its laurels and continue producing incremental updates rather than pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with mmWave technology, then perhaps it’s time for other manufacturers to step up and challenge the status quo.

The smart home industry needs innovators who are willing to take risks and disrupt the norm – not just incrementally improve existing products.