Customers find the smart light switch to be a fantastic Apple HomeKit accessory that is quick and easy to set up. However, the functionality receives mixed feedback, with some customers reporting issues with buttons not working. Moreover, programming and connection ease are also mixed aspects, with several customers finding it a pain to configure. Additionally, compatibility is a concern, as the switch does not support zigbee direct binding and is not yet supported by Zigbee2MQTT.
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9 reviews for Aqara Smart Light Switch H2 (2-in-1 Neutral, 4 Buttons, 3 Channels), Thread/Zigbee Protocol, Wall Switch for Smart Home, Supports Apple Home, Google, Alexa, Matter Over Thread
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Amazon Customer –
Good switch for Home Assistant
So I got this switch to use primarily in Home Assistant. I made sure to do my homework first before getting it. I was aware that depending on how you integrate it, you will lose some features. I first connected it to HA using Matter over Thread. That gave me the switch, power monitoring, and the extra button showed up under events. I had a good use case for the H2 because I have a bedroom with a ceiling fan that uses pull chain for the light and fan with only 1 switch. So I have the actual H2 switch control the ceiling light/fan as only a fan now and the smart button to control a lamp that I put in the room. That way both options are accessible from the switch and have smart controls.One thing I must say is that if you don’t have an Aqara hub then make sure to update the switch through the app. I put the H2 into HA immediately and controls were very inconsistent. Half the time it was instant, the other half had heavy delays or didn’t respond at all. After I updated the firmware, it works perfectly now. The switch is always instant. The smart button is too as long as you’re not pressing it in quick succession. It will eventually have a delay of maybe 1-2 seconds if you are pressing it repeatedly very quickly. But when I waited longer between each press it worked instantly every time. So it works perfectly fine for normal use.I did try Zigbee for fun though. I removed the switch, changed it to Zigbee mode using the Aqara app and reconnected it to HA using ZHA. It was very quick and simple but all you get is the switch. The smart button is not available and I don’t even remember checking if power monitoring was available.Overall I’m pretty satisfied with the switch. But my only expectation was to be able to connect it using Matter over Thread and have access to the smart button. Both of which were met. I see that some others were upset about losing options and features. I did my homework though and knew I wouldn’t have access to certain things. For my uses case I’m pretty happy with it. So be aware of what you may be losing out on and if you’re okay with that before buying the H2.
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Merv –
Fantastic Apple HomeKit accessory
The Aqara light switch is fantastic Apple HomeKit accessory. Not only was it quick and easy to install the switch, it was even easier to pair it and setup routines in my HomeKit app. Our office has both Hue and Govee lights in which I programmed the other 3 buttons to do various functions with our lights. My spouse programmed one button for her Zoom Calls lighting which are a brighter and warmer lights. The office’s ceiling and desk lights work together through Matter protocol.It’s been only a week since installation, but so far no bugs or problems. I will update if this changes.
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Thomas P. Stinson –
Works well with Aqara Hub
I intend to use this switch to control a bathroom fan/light combo. Fan, light, night light. After reading that it was Matter certified I assumed I was all set as I have multiple Apple TV boxes and a few HomePods. I was unable to add this switch using Apple Home. It would connect immediately but fail at the “setting up” screen. I considered returning it, but the 3 active buttons in a single gang device isn’t common and I like the style of it. I thought the best way to ensure the switch would work well in my house would be to add an Aqara M3 hub. Mildly frustrating as the Apple gear are Matter hubs, but such is life. I received my new Aqara hub and expected a painless Matter/Thread setup with my new switch. Nope. I was unable to connect this Aqara switch to the Aqara hub using the Matter/Thread protocol. Power cycled phone, hub, router and reset the switch many, many times. Still no luck with Matter/Thread. By now I was less concerned with establishing a Thread network and just wanted the switch to work! Using the Aqara app, I switched to Zigbee mode, accomplished by a firmware re-flash. Bam! The switch was added to the Aqara app successfully in just a few moments. My ultimate goal is to use Apple Home for ALL home automation and control and avoid using other apps, even Aqara’s own. It took a couple extra minutes but now I can ignore the Aqara app and use Apple Home, the same way I use Philips Hue products. The switch itself is high quality with tinned wire leads and a nice screw-less wall plate. Each button has an LED indicator for on/off that also changes colors to indicate different setup modes. Value for money is dependent on whether you already own a hub. At some point when I get a few more Matter/Thread devices I will probably attempt the Matter/Thread protocol on this switch but I’m happy with the Zigbee functionality for now. Strongly recommended if you already have a hub or plan to get one. Otherwise you may want to investigate other options, perhaps from Lutron. One final note: a factory reset requires a button to be pressed TEN times. This seems excessive compared to my other smart home stuff. Having a reset button like a router would be a nice upgrade.
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N. Franke –
Decent Switch
I’ve had two switches for several months now. They worked fine initially. Now nothing can talk to them. It was working in Apple Home and the Aqara app. Now they are unresponsive in both. Power cycling does nothing to help. More unreliable smart junk.Original Review:I got this to replace a malfunctioning WeMo. I installed this as part of a 3-way circuit. The instructions were a little odd, but they do work. You have to jumper one side of the end switch from L to T. Weird.I scanned the QR code in the Apple Home app and it added the switch fairly quickly. Smart home functions work as expected. Programming the second button was a bit harder. I don’t have an Aqara hub yet, but I sort of got something working to control a light strip using a Shortcut. The LED won’t match the state of the light strip, but that’s more a HomeKit issue, I think. Neat to have an easy way to control another device.However, I have some other switches that really need just a single button. Aqara doesn’t seem to make a Thread switch with a single button.I got another and tried it in a 4-way circuit. It does not work, unfortunately. Sad that only Meross and Tapo make 4-way iOS-compatible switches without add-ons.
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YG –
Great smart light switch, easy to install. Occasionally, there is some lag when switching, but otherwise great. The software (Aqara App) is also easy to use.I only wish they had a 2 button version that supports 3-way switching. The extra button is useful, but is not needed in some situations. Having that option would have been great.
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Arnaud –
Réglage simple et fonctionnel
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TJ Reviews –
Works great as a ZigBee switch with a Home Assistant, but does require that you install and login to the app to change mode on the first use
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Travis –
The unit failed after 1 month in service. I am getting no warranty support from either Amazon or Aqara.
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Felipe –
This new light switch from aqara is the best light switch on the market today! I use it with the M3 hub, possibilities are endless. Plus the new look of the buttons and the redesign with the metal backing is amazing. I have 40 some aqara devices, aqara is simply the best way to build a smart home!
Amazon Customer –
Good switch for Home Assistant
So I got this switch to use primarily in Home Assistant. I made sure to do my homework first before getting it. I was aware that depending on how you integrate it, you will lose some features. I first connected it to HA using Matter over Thread. That gave me the switch, power monitoring, and the extra button showed up under events. I had a good use case for the H2 because I have a bedroom with a ceiling fan that uses pull chain for the light and fan with only 1 switch. So I have the actual H2 switch control the ceiling light/fan as only a fan now and the smart button to control a lamp that I put in the room. That way both options are accessible from the switch and have smart controls.One thing I must say is that if you don’t have an Aqara hub then make sure to update the switch through the app. I put the H2 into HA immediately and controls were very inconsistent. Half the time it was instant, the other half had heavy delays or didn’t respond at all. After I updated the firmware, it works perfectly now. The switch is always instant. The smart button is too as long as you’re not pressing it in quick succession. It will eventually have a delay of maybe 1-2 seconds if you are pressing it repeatedly very quickly. But when I waited longer between each press it worked instantly every time. So it works perfectly fine for normal use.I did try Zigbee for fun though. I removed the switch, changed it to Zigbee mode using the Aqara app and reconnected it to HA using ZHA. It was very quick and simple but all you get is the switch. The smart button is not available and I don’t even remember checking if power monitoring was available.Overall I’m pretty satisfied with the switch. But my only expectation was to be able to connect it using Matter over Thread and have access to the smart button. Both of which were met. I see that some others were upset about losing options and features. I did my homework though and knew I wouldn’t have access to certain things. For my uses case I’m pretty happy with it. So be aware of what you may be losing out on and if you’re okay with that before buying the H2.
Merv –
Fantastic Apple HomeKit accessory
The Aqara light switch is fantastic Apple HomeKit accessory. Not only was it quick and easy to install the switch, it was even easier to pair it and setup routines in my HomeKit app. Our office has both Hue and Govee lights in which I programmed the other 3 buttons to do various functions with our lights. My spouse programmed one button for her Zoom Calls lighting which are a brighter and warmer lights. The office’s ceiling and desk lights work together through Matter protocol.It’s been only a week since installation, but so far no bugs or problems. I will update if this changes.
Thomas P. Stinson –
Works well with Aqara Hub
I intend to use this switch to control a bathroom fan/light combo. Fan, light, night light. After reading that it was Matter certified I assumed I was all set as I have multiple Apple TV boxes and a few HomePods. I was unable to add this switch using Apple Home. It would connect immediately but fail at the “setting up” screen. I considered returning it, but the 3 active buttons in a single gang device isn’t common and I like the style of it. I thought the best way to ensure the switch would work well in my house would be to add an Aqara M3 hub. Mildly frustrating as the Apple gear are Matter hubs, but such is life. I received my new Aqara hub and expected a painless Matter/Thread setup with my new switch. Nope. I was unable to connect this Aqara switch to the Aqara hub using the Matter/Thread protocol. Power cycled phone, hub, router and reset the switch many, many times. Still no luck with Matter/Thread. By now I was less concerned with establishing a Thread network and just wanted the switch to work! Using the Aqara app, I switched to Zigbee mode, accomplished by a firmware re-flash. Bam! The switch was added to the Aqara app successfully in just a few moments. My ultimate goal is to use Apple Home for ALL home automation and control and avoid using other apps, even Aqara’s own. It took a couple extra minutes but now I can ignore the Aqara app and use Apple Home, the same way I use Philips Hue products. The switch itself is high quality with tinned wire leads and a nice screw-less wall plate. Each button has an LED indicator for on/off that also changes colors to indicate different setup modes. Value for money is dependent on whether you already own a hub. At some point when I get a few more Matter/Thread devices I will probably attempt the Matter/Thread protocol on this switch but I’m happy with the Zigbee functionality for now. Strongly recommended if you already have a hub or plan to get one. Otherwise you may want to investigate other options, perhaps from Lutron. One final note: a factory reset requires a button to be pressed TEN times. This seems excessive compared to my other smart home stuff. Having a reset button like a router would be a nice upgrade.
N. Franke –
Decent Switch
I’ve had two switches for several months now. They worked fine initially. Now nothing can talk to them. It was working in Apple Home and the Aqara app. Now they are unresponsive in both. Power cycling does nothing to help. More unreliable smart junk.Original Review:I got this to replace a malfunctioning WeMo. I installed this as part of a 3-way circuit. The instructions were a little odd, but they do work. You have to jumper one side of the end switch from L to T. Weird.I scanned the QR code in the Apple Home app and it added the switch fairly quickly. Smart home functions work as expected. Programming the second button was a bit harder. I don’t have an Aqara hub yet, but I sort of got something working to control a light strip using a Shortcut. The LED won’t match the state of the light strip, but that’s more a HomeKit issue, I think. Neat to have an easy way to control another device.However, I have some other switches that really need just a single button. Aqara doesn’t seem to make a Thread switch with a single button.I got another and tried it in a 4-way circuit. It does not work, unfortunately. Sad that only Meross and Tapo make 4-way iOS-compatible switches without add-ons.
YG –
Great smart light switch, easy to install. Occasionally, there is some lag when switching, but otherwise great. The software (Aqara App) is also easy to use.I only wish they had a 2 button version that supports 3-way switching. The extra button is useful, but is not needed in some situations. Having that option would have been great.
Arnaud –
Réglage simple et fonctionnel
TJ Reviews –
Works great as a ZigBee switch with a Home Assistant, but does require that you install and login to the app to change mode on the first use
Travis –
The unit failed after 1 month in service. I am getting no warranty support from either Amazon or Aqara.
Felipe –
This new light switch from aqara is the best light switch on the market today! I use it with the M3 hub, possibilities are endless. Plus the new look of the buttons and the redesign with the metal backing is amazing. I have 40 some aqara devices, aqara is simply the best way to build a smart home!