Power-points - Dohome Homekit power plugs, Ewelink Power plugs and Tuya Power Plugs
Manufacturer App: Do Home, Ewelink and Tuya
Remark: These are basically used to remotely reset the hub if it is not responding. I chose wifi for most of these plugs, because if the hub is not responding, the corrresponding zigbee plug would also not respond. However i also do have some zigbee smart plugs from tuya incoming, to extend my tuya zigbee mesh range.

Exhaust fans and fans - Normal ceiling exhaust fans and Xiaomi Bladeless Tower Fan
Manufacturer App: Mi Home for the tower fan, and Aqara/Tuya to control the exhaust fans
Homekit: Xiaomi Bladeless Fan brought into Homekit via Homebridge MIOT plugin
Remark:
I use a Tuya Temperature sensor to automate the exhaust fans and fans. Once the temperature in the house is above 28 degrees, all exhaust fans would turn on, to remove the heat in the ceiling/roof.


Air-conditioners - Daikin
All the airconditioners in my house are Daikin Brand, wifi enabled. Unfortunately, they are not homekit compatible and no homebridge plugin is available for them, because they are protected by a subscription paywall. However, they are Google Home compatible, and i can control them there. I dont automate these aircons based on temperature, cos i dont really need to pre-cool the room/house. If anything, i just remotely turn them on before i enter the room.

Main Door Lock - Aqara D100
Manufacturer App: Mi Home (funnily not supported by the Aqara app)
Homekit - compatible natively
Remark:
I wanted a Door Lock that had no moving parts, and this was perfect for me. To enter, use thumbprint, NFC card, password, app or manual key. Battery lasts around 8 months of usage before needing a recharge. Uses USB C to recharge. I automated the door unlock with the lights, so anytime i open the door, the lights at the entrance would turn on. Solidly built, and responds well. I use a Xiaomi smart plug, which acts as a bluetooth hub, to connect this D100, so i can receive notifications on who has entered the house, based on the fingerprint.




TV - Sony Bravia GoogleTV/Homekit TV
Manufacturer App: Google Home/Apple Home
Homekit - Natively supported
Remark:
This TV is a Google TV (latest version of android TV) and supports Homekit. I automate the TV, once it turns on, the LED lighting behind the TV turns on, and the relevant downlights are turned off.

Home Security - Alarm System, CCTV, Doorbell
Remark:

I use  a normal alarm system, with contact sensors and vibration sensors throughout the house. Also have photo-beams installed. Unfortunately not able to link to homekit or google (and dont plan to, as i spoke to them), but they have their own app, so i can remotely arm and disarm the alarm system. Maybe down the line, i will replace the control panel which can link to homekit or google home, since all the wired sensors are plug an play between other brands.

The CCTVs that i use are a mix between wired cameras and IP cameras. All are brought into Homekit via Homebridge FFMPEG plugin. Brand for my CCTV is Imou. Works well, response time is fast, and price is affordable.


Doorbell that i use is a battery operated Tuya smart doorbell. Im not too happy with this doorbell, as it’s slow to respond, maybe due to it not being wired. Ill probably change it out with the Aqara G4 which was just released, IF it is weatherproof to malaysian rain and sun.

Other Devices
I also have Google Nest Minis around the house. Using Homebridge, I can setup dummy switches that link to google home automations. So, when a door is open, the Nest Minis will announce to us that that door has been opened, or has been open for XX minutes. I also use the google home mini to setup time based reminders, such as feeding the dog, or talking to the kids via broadcast (which i use the Homepod Mini’s intercom feature for too).

Final Thoughts

Although my smart home journey has not ended, I’m mostly pretty happy with the sytem that has been built. There are hiccups along the way, like the reliabilty of Apple Homekit itself, which is resolved part by part via their software updates.

Things that i like:-
The FFMPEG plugin for doorbell allows me to link my doorbell to homekit, so when it is pressed, there will be a snapshot send to my phone. It also rings the Homepod with a doorbell ding dong sound. Currently my Tuya doorbell is google home supported, so all the Nest minis will also announce to the house that someone pressed the doorbell. Pretty nifty. My old dumb doorbell did not have video, and was very low in volume, could not hear it if i was upstairs.

PIR motion sensors are neat, they just make you feel like you have a smart home. The feeling wears off after a while, but it is rather convenient.

Sunset/Sunrise and time based automations are very useful. When Im away from home, traveling, or going home late, the lights would turn on. This doesnt leave my house in darkness.

Temperature automations are very useful, as the exhaust fans expel heat from the ceiling and roof, which is where most of the heat is trapped. I love this automation. I have it that once the temperature goes below a set temperature, the exhaust fans shut off.

Devices that i don’t like that i will probably replace:
Tuya Smart Doorbell - too slow, volume low
MOES light switches - very hollow when pressed, and quality is pretty cheap
Do Home smart plugs - not very reliable, because they are WiFi Based. They drop out constantly and are not able to be controlled. The Ewelink and Tuya WiFi smart plugs are more reliable.

Hi there

Yes, i would recommend that. I actually only found out that Tuya had homekit hubs after i bought my aqara devices. If i were to start from scratch again, i would go the tuya route, as they are cheaper, work reliably and constructed well (for the tuyago switches that is). The hubs are cheaper to replace if they malfunction.

The only one device that i would still stick with aqara is the D100 Door lock. I really like this device, but since its a wifi/bluetooth only device (my one is an earlier version that doesnt have applekeys), its pretty much standalone working together with my xiaomi smart plug as a BLE hub.
For aqara, since i already have them prior to my tuya devices purchases, i decided to expand their capabilites by adding the S1E panel. What they do and how they function, doesnt make them far better than the tuya counterparts, although they are more well known.

Hope that helps

If you stay with Tuya, and dont want to go for anything that is homebridge related, you can still build a smart home using just tuya zigbee products.

1. Door Lock
2. Curtains
3. Smart wall sockets
4. Smart plugs
5. Smart switches
6. Smart bulbs
7. Door sensors
8. Water leak sensors
9. Smoke sensors

For CCTV, you can use homekit compatible cameras, but i havent looked into it, as i really enjoy Imou/Dahua products, and i have them integrated to homekit via homebridge.

The above is already enough for a smart home.
1. But aircon control is mostly in the manufacturers app. My one is daikin, and is not able to be integrated via homekit. So, i still have to use the daikin app to control remotely.

2. Fans, i really really like the Xiaomi Mijia Air circulator, so strong and powerful, so unless you go the homebridge route, you have to control it in the manufacturer’s app

If you stay with Tuya, and dont want to go for anything that is homebridge related, you can still build a smart home using just tuya zigbee products.

1. Door Lock
2. Curtains
3. Smart wall sockets
4. Smart plugs
5. Smart switches
6. Smart bulbs
7. Door sensors
8. Water leak sensors
9. Smoke sensors

For CCTV, you can use homekit compatible cameras, but i havent looked into it, as i really enjoy Imou/Dahua products, and i have them integrated to homekit via homebridge.

The above is already enough for a smart home.
1. But aircon control is mostly in the manufacturers app. My one is daikin, and is not able to be integrated via homekit. So, i still have to use the daikin app to control remotely.

2. Fans, i really really like the Xiaomi Mijia Air circulator, so strong and powerful, so unless you go the homebridge route, you have to control it in the manufacturer’s app

If you stay with Tuya, and dont want to go for anything that is homebridge related, you can still build a smart home using just tuya zigbee products.

1. Door Lock
2. Curtains
3. Smart wall sockets
4. Smart plugs
5. Smart switches
6. Smart bulbs
7. Door sensors
8. Water leak sensors
9. Smoke sensors

For CCTV, you can use homekit compatible cameras, but i havent looked into it, as i really enjoy Imou/Dahua products, and i have them integrated to homekit via homebridge.

The above is already enough for a smart home.
1. But aircon control is mostly in the manufacturers app. My one is daikin, and is not able to be integrated via homekit. So, i still have to use the daikin app to control remotely.

2. Fans, i really really like the Xiaomi Mijia Air circulator, so strong and powerful, so unless you go the homebridge route, you have to control it in the manufacturer’s app

I have both Moes and Sonoff switches & others along with their respective Zigbee-Matter hubs but have yet to install any of them.

Lighting - Aqara/Tuya Zigbee Switches
Manufacturer App: Aqara and Mi Home, Tuya App and DoHome App
I have 2 Aqara Hubs, but use Aqara App and Mi Home app for each. Reason: My Aqara S1E can only connect via Aqara App. So i split my lighting on my ground floor between these 2 apps. Both work great. I also have a Neo and Zemismart Homekit Hub, which works well. I prefer the NEO, as it’s range is further.
Homekit - Compatible natively
Switches used: Aqara E1 non neutral, Aqara E1 Neutral, Aqara D1 Non Neutral, Aqara S1E Switch, MOES Tuya zigbee switches, Tuyago zigbee swiches, tuya zigbee module.
Light fittings used: Do Home Homekit LED Light strip - used behind my TV
Sensors used: Aqara PIR motion sensor, Aqara Door and window sensor
Remark:
These switches are great. They are well built and offer a good tactile feedback. I also liked the look of them, being that they are large pushbutton switches that make a satisfying sound when the relay activates. I use homekit automation to turn on all outdoor lights at sunset, some to turn off when its past mid night, and the rest to turn off at sunrise. For indoor lights, i use the motion sensor to turn on the kitchen pendant light in the evenings, so i dont need to manually turn on the switch, and also a motion sensor to turn on the staircase light when i am walking up and down the stairs. I needed to place the Aqara M1S hubs to ensure that all of the zigbee devices could be reached and not drop off perdiodiically. Placement is crucial. Door and window sensor is used at all entry points to the house, to make sure that they are closed. these are used in conjunction with the alarm system that i have, which also has a door contact sensor, but the zigbee ones do send me notifcations compared to the rather dumb alarm system. All the lights in the house are fully controlled by smart switches, which is great, to use the automations described above.


The Aqara S1E was an impulse purchase, due to it having a screen. But in the end was a useful addition to me. Its placed at the entrance of my house, where most of the switches are. I am able to control 6 homekit scenes, the 3 circuits that its connected to and all other aqara account devices from it. Pretty nifty.





This Zigbee switch is basically a module that is hidden in the switch concealed box. I would have preferred to use a push button switch like the aqaras/tuyas, but relay type of switches dont work in 2-way configuration, and i didnt want to buy another brand, like Lutron, which is not widely available in Malaysia, and is pricier. This switch works well in 2-way configuration. I use it for my staircase light.

This MOES switch is a disappointment. It’s very hollow sounding when pressed, and the relays do not make a sound when activated remotely, so you can’t hear the confirmation that a switch has been turned on. And the LED light is pretty glaring. Will probably replace it some time down the road.

This Tuyago switch, I’m very happy with. The materials, the tactility and the response is great. I used this generally in bedrooms, paired to either the Zemismart or NEO homekit hubs. It emits a soft white glow through a tiny little LED. Not distracting at all.