3 Nifty Devices With Bluetooth Motion Sensors
KEY TAKEAWAYS
If smart lighting, thermostats, and security cameras are the fundamentals of a smart home, consider motion sensors the critical network that connects everything. Or, if you prefer, the eyes of your smart home.
However, the word “sensor” is a bit ambiguous. There are several sensors available for a variety of applications, including motion sensors, light sensors, temperature sensors, and many others. There is a wide array of alternative methods for how these sensors work and convey data.
For the past few years, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Wi-Fi have been the staples for wireless motion sensors and smart home security systems, but in the coming years, we can expect to see many more smart home devices equipped with Bluetooth motion sensors.
Before discovering our most recommended Bluetooth motion sensors, check out who they are for.
Who Are Bluetooth Motion Sensors For?
Everyone, from beginners to enthusiasts, should consider smart Bluetooth motion sensors. These tiny, battery-operated devices offer straightforward solutions to typical household issues.
For instance, you overlooked closing the garage. A contact sensor will send a notification to your phone via Bluetooth when it’s been opened for a long time. Have a child who recently mastered climbing out of her crib? Install a Bluetooth motion sensor in the room and get notified whenever she starts acting erratically.
That said, smart sensors have far more potential and use, and when a few are placed throughout your home and connected to other smart devices, they can transform it. Your home can go from just a house with many smart home devices to a fully automated smart home, where your gadgets seamlessly work together without human supervision.
Aside from the convenience they bring, smart Bluetooth motion sensors are an excellent tool for saving energy costs around the house. These devices can trigger smart lights, switches, speakers, and televisions to turn off automatically when a room is left unoccupied for an extended period or at a certain time each day. A smart thermostat can receive signals from contact sensors installed on doors and windows to switch off when they are opened and back on when they are closed.
Best Nifty Devices With Bluetooth Motion Sensors
Having a Bluetooth motion sensor is crucial in ensuring convenience and security for the entirety of your home. Below you’ll find our top picks for nifty devices with built-in Bluetooth motion sensors:
YoLink Smart Home Starter Kit
- Wireless Range: Up to 1,320 feet
- Installation: Plug & Play with QR code
- Compatibility: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT
- Additional Features: Customizable alert notifications
The YoLink Smart Home Starter Kit’s sensors can transmit a signal up to a quarter-mile (1,320 feet) away using a special long-range radio frequency. Compared to the shorter range of other Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-capable devices, this kit is super flexible for large properties.
The starter kit includes 4 Bluetooth motion sensors and 1 smart hub that is easy to set up with its Plug & Play feature. Additionally, the smart home hub is also compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT.
| Pros | Cons |
| Wide range sensors | Expensive |
| Wi-Fi and Bluetooth compatibility | Does not include security alarms |
| Lightweight | Costly add-on sensors and sirens |
Aqara Motion + Door And Window Sensor
- Wireless Range: 150 to 300 feet
- Installation: Requires 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection to pair with Zigbee
- Compatibility: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT
- Additional Features: Can connect to 128 Aqara motion sensors
The smallest smart sensor on our list is offered by Aqara; it is shorter, narrower, and more compact overall. However, despite its size, the Aqara motion sensors have built-in batteries lasting up to two years. For this reason, it is the best alternative for spaces where larger sensors won’t fit, and constant changing of batteries would be a hassle. Multiple door and window sensors are managed through a smart hub, which serves as the central control system.
This device is compatible with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Zigbee.
| Pros | Cons |
| Compact motion sensors | Requires expensive Aqara Smart Hub |
| Compatible with multiple smart home tech | Frequent malfunctioning with other Zigbee hubs |
| Affordable add-on sensors | Requires high-speed Wi-Fi connection |
Eve Door And Window Sensor Kit
- Wireless range: Up to 30 feet
- Installation: Pair with any iOS devices
- Compatibility: Apple HomeKit
- Additional Features: Live activity notifications
One of the best ways to integrate a motion sensor in a smart home powered by Apple is using the Eve Door and Window Sensor Kit. Because it is designed as HomeKit compatible, you can operate it using the Apple Home app without downloading any other apps to your iPhone. You can even ask Siri to check the status in real-time and request constant updates. This device also features spacers for magnets that allow you to install it without drilling any holes or requiring any wires.
| Pros | Cons |
| Apple Home app compatibility | Extremely expensive |
| Live activity-tracking statistics | Limited compatibility (only iOS devices) |
| Lightweight and compact | Restricted range (Bluetooth range) |
If you are looking to improve your home’s overall security, learn more about integrated alarm systems in this article by Security Forward.
