The Zigbee Sunset: Navigating a Changing Smart Home Landscape
IKEA’s move from Zigbee to Matter over Thread is nearly complete, with the latest range already appearing in stores. This shift spells the end of an era for those of us who’ve come to rely on IKEA’s affordable Zigbee devices. Finding budget-friendly Zigbee options will now require a bit more digging.
Playing the AliExpress Lottery
Cheap Zigbee devices have always been readily available on online marketplaces, most notably AliExpress. The sheer volume of smart home gadgets – from hubs and lighting to niche accessories like soil moisture sensors – can be overwhelming. The challenge lies in selecting a sensor that will reliably integrate with your existing smart home ecosystem, particularly if you’re a Home Assistant user.
Although there isn’t an “official” device library, and Zigbee certification can be somewhat lax (contributing to the lower prices), two crowd-sourced lists can be invaluable resources. The Blakadder Zigbee compatibility list currently indexes 2693 devices, with a dedicated section for Home Assistant’s default Zigbee Home Automation plugin. Alternatively, the Z2M compatibility list boasts 5153 devices.
Sometimes, a device won’t be listed at all, or it may appear under a different brand name. If you take the plunge and discover an unlisted device, consider contributing to these indexes to help others.
While AliExpress offers affordability, retailers like Amazon provide a more robust return and refund policy, albeit at a slight premium.
Brands to Appear Out For
Several brands offer a balance between affordability and reliability. Here are a few to consider:
Tuya
Tuya is a widely recognized smart home system known for its low prices. However, Tuya is a development platform used by numerous manufacturers, meaning devices branded as “Tuya” can vary significantly in quality and compatibility. These devices can run on Zigbee, Matter, Wi-Fi, Z-Wave, or Bluetooth. Despite a mixed reputation, many Tuya devices are listed in the ZHA and Z2M compatibility lists, and some have performed well in comparisons, like Smart Home Scene’s roundup of cheap temperature and humidity sensors.
Xiaomi
Xiaomi offers a range of smart home devices operating over Zigbee and Bluetooth Low Energy. While the company is shifting towards Bluetooth, Zigbee devices are still available on AliExpress. Some Xiaomi devices can even be flashed with custom firmware to enable Zigbee functionality.
Sonoff
Sonoff provides a decent range of Zigbee devices at prices slightly higher than IKEA’s previous offerings. For example, a temperature and humidity sensor costs $16.50, smart plugs are $13, and a USB Zigbee adapter is $25. Sonoff enjoys a solid reputation among Home Assistant users.
Aqara
Aqara offers an expansive range of Zigbee devices with a strong reputation for quality and compatibility. While slightly more expensive than some other options, Aqara devices can often be found at discounted prices on AliExpress.
If you’re lucky, you might still discover some remaining IKEA Zigbee devices in stock. Check the stock checker on IKEA’s website, but be aware that availability is limited.
