After Aqara has already released a new firmware for the M2 hub with support for the new smarthome standard, it is now the turn of the manufacturer’s most affordable hub.

Aqara continues to make great strides, releasing new devices and improving existing ones. In terms of compatibility, the manufacturer goes the Matter route and gradually equips its own hubs with firmware updates.

For the Aqara Hub E1, which is currently available for under 30€, version 4.0.2 can now be installed in the Aqara app in the “Profiles” tab under “Firmware Update”. The firmware, officially still marked as “beta”, supports Matter after installation and also integrates the devices connected to the hub into the new smarthome standard.

As always, if you’re a HomeKit-only user, you should hold off on the update. Matter currently offers no real advantages for HomeKit devices, but causes problems in some places. If, on the other hand, you want to use Amazon Alexa, Google Home or Samsung SmartThings at the same time as Apple Home, the new firmware offers you the option.