Aqara Spatial Multi Sensor FP400: The Ultimate Smart Home Companion – A Mighty Gadget Review

To set up the Aqara FP400 sensor, you will need a socket or a tidy cable run to a suitable height, which may be a limiting factor for many users. I personally placed mine on the fridge in my kitchen, using a Ugreen power bank to power it for testing. However, this is not a long-term solution as there are gaps in the history graphs when the power bank runs out.

When you first power on the sensor, the Aqara Home app automatically detects it. The sensor ships in Thread mode, but if you prefer to use Zigbee, you can switch it over in the app. The app connects via Bluetooth, downloads the Zigbee firmware, and transfers it to the sensor, which takes a few minutes. I switched mine to Zigbee and paired it with my Aqara Hub M3 for access to more features. It’s possible to change the protocol later, but it will require pairing the sensor from scratch.

Proper angling of the sensor is crucial for its functionality. You will also need to select the installation method (wall, corner, or ceiling) and set the height, which should be between 150 cm and 400 cm. Aqara recommends 1.5 to 2 m for wall and corner mounting to balance standing and seated detection, and 3 to 4 m for ceilings. Mounting it too low may result in picking up pets more frequently, while mounting it too high on a wall may create a larger blind spot.

For smaller rooms, corner mounting is generally the best option as it maximizes the 120° field of view and avoids blind spots on either side. For larger spaces, mounting it in the center of a wall provides the most coverage.

After physically installing the sensor, you will need to calibrate it by setting the detection zone. This involves walking along the edge of the space in a circuit until the map is filled in and the boundary is closed. Alternatively, you can skip this step, and the AI mapping feature will attempt to determine the room layout over the next few days. However, I recommend the walk-through method as it is quick and ensures the boundary is correct from the start.

Finally, you will need to leave the room to allow the sensor to calibrate itself without any movement in the room. Once this is complete, the sensor is ready for use. The entire setup process is well-guided by the app, with clear explanations for each step. However, it may require some adjustments to the position and settings before achieving optimal results. It also clearly indicates that the corners closest to the sensor are not covered, serving as a helpful confirmation that it has been placed in a logical position.

Zones can be established either from the Zone Management menu or by long pressing on the map. To create a zone, you simply tap on the grid squares and assign it a type, such as desk, sofa, or dining table, as well as a color. Additionally, you can include furniture, entrances, exits, and interference sources like fans or plants, which the sensor will then filter out.

Below the map, there is a presence card that displays the current status and duration, as well as an illuminance card indicating the current light level. During my screenshots, the kitchen was registering 13 lux before sunrise.

You can tap on either card to view the history for that particular sensor. The presence log provides timestamps and durations for each event, such as “Presence detected for 2 min 32 sec.” The light sensor offers a day and week view, with my peak reaching 502 lux. While the graphs function properly, there are a few minor issues. The history screens are set to GMT+00:00, so during British Summer Time, the log timestamps appear one hour behind the main device card. For instance, the device card showed 05:10:21 for an event that the log recorded at 04:10:21. Additionally, the lux graph connects the dots during periods when the sensor was offline, such as when the power bank was depleted in my case. The function settings can create long straight lines across the graph instead of an obvious gap, which can be misleading if not aware of it. The settings menu offers various options such as switching the installation method, entering installation information, adjusting the home screen layout, monitoring settings, setting absence confirmation period, enabling AI spatial learning, and accessing advanced functions. In the monitoring settings, you can adjust the presence detection sensitivity, proximity sensing distance, detection direction, and mounting direction correction. These settings can be adjusted per zone, allowing for customization based on specific needs. AI Spatial Learning is recommended to calibrate the sensor in its final position for optimal performance. Similar to the calibration step during setup, it is recommended to rerun this process if you move furniture or the sensor.

Advanced Functions (Lab):
Two features in the Lab section were turned off by default on my unit:
– Current Count: Enables live headcount and hourly count data.
– AI Enhanced Person Detection: Uses AI to classify robot vacuums, pets, and moving toys as “interference targets” to avoid being registered as people.

General settings:
The app provides control over various options, including viewing the connected hub, signal strength, firmware updates, communication protocols, logs, and automations. There is also a Device Replacement feature for easy sensor replacement without rebuilding automations.

Automations:
The app offers a wide range of automation triggers for the FP400, allowing for customized settings based on occupancy, movement, lighting, and more. The headcount triggers provide a unique addition for adjusting heating or ventilation based on the number of people in a room.

Integration with Home Assistant and other third-party ecosystems:
The FP400 can be integrated with Home Assistant and other platforms either directly via Thread or using an Aqara hub for full feature access. This allows for seamless connectivity and expanded functionality outside of the Aqara app. The hub shares the presence, zone, and light sensors with other platforms through its Matter bridge. For Home Assistant users, option two or three is the one to choose. With Zigbee through an Aqara hub, the FP400 appears in Home Assistant’s Matter integration with an illuminance sensor and an occupancy sensor for the whole area, plus an additional occupancy sensor for each zone. To add it, you generate a Matter pairing code in the Aqara app under the hub’s third-party Matter ecosystems settings. The code is valid for 10 minutes. This process is a little clumsy, as you need to switch between the Aqara app and the Home Assistant companion app, but it only needs doing once.

There are a few quirks. New zones appear in third-party platforms with the same generic name as the main sensor, so you need to rename each one to keep track of which is which. Aqara also warns that some platforms do not support zones being added or deleted after pairing, so it is best to finish your zone setup in the Aqara app before sharing the sensor. The headcount, direction, and AI detection features are not exposed over Matter, so automations using those need to stay in the Aqara app.

Zigbee2MQTT users may be tempted to skip the Aqara hub altogether and pair it directly. At the time of writing, support is limited, and early reports suggest most entities are unavailable or do not report data. The FP300 is supported, so it seems likely support for the FP400 will follow, but I would not buy one for Zigbee2MQTT until it has been added.

Compared with the Wi-Fi-based FP2, this is a clear improvement for anyone using Home Assistant, Homey, SmartThings, or several ecosystems at once. Zigbee and Thread both form a mesh network that is better suited to sensors than Wi-Fi, and everything runs locally. It is frustrating, though, that getting the full feature set still pushes you towards buying an Aqara hub.

Price and Alternative Options

The Aqara Spatial Multi Sensor FP400 is available to buy now from Aqara for £80.

The Presence Sensor FP300 is available on Amazon for £50.

The Aqara Presence Sensor FP2 is £67 and the FP1E is £40.

The FP400 costs £13 more than the FP2. For that money, you get double the tracking capacity, a larger detection area, and a much better choice of connectivity. However, you lose fall detection, sleep monitoring, and 22 zones. If you are happy with Wi-Fi and want those features, the FP2 is still worth considering while it remains on sale.

The FP300 is the better option for most people who only need to know whether a room is occupied. It is battery-powered with a claimed three-year battery life, so installation is far easier, and it adds temperature and humidity sensing. It does not support zones or multi-person tracking, though.

The FP1E is the cheapest way into Aqara’s mmWave sensors at £40. It is Zigbee only, so you need a hub, and it does not offer zones, but for simple room occupancy, it does the job.

Outside Aqara, there are plenty of cheaper Tuya-based mmWave sensors, as well as the Everything Presence range, which is popular with Home Assistant users. The Everything Presence Lite and One offer zones and target tracking through ESPHome, but they rely on Wi-Fi and require more tinkering. The FP400’s advantage is its polished app, Matter support, and wide ecosystem compatibility.

Overall

The Aqara Spatial Multi Sensor FP400 is a worthwhile update to the FP2. The move from Wi-Fi to Zigbee and Thread is the most important change, and it makes the FP400 far easier to use across Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings, Homey, and Home Assistant. Tracking up to 10 people, the larger 10 x 8 m coverage area, and the eight configurable zones make it one of the most capable presence sensors you can buy at this price.

The Aqara app is also a strength. The walk-through calibration is quick, the zone map is easy to understand, and the settings are well explained. Per-zone sensitivity and absence timers make it possible to fine-tune each area of a room, and the firmware update available at launch addresses many common false detection scenarios.

It is not without its downsides. It needs a permanent USB power supply, which makes placement more difficult than a battery sensor. The headcount and AI person detection are still Lab features, and Aqara admits the count can be out by one to three people. The GMT-only history graphs are a minor irritation, and the connection options are more confusing than they should be. It also loses the FP2’s fall detection, sleep monitoring, and higher zone limit, which will matter to some buyers.

If you are buying a zone-capable presence sensor for the first time, the FP400 is the one I would recommend in Aqara’s range, particularly if you already have an Aqara hub or a Thread network. If you already own an FP2 and it does everything you need, there is less reason to upgrade unless you want to move it off Wi-Fi or need the larger coverage area. When considering Aqara automations, it is important to note that it may not be a simple upgrade from the FP2.

**Pros:**
– Supports both Thread and Zigbee technology.
– Can track up to ten people.
– Offers eight configurable detection zones.
– Provides extensive detection settings.

**Cons:**
– Advanced features rely on Aqara.
– Requires precise positioning and calibration.
– Needs continuous USB-C power.
– Supports fewer zones compared to the FP2.

James, a tech enthusiast based in the UK and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget since 2007, brings a unique perspective to technology blogging. With expertise ranging from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices, James also has a keen interest in fitness-related technology due to his passion for running and cycling.

With a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN and a Master’s Degree in Computing, James is dedicated to providing engaging and informative content to his readers. Vuelio consistently ranks Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK.

James works directly with companies to review products and their chosen PR agencies. You can find him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Strava for social media updates. Transform the following:

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