Gadronics Aqara is cutting the cord on presence sensing with a battery model that you can stick almost anywhere.
The Presence Multi Sensor FP300 runs on two CR2450 coin cells, so placement does not revolve around a wall outlet or messy cable routing. Aqara quotes up to three years of battery life when used over Zigbee or up to two years on Thread, with a price of $49.99.
The FP300 supports both Zigbee and Matter over Thread, so it can slot into Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Samsung SmartThings. Sticking with Zigbee gives you the longest battery life, plus extra controls in the Aqara Home app, where you can adjust detection range and even disable individual sensors to stretch those coin cells a bit further.
Detection blends two approaches to catch movement and people who are sitting still. There is passive infrared for motion and a 60 gigahertz millimeter wave radar that can sense presence up to twenty feet.
Together, that combo opens the door to more natural automations, like lights turning on as you enter a hallway or a fan spinning down after a room has been empty for a few minutes. Climate tweaks are in reach as well, because the FP300 adds temperature, humidity, and ambient light sensors. That said, you can tie comfort and energy rules to what the room is actually like rather than a fixed schedule.
There are also trade-offs compared to Aqara’s pricier FP2. One is that the FP300 does not support multi-person detection. Another is that it skips fall detection and real-time sleep metrics, such as heart and respiratory rate. If those are must-haves, the wired FP2 still sits higher in the range. But if your priority is flexible placement and a set-and-forget battery, the FP300 fits the bill.
Setup should feel quick and manageable as you pair it to your chosen platform. Pick Zigbee or Thread based on your hub, and place it wherever it makes the most sense. In the end, that ease is a big part of the appeal, because you get a small sensor that runs for years and keeps your home reacting the way you want without adding clutter.
Now, if you are ready to add one to your setup, the FP300 is already on sale through Amazon and Aqara’s own online store.
