Major smart home device maker Zemismart saw a new sensor pass Matter certification last week, which could be a budget competitor to the Aqara FP300 presence sensor. Known for its popular Matter smart home-enabled blind motors and switches, Zemismart is now making a public move into the low-power sensor market with this new Matter-over-Thread device.
What to expect?
The sensor is compact and battery-powered. From the render image provided by Zemismart, it has a rounded design with a magnetic stand for position adjustments, looking very similar to the company's previous Zigbee motion sensor.
Zemismart Motion Detector
A Thread-based mmWave + PIR presence sensor that prioritizes accurate detection and smooth Matter integration.
Internally, it features a 24G mmWave radar, similar to Lafaer’s new offering the Wireless Human Presence Sensor (LWR01), which is sufficient to detect presence. To better optimize detection, the sensor is also expected to be equipped with an assisting PIR sensor. This combination is key, as the PIR sensor can act as the initial trigger, which would greatly reduce the “ghost detection” – false triggers from airflow or curtains – that can plague radar-only sensors, especially in a space with more interference.
However, a notable omission is that the sensor does not appear to include additional sensors, like a light sensor. This is a curious choice, as a light sensor is typically used along with an occupancy sensor for the most common automation: turning on lights only when the room is dark and someone is present.
The certification compliance files note the sensor has “Fixed Label” and “User Label” support, which should improve the user experience in supported Matter platforms by making it easier to name and identify. A key technical detail is that the “Intermittently Connected Devices” (ICD) cluster is missing from the compliance files. This means it may not support the optimized sleep and wake-up strategies defined by Matter, and may use its own vendor-specific settings for power management instead. The product is certified under the Matter 1.4 and Thread 1.4 specifications, which should provide optimal basic performance in setup, sharing, and stability.
A slow transition to replace PIR
The traditional passive infrared sensor (PIR), like Eve Motion, has dominated the smart home market for years due to its cheap price and reliable triggers. However, the technology itself has drawbacks, as it cannot detect people who are keeping still. Environmental temperature can also cause inaccuracy, as high ambient heat can weaken the infrared signature of a moving object.
Eve Motion
Eve Motion is a future-proof security device that uses Matter and Thread technology to provide a responsive and reliable smart home network, offering motion-based automations, IPX3 water resistance for indoor and outdoor use, and a commitment to privacy with no cloud or tracking, all while giving you control across multiple platforms.
mmWave Radar, however, offers superior performance and precision, able to detect a still person’s breathing. In recent years, radar-powered sensors for the smart home have gradually become popular, led by brands like Aqara, which offers critical features like zone detection, fall detection, and people counting in its high-end models.
Presence Multi-Sensor FP300
An AI-driven, multi-functional presence sensor with PIR and mmWave detection, designed for seamless smart home integration with Thread and Zigbee support.
As of now, there are multiple Matter-enabled options on the market. In addition to the previously mentioned Aqara FP300 and Lafaer Wireless Human Presence Sensor (LWR01), Meross also has a Wi-Fi alternative, the Smart Presence Sensor MS600. If you are into DIY options, the Everything Presence One can be flashed with Tasmota, which offers Matter support, uncertified though.
Meross MS600 Occupancy Sensor
The Meross Presence Sensor integrates with multiple platforms via Matter for stable, low-latency, private, and offline control.
With Zemismart’s joining the Matter sensor market, we are likely to have more affordable options. And for some regions where brands like Aqara are not easily reachable, for instance Brazil, this is good news that helps make Matter more accessible to more people globally. The product is still in development without a specific release date at the moment.
(Source: CSA, Thread Group, Zemismart; Image: Zemismart)
