Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs Samsung
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Aqara |  Samsung |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $17.99Lower | $649 |
| Hub required | YesHas it | No |
| Warranty | 1 year | 2 yearsHigher |
| Markets | AE, IL, TR, EU, GB, MY, LK, JP, IN, NP, ID, PH, SG, KH, BN, MV, MM, VN, US, CA, UY, AR, CL, BR, GT, DO, MX, CR, TTCovers more | GB |
| Matter certified | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Local control | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Subscription per month | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Energy reporting (Yes).
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Key differences
- Samsung scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Price from is lower at Aqara: $17.99 vs $649.
- Hub required: only Aqara.
- Warranty is higher at Samsung: 2 years vs 1 year.
- Support channels: only Samsung offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Founded is lower at Samsung: 1969 vs 2009.
- Device types: only Aqara offers Trv, Blinds.
- Ecosystems: only Aqara offers Alexa, Google, Homekit.
- Markets: only Aqara offers AE, IL, TR.
Our verdict on each
Aqara
Aqara suits households that want cameras, doorbells, locks and home sensors in the same system without a recurring bill. Monitoring costs $0, local storage keeps footage on your own hardware, and nothing is locked into a minimum term, which makes it a strong pick for self installers put off by subscriptions.
Samsung
Samsung suits households that want the big appliances and the smart kit working from a single app, with spare parts held for 10 years after purchase. You pay a premium against Exquisit and Bauknecht for that joined-up range, and the robot vacuum is the weakest part of the picture.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | Samsung |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.4$0 on automation subscriptions and 0 months on contract length keep the recurring cost at nothing. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 8.97 days free cloud event clips come with entry hardware at $17.99, so a small kit starts cheap. | 9.5HigherEntry point sits at $649, cover runs 2 years, and installation is offered on the big pieces. |
| Trust | 8.8End to end encryption is in place, with security support running 2 years and warranty cover of 1 year. | 9.1HigherWarranty terms come from Samsung Electronics America, Inc., a group founded in 1969, with support on email, chat and phone. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Aqara | Samsung |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | South Korea |
Pick Aqara if, pick Samsung if
Pick Aqara if price from, hub required, and markets matter most.
Pick Samsung if offer, trust, and warranty matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
Aqara
- aqara.com: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- us.aqara.com: 5 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Samsung
- samsung.com: 12 facts, checked September 30, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Aqara | Samsung |
|---|---|---|
| Matter smart home devices | 12 of 33 | 6 of 33 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | Samsung |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Thermostat, Trv, Lighting, Plug, Hub, Sensor, BlindsCovers more | Hub, Sensor, Plug, Lighting, Thermostat |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fi | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fi |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Smartthings, Matter |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | Samsung Electronics America, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | South Korea |
| Founded | 2009 | 1969Lower |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Floor care
| Fact | Aqara | Samsung |
|---|---|---|
| Products | Camera, Video doorbell, Smart lock, Smoke alarm | Washing machine, Dryer, Dishwasher, Fridge, Oven, Hob |
| Reference models | Not confirmed | WW11DB8B95GBU1, RL38C776ASR/EU, NV7B5750TAK-U4 |
| Top suction (Pa) | Not confirmed | 6,000 |
| Self-empty dock | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Mop type | Not confirmed | Spinning |
| Mop lift (mm) | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Obstacle avoidance | Not confirmed | Camera AI |
| LiDAR navigation | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Runtime | Not confirmed | 180 |
| Dust bin capacity (ml) | Not confirmed | 250 |
| Height (cm) | Not confirmed | 10 |
| Spare parts shop | Not confirmed | Yes |
Kitchen appliances
| Fact | Aqara | Samsung |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile app | Not confirmed | Yes |
Water filters
| Fact | Aqara | Samsung |
|---|---|---|
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | Samsung | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $17.99below the median | $649highest quarter | $99.99 |
| Subscription per month | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Security update period | 2 yearsbelow the median | Not confirmed | 2.5 years |
| Warranty | 1 yearlowest quarter | 2 yearsat the median | 2 years |
Median across 34 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Aqara
Pros
- Nothing recurs: monitoring is $0 and the cloud plan is $0, so the kit costs what it costs on the shelf.
- Footage can stay at home, since local storage is supported, with the cloud holding event clips for 7 days as a backstop.
- The range spans camera, video doorbell and smart lock, which reaches further than Annke's camera and video doorbell for anyone building out a whole home.
Cons
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alerts land on the household rather than a response desk.
- Support runs on help centre and community only, with no staffed channel listed for a hub that will not pair.
- A hub is required, so the entry outlay is more than the sticker price of the cheapest device in the range.
Samsung
Pros
- The listed washing machine runs at 32 kWh a year, so a weekly habit stays cheap to run.
- A single app covers the kit, with a mobile app included, hub, sensor and plug in one place, and no hub required.
- Protocols matter, thread and zigbee and ecosystems smartthings and matter let existing sensors and plugs join rather than be replaced.
Cons
- Warranty of 2 years is short next to the 10 years parts commitment, so a machine can outlive its cover.
- Robot vacuum suction of 6,000 Pa sits well under the 15,000 Pa site median, so deep carpet is not its strength.
- The market listed is GB alone, so delivery and installation terms are given for that market only.
Who each suits
Aqara
Who it suits
- Households covering cameras, doorbells, locks and alarms without a monthly monitoring fee, since monitoring is $0.
- Self installers, because installation is not required and the model is diy.
- Automation builders working across matter, thread and zigbee who want local control and a hub they own.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for shoppers who want an alarm panel or personal alarm in the same basket: The Home Security Superstore lists alarm, camera and smart lock.
- Not for buyers whose list is only cameras and doorbells, since Annke's camera and video doorbell is a shorter, more focused range to browse.
Samsung
Who it suits
- Households replacing a full white goods set, since washing machine, dryer and dishwasher and WW11DB8B95GBU1, RL38C776ASR/EU, NV7B5750TAK-U4 cover washer, fridge, oven and hob in one range.
- Households already running SmartThings, with matter, thread and zigbee and no hub needed, so appliances and sensors share one app.
- Energy-minded households, where 32 kWh a year sets a low running cost for frequent loads.
Who should look elsewhere
- Budget buyers: Exquisit covers the same core appliances, while this range opens at $649.
- Shoppers who want a cooker in the same range: Bauknecht lists one and this range does not, so check Bauknecht first.
Current offers
Samsung
Current offer
Discount code
Save up to GBP 250 when you buy 2 or more home appliances: GBP 100 off from GBP 799 spend, GBP 250 off from GBP 1,500 spend
Spend GBP 799 or more and save GBP 100, or spend GBP 1,500 or more and save GBP 250. Purchase from Samsung.com, Samsung Experience Stores, or Shop app by 13.10.26. Discount applied automatically at checkout when qualifying spend threshold reached with two or more qualifying products. Selected SKUs only. Offer excludes all microwaves and accessories. Not in conjunction with any other offer
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | Samsung |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Aqara
How much does Aqara charge for monitoring each month?+
Nothing. Monitoring is $0 and the cloud plan is $0, so the only cost is the hardware itself. 7 days free cloud event clips are included at no charge, which is enough to check recent activity on a doorbell or camera. Renewal is not a concern either, because contracts run 0 months.
Is there a contract or minimum term to sign up for?+
No. Contracts run 0 months, so there is no minimum term and nothing that renews on its own. Aqara ranks 1 on contract length among 60 brands, which puts it at the front of the field for anyone who wants to walk away without notice.
Samsung
How much does a Samsung appliance cost at the entry end?+
The listed starting price is $649, and it comes from a countertop convection microwave rather than a washing machine or fridge, so a full kitchen set sits above that figure. These are single purchases rather than subscriptions, so the entry price is the number to plan around rather than a figure that renews later.
How long is the warranty, and will parts still be available later?+
Warranty cover on the appliances runs for 2 years, and spare parts are held for 10 years, with a spare parts shop listed as well. For a fitted kitchen the parts figure is the more useful of the pair, since a failed pump or door seal takes longer to sort than a simple swap. Read the terms, since a parts promise and a warranty are different cover.
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