Updated September 30, 2026 · SmartHomeCue Editorial Team
Aqara vs Lennox
Aqara vs Lennox: the differences
| Compare |  Aqara |  Lennox |
|---|---|---|
| Matter certified | YesHas it | No |
| Hub required | YesHas it | No |
| Warranty | 2 years | 10 yearsHigher |
| Markets | GB | US, CA |
| Price from | £3.49 | Not confirmed |
| Heat pump compatible | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Subscription per month | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Security update period | 2 years | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Local control (Yes), Energy reporting (Yes).
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Key differences
- Aqara scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Hub required: only Aqara.
- Warranty is higher at Lennox: 10 years vs 2 years.
- Support channels: only Aqara offers Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only Lennox offers Email, Chat.
- Matter certified: only Aqara.
- Founded is lower at Lennox: 1895 vs 2016.
- Lennox is available in 1 more country.
- Device types: only Aqara offers Hub, Lighting, Plug.
- Protocols: only Aqara offers Thread, Zigbee.
Our verdict on each
Aqara
Aqara suits renters and homeowners who want sensors, locks and cameras to run through one hub without a subscription. Entry hardware starts at £3.49, monitoring stays free, and local control keeps automations on the hub, so the real commitment is buying the hub first and adding devices as the house grows.
Lennox
Lennox suits households that want heating and cooling handled locally, without a hub or a running fee, and pairs that with 10 years of warranty. The catch is reach: sales cover US and CA only, and the catalogue stays on thermostat and sensor with nothing else to add.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aqara | Lennox |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0Higher£3.49 entry hardware, £36.98 camera pricing, £0 monitoring and a 0 months contract term. | 9.4The monthly subscription is $0, so the running cost after the purchase is nothing to plan around. |
| Offer | 9.2Matter certified kit, 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording on cameras and 2 years of hardware warranty. | 9.2Energy reporting and heat pump support sit alongside thermostat and sensor, with no hub needed for any of it. |
| Trust | 8.7Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. backs the range, with 2 years of security support and phone, help centre and community for help. | 9.0HigherA 10 years warranty, a US base and email, chat and help centre support, run by a firm founded in 1895. |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Aqara | Lennox |
|---|---|---|
| Smart thermostats | 2 of 24 | 6 of 24 |
| Matter smart home devices | 4 of 33 | 8 of 33 |
What we checked
Aqara
- aqara-shop.co.uk: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
- aqara.com: 5 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Lennox
- lennox.com: 15 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aqara | Lennox |
|---|---|---|
| Device types | Hub, Sensor, Lighting, Plug, Blinds, ThermostatCovers more | Thermostat, Sensor |
| Protocols | Matter, Thread, Zigbee, Wi fiCovers more | Wi fi, Matter |
| Ecosystems | Alexa, Google, Homekit, Matter, SmartthingsCovers more | Alexa, Google, Matter |
| Legal entity | Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd. | Lennox International Inc. |
| Headquarters | China | United States |
| Founded | 2016 | 1895Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Help centre |
Home security
| Fact | Aqara | Lennox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £36.98 | Not confirmed |
| Monitoring per month | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Minimum contract | 0 months | Not confirmed |
| Products | Camera, Smart lock, Smoke alarm, Video doorbell | Not confirmed |
| Professional monitoring | No | Not confirmed |
| Local storage | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Diy | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 14 days | Not confirmed |
| Free features | 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording | Not confirmed |
| Top resolution | 2k | Not confirmed |
| Power source | Battery, Wired | Not confirmed |
| Recording retention | 7 days | Not confirmed |
| Installation required | No | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aqara | Lennox | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subscription per month | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Security update period | 2 yearsbelow the median | Not confirmed | 2.5 years |
| Warranty | 2 yearsat the median | 10 yearshighest quarter | 2 years |
Median across 34 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Aqara
Pros
- Monitoring is £0 and the contract term is 0 months, so there is no renewal price to plan for.
- Hardware opens at £3.49 and cameras start at £36.98, against a site entry median of €127.49.
- Local control and local storage are both supported, so automations and recordings can stay on the hub rather than in the cloud.
Cons
- A hub is required before any sensor, lock or blind does anything, which is an upfront cost on top of the devices.
- Professional monitoring is not offered, so alerts depend on the household rather than on a watching service.
- Support runs on phone, help centre and community only, with no live chat listed alongside them.
Lennox
Pros
- No hub is required and local control is supported, so schedules and set points stay on the thermostat itself.
- The subscription is $0 a month, so there is no renewal to budget for after the purchase.
- Heat pump compatibility and energy reporting are both listed, covering the two checks most households make on a thermostat.
Cons
- Matter certified is listed as no, so wi fi and matter pairs a protocol with a standard the thermostat is not certified to.
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, and phone is not among the listed channels.
- The range is sold in US and CA only, so buyers in other markets need a different supplier.
Who each suits
Aqara
Who it suits
- People who want sensors, locks and cameras under one hub with local control and nothing to pay monthly, since monitoring is £0.
- Households already running Zigbee or Thread kit, since the hub bridges matter, thread and zigbee and can reuse what is already installed.
- Owners who want a do it yourself system, since the model is diy and installation is not required for the camera range.
Who should look elsewhere
- Lutron buyers who only need lighting, blinds and thermostats, since lighting, blinds and thermostat carries no sensor, lock or camera line.
- SONOFF shoppers after radiator valves, since thermostat, trv and lighting includes radiator valves and hub, sensor and lighting does not.
- GHome Smart buyers who want a compact setup, since plug, lighting and thermostat leaves out blinds and a hub that hub, sensor and lighting includes.
Lennox
Who it suits
- Households in US and CA running a heat pump who want a thermostat that works without a hub and keeps control on the device.
- Renters and homeowners who would rather see no recurring fee, since the monthly subscription is $0.
- Buyers who rate a 10 years warranty and a long trading history above a wide device catalogue.
Who should look elsewhere
- Aqara buyers who want the line to stretch past thermostat and sensor into hubs, lighting, plugs and blinds.
- Lutron buyers who want climate control in the same system as lighting and blinds, since Lutron lists lighting, blinds and thermostat.
- SONOFF buyers who want radiator valves and hubs, since thermostat, trv and lighting reaches well past the thermostat and sensor on offer here.
Current offers
Aqara
Current offer
Discount code
5% off your first order via Aqara UK newsletter: 5% off first order
Sign up to the Aqara UK newsletter; code sent by email
Source, checked September 30, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Aqara | Lennox |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Aqara
What does Aqara cost to run after the hardware is bought?+
Monthly monitoring is £0 and the contract term is 0 months, so there is no subscription to renew and no renewal price to plan around. Cameras include 7-day free cloud clips plus local microSD recording as standard, hardware opens at £3.49 and cameras start at £36.98. Nothing steps up when a year passes.
Is Aqara certified for safety and security?+
Aqara's hub is Matter certified, and the security certifications cover camera, smart lock and smoke alarm as a group. Security support runs for 2 years, which is shorter than the 2 years warranty, so buyers planning a long ownership should think about the stretch after the warranty period ends.
Lennox
What does a Lennox thermostat cost once you have bought it?+
The recurring part is simple: the monthly subscription is $0, so there is nothing to renew and no fee to set aside each month. You pay for the hardware, and 10 years of warranty means there is no extra cover to buy. Running cost stays at nothing.
Do I need to buy a hub or a bridge first?+
No hub is required. The thermostat and sensor run on wi fi and matter, and local control is supported, so schedules and set points live on the device. There is no extra box to mount, power or pair, and nothing sitting between the thermostat and your router to keep running.