Many smart home devices serve a clear purpose. If you want to measure humidity, for example, a humidity sensor fits the bill perfectly. There are some devices, however, that are so strange that it can be a challenge trying to figure out how to use them.
The Aqara Cube is a bizarre device
The weirdest smart home device I own is the Aqara Cube controller. The official product page describes it as “a fun and easy way to control all your Aqara smart home devices,” which must be the first time that a smart home controller has ever been described as “fun.”
The description is kind of true, however. The product is literally a white plastic cube with sensors on board that can recognize gestures such as shaking, rotating, tapping, flipping, and sliding.
You can create automations that are triggered by these actions. For example, you could have your lights turn on when you shake the cube or have your blinds open when you flip it over. It's like a madman had a fever dream about the weirdest smart button imaginable.
My Aqara Cube is the original version, but there is a newer model, the Aqara Cube T1 Pro, that is designed for controlling more than just Aqara devices. It's HomeKit compatible and supports Alexa, so if you have an Aqara Zigbee 3.0 hub, you can use the Aqara Cube T1 Pro to trigger automations in Apple Home or routines in the Alexa app.
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