Aqara Hub E1 vs M100: Which USB Hub Fits Your Devices?
Automated research by Top10Scout editorial team · Not hands-on tested · Last verified 2026-10-05
Published · Updated
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Choose M100 for a new setup that needs its explicitly documented Matter-controller and Thread-border-router roles. Keep Hub E1 when it already connects the supported Aqara devices and automations you use. Both offer the small USB-powered installation style. Replacing a working hub makes sense when the next device or platform needs a function the current setup does not provide.
What does the hub do between your devices and app?
What changes in daily use
| Decision | Aqara Hub E1 | Aqara Hub M100 |
|---|---|---|
| Documented controller role | it exposes the supported Aqara child devices to such ecosystems and/or makes them controllable by voice. | Bridge and Controller |
| Listed protocols | Zigbee 3.0 IEEE 802.15.4, Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz | Zigbee/Thread/Wi-Fi /BLE 5.2 |
| Power connector | USB-A | USB-A |
| Automation role | voice control and smart home automations. | Automations for Zigbee and Matter devices execute locally on your network |
Aqara describes Hub E1 as exposing supported Aqara child devices to compatible ecosystems and voice control. That is a bridge-style task: the connected devices are what you want to control, rather than treating the hub itself as a lamp or switch.
M100 explicitly adds the roles of Matter bridge and controller, alongside a Thread border router. Those are useful capabilities when the planned installation includes supported Matter-over-Thread devices, not merely another sensor in an already working Zigbee setup.
Make a list of the next devices you actually want to connect. Then match their required protocols and controller roles. A similar USB shape does not mean the hubs provide identical network functions, and the generic word “Matter” is not a substitute for identifying the role your installation needs.
Is Hub E1 still useful for an existing installation?
Yes, if it already serves the compatible Aqara devices and routines in your home. Its page documents smart-home automations and exposure to supported platforms. It also warns that not every Aqara child device is supported by every platform.
The published maximum allowance is up to 128 Aqara devices, with a stated repeater requirement. That is not a promise that the same layout works everywhere. A functioning installation that covers the household's actual devices may matter more than a large unused allowance.
We would keep Hub E1 when the reason for replacement is only that M100 is available. Upgrade planning becomes useful when a specific device, platform or controller requirement is missing from the current setup. Confirm that requirement directly instead of assuming every existing device must be moved.
Does M100 change the internet dependency?
M100 explicitly documents local execution for Zigbee and Matter automations. Its own footnote distinguishes remote push notifications, which still require a cloud connection. That distinction is useful: a local automation and a notification sent to a phone away from home are different functions.
Choose M100 when the documented local automation route matches the actual devices and rules you intend to use. Do not read it as a promise that all services, setup steps and remote access continue without an internet connection.
This comparison does not rank reaction speed or reliability from marketing adjectives. We are comparing documented controller roles and operating requirements. If a working Hub E1 routine already performs the desired task, an unmeasured speed promise is a weak reason to rebuild it.
Will the physical installation change much?
Both hubs use USB-A power and an adjustable shaft. That can make them convenient to position near a suitable powered device. Check that the chosen port remains powered when that device sleeps or is turned off; placement convenience is useful only if the hub remains available.
Hub E1 also advertises a Wi-Fi repeater function with Only 2 devices are supported. This is a limited additional role, not a replacement for planning a whole-home Wi-Fi network. Do not choose it expecting an unlimited general-purpose range extender.
M100's page describes its own networking and Thread roles. A household using the E1 repeater feature should check how those connections will be handled before removing the existing hub. Replacing one function does not automatically recreate every secondary job the old device performed.
Which would we buy at the checked reference prices?
The manufacturer references are $29.99 USD for Hub E1 and $29.99 USD for M100. The E1 page currently displays sold out, so its reference amount is not a promise that you can buy it from that store now. Retailer availability and checkout totals need checking separately.
For a first purchase, M100 is our choice when its supported device list covers the plan and its Matter and Thread roles are useful. The equal manufacturer reference gives little reason to chase an unavailable E1 purely to obtain the same USB form.
For an E1 owner, the decision is different: keeping the installed hub costs no replacement purchase. Move only when a documented M100 function serves the next planned device or automation. Allow time to verify pairing and rebuild the relevant rules; this comparison does not promise an automatic transfer between hubs.
Keep Hub E1 for an established Zigbee routine
The supported devices, platform and automation already meet the household need. Preserve any limited repeater role you depend on and avoid replacing functioning hardware for an unmeasured speed claim.
Choose M100 for the next controller requirement
The intended devices need its documented Matter-controller or Thread-border-router role, and exact compatibility has been checked. USB placement and local automation behavior fit the planned installation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hub E1 the same product as Camera E1?
No. This article concerns Aqara’s USB-powered Hub E1. Camera E1 is a different product and should not share this hub’s buying link, photograph or specifications. Confirm the full product name when choosing an offer.
Does a Matter bridge always control Thread devices?
Bridge, Matter-controller and Thread-border-router are separate roles in the setup. M100 explicitly documents the relevant controller and border-router functions. Match those roles to the planned device rather than relying on a generic smart-hub label.
Does M100 make every function work offline?
Its page documents local automations and separately says remote push notifications need a cloud connection. Evaluate the actual rule you want to run. Local execution is not a blanket promise about every app service or away-from-home feature.
Is there a reason to buy Hub E1 at the same price?
An existing E1 installation may already work well and need no replacement. For a new purchase, check the exact compatible device and any specific function you need; the manufacturer E1 reference currently accompanies a sold-out listing.
Official sources
Aqara Hub E1: checked exact-model source and conditions — checked 2026-10-05
Aqara Hub M100: checked exact-model source and conditions — checked 2026-10-05