Linkind B1 Plus vs Smart Hub 2: Is Matter Worth It?
Automated research by Top10Scout editorial team · Not hands-on tested · Last verified 2026-10-05
Published · Updated
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Keep B1 Plus if it already controls your compatible lights through AiDot and the voice platform you use. Choose Smart Hub 2 when you specifically want its documented Matter bridge or a larger supported lighting system. Neither is a universal bridge for arbitrary Bluetooth lights. The first check is compatibility with your exact light models; the next is which control task the new hub would add.
What does Matter add to this decision?
What changes in daily use
| Decision | Linkind B1 Plus | Linkind Smart Hub 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Control route | Manage your Linkind smart lights remotely via the Aidot app, with voice control compatibility through Alexa and Google Assistant | unified control and automation across Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, and SmartThings. |
| Published device allowance | up to 32 Bluetooth Mesh devices across 10 customizable groups | up to 200 lighting units |
| Power requirements | USB-C charging port, with 5V-1A or 5V-2A adapter required. | Includes a 5V 0.25A power adapter. |
| Scenes | one-click group settings for music, scenes, and more. | Music Sync, and custom light effects |
B1 Plus already documents remote AiDot control and Alexa or Google Assistant voice control. Replacing it simply to obtain those functions would duplicate a capability you may already have.
Smart Hub 2 explicitly bridges compatible Linkind BLE Mesh outdoor lights into Matter. Its listed ecosystems include Apple Home and SmartThings alongside Alexa and Google Home. That is a meaningful reason to choose it when you want those lights involved in the supported control system you already use.
The claim is compatibility-specific. It does not mean every Bluetooth lamp becomes a Matter light, or every manufacturer-specific effect is exposed identically by every app. Write down the exact lights and desired control action before buying the bridge. A Matter logo alone cannot answer that whole setup question.
Will the larger light allowance help your layout?
B1 Plus lists up to 32 Bluetooth Mesh devices across 10 customizable groups. Smart Hub 2 lists up to 200 lighting units. These are manufacturer connection allowances, not a measured promise that a large installation will work from a single location.
The higher allowance matters if the existing hub's supported device count is a real expansion constraint. For a small set already working properly, extra unused capacity is not a reason to replace the hub.
Draw the planned lights on the actual property layout as well as counting them. A long run around the side of a building can be a connectivity problem even when the count is modest. The useful buying question is whether the intended compatible mesh and hub placement can serve those positions.
How should you interpret the range claims?
B1 Plus explains that its stated distance applies between the hub and nearest light and between lights, rather than between the hub and every light. Smart Hub 2 also describes its range in terms of hub-to-light or light-to-light connections.
That distinction matters when lights form a chain along a path. It does not create a guaranteed radius through walls, planting or every weather condition. We have not measured radio coverage in your garden or found a controlled comparison establishing that the newer hub reaches farther.
Both sources identify a compatible wireless connection in the same Wi-Fi band: Optimized for 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. Plan the hub's connection to the router and its connection to the lights as separate parts of the installation. Buying a larger device allowance does not repair a weak placement.
What comes with the power and setup workflow?
The B1 Plus page states USB-C charging port, with 5V-1A or 5V-2A adapter required.. Smart Hub 2 says Includes a 5V 0.25A power adapter.. Check what you already own and the exact selected offer contents before comparing only the box prices.
Smart Hub 2 advertises bulk pairing beginning with a button press and monitoring of battery and energy data. Those are useful conveniences when maintaining a larger supported set. They should not be interpreted as proof that an existing installation transfers automatically without pairing work.
B1 Plus already supports grouped music and scene controls; Smart Hub 2 also lists effects and Music Sync. The new hub is not the first chance to create a coordinated light show. Choose the particular integration, setup or management improvement that removes an actual limitation.
Which hub would we choose for a new system?
The checked single-hub references are $29.99 from AiDot and $39.99 from Linkind. These are separate seller-listed hardware references, with different stated power-package details; checkout tax, shipping and promotions may change the total. The article does not present a complete lighting-system cost.
For a new compatible lighting setup that will use Matter, we would start with Smart Hub 2. For an existing B1 Plus installation that already handles the required AiDot and voice-control tasks, we would keep it until Matter integration or device capacity becomes a concrete need.
Before paying, verify the supported model list and the platform route for the lights you actually have. B1 Plus's source includes an older, narrower compatibility FAQ, so broad marketing language is not enough to approve an unspecified new light. The same exact-model check belongs in a Smart Hub 2 purchase.
Which prices are being compared?
These are separate listed hardware reference prices from AiDot US store and Linkind US store. The displayed difference is not a delivered checkout saving; tax, shipping, promotions and package details can differ.
Keep B1 Plus when the current controls are sufficient
Its installed compatible lights already respond through AiDot and your chosen supported voice platform. Neither a larger theoretical count nor a new product name changes that working requirement.
Choose Smart Hub 2 for a defined expansion
The exact lights are supported and you want its Matter bridge, larger published device allowance or management workflow. Plan placement and pairing as part of the change.
Frequently asked questions
Can Smart Hub 2 bridge any Bluetooth light?
Its official claim is limited to compatible Linkind BLE Mesh outdoor lights. Confirm the exact models and desired platform functions; ordinary Bluetooth support is not by itself a compatibility guarantee.
Does B1 Plus already support remote control?
The manufacturer describes remote control through AiDot and voice control through Alexa and Google Assistant. An existing working setup does not need replacement merely to gain those same advertised functions.
Is the range number a guaranteed garden radius?
No. The sources describe distances between relevant devices or mesh links. Building layout and actual placement still matter, and we have not performed a side-by-side radio-range test.
Is Smart Hub 2 automatically worth it for a small setup?
Only if its integration or management features solve a particular need. If B1 Plus already controls the compatible lights as required, unused device capacity is not a compelling replacement benefit.
Official sources
Linkind B1 Bluetooth Smart Hub: checked exact-model source and conditions — checked 2026-10-05
Linkind Matter Smart Hub 2: checked exact-model source and conditions — checked 2026-10-05