Most air conditioners in Singapore homes still run on a handheld infrared (IR) remote — the kind that vanishes down the side of the sofa right when the room gets warm. An Aqara hub with a built-in IR blaster fixes that: it copies your aircon’s remote, then lets you turn the unit on, set the temperature, or schedule it from your phone, by voice, or automatically. The catch is that only a handful of Aqara devices actually carry an IR blaster. This guide covers the four that do — the Aqara Hub M2, the Hub M200, the Camera Hub G3, and the Hub M3 — and which one fits your home and budget.
How an Aqara IR blaster controls your aircon
An IR blaster is a small infrared transmitter built into the hub. During setup, Aqara Home matches your aircon to a pre-set code library covering the major brands sold in Singapore — Daikin, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung and more. On the higher-tier hubs you can also “learn” a remote directly by pointing it at the hub and pressing each button once. After that, the hub emits the same IR signals on demand.
Two things shape where the hub goes. First, infrared is line-of-sight — it cannot pass through walls, so the hub and the aircon need to be in the same room, ideally with nothing blocking the path. Aqara rates the range at up to about 20 metres in clear line of sight, depending on the hub. Second, once the aircon is set up you can trigger it from the Aqara Home app, by voice, or through automations — for example, switch on when you arrive home, or off when everyone leaves and the door locks.
Which Aqara devices have an IR blaster — and which don’t
Only four Aqara products carry an IR blaster:
- Hub M2 — 360° IR, Zigbee 3.0 hub. The value pick.
- Hub M200 — 360° IR with learning and status sync, plus Matter and Thread. The best for aircon.
- Camera Hub G3 — 360° IR built into a 2K pan-and-tilt camera and Zigbee hub.
- Hub M3 — 360° IR on Aqara’s flagship Matter and Thread hub.
Just as important is what does not have an IR blaster, so you don’t buy the wrong device for the job. The Hub M100, the Camera Hub G350, the Camera G100, the Doorbell Camera Hub G410 and the Camera Hub G5 Pro are all capable smart-home devices — but none of them can control an aircon on their own.
At a glance: M2 vs M200 vs G3 vs M3
| Feature | Hub M2 | Hub M200 | Camera Hub G3 | Hub M3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (PassionHome) | $99 | $149 | $239 | $289 |
| 360° IR blaster | Yes | Yes | Yes (omnidirectional) | Yes |
| Pre-set aircon code library | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Learn a custom remote | No (emits only) | Yes | Yes | Not documented |
| IR status sync (notices the physical remote) | No | Yes | No | Not documented |
| Bridge 1 aircon into Matter (AC Mode) | No | Yes — one unit | No | Not documented |
| Aircon via Apple Home / Siri | No (Aqara Home, Google, Alexa) | Yes (via Matter) | No | Via Aqara Home / voice |
| Built-in camera | No | No | Yes — 2K pan & tilt | No |
| Hub role | Zigbee 3.0 + IR | Matter controller + Thread + Zigbee + IR | Zigbee 3.0 + IR + camera | Matter controller + Thread + Zigbee + IR |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz only | Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 | Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 | Dual-band Wi-Fi 5 |
| Best for | Value & extra rooms | Smartest single-aircon setup | Aircon + a camera in one | Future-proof whole-home brain |
The value pick — Aqara Hub M2 ($99)
The Hub M2 is the cheapest way into Aqara IR aircon control. Its 360° blaster fires in every direction, it pairs your aircon from the pre-set code library, and you control the unit by app, by voice through Google Home or Amazon Alexa, or through local automations. It also works as a Zigbee 3.0 hub for Aqara sensors, switches and lights, so it earns its place even before you count the aircon control.
Two honest limits keep it in “value” territory. The M2 emits IR only — it can’t learn a custom remote and doesn’t sync the aircon’s status back if you use the physical remote. And its IR controller is not exposed to Apple Home, so Siri can’t switch the aircon (the M2’s other Zigbee devices still appear in Apple Home; just not the IR appliances). For most households that drive the aircon by app, voice or schedule, neither limit matters — and at $99, the M2 is also the natural choice for adding control in a second or third room.
The best aircon pick — Aqara Hub M200 ($149)
If the aircon is the reason you’re buying a hub, the Hub M200 is the one to get. Its 360° IR blaster adds two things the M2 lacks: it can learn a custom remote, and it has status sync — it notices when you reach for the physical remote and updates the app to match (Aqara notes some more complex signals may not be supported).
The headline feature is Air Conditioner Mode: the M200 can bridge one IR aircon into Matter as a thermostat-style device. That single step exposes the aircon to Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa and SmartThings — so you can finally ask Siri to cool the bedroom. Set it up via Matter pairing (Aqara recommends the Matter QR code). One aircon can use AC Mode per hub; for more units in the same space, Aqara’s Advanced Matter Bridging takes over. On top of the IR, the M200 is a full Matter controller, Thread border router and Zigbee hub with dual-band Wi-Fi 6, so it future-proofs the rest of your smart home too.
If you also want a camera — Aqara Camera Hub G3 ($239)
The Camera Hub G3 is the only Aqara camera with an IR blaster, which makes it neat for a bedroom or living room where you want one device doing two jobs. It’s a 2K pan-and-tilt indoor camera, a Zigbee 3.0 hub for up to 128 Aqara devices, and an omnidirectional IR blaster in one body. The blaster uses the same pre-set code library and supports learning a custom remote, so aircon, TV and fan control all live alongside the camera. Note that the G3 is indoor-only and runs on Wi-Fi 5; it isn’t a Matter or Thread hub, so pick it for the camera-plus-IR combination rather than as your whole-home Matter brain.
The flagship — Aqara Hub M3 ($289)
The Hub M3 is Aqara’s flagship and the most future-proof choice. It carries a 360° IR blaster for aircon, TV and fan control, but its real job is to be the brain of a large smart home: a Matter controller and Thread border router with a bigger Zigbee mesh, local automation storage, and dual-band Wi-Fi 5 (note: Wi-Fi 5, not Wi-Fi 6 — the M200 is the one with Wi-Fi 6). If you’re building out a whole-home Matter and Thread system and want the aircon control to come along for the ride, the M3 is the long-term pick. If aircon control is the main goal, the M200 covers it for less.
Controlling more than one aircon
Because infrared can’t go through walls, each aircon needs an IR-capable hub in the same room. The tidy, cost-effective way to scale is one hub per room: put your smartest hub — usually the M200 — in the room that matters most, then add a Hub M2 in each additional room with an aircon. At $99 the M2 keeps the per-room cost down while still giving you app, voice and automation control of every unit.
Singapore buying notes
The pre-set code library covers the aircon brands you’ll actually find in HDB flats and condos here — Daikin, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Samsung and others — and custom learning on the M200 and G3 covers the rest. All four hubs are indoor devices that sit on your home Wi-Fi; the M2 is 2.4 GHz only, while the M200, M3 and G3 are dual-band. Every Aqara hub from PassionHome comes with Aqara’s official 24-month warranty, serviced by the Aqara Service Center in Singapore, and estate group buys can bring a significant discount when your block unlocks one.
Which one should you buy?
- Best value, or extra rooms — Hub M2 ($99). The cheapest 360° IR blaster for aircon; control by app, Google or Alexa.
- Best for aircon — Hub M200 ($149). IR learning, status sync, and one aircon bridged into Matter for Apple Home / Siri control.
- Aircon plus a camera — Camera Hub G3 ($239). 2K pan-and-tilt camera with a built-in IR blaster.
- Future-proof whole home — Hub M3 ($289). Flagship Matter and Thread hub with 360° IR.
Frequently asked questions
Which Aqara hubs can control an air conditioner?
Four Aqara devices have a built-in 360° IR blaster that can control an aircon: the Hub M2, the Hub M200, the Hub M3, and the Camera Hub G3. Each copies your existing aircon remote, then switches the unit on or off, changes the temperature, and runs schedules — from the Aqara Home app, by voice, or automatically.
Can I control my aircon with Apple Home or Siri?
The Hub M200 can expose one aircon to Apple Home by bridging it into Matter as a thermostat-style device (Aqara calls this Air Conditioner Mode), set up through Matter pairing. The Hub M2 is different — its IR controller is not exposed to Apple Home, so you control the aircon through the Aqara Home app, Google Home, or Amazon Alexa instead.
Does the IR blaster work through walls or between rooms?
No. Infrared is line-of-sight and cannot pass through walls, so you need one IR-capable hub in each room that has an aircon. Aqara rates the range at up to about 20 metres within clear line of sight, depending on the hub.
Will it work with my aircon brand?
Aqara Home includes a pre-set code library covering the major aircon brands common in Singapore homes, such as Daikin, Mitsubishi, Panasonic and Samsung. On the M200 and G3 you can also learn a custom remote by pointing it at the hub if your exact model is not in the library.
What is the cheapest Aqara hub that controls an aircon?
The Hub M2 at $99. It is the value pick, and the one to add in extra rooms when you have more than one aircon to control.
M2 or M200 for aircon — which is better?
The M200 ($149) adds IR learning, status sync (it notices when you use the physical remote), and the ability to bridge one aircon into Matter — so the aircon works with Apple Home, Google, Alexa and SmartThings. The M2 ($99) emits IR only and is not exposed to Apple Home. Choose the M200 for the smartest single-room setup or Apple Home control; choose the M2 for value or for extra rooms.
Do the Aqara cameras control aircon?
Only the Camera Hub G3 has an IR blaster. The other Aqara cameras — the Camera Hub G350, the Camera G100, the Doorbell Camera Hub G410, and the Camera Hub G5 Pro — do not, so they cannot control an aircon on their own.
Is there a Singapore warranty?
Yes. Every Aqara hub from PassionHome comes with Aqara’s official 24-month warranty, serviced by the Aqara Service Center in Singapore.
Not sure which to pick? Talk to PassionHome
If you tell us how many aircon units you have, which rooms they’re in, and whether you want Apple Home / Siri control, we’ll point you to the right hub — the value Hub M2, the aircon-focused Hub M200, the camera-plus-IR Camera Hub G3, or the flagship Hub M3. Message PassionHome on WhatsApp at +65 9051 7063, or browse the full Aqara range as an Authorised Aqara Dealer in Singapore.