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Choose the sensor that matches the hub and app you already use. Aqara’s Door and Window Sensor (model MCCGQ11LM) is a documented Zigbee device that requires an Aqara hub. Xiaomi Door and Window Sensor 3 is a newer product reported as Bluetooth-based, with a Bluetooth Mesh gateway needed for remote status, notifications and history. They are not automatically interchangeable just because both detect an open or closed contact.
For a supported Aqara setup, Aqara is the lower-uncertainty purchase. Sensor 3 is more interesting if you use Xiaomi Home and want daily opening counts or open-duration records, but its current evidence comes from a China crowdfunding report rather than a complete international specification sheet.
The short answer
- Already have an Aqara hub: choose the Aqara Door and Window Sensor MCCGQ11LM, provided your local model and preferred platform are supported.
- Use Xiaomi Home and want usage history: consider Xiaomi Door and Window Sensor 3 if a compatible Bluetooth Mesh gateway is available and the sensor is actually sold in your region.
- Need a known physical fit: Aqara publishes a 41 × 22 × 11 mm body and a maximum detection distance of 22 mm. Comparable verified Sensor 3 dimensions and magnet-gap figures were not stated in the available reporting.
- Choosing only on battery life: do not declare a winner. Xiaomi’s “up to three years” and Aqara’s advertised two years are vendor claims made under different, non-matched documentation.
This is an ecosystem and feature comparison, not a controlled reliability or battery test.
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“Xiaomi Door and Window Sensor 3” is not the same product as the older Mi Window and Door Sensor. Xiaomi’s currently surfaced official page for the older model describes a Zigbee sensor using a CR1632 battery and requiring a Zigbee gateway: Xiaomi Mi Window and Door Sensor specifications. Those details must not be transferred to Sensor 3.
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The newer Sensor 3 was reported on October 12, 2026, when it entered a Xiaomi Youpin crowdfunding campaign in China. The report describes Bluetooth connectivity, a CR2032 battery and a Bluetooth Mesh gateway requirement for remote functions. It does not provide a complete official international specification page. See the October 12, 2026 Sensor 3 launch report for the campaign details.
Specification and feature comparison
| Reader’s decision | Xiaomi Door and Window Sensor 3 | Aqara Door and Window Sensor MCCGQ11LM |
|---|---|---|
| Radio and hub | Current reporting says Bluetooth. A Bluetooth Mesh gateway is needed for remote access, notifications and history; confirm the gateway model and regional support. | Zigbee. Aqara states that an Aqara hub is required. |
| Battery | CR2032; reported battery life up to three years. This is a product claim, not an independent test. | CR1632; Aqara advertises two years. This is an estimate rather than a matched laboratory comparison. |
| Activity information | Reported open/closed status, event history, daily opening count and the amount of time a door or window remains open or closed in Xiaomi Home. | Open/closed detection, alerts and automation are documented. Equivalent opening-count and duration-history features are not stated in the reviewed specifications. |
| Physical fit | Described as compact, but verified dimensions and maximum magnet gap were not stated in the reviewed reporting. | 41 × 22 × 11 mm body; maximum detection distance 22 mm. |
| Apps and ecosystem | Xiaomi Home; remote features depend on the reported Bluetooth Mesh gateway. | Aqara Home and Apple Home app support are listed; the Aqara hub remains required for the documented product. |
| Availability and price | China crowdfunding reported October 12–19, 2026: 44 yuan campaign price and 49 yuan planned retail price. International stock was not verified. | Aqara product and specification pages are available, but local retail stock and pricing vary. |
Sources for the table: Sensor 3 reporting, Aqara specifications and the Aqara product page.
Hub and protocol: the decision that matters first
Xiaomi Sensor 3: Bluetooth plus a gateway for remote features
The current Sensor 3 report describes a Bluetooth device. A phone may be able to interact with a nearby Bluetooth accessory, but the reported remote functions—remote status, notifications and stored event information—depend on a Bluetooth Mesh gateway. Before buying, verify the exact gateway model supported by the sensor, whether it works in your country, and whether the gateway appears in the Xiaomi Home app you use.
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Do not assume that a Xiaomi hub advertised for another radio standard will substitute for the required Bluetooth Mesh gateway. The available report does not establish universal compatibility across Xiaomi gateway generations or regions.
Aqara MCCGQ11LM: Zigbee and an Aqara hub
Aqara’s own product page is explicit: An Aqara hub is required.
The sensor communicates over Zigbee rather than directly over Wi-Fi. Aqara lists Aqara Home and Apple Home app support in its specifications, but those integrations do not remove the hub requirement. Check the exact hub and regional model before ordering, particularly if you plan to expose the sensor to Apple Home.
Why the two ecosystems should not be mixed casually
Contact sensors look simple because each reports an open or closed state. Pairing, radio protocol, security keys, gateway firmware and app support still determine whether a device can be added. A Zigbee Aqara sensor should not be expected to join a Bluetooth Mesh network, and a reported Bluetooth Sensor 3 should not be expected to join an Aqara Zigbee setup without explicit support from both manufacturers.
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What each sensor records
Sensor 3 is aimed at usage tracking
According to the launch report, Xiaomi Sensor 3 can show the current open or closed state, retain event history, count how many times a door or window opens in a day, and record how long it stays open or closed. Those details are useful for questions such as whether a frequently used entrance was left open, how often a cabinet is accessed, or whether a window remains open overnight.
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Aqara focuses on detection, alerts and automation
Aqara’s published material documents open/closed detection, alerts and automation. That is enough for common routines: turning off heating when a window opens, notifying you when a door opens, or triggering another supported device. The reviewed Aqara specification does not document Sensor 3-style daily opening counts or open-duration history, so do not buy the Aqara model expecting those particular analytics.
Battery claims and replacement cells
Different cells, different claims
Sensor 3 is reported to use a CR2032 coin cell and to last up to three years. The figure comes from Xiaomi’s reported product information, as covered on October 12, 2026, and has not been independently tested in a head-to-head comparison.
Aqara’s MCCGQ11LM uses a CR1632. Aqara’s product material advertises two years. That number is also a manufacturer estimate, and the available sources do not state that it was measured using the same temperature, radio activity, opening frequency or notification workload as Xiaomi’s figure.
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Do not confuse the legacy Xiaomi runtime claim
The older Mi Window and Door Sensor page gives a two-year claim for a CR1632 under Aqara Laboratory testing with 20 simulated open/close cycles per day at 25°C. That test description belongs to the older Zigbee model, not Sensor 3, and cannot be used to infer Sensor 3’s runtime.
What changes real-world runtime
Battery life will vary with the number of state changes, Bluetooth or Zigbee radio activity, gateway traffic, notification use, temperature and coin-cell quality. A maximum advertised figure is therefore useful for planning replacement intervals, but it is not a promise that every installation will reach that duration.
Physical installation and fit
Aqara has measurable mounting limits
Aqara lists a body size of 41 × 22 × 11 mm and a maximum detection distance of 22 mm. Measure the closed gap between the door or window frame and the moving panel, then confirm that the two sensor pieces can be aligned within that limit on a flat, secure surface. Trim, weather seals, recessed frames and sliding tracks can reduce the usable margin.
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Sensor 3 requires a pre-purchase fit check
Sensor 3 is described as compact, but the reviewed launch reporting does not provide verified body dimensions or a maximum magnet gap. Do not infer either value from the older Xiaomi sensor or from photographs. If the installation is tight, ask the seller for the model’s dimensional drawing and allowable gap before ordering; otherwise, choose a sensor with published measurements.
General mounting sequence
- Close the door or window and inspect the frame, trim and weather seal for a flat mounting area.
- Measure the gap between the proposed sensor locations. For Aqara, keep it within the published 22 mm maximum and allow for the sensor’s physical alignment; for Sensor 3, use the seller’s confirmed specification rather than an assumed value.
- Pair the sensor with its required hub or gateway before permanently fixing it. This lets you verify that the app sees open and closed transitions at the intended location.
- Attach the two halves so they remain aligned when the door or window moves. Avoid placing them where hinges, locks or sliding hardware can strike them.
- Open and close the entry several times, then check the app state and any automation or notification that depends on it.
Availability and price: what is actually established
Gizmochina reported that Xiaomi Sensor 3 entered crowdfunding on Xiaomi Youpin in China on October 12, 2026, with the campaign running through October 19. The reported campaign price was 44 yuan, with a planned retail price of 49 yuan. These are China campaign and planned-retail figures tied to that time; they are not current international prices.
International retail availability and an Amazon listing were not verified. A marketplace listing that appears later may represent an importer, a different Xiaomi generation or a region-locked product. Confirm the model name, gateway requirement, app region and return policy before paying.
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Aqara maintains a product page and specification page for MCCGQ11LM, but stock, taxes and pricing differ by country. The presence of a global product page does not guarantee that every local retailer carries the same revision.
Which one fits your situation?
You already own an Aqara hub
Aqara is the practical low-uncertainty choice. The documented sensor uses the hub you already have, supports Aqara Home and Apple Home as listed by Aqara, and publishes dimensions for installation planning. Check that your existing hub and local model support the platform you intend to use.
You already use Xiaomi Home
Sensor 3 may be the better match if its reported opening counts and duration records are valuable to you. Confirm that a compatible Bluetooth Mesh gateway is available in your region and that the seller is offering Sensor 3 rather than the older Zigbee Mi Window and Door Sensor.
You need historical usage rather than a simple alarm
Give Sensor 3 priority, subject to gateway and regional availability. Its reported event history, daily counts and duration measurements address usage questions that Aqara’s reviewed documentation does not promise. Verify how long the history is retained and whether remote access works in your intended setup.
You need a predictable physical fit
Aqara has the advantage because its 41 × 22 × 11 mm dimensions and 22 mm maximum detection distance are published. Sensor 3 should be considered only after you obtain equivalent measurements for the exact unit being sold.
You are selecting on battery life alone
Do not make the purchase on the three-year versus two-year numbers. They are separate vendor claims with different battery types and no matched test. The replacement-cell price and availability in your area may matter more than the headline maximum.
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Setup checks before you order
- Identify the model number: Aqara’s documented model is MCCGQ11LM. Xiaomi Sensor 3 must be identified separately from the older Mi Window and Door Sensor.
- Confirm the radio: Aqara is Zigbee; current Sensor 3 reporting describes Bluetooth.
- Confirm the required infrastructure: Aqara requires an Aqara hub; Sensor 3’s remote functions reportedly require a Bluetooth Mesh gateway.
- Check app and region: verify that the sensor, hub or gateway and Xiaomi Home or Aqara Home account region can be used together.
- Measure the installation: use Aqara’s 22 mm maximum as a hard reference for that model; obtain a verified Sensor 3 gap before buying.
- Plan the replacement cell: CR1632 for the documented Aqara sensor and CR2032 for reported Sensor 3 specifications.
- Check availability: treat the 2026 Xiaomi Youpin campaign figures as historical China pricing, not a promise of local stock.
Common buying and setup mistakes
Buying the wrong Xiaomi sensor
The legacy Mi Window and Door Sensor is Zigbee and uses a CR1632. Sensor 3 is the newer product reported as Bluetooth with a CR2032. Read the model name and battery requirement on the listing and packaging instead of relying on a product photograph.
Assuming a gateway is optional
Without the required hub or gateway, you may be limited to local interaction or unable to pair the sensor at all. Aqara explicitly requires its hub. Sensor 3’s reported remote status, notifications and history require a Bluetooth Mesh gateway.
Ignoring the magnet gap
A sensor can pair correctly and still fail to register reliably if the two halves are too far apart or move out of alignment. Measure the closed installation and test several open/close cycles before applying permanent adhesive.
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Frequent openings, cold locations, weak cells and constant gateway activity can shorten runtime. Record the installation date and keep the correct spare cell available rather than waiting for an alert at an inconvenient time.
Assuming regional availability
A China crowdfunding announcement does not establish international certification, app-region support, warranty coverage or local retail stock. Verify those points with the seller before importing Sensor 3.
Bottom line for this comparison
Aqara is the safer choice for a household already built around an Aqara hub, especially when published dimensions and documented Apple Home support matter. Xiaomi Door and Window Sensor 3 is the more compelling option for Xiaomi Home users who specifically want opening counts and duration history, but only after confirming the Bluetooth Mesh gateway, regional app support, physical dimensions and local availability. Neither battery figure is a fair standalone reason to choose one over the other.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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