Alza is selling out Tesla Smart ZigBee Hub for a steal! Works with Aqara, IKEA, and LIDL devices

Alza offers Tesla Smart ZigBee Hub with discount code ALZADNY30 for 419 CZK, which is a discount of 180 crowns from the original 599 CZK. It is a central unit (hub) that acts as a bridge between your Wi-Fi network and ZigBee devices – i.e., smart sensors, light bulbs, switches, thermostatic heads, and other smart products that use the ZigBee 3.0 communication protocol.

Why is a hub needed? ZigBee devices don’t communicate directly with a Wi-Fi router; they need a translator between them. The hub connects to your Wi-Fi (only 2.4 GHz, not 5 GHz!) and creates a ZigBee network, to which all your smart devices then connect. The result is that you control everything from one Tesla Smart app, which is fully in Czech and works on both Android and iOS.

The hub’s dimensions are a compact 64 × 64 × 18 mm, so you can place it anywhere – either next to the router or somewhere in the middle of the apartment for better range. Power is supplied via USB-C (a wall adapter is included in the package), which is more convenient than micro-USB on older hubs.

Range up to 50 meters and management of 50 devices

The manufacturer states a range of up to 50 meters in open space. In practice, however, this depends on the building’s construction – walls, ceilings, and metal objects weaken the signal. One user in the reviews writes that in the garden, with direct line of sight, they only achieved 10 meters to a light bulb, which is significantly less than the promised 50. However, for a typical apartment or smaller house, this should be sufficient.

The hub can manage up to 50 devices simultaneously – which is enough even for a larger household. You can connect sensors (temperature, humidity, motion, door opening), light bulbs, switches, thermostatic heads, smoke detectors, and more. You then control everything from the Tesla Smart app or by voice via Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa.

In the app, you can set up automations – for example, when a sensor detects motion, the light turns on. Or when the temperature drops below 18 °C, you receive a notification. The problem is that, according to one review, there is no scene to turn off notifications from motion sensors when household members are home – so it constantly spams you with notifications, even if you were the one who triggered the motion.

Also works with Aqara, Immax, Ikea, and Lidl

A big surprise is that the hub is not locked only to Tesla products. Several users in reviews confirm that they managed to connect devices from other manufacturers:

• Aqara water leak sensor – one user writes “Can be perfectly paired with Aqara devices”
• Immax door sensor – confirmed by another reviewer
• Niceboy ION PIR sensor (motion)
• Ikea and Lidl ZigBee devices – according to a Slovak review, they work without problems

This is a big advantage because you are not confined to just Tesla products. You can buy cheaper sensors from Aqara or Ikea and still control them via the Tesla app. However, it’s not 100% guaranteed – one user mentions that they were unable to pair Aqara sensors, so compatibility is not universal. It depends on the specific model and its implementation of the ZigBee protocol.

Problems with Wi-Fi connection

The most common complaint in reviews concerns problems with Wi-Fi connection. Several users write that they were unable to connect the hub even after hundreds of attempts. One customer expressed it this way: “Even after approximately 1000 attempts to connect to my Wi-Fi, I couldn’t connect this thing.”

The problem is that the hub works only with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, not with the 5 GHz band. If you have a dual-band router at home that broadcasts both bands under the same name, this can cause problems. The solution is either to split the bands into two SSIDs (one name for 2.4 GHz, another for 5 GHz), or to contact your internet provider to make the 2.4 GHz network visible to you – as one user writes: “Only during installation did we have to call the provider to make the 2.4 Ghz network visible to us.”

Conversely, several users report that installation was successful on the first attempt without problems. One reviewer writes: “Based on older reviews, I expected problems, but everything really went perfectly.” So it mainly depends on your Wi-Fi network configuration.

Does not work with Apple HomeKit

If you use Apple HomeKit, you’re out of luck – the Tesla Smart ZigBee Hub does not work with it. Although the device works on iOS via the Tesla Smart app, it does not connect with Apple Home, so you cannot control it from a central location with other Apple devices. One user comments: “Not an entirely ideal solution for a household with Apple HomeKit.”

Another problem is the absence of Matter support – at least for now. Matter is a new standard for smart homes that should ensure better compatibility between different platforms. One user mentions this as a disadvantage: “no matter option yet”.

Tesla Smart App vs Smart Life

The hub officially works with the Tesla Smart app, which is in Czech and, according to most users, is clear and intuitive. But one reviewer recommends using the Smart Life (Tuya) app instead: “The TESLA app is completely useless, I couldn’t connect it even after a million attempts, download Smart Life and you’ll be happy.”

Smart Life is a more general smart home app that supports thousands of different devices. If you have problems with the Tesla app, you can try it – the hub is compatible with the Tuya platform, so it should work.

The user rating is 4.5/5 stars from 113 reviews on Alza, which is a solid result. 87% of customers recommend the product, and over 5,000 units have been sold. People mainly praise the simple installation (if they don’t have Wi-Fi issues), small dimensions, the Czech app, and compatibility with other brands. Criticism is directed at connection problems for some users, the absence of Apple HomeKit, and occasionally slower response times.

If you are planning to build a smart home, this hub is a good start. For 419 CZK, you get a central unit to which you can gradually add sensors, light bulbs, and other ZigBee devices – and you don’t have to stick to just Tesla products.

What do you think of this discount?