Every year in November, AliExpress is running a sale called Singles Day or Bachelors’ Day, a shopping festival to celebrate people who are not in a relationship. Apparently, the date 11.11 was chosen since the number resembles a bare stick, a Chinese slang for a single man who “does not add to the family tree.” TIL.
AliExpress 11.11 Singles Day Sale
Start: Nov 11, 2024 12:00:00 AM
Ends: Nov 18, 2024 11:59:59 PM
Visit AliExpress
This is the biggest sale of the year on AliExpress, with the the best discounts and lower limits on discount codes. In this article, I’m sharing a few smart home device suggestions that I think you should consider during the 11.11 sale as well as promo codes you can use to get the most out of it.
AliExpress 11.11 Sale Discount Codes
The following discount codes can be applied at the checkout page once you’ve passed the order threshold. Note that shipping cost are not included in the order total. Per AliExpress, these codes are available for all countries, but need to be used per country.
US Discount Codes
[Landing Page] Sale lasts from Nov 11, 2024 12:00:00 AM — Nov 18, 2024 11:59:59 PM
SHSUS05 – $5 off orders over $39SHSUS12 – $12 off orders over $89SHSUS25 – $25 off orders over $169
SHSUS40 – $40 off orders over $269SHSUS60 – $60 off orders over $359SHSUS80 – $80 off orders over $499
Germany Discount Codes
[Landing Page] Sale lasts from Nov 10, 2024 3:00:00 PM — Nov 18, 2024 2:59:59 PM
SHSDE05 – €5 off orders over €39SHSDE12 – €12 off orders over €89SHSDE25 – €25 off orders over €169
SHSDE40 – €40 off orders over €269SHSDE60 – €60 off orders over €359SHSDE80 – €80 off orders over €499
Netherlands Discount Codes
[Landing Page] Sale lasts from Nov 10, 2024 3:00:00 PM — Nov 18, 2024 2:59:59 PM
SHSNL05 – €5 off orders over €39SHSNL12 – €12 off orders over €89SHSNL25 – €25 off orders over €169
SHSNL40 – €40 off orders over €269SHSNL60 – €60 off orders over €359SHSNL80 – €80 off orders over €499
Other Countries Discount Codes
[Landing Page] Sale lasts from Nov 11, 2024 12:00:00 AM — Nov 18, 2024 11:59:59 PM.
All Other countries, excluding DE, BD, SRB, RU, BH, UA, FR, SA, QA, BR, MA, SG, DZ, GB, UK, BY, MD, ME, KG, GE, OM, US, AE, UZ, KR, MX, IT, AM, KW, ES, KZ, AR, RE, TH, AU, TJ, NG, AZ, TM, PK, PL, TR, NL, LK.
SHSOT05 – $5 off orders over $39SHSOT12 – $12 off orders over $89SHSOT25 – $25 off orders over $169
SHSOT40 – $40 off orders over $269SHSOT60 – $60 off orders over $359SHSOT80 – $80 off orders over $499
Zigbee Coordinators
Recently, there have been some significant developments in the world of open source Zigbee coordinators. The SMLight line-up of PoE or USB coordinators have almost become mainstream, the go-to option for any DIY Zigbee network. For a good reason too, as SMLight offers a bunch of options and is much better than the competition in many ways.
If you are looking for the latest PoE-capable Zigbee coordinator, the SMLight SLZB-06M is the best pick. It can be used with PoE, LAN-only, Wi-Fi or USB. It supports very large networks and has some very interesting features – like WireGuard VPN or Matter-over-Thread support. This is the most flexible and effectively the best Zigbee coordinator for ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT.
- Model: SMLight SLZB-06M Coordinator
- Connectivity: PoE, LAN, Wi-Fi, USB
- Chip: EFR32MG21
- Works With: ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT
- Read full review
If you need a simpler, USB-only device, then the SMLight SLZB-07 is the best choice. It works out-of-the-box with both ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT and relies on the EFR32MG21 SoC, which can be used as a Matter-over-Thread Border Router.
- Model: SMLight SLZB-07 Coordinator
- Connectivity: USB
- Chip: EFR32MG21
- Works With: ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT
- Read full review
Zigbee Presence Sensors
The Xiaomi XMOSB01XS Occupancy Sensor is a combo device, featuring both an mmWave and PIR sensors for detecting presence. It’s powered by a single button-cell CR2450 battery and uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to communicate.
This device employs some clever operation logic to effectively detect human presence. The PIR sensor wakes up the mmWave radar which remains in use for the duration it’s needed. When there is no presence detected, the radar goes to sleep in order to save battery. This allows the Xioami XMOSB01XS to have an incredibly long battery life of 3 years. It has a maximum range of of 6 meters for motion and 4 meters for static presence. Device is supported in Home Assistant via the Xiaomi BLE integration.
- Model: Xiaomi XMOSB01XS Presence Sensor
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Sensor: RC2412 + PIR
- Works With: Home Assistant, Xiaomi BLE
- Read full review
As another battery-powered presence sensor solution, the Tuya Zigbee ZG-204ZM is worth considering. This device uses the same principle of operation as the Xioami, but is designed differently and objectively has a lower build quality. It costs much less the former though, so deploying it cleverly will give you a good experience in detecting static presence. Read the full review and integration guide to learn more.
- Model: Tuya ZG-204ZM Presence Sensor
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Sensor: HLK-LD2410S + PIR
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA
- Read full review
The Sonoff SNZB-06P Presence Sensor is a very simple device compared to other presence sensors. It relies on a 5.8GHz mmWave radar to detect occupancy at a maximum distance of 4 meters and a detection angle of 100°. It does not use a PIR in combination with an mmWave radar and requires an USB-C cable for power.
However, the Sonoff SNZB-06P operates really well within its range and angle limits. There are no complex parameters to configure or tweak and simply requires proper positioning within your home. If set correctly, it detect presence quite reliably and works with both ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT.
- Model: Sonoff SNZB-06P Presence Sensor
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Sensor: FR58
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA
- Read full review
Zigbee Sensors
The Tuya Zigbee Rain Sensor RB-SRAIN01 is a solar-powered outdoor sensor for detecting rain and water droplets. Using this device offers some very interesting automations and allows you to control your irrigation system very accurately. Whenever it detects rain, stop garden watering for the day. I also developed some interesting template sensors for tracking rainfall rate. The device communicates over Zigbee as an EndDevice, requiring a solid path to your coordinator.
- Model: Tuya Rain Sensor RB-SRAIN01
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Battery: Lithium 1300mAh
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA
- Read full review
The Tuya SZ-T04 Temperature and Humidity Sensor is a simple climate sensor with an LCD display. It uses the Sensirion SHT40 to accurately measure temperature and humidity in your home, communicating the data over Zigbee. This is a very affordable and simple sensor without much to consider beyond it’s basic capabilities. Check out this article of the top 10 temperature and humidity sensors with a display to learn about some alternatives.
- Model: Tuya Climate Sensor SZ-T04
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Sensor: Sensirion SHT40
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA
- Read full review
Even though it’s not a Zigbee device, the INKBIRD IAM-T1 is a well-made, accurate and reliable indoor air quality sensor. It uses BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) to communicate and has a battery life of up to 4 years on a good set of AAs. What even better, it has a beautiful e-ink screen that’s viewable from all angles without distortions. I recently shared a guide for capturing the BLE advertisements of this device with an ESP32 board and integrating it locally in Home Assistant. You do not need their app or any other cloud dependency.
- Model: INKBIRD IAM-T1 Air Quality Monitor
- Connectivity: BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy)
- Sensor: Senseair HVAC
- Works With: Any ESP32 Board
- Read full review
Zigbee Remotes and Buttons
The Loratap Zigbee 4-button remote is a great way to control lights and different automations. It supports Zigbee direct binding and is available in 1, 2, 3 or 4-button variants, each with 3 separate actions.
- Model: Loratap 4-Button Remote
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Battery: CR2032
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA
- Read full review
The Zigbee IR Blaster Remote ZS06 is a simple, yet capable IR blaster controled through Zigbee2MQTT. It can clone traditional remotes for ACs, TVs and other electronics to be used on demand through Home Assistant.
- Model: Zigbee ZS06 IR Blaster Remote
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Power: DC5V1A
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT
- Read full review
Mini PCs
If you search for Mini PCs on AliExpress, you are going to get a headache. There are literally thousands of different makes and models with various specification options. It would be stupid to talk and suggest those that I have no clue if they are good or not. But I do own two Beelink Mini PCs, which have been really great as small Homelab servers.
I use the Beelink EQ 12 Pro with the Intel N305, which is a huge overkill for most use cases. Its capable of running many VMs and Containers while handling several Frigate cameras on it’s own. Get the N305 if you have a use for it only:
- Model: Beelink EQ 12/13 Pro
- CPU: Intel N100/N305
- RAM: 8GB/16GB DDR4
- SSD: 256/512/1TB
- Read more
The most popular Beelink model for a Home Assistant server is the Beelink S12 Pro, powered by the efficient N100 CPU. This processor offers low power consumption, quiet operation, and impressive performance for its class. It’s the top choice among mini PCs dedicated to running Home Assistant, though the N100 is versatile enough to handle a wide range of tasks beyond that.
- Model: Beelink S12 Pro
- CPU: Intel N95/N100
- RAM: 8GB/16GB DDR4
- SSD: 256/512/1TB
- Read more
Other 11.11 Sale Picks
The GIEX GX02 Zigbee Water Timer and Flow Meter is an automatic irrigation valve for gardens, yard or greenhouses. It’s an improvement in many ways over the first gen GX01 valve and works great with ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. The valve can withstand pressure of up to 8 bars and has a battery life of up to 9 months on a good set of AA batteries. If you have a watering system, this is the best inline water valve to get right now as it also measures water consumption.
- Model: GiEX GX02 Water Valve
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Battery: 2xAA
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA
- Read full review
The Zigbee Fingerbot is a mechanical button pusher designed for automating tasks by simply pressing a button. Despite its straightforward purpose, it’s a surprisingly versatile device that can also function as a switch. It can either press and hold a button or press and retract, depending on your needs. Since Wake-on-LAN (WoL) was unreliable in my setup, I’ve been using the Fingerbot to power on my office PC ever since I first reviewed it. You may recall the popularity of the SwitchBot Bot, which is a Bluetooth finger bot. This is a Zigbee device, which most of us prefer.
- Model: Tuya Zigbee Fingerbot
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Battery: CR2
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA
- Read full review
The Reolink PoE Doorbell is considered by many the gold standard for a smart video doorbell for Home Assistant. There is a good reason for this too, as the Reolink is among the very few which can be integrated in Home Assistant completely locally and without any cloud dependence. It’s feed can be used in Frigate for object detection or as a two-way audio communication doorbell. I highly recommend keeping an eye on its price tag during the sale.
- Model: Reolink PoE Doorbell
- Connectivity: PoE/Wi-Fi
- Camera: 5mpx
- Works With: Frigate, WebRTC
- Read full review
Installing these cheap kitchen under cabinet lights boosted my WAF significantly. They are cheap, easy to mount and work with Home Assistant through ZHA and Z2M. You can get them in packs from 1 to 9pcs which can be daisy chained and connected to a single controller.
- Model: Puck Lights YSR-MINI-Z01
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Power: DC5V-24V
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA
- Read full review
By using dedicated Zigbee signal repeaters, you can easily boost and solidify your mesh network. These operate as Routers and have no other function, so their purpose is to simply repeat and route Zigbee packets. It’s worth noting that simply adding Zigbee repeaters will not magically fix your Zigbee network, I highly suggest you go over this article and apply at least some of the recommendations. Zigbee repeaters are very affordable, here’s one that I can recommend:
- Model: Loratap Zigbee Signal Repeater
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Interface: USB
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA
- Read full review
This Tuya Zigbee Round-shaped Thermostat is versatile wired thermostat with an extensive feature set. It communicates over Zigbee and works with both ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT. It allows you to wire an external probe for measuring temperature and comes in water, gas, and electric versions. It looks great once installed on a wall, but I wish the screen frame was an actual knob with a rotary encoder and not just a design feature.
- Model: Tuya Round Thermostat HC-T010
- Connectivity: Zigbee
- Battery: CR2
- Works With: Zigbee2MQTT, ZHA
- Read full review
Matter/Thread Picks
Matter and Thread devices are rare on AliExpress, but they do pop up on my feed from time to time. Most of these devices are made by Zemismart and it seems it’s the only Chinese manufacturer taking a hard stab at Matter. Here are some of their devices:
- Model: Zemismart ZME2 Dual Relay
- Connectivity: Matter-over-WiFi
- Max Load: 600W
- Neutral: Required
- Read full review
- Model: Zemismart ZML2 Bulb
- Connectivity: Matter-over-WiFi
- Type: RGBCW
- Base: E27
- Read full review
- Model: Zemismart Roller Motor with Battery
- Connectivity: Matter-over-Thread
- Type: Roller Motor
- Power: Rechargeable Battery
- Read more
I can’t recommend strongly enough to always use an extension like alitools that provides price history and seller ratings. It’s extremely common on aliexpress for the final out of pocket prices to actually be higher during sales than other times, with a fake pre-sale “price” added to the page.
https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/devices/TS0207_repeater.html
As per the link above:
Warning
It is reported that this device does not relay messages of non TuYa devices, this can break your network!
Please if you want to be taken seriously as a smart home reviewer that encourages and endorses local devices, to keep up to date on your own device “recommendations”. You should stop recommending devices that lock you in even though it performs well in your reviews.
First off, I have doubts this is the same device.
But even if it is, I’ve been using two of these for far too long, with many different vendors/devices without any issues.
They work great. See the map here (Aqara, IKEA, Schneider, Tuya)
https://smarthomescene.com/reviews/extending-network-range-with-cheap-zigbee-signal-repeaters/#after-adding-the-zigbee-repeater
What are some benefits of using SMLight usb Zigbee dongle over Sonoff Zigbee dongle e? Some time ago everyone recommended Sonoff and now everyone recommends these SMLight dongles (as everyone I mean r/homeassistant)
Mostly flexibility.
The Sonoff ZBDongle-E is USB-only, whereas the SMLight USB coordinator can use USB, Wi-Fi, PoE or LAN/USB combo.
The chip is the same (EFR32MG21) and would perform the same.
If you already have the ZBDongle-E, no reason to change.
If you have some older coordinator, the SMLight SLZB-06M is the better choice.
Thanks
SMLight advertises that it uses 4 layers of PCB to avoid interference with USB port noise. Does Sonoff do the same? Does it matter even a bit? (Will probably get extension cord soon anyway)
It matters, yes, but you should be able to achieve the same thing if you add a shielded extension cord for the Sonoff