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Aqara has apparently already released their Roller Shade Controller, although only in Mainland China, and only via businesses that sell blinds. So, if you need the motor only, it would seem, for now, you’re out of luck as the only way to get one is via companies that make the blinds to your spec, along with the motor(s).

There are a couple of silver linings to this grey cloud though, as Aqara are actively seeking contracts with 3rd party blind providers outside of China to take on this product as an option, as part of a given company’s ranges. In addition, we’ve been able to obtain some video clips (that we’ve stitched together) to show the different types of blinds the controller will work with – and it’s not just roller blinds!

The controller comes with a separate control device for manually raising and lowering the blinds. This control device is what connects to the Mi hub (and later on the Aqara hub) using Zigbee. Although we still don’t have a lot of details regarding this device, we do know that it runs via mains electricity, as opposed to the battery on the latest Aqara B1 curtain motor.

From the videos, we’ve been able to establish that the controller will standard material roller blinds, pleated shades, Venetian blinds including Venetian blinds that are enclosed in fabric gauze, and Sheer shades (also known as zebra shades).

As it stands, if you happen to be in China, while the controller does use Zigbee, it will only work with the Mi Gateway at present, not the Aqara hub, although we’ve been told by Aqara that both this controller and the previously reviewed B1 Curtain Controller will both get support for the Aqara hub, and therefore get exposed to HomeKit.