Presence/motion sensors are one of the best ways to make automations feel more natural, but most of them run on batteries and eventually have to be swapped. That’s one of the main reasons I really like the Meross MS600 Smart Presence Sensor. It plugs into the wall, so you don’t have to worry about battery swaps. It combines millimeter wave radar, motion detection, and a built-in light sensor to detect it all.

HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.

Why I love HomeKit motion sensors

I’ve always been a huge fan of motion sensors with HomeKit. When you have motion sensors paired with your lights, you create a really nice automation that is super hands-off. When you walk into a room, you can have the lights come on, and when it stops detecting motion for a preset period, HomeKit can turn them back off.

With the Meross MS600, you get that without worrying about the battery. Most standalone motion sensors are battery-powered, and the Meross MS600 is plugged into the wall. You do lose a bit of flexibility on where you place it, but I’ve found it to be an okay trade-off. I have plenty of wall outlets around my house in spots where I want to detect motion.

Installation process and creating an automation in HomeKit

The Meross MS600 is native to Matter, eliminating the need for a hub, so setup is as simple as it gets. Unbox it, plug it in, and scan the Matter code in the Home app. Once it’s added, you’ll see both the presence and light sensors appear as accessories in HomeKit.

To create a lighting automation, open the Home app and go to the Automations tab. Tap the plus icon, then choose “Add Automation.” Pick “A Sensor Detects Something,” and select the Meross sensor from your list. You can choose between motion or presence detection to trigger the action. Then, choose the lights or other devices you want to control and decide whether they should turn on or off based on detection.

Because the Meross MS600 includes both motion and mmWave radar detection, it can tell the difference between someone walking by and someone sitting still. That means your lights won’t turn off while you’re watching TV.

Wrap up on Meross MS600

The Meross MS600 is a great option if you’re tired of swapping batteries in motion sensors but still want the convenience of motion and presence detection for automating your home. It’s reliable, fast to respond, and fits perfectly into any HomeKit setup thanks to native Matter support. Again, no separate hub is needed either (outside of an Apple TV or HomePod).

As the Christmas season approaches, this could also be a great way to automate your Christmas tree. You could have it turn on when someone walks into the room in the evening and turn off automatically when the room is empty for long periods. Especially if you have secondary trees around your house, this is a great way to save hours on lighting, particularly in bonus rooms, basements, and other areas.

You can buy the Meross MS600 from Amazon or from Meross. It’s my new favorite HomeKit motion sensor.

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