Xiaomi Door and Window Sensor 3 goes up for crowdfunding with three-year battery life

Xiaomi has launched the Door and Window Sensor 3 in China through a crowdfunding campaign on its Xiaomi Youpin platform. The campaign opened today and runs until October 19 where you can grab the sensor for 44 yuan (~ $6).

It’s a successor to the Sensor 2 that Xiaomi launched back in 2020, and the new sensor uses a CR2032 button battery rated to last up to three years, compared with one year for the previous Door and Window Sensor 2. The Xiaomi Home app also sends a reminder when the battery is running low, so you can replace it before the sensor stops working.

Xiaomi has replaced the Hall sensor in the previous model with a tunnel magnetoresistive sensor. The new sensor also responds faster and consumes less power than a traditional Hall sensor.

However, the Door and Window Sensor 3 might have lost one feature in the process. Xiaomi doesn’t mention the light sensor found in the Door and Window Sensor 2. The new model instead tracks door and window activity, so anyone who used the previous sensor’s light readings for smart home automations will need a separate device. Xiaomi has sold a standalone Mijia Light Sensor since 2019.

What you can do with it

After pairing the sensor with a Bluetooth Mesh gateway, you can use the Xiaomi Home app to check whether a door, window, drawer or cabinet is open or closed. It also records sensing events, counts daily openings and closings, and tracks how long an entry remains open or closed. The app can send a notification to your phone when the sensor detects a change.

The sensor also works with other smart home products through Xiaomi’s Smart Connect. You can link it with smart switches, air conditioner companions, water leak detectors, thermometers and hygrometers to create automations. For example, opening a door can turn on the lights, while opening a window can switch off the air conditioner. You can also set up reminders to close windows when it rains or humidity rises. 

These automations need to be configured in the Xiaomi Home app, and the other devices must be purchased separately. Xiaomi also notes that some features depend on how the sensor is used.

Small enough for drawers and cabinets

The Door and Window Sensor 3 has a compact, lightweight body that can fit on doors, windows, drawers, cabinet doors and storage boxes. Xiaomi has also printed installation guides on the sensor to help users align it correctly with the magnet, reducing the chance of installing it in the wrong direction and missing an opening or closing event.

A three-year battery rating isn’t new to Xiaomi’s sensor lineup, either. The Xiaomi Human Body Sensor also carried the same battery-life rating when it went through crowdfunding.

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