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Ready to ditch the cloud and take full control? Here is the best hardware to run Home Assistant (HA) efficiently and reliably.
Quick Top 3 Picks
- Best Server: Beelink Mini S12 Pro - Low power, high performance.
- Best Zigbee Dongle: SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 Dongle Plus - The community favorite.
- Best Sensor: Aqara Door & Window Sensor - Reliable and cheap.
#1 Top Server
Beelink Mini S12 Pro (N100)
The Raspberry Pi used to be the go-to, but with current prices, this Mini PC is a better deal. It runs Home Assistant OS lightning fast, uses very little power (6W idle), and includes a case, power supply, and SSD storage out of the box.
What we like
- Intel N100 processor screams through automations
- Far more reliable than SD cards
- Comes with 16GB RAM and 500GB SSD
What we don't
- Slightly larger than a Pi
- Fan is quiet but not silent (rarely spins up)
#2 Best Zigbee
SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus (P-Version)
To connect Zigbee devices (like Hue bulbs or Aqara sensors) directly to Home Assistant without their hubs, you need this stick. It has the best range and compatibility with Zigbee2MQTT.
What we like
- Massive external antenna for great range
- Based on the TI CC2652P chip (very stable)
- Metal casing for heat dissipation
What we don't
- Large physical size (might block other USB ports)
#3 Essential Sensor
Aqara Door & Window Sensor
Small, cheap, and fast. These sensors are the backbone of many automations (e.g., "turn on lights when door opens"). They pair perfectly with the Sonoff dongle above.
What we like
- Tiny form factor
- 2-year battery life
- Instant response time
What we don't
- Uses non-standard battery size (CR1632)
- Sometimes tricky to pair initially