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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Use Home Assistant’s Map card to see people, zones, and other entities that have geographic location data. Use a Picture Elements floor-plan view to see room-level device states and controls over an image of your home. They solve different problems, so you can use both in separate dashboard views.
What each option shows
Map card: geographic location
Home Assistant’s built-in Map card displays a geographic map with the home zone, other zones, and entities that have latitude and longitude attributes. A person appears when a configured presence source provides location information; Home Assistant gives its Companion App with location tracking enabled as one example. The card can also show previous locations as a trace when a time frame is configured. It is for geographic context, not a live indoor room map.
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Picture Elements: room context
The Picture Elements card places icons, text, buttons, and other elements at coordinates over an image you supply. You can use state-aware elements to show device conditions and add actions such as tapping a button to control an entity. The result is a room-oriented schematic: the image and element positions are configured by the dashboard builder.
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Compare them by the job you need done
| Decision | Map card | Picture Elements floor plan |
|---|---|---|
| Best question it answers | Where are people or locatable entities, and where are the zones? | What is happening in each room, and what can I control there? |
| Visual foundation | Geographic map | An image of a floor plan with configured overlays |
| What you need to provide | Entities with latitude and longitude attributes, zones, or a location source | A background image and configured elements |
| Documented behavior | Zoom, marker clustering, viewport fitting, location traces, and conditional visibility | State icons, labels, buttons, images, conditional elements, and actions |
| Main setup consideration | Configure location data and choose how markers and the view behave | Choose or prepare an image, then position and configure each overlay |
Choose the Map card for presence and geographic awareness
Use the Map card when you want to see whether people or mobile entities are at home, view other zones, or inspect location history. Before expecting an entity to appear, check that it exposes latitude and longitude and that its location or presence source is configured as intended. A device without those coordinates will not appear merely because it exists in Home Assistant.
#1 Best Overall
- Home Assistant provides a professional and reliable platform for home automation, designed to run continuously 24/7.
- Powered by a 64-bit Quad-Core Cortex-A53 processor, delivering smooth and efficient performance for smart home automations.
- Includes 4GB SDRAM for reliable multitasking and 64GB eMMC
- Features a Mali-450 MP2 GPU for responsive visual interfaces, housed in a compact 85 × 85 × 15mm (3.35" × 3.35" × 0.59") design that fits easily in any space.
- Typical power consumption is under 10W, with fanless operation for quiet performance suitable for any room in your home.
The card also provides geographic display controls, including marker clustering, automatic viewport fitting as entities move, zoom, history paths, and visibility conditions. Marker clustering can help keep a map readable; disabling it may affect performance when many markers are present. See the Map card options for the available settings.
Choose Picture Elements for room-level status and control
Use Picture Elements when the physical room is the useful frame of reference—for example, when you want a light icon near its room, a sensor state beside a doorway, or a control button placed on a floor-plan image. The card supports state-aware icons and labels as well as actions, so it can serve as a schematic control surface rather than a static picture.
Rank #2
- Powered by SmartThings: Connect, monitor, and automate your home through the SmartThings app. Build a reliable, unified smart home using Samsung's proven ecosystem
- Matter + Zigbee Smart Home Hub: Supports the newest Matter standard plus Zigbee for lighting, sensors, plugs, switches, thermostats, and more - thousands of compatible devices. PLEASE NOTE: Z-Wave not supported
- Easy Setup with Wi-Fi or Ethernet: Get started in minutes using Wi-Fi or a wired Ethernet connection for apartments, houses, and expanding smart home systems - Z-Wave not supported
- Automations That Work for You: Create custom routines for security, lighting, comfort, and energy savings. Many local automations continue working even if your internet goes offline
- Wide Device Compatibility: Connect compatible smart devices from Aeotec and many other brands to build a unified system for lighting, voice control, energy management, and climate settings
This approach requires an image and dashboard layout work: you supply the background and set the positions and behavior of its overlays. Picture Elements is not a floor-plan drawing or room-detection tool; it displays the image and configured elements you provide. The official Picture Elements documentation shows the supported element types and configuration.
You can use both in one Home Assistant dashboard
These are card and view choices, not mutually exclusive whole-system modes. Home Assistant dashboards are assembled from views and cards, so you can keep a Map view for geographic awareness and a floor-plan view for room interaction. A dashboard can be tailored to its audience and device, and a Panel view can display a single card full width; Home Assistant lists Map and Picture Elements as examples suitable for that layout.
Rank #3
- MULTI-MODE GATEWAY: Smart home bridge supports Zigbee, Bluetooth Mesh dual-protocols, and supports WIFI control at the same time. Whether your device supports Wi-Fi or ZigBee or Bluetooth, you can control them together through the smart gateway on the Smart Life App. It is more stable and safer than using wifi system.
- APP CONTROL: Smart Bluetooth Zigbee hub work with smart life/Tuya App, Support Adding devices, device reset, third-party control and group control. You can manage and remotely control the device through the Smart Life App. You can manage and remotely control your lights, fingerbot and other smart devices via the app, even when you're not home.
- VOICE CONTROL: Smart Zigbee gateway Bluetooth hub compatible with Amazon Alexa/Google Assistant Home/Siri, you can control Smart LED and smart home devices by voice. All smart devices can be controlled with just one command, freeing hands.
- CREAT A SMART SCENE: Sub-devices of the gateway act as trigger conditions for Interacting with devices such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, for device linkage. Featured as one powerful network bridge for whole house linkage in a real sense for all smart home devices.
- MULTI-DEVICE COMPATIBILITY: Wireless gateway, Compatible with various smart home devices, you can add and control 128 smart devices at the same time, Zigbee hub is like a brain, stably manages multiple devices. Build a fully intelligent home ecosystem. 24 months warranty included
A tablet may be convenient for a dedicated display, such as a kitchen dashboard, but it is optional: dashboards can also be viewed in the Home Assistant app or website. Pick the visualization first, then decide whether a dedicated screen suits where and how people will use it.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- [Multi-Protocol Hub with Matter Bridge] The M3 is a versatile hub supporting Aqara Zigbee and Thread devices. It integrates third-party devices into the Aqara Home app. Supports advanced Matter bridge functionality, enabling Aqara-exclusive scenes and signals to sync with Matter ecosystems such as Home Assistant for seamless integration. Supports up to 127 Aqara Zigbee devices （** Not third-party Zigbee devices) and 127 Thread devices (Repeaters are needed).
- [Edge Compatibilities and Local Automations] The M3 serves as an Edge Hub, prioritizing local control and automation. Upon integration, it supersedes existing Aqara hubs, shifting the automations among them to local operation (Some cloud-based notifications still require internet). Upgrade-friendly, it supports migrating Zigbee devices from older Aqara hubs.
- [Smart IR Blaster with Feedback and Learning] The 360°IR blaster not only sends commands but also provides accurate status updates by detecting traditional remote use. It connects IR air conditioning units to Matter, functioning as an AC thermostat when paired with an Aqara Temperature and Humidity Sensor. (Note: Only one AC device can be exposed to Matter. Functionality may vary based on the Matter integration app. For Apple Home exposure, use Matter integration instead of HomeKit.)
- [Optimal Wired and Wireless Connectivity] Offering both wired and wireless solutions, the smart home hub M3 provides dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4/5 GHz) with advanced WPA3 security, and a Power over Ethernet (PoE) port. The addition of a USB-C port allows for mini-UPS and power bank connections, delivering unparalleled stability. (2A USB power adapter is not included. ) . Note: To ensure a stable connection, place the Hub M3 between 6 to 19 feet from the router.
- [Privacy-Focused with Encrypted Storage, Easy Setup and Versatile Placement] The M3 prioritizes privacy by excluding microphone or camera components. It boasts 8GB end-to-end encrypted local storage, for device lists, configuration parameters, and automation configuration data. Additionally, it includes a mount and screws for flexible placement on flat surfaces, walls, or ceilings. Magic Pair technology ensures effortless detection by the Aqara Home app upon power-up.
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