Abode adds Apple Home sensors for garages and gates

Abode is expanding its Apple Home-compatible security lineup with two sensors aimed at entry points that indoor door and window sensors often miss: the $34.99 Garage Tilt Sensor and $49.99 Outdoor Contact Sensor.

Both devices also work with Alexa and Google Assistant, and connect to an Abode hub from up to 500 feet away under optimal conditions. CNET reports that they are available now for use with Abode hubs, including the Abode Smart Security Kit, which starts at $120.

How Abode’s new sensors work

The Garage Tilt Sensor is a wireless, single-device sensor with a claimed battery life of up to 10 years. It detects when a surface changes orientation by more than 45 degrees in either direction from its resting position. That makes it suitable for tilt-style garage doors, attic hatch doors, basement tilt windows and other hinged panels.

Users receive an alert in the Abode app when the sensor detects movement. CNET also reports that both new sensors include anti-tampering protection, which can notify users if someone tries to remove them.

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The IP66-rated Outdoor Contact Sensor uses two parts, like a conventional door or window sensor, but is designed for outdoor locations such as metal gates, sheds, storage units, mailboxes and detached garages. Its stronger magnet and wider activation gap are intended to reduce false alarms caused by uneven outdoor gates and other irregular surfaces. The rating protects it from dust and heavy rain and from powerful water jets.

Apple Home automations and subscription requirements

Abode says the sensors can trigger custom routines through its CUE smart home automation engine. Examples include turning on driveway lights when a gate opens after dark, or automatically closing a garage door that has remained open for more than 10 minutes when paired with a compatible smart garage device.

An outdoor sensor could also trigger a visible smart light to turn red when a gate or shed is opened. CNET says most Abode features are free to use, so owners generally do not need a subscription to use these add-ons.

“Break-ins usually don’t start at the front door. Unlocked side gates or garages present vulnerable access points often left unmonitored by homeowners. […] We built these sensors because the perimeter of a home deserves the same protection as the inside of it.”

CNET additionally compared Abode’s approach with Aqara’s P100 sensor, which can detect open and closed states, tilting, vibration and tampering without additional components and can work with Matter hubs, Apple Home, Google Home and Alexa for some tasks. Abode’s sensors are less multifunctional, but their purpose is clearer: add outdoor and garage monitoring to an existing Abode security setup without requiring a separate subscription. The 10-year garage battery claim and 500-foot range make that sensor the more distinctive of the two, while the Outdoor Contact Sensor’s value depends on whether its wider gap can avoid the false alarms that plague indoor models used outside.