Minut makes several promises to customers who buy its Minut Smart Home Alarm. The manufacturer says its all-in-one device is easy to set up and easy to use, exceptional in accuracy, low in cost, and more sensitive to privacy than competing home security systems.
The simplicity and low cost stem from the fact that the Minut doesn’t rely on outboard sensors sprinkled around your home to keep tabs on things, and it’s more private than most systems because it doesn’t rely on cameras or microphones to monitor what’s happening.
I was naturally skeptical of these claims, but Minut is one of those rare devices that lives up to its promises and my expectations. All of them. It’s also a stylish device about the size of a hockey puck, so it even looks good.
This review is part of TechHive’s coverage of the BEST SMART HOME SYSTEMS, where you’ll find reviews of competing products, plus a buyer’s guide to the features you should consider when shopping.
Minut uses a unique technology as the basis for its security system: passive infrared (PIR) heat detection. Rather than detecting motion optically through movement, it detects the heat emitted by living things. When mounted on the ceiling like a smoke detector, the device can monitor a circle underneath that’s about 25 square meters in area (about 5.5 meters in diameter). If anything walks through this area, Minut will know. You can deploy additional Minuts if you need to cover more area or additional entrance points.
But Minut isn’t just an intrusion detector, it’s also packed with a variety of additional sensors designed to give you extra intelligence about your home. These include a noise meter, an ambient temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor. You can set various thresholds for each of these sensors, so you’re alerted if any of them are crossed.
But before we delve into Minut’s functions, let’s talk setup. Great news: It’s painlessly simple, just as advertised. The most onerous part of the process is initially charging the Minut hub, which includes a rechargeable battery that’s juiced up via a standard USB-C cable. It’s a beefy battery, and it takes up to 6 hours to charge, so plan accordingly.
While you’re waiting, you can occupy your time by installing the ceiling mount, which is a simple metal plate with a single hole punched through the center. You drive a screw through this hole and into the ceiling, and that’s it.
The Minut itself is magnetic, so it adheres to the plate with no effort required. When you need to recharge it (Minut says a full charge will last about 6 months), you just yank it off the ceiling.
My only real hiccup with Minut: You’re intended to mount the unit in your entry hall (in order to catch people coming and going), but my entry has a vaulted ceiling, and with a turret design at that. There was simply no way to mount Minut in this room.
Ultimately, I had to install it in a nearby hallway, though you could also experiment with mounting it on a wall, as it also seemed to work just fine when mounted vertically.
Minut’s mobile app sets up quickly and easily after a brief registration and sync operation that connects the Minut to your Wi-Fi network. Afterwards, some helpful in-app tips guide you on how to make the most of the system.