Akubela HyPanel Explained: Which Panel Fits Your Villa?

Most villa owners meet Akubela's HyPanel range as a set of good-looking screens and pick by size. The real differences sit behind the wall: some HyPanels run on mains power and switch lights directly, while others need low-voltage power or Power over Ethernet and a data cable. Choosing the wrong one usually shows up after plastering, when the right cable is not in the wall.

This guide sorts the range by the job each panel does and the wiring it needs. If you are still planning the wider system, start with our guide to smart home automation in Saudi Arabia. Then use this one to match a HyPanel to each room, compare the four models side by side, and avoid the mistakes that cost most to fix.

What is an Akubela HyPanel?

A HyPanel is a wall-mounted Android touch panel that controls a smart home and acts as its wireless hub at the same time. Across the four models covered here, a few things are shared:

• Zigbee gateway: each HyPanel is a Zigbee 3.0 gateway, so Zigbee switches, sensors and modules connect to it directly.
• Built-in sensors: each lists proximity, light, temperature and humidity sensors, so a panel can wake as you approach and report room conditions.
• Network: each has Wi-Fi and a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port.
• Flush mounting: each fits a wall flush box, so plan positions before the walls are finished.
• Indoor only: each is rated for indoor use, with an operating range topping out at 50 °C or 55 °C depending on the model.

Does a HyPanel need a separate hub?

No, for Zigbee devices. Akubela rates the Pro and Ultra as Zigbee 3.0 gateways for up to 128 sub-devices, so the panel itself links Zigbee switches, sensors and modules without a separate hub.

Does the HyPanel work with KNX?

Yes, through the KNX version of the HyPanel Pro (PG71N-KNX-EU), which takes its KNX connection at 21 to 30 V DC alongside its Zigbee gateway. If your villa is wired for KNX, our comparison of KNX and Zigbee for smart homes explains how the two standards split the work.

Which HyPanel suits which room?

Match the panel to the room's role first, then check the wiring it needs. These are the four models and the numbers that separate them:

• HyPanel Supreme (PHX1-ST): 12.35-inch 2560 x 1600 screen, Android 12, 4 GB RAM, 5 MP camera with privacy shutter, 12–24 V DC.
• HyPanel Ultra (PH81): 10.36-inch 2000 x 1200 screen, Android 12, 4 GB RAM, and in its PoE version, PoE+ or 12–24 V DC at 15 W maximum.
• HyPanel Pro (PG71): 8-inch 1280 x 800 screen, Android 10, 2 GB RAM, in mains, PoE and KNX versions.
• HyPanel Lux (RT61-R2-EU): 2.1-inch 480 x 480 round screen with four buttons, a metal knob and a light ring, 180–260 V AC.

Supreme or Ultra: which suits the main living area?

Both work as the villa's main control point. The Supreme adds a larger 2.5K screen, a 5 MP camera and air gesture control, which Akubela calls Air Touch, while the Ultra's PoE version takes power and data over one cable. Akubela positions both for large homes, where a big screen makes whole-house control easier.

Where does the HyPanel Pro fit?

In bedrooms, family rooms and kitchens. Its 8-inch screen gives room-level control at a smaller size, and the mains version (PG71-R2-EU) includes a two-gang relay rated to 1200 W in total, so it can also switch the room's lights.

Can a HyPanel replace a light switch?

Yes. The HyPanel Lux runs on mains power and has a two-gang relay rated to 1200 W in total, 400 W per gang for LED loads, so it switches lights like the switch it replaces. Its knob, buttons and RGB light ring suit corridors, majlis entrances and anywhere a small control works better than a screen.

How do the HyPanel models compare?

The four models differ most in screen size, power and wiring, and the room each suits. The table sets them side by side.

Factor	HyPanel Lux	HyPanel Pro	HyPanel Ultra	HyPanel Supreme
Screen	2.1", 480 x 480	8", 1280 x 800	10.36", 2000 x 1200	12.35", 2560 x 1600
Power	180–260 V AC	Mains, PoE or KNX version	PoE+ or 12–24 V DC (PoE version)	12–24 V DC
Built-in relays	Two-gang, 1200 W	Two-gang, 1200 W (mains version)	Two dry contacts	Six dry contacts
Camera	None listed	5 MP with shutter (PG71-R2-EU)	None listed (PoE version)	5 MP with shutter
Physical controls	Knob, four buttons, light ring	Touch screen	Touch screen	Touch screen and Air Touch
Memory	1 GB RAM	2 GB RAM	4 GB RAM	4 GB RAM
Best room	Corridors, entrances, majlis doors	Bedrooms, kitchens, family rooms	Main living area	Main living area of large villas

Which HyPanels can run on PoE?

The Ultra and the Pro have PoE versions, which take power and data over one network cable from a PoE switch. The Ultra's PoE version uses the PoE+ standard (IEEE 802.3at), so the switch port must supply it; our guide to Power over Ethernet in Saudi Arabia covers sizing the switch.

What do Saudi villa owners need to consider?

Four local factors decide whether a HyPanel installation works well: heat, wiring timing, language and support. None of them shows up on a datasheet comparison.

Can HyPanels cope with Saudi heat?

Only in cooled rooms. Akubela rates the Supreme and Ultra for −10 °C to 50 °C, and the Pro and Lux to 55 °C, all for indoor use only, so keep panels off walls that take direct sun and out of unconditioned spaces such as garages and roof rooms.

When should the wiring be decided?

Before plastering. Mains models need live and neutral at the box, the Ultra and Supreme need a low-voltage supply or a PoE data cable, and Akubela recommends a 50 mm deep box for the Pro and Lux, so a late change means chasing walls.

Does the interface work in Arabic?

Confirm it on the model you choose. [NEED: confirm the Arabic interface languages Akubela supports on the HyPanel range], and test the BelaHome app in Arabic too, since family members often use the app as much as the panel.

What should you ask about warranty and support?

Ask who handles warranty claims in the Kingdom, how quickly a failed panel can be swapped, and who maintains the system's configuration. A whole-house panel that fails leaves rooms without their main control until it is replaced.

Blue Edge Company, founded in 2016 and based in Dammam in the Eastern Province, is a value-added technology distributor that supplies and supports Akubela smart home and building automation, including KNX and Zigbee control panels, for projects across Saudi Arabia. Its Akubela smart home range sits alongside structured cabling and networking for the data and PoE runs the larger panels need.

What are the most common HyPanel mistakes?

The costly mistakes are nearly all about wiring and placement. They are listed worst first.

• Choosing the panel after the walls are closed. A Supreme or Ultra needs a low-voltage or PoE cable that a switch position does not have, so a late choice means chasing walls and repainting.
• Using shallow back boxes. Akubela recommends 50 mm deep boxes for the Pro and Lux, and a shallow box can stop the panel sitting flush, so the box has to be replaced.
• Under-powering PoE ports. The Ultra's PoE version needs PoE+, and a switch that only supplies standard PoE will not power it reliably, which means replacing the switch.
• Putting big panels in every room. A Supreme in each bedroom adds cost without adding control, when a HyPanel Pro or Lux does the same room-level job.
• Mounting panels in sunlit or unconditioned spaces. Heat beyond the rated range shortens the panel's life and can shut it down in summer.

Map the villa, then choose a panel for each room

Walk the villa plan and mark the main living area, each bedroom and family room, and the switch positions you want to keep. Give the main area a Supreme or Ultra, each main room a Pro, and key switch positions a Lux.

Then decide the wiring for each position: mains for the Lux and mains Pro, PoE or low-voltage power for the Ultra and Supreme, and the KNX version of the Pro if the villa runs KNX. Use the flowchart below to check each choice.

Finally, give your electrician the box depth and cable list before first fix, and book configuration once the panels are in. Our guide to smart villa solutions in Saudi Arabia covers the other systems to plan at the same stage.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What back box does a HyPanel need?

  All four models flush-mount into a standard wall box: Akubela lists EU and UK modules for the Pro and Lux, and EU, UK and US modules for the Ultra and Supreme. For the Pro and Lux, Akubela recommends a 50 mm deep box and says 40 mm may work in some cases, so specify 50 mm at first fix.

• Which HyPanel models have a camera?

  The HyPanel Supreme and the mains HyPanel Pro (PG71-R2-EU) list a 5 MP camera with a privacy shutter, which closes the lens when the camera is not in use. The Lux and the PoE version of the Ultra list no camera, so check the datasheet of the exact version you order if a camera matters.

• Which app controls a HyPanel?

  Akubela's BelaHome app, which brings the panels and connected devices into one dashboard on a phone. Akubela also lists a voice assistant called Bela. Set the app up for every family member during handover, so the home can be controlled from any room and from outside the villa.

• Can a HyPanel connect to wired inputs and outputs?

  Yes, on the larger models. The Ultra and Supreme list eight digital inputs and RS485, and the Ultra adds two dry contact outputs, while the Supreme lists six. These let the panel read wired sensors or trigger other equipment directly, without an extra module.

• Can I mix HyPanel models in one villa?

  Yes. Mixing models is the normal approach, with a large panel in the main living area and smaller panels in individual rooms. Because every model is a Zigbee gateway, plan which panel each group of Zigbee devices pairs with, so each room's devices sit on the nearest panel.

Sources & References

• Akubela — HyPanel Supreme PHX1-ST datasheet (distributor-hosted) vendor documentation
• Akubela — HyPanel Ultra PH81-PoE-ST datasheet (distributor-hosted) vendor documentation
• Akubela — HyPanel Pro PG71-R2-EU datasheet (distributor-hosted) vendor documentation
• Akubela — HyPanel Pro PG71N-KNX-EU datasheet (distributor-hosted) vendor documentation
• Akubela — HyPanel Lux RT61 datasheet (distributor-hosted) vendor documentation
• Akubela — blog post introducing the HyPanel Supreme and Ultra vendor documentation

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Published 9 October 2026 • Last updated 17 October 2026 • This article is reviewed when standards, regulations or product guidance change.