How long do the batteries actually last?

Manufacturer claims and real-world reports diverge. Govee and Aqara both advertise multi-year battery life, but verified-purchase reviewers and r/homeowners threads note real-world life closer to 12 months depending on alert frequency and Wi-Fi signal strength. Zigbee-based sensors (Aqara, Tapo) tend to outlast Wi-Fi sensors because they only briefly wake to talk to the hub.