Aqara Smart Video Door Phone G4: wireless and with HomeKit

We analyze the only HomeKit Secure Video compatible video intercom that can be powered by batteriesAnd all this at a very affordable price.

Aqara continues to bet very strongly on HomeKit and its latest product is an automatic video intercom, which is also a surveillance camera, compatible with HomeKit Secure Video (and all that this implies in terms of advanced functions such as facial recognition or notifications location-based). , and which also has a very interesting particularity, because It is the only one in this category that works on batteries, so we can place it whether or not there is a cable with electricity in this location.

Features

• Connectivity 2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.11b/g/n
• 1080p video
• 162° viewing angle
• 6 AA 1.5 V LR6 batteries (included)
• Connection to red electricity (optional) 12V-24V AC 0.2A 50/60Hz 8V-24V DC 0.5A
• 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Repeater, IEEE 802.11b/g/n 1T1R
• Local storage up to 512 GB microSD (not included)
• Size 141.5×65×30.4mm
• Weight 163g (without batteries)
• Ring Size 65.2×65×28.4mm
• Doorbell weight 68g
• Home automation systems: HomeKit Secure Video, Google Home, Amazon Alexa
• Topic support: Yes, but not yet available.

Design

The Aqara video intercom has a very minimalist and modern design, with a metallic dark gray finish that looks great at the entrance of the house. It is also available in black, but personally I prefer this dark gray. The main unit is dominated by two circular elements that Aqara has cleverly designed in the same size. The top one is the one that includes the 1080p camera with night vision and 162º field of view, the status LED and the motion sensor, as well as the microphone. The bottom circle is the call button, with the bell icon right in the center and surrounded by an LED light that will indicate camera status. The button is mechanical, and you can feel the click perfectly when you press it. On the sides we find the speaker (together with the microphone allows two-way audio) and the security screw to open the back cover, covered with a rubber element to give it water resistance (IPX3).

If we remove the back cover, which has the holes for wall mounting with adhesive in case we just want to stick it on any surface, we will see the huge space to place the 6 AA batteries with which this video intercom can work, something unique in this category of devices. With these 6 batteries, we have the promise of Aqara to reach an autonomy of 4 months. Personally, I would have preferred a replaceable battery that can be charged via USB-C, but a similar result can also be achieved using rechargeable batteries. We also see inside the main unit the screws to place the wiring, for which we must use a fairly common transformer when we talk about doorbells for house entrances. If we use the wiring, the batteries can serve as an emergency solution in the event of a power failure.

The chime is very similar in design although square as if it were an exact half of the main unit. It has a loudspeaker with a power of 95dB. It is a fundamental element for the operation of the video intercom, since it will be the element that will contact our WiFi network and give it compatibility with HomeKit. The main unit is connected to the doorbell, there are two elements which are pre-configured and if the doorbell breaks, we will not be able to purchase a replacement, but we will have to buy a complete kit. This doorbell requires a continuous electrical connection, for which it has a USB-C port to which we can connect a USB-A to USB-C cable that is included in the box, but we will have to put the power adapter ourselves . It also has a microSD slot (card included) for local storage up to 512 GB if we don’t want to depend on connecting to iCloud.

Setup and Setup

The box includes everything we need to install the video intercom, except for the power adapter for the doorbell, as we have already indicated. You can opt for a fixed installation by drilling, or to stick the video intercom on any surface. Usually the position of the houses bell in the door is placed too low, which is why It’s not a bad option to be able to place it a little above the doorbell you already haveat chest height, so you can capture the faces of those who come to the door.

Once the doorbell is installed and placed, we can proceed with the configuration from the Aqara application. By connecting directly to our WiFi network, you do not need any Aqara hub for its operation, although if you have a Hub, you can also use it as an alarm system with the doorbell acting as the loudspeaker for the system siren. We have already told you how to set up an Aqara alarm system. If you want more information, you only have to consult the article to which we refer below.

Thanks to the Aqara App, we configure the video door entry unit in just a few minutes using a very direct and intuitive procedure also in Spanish, so you will have no problem following the instructions that appear on the screen. Anyway, in the video you can see the whole procedure in case you have any questions. From the Aqara application itself it will be added to our Home application and at the end we will have the video intercom already working with HomeKit and with the main functions already configured, in the absence of customizing the notification and recording settings to your liking.

Functioning

Thanks to the Aqara app, we can perfectly control the video door entry system, view the recordings, integrate its operation with the rest of the Aqara devices that we have at home and access advanced functions such as facial recognition or view the recordings that we have stored on the microSD card. But you already know that what interests us the most is the integration with HomeKit and all that HomeKit Secure Video offers us.

Because by using Apple’s home automation system we will have two devices in one: a video intercom and a surveillance camera. As a video intercom it works perfectly, and when someone calls home, notifications will appear on all our devices, allowing us to access live video, talk and listen. Even if we are watching a series or a movie on our Apple TV, we can see who is calling through a small window which will appear in the upper right corner of our TV, and which we can put in full screen if we want.

But in addition to this we have a security camera that we can use like any other compatible with HomeKit Secure Video, with the particularity that it is the first in this category with battery operation. Facial recognition, recording when detecting people, animals, packages… notifications based on our location so as not to disturb us when we are at home, recording options only when we are away from home, configuration activity zones to get out of your way places we don’t care about and unlimited iCloud cloud storage for 10 days. What HomeKit gives us with just a paid iCloud account is a real luxury that cannot be missed.

Recordings are 1080p quality (HomeKit Secure Video limitation) and it has night vision. The quality of the recordings is good, with a perfectly adequate field of vision for its mission. It only has one limitation: it won’t be able to detect packets because it doesn’t pick up the ground, unless you put it at knee height in which case you won’t see the face of the one coming home. Personally, it’s not something that in my case has the slightest importance.

Editor’s review

When we talk about security cameras compatible with HomeKit Secure Video, we have few differences because Apple imposes an already very complete system that everyone must be able to comply with to obtain its certification, but in this case there are elements that distinguish it from the rest. This Aqara G4 smart video doorbell works with batteries, and in addition to being a security camera, it serves as a video door phone for the home, and all this for a lower price than other security cameras that only have this function, so I can’t think of any reason not to recommend its purchase to anyone looking to expand or start their home CCTV network. You can buy it on Amazon for $129.99 (link)

Against

• It doesn’t capture the ground so it doesn’t recognize packets
• No rechargeable battery option