Aqara has recently broadened its range of smart home security products with the launch of two notable devices: the Camera Hub G350 and the Doorbell Camera G400. These introductions are especially significant as they strengthen the Apple Home ecosystem, offering users enhanced features at a reasonable price.
### Camera Hub G350
The Camera Hub G350 represents Aqara’s initial entry into Matter-certified cameras, building on their prior Apple HomeKit products. This gadget serves a dual role, acting as a high-definition camera as well as a Zigbee hub and Matter Controller. It features an advanced dual lens arrangement, which includes a 4K wide-angle camera paired with a 2.5K telephoto lens. Although Apple Home currently restricts video resolution to 1080p, the Camera Hub G350 showcases remarkable abilities, such as up to 9x hybrid zoom and a fluid pan-tilt mechanism that provides thorough 360-degree coverage. Its onboard AI is engineered to automatically follow individuals and pets, ensuring they stay within the camera’s view.
A notable attribute of the Camera Hub G350 is its physical lens cover, which automatically shields the camera when it is powered off, enhancing privacy. The device permits local microSD storage of up to 512 GB, along with options for NAS backup. Moreover, it is compatible with HomeKit Secure Video, although its performance will be assessed through additional testing.
### Doorbell Camera G400
The Doorbell Camera G400 is a wired doorbell option that offers 2K resolution and a 165-degree ultra-wide field of view, enabling users to clearly see visitors and packages. A key improvement is its capability for Power over Ethernet (PoE), delivering both power and a wired network connection. For those lacking an Ethernet setup, the device can connect using existing doorbell wiring and accommodates both 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi 6.
This doorbell camera is crafted for seamless integration with Apple Home and supports HomeKit Secure Video, as well as RTSP for streaming to a Network Video Recorder (NVR). It is also compatible with platforms such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings. Importantly, the local AI detection feature claims to recognize people and motion without needing an internet connection, which will be subject to further evaluation in practical usage.
### Conclusion
Aqara remains committed to prioritizing privacy and local control in its hardware offerings. The Camera Hub G350 and Doorbell Camera G400 are now available, and subsequent testing will shed light on their performance during everyday use. These devices signify a considerable advancement in bolstering smart home security while upholding affordability and ease of integration within the Apple Home ecosystem.