Aqara G4 smart video doorbell: Elevating home security with advanced features
Aqara G4 Smart Video Doorbell. Pictures: Aqara.
In a market saturated with smart home devices, the Aqara G4 Smart Video Doorbell offers innovation, promising a seamless integration of cutting-edge technology and convenience. Positioned as the pioneer in supporting HomeKit Secure Video (HSV) without hardwiring, the G4 distinguishes itself from its competitors.
Upon receiving the Aqara G4, the unboxing experience is clean and efficient, presenting the user with a well-packaged set of components. The doorbell is sleek and modern, available in either black or white colourways. It features a large push button that’s easy to see for callers.
The installation process is remarkably user-friendly, offering flexibility in mounting options. Whether you choose to screw it onto the wall or use the provided adhesive, the setup caters to various preferences.
One of the standout features of the G4 is its impressive battery life using standard alkaline AA cells, with the manufacturer claiming approximately four months of usage before replacement is required. Powered by six easily installable batteries, the G4 aims to balance convenience and longevity, but a dedicated built-in rechargeable battery might have been better. The G4 can alternatively be wired to an 8–24V DC or 12–24V AC transformer, in which case the batteries will only start in the event of a power outage.
In my experience, after a month of continuous use, the battery indicator still reflects a substantial charge and replacing them is quick and easy. You could use rechargeable batteries, but you may not get as long a run.
The Aqara G4 boasts a high-quality sensor with night vision capabilities, capturing video in crystal-clear 1080p resolution and a 16:9 aspect ratio. This design choice provides a wider field of view than competitors with square ratios, making it ideal for various applications, especially when monitoring larger areas or outdoor spaces. However, while you get a great field of view on the horizontal plane, being unable to see packages left on the ground might be a dealbreaker for some.
The night vision option effectively ensures visibility even in low-light conditions. Image quality during daytime is excellent, with great clarity.
The G4 has an indoor chime that boasts a robust 95 dB speaker. The device's USB-C port enhances flexibility, allowing users to optimise its placement while maintaining easy accessibility.
The G4 uses a voice-changing dialogue technology that allows users to modify the intercom audio with options like 'uncle voice,' 'robot voice,' and 'clown voice.' This adds a layer of entertainment and serves as a privacy-enhancing measure, safeguarding the user's identity.
You can also customise ringing periods and volumes. The 'Do Not Disturb' mode adds an extra layer of tranquillity, ensuring that intrusive ringing won't disrupt your peace of mind even in the dead of night.
Regarding privacy concerns, the G4 allows users to designate up to three specific areas on the screen for privacy protection. Once set, these areas become blocked on the live screen and video feed, offering heightened privacy protection for neighbours. This feature makes the G4 Video Doorbell an ideal choice for those residing in flats or apartments.
The chime supports local storage through a micro SD card slot, providing an alternative to cloud-based solutions. Users can customise chime alerts or redirect them to other Apple devices, such as HomePods and Apple TVs, offering a personalised and versatile user experience. If you’re not in the Apple ecosystem, it also works with Google Home and Alexa devices and supports IFTTT. It also allows local streaming to Google Nest and Amazon Echo smart displays. The G4 is also compatible with Matter.
I’ve been testing the Aqara G4 for a while and one of the HomeKit Secure Video. This feature facilitates the local processing of recorded footage, significantly enhancing privacy and security. Motion detection triggers recordings that are securely encrypted and processed on Apple devices like Apple TV or other HomeKit hubs.
One of the standout features is the seamless integration of facial recognition, utilising the user's photo library to identify individuals approaching the doorbell. This advanced AI capability enables users to receive accurate alerts about familiar faces, adding an extra layer of security. You can also take photos of family and friends within the Aqara app, or if you’re using HomeKit, you can enable Face Recognition there, but iCloud Photos must be enabled.
The G4 supports up to 512GB of local storage via a microSD card in the wireless door chime. You also get a rolling seven days of cloud storage, using Aqara servers for free. If you pay an Aqara subscription, you get 30-day storage at 2K resolution, depending on your Aqara camera and the option to intelligently filter out important recordings for quick searching and viewing of events.
The Aqara G4 smart video doorbell combines the convenience of a battery-powered device with the advanced features of HomeKit Secure Video for Apple users and catering for Amazon and Google devices. Priced competitively at €135.99, the G4 presents a compelling option for those seeking an affordable, feature-rich video doorbell solution.
Aqara G4 smart video doorbell Expert
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