Aqara Camera Hub G3 review: a smart and understanding security camera

Aqara Camera Hub G3 is an AI-powered security camera with built-in support for Zigbee 3.0, IR control and IFTTT protocol. It is very nice looking, easy to use and smart in its operations.

pros

• Detect motions, people, pets, faces and gestures using artificial intelligence
• Intuitive camera control app
• Works with HomeKit (including HomeKit secure video), Google Home, Alexa
• No subscription required

Minuses

• The footprint is larger than other cameras on the market
• The user interface of the app needs some work

Price: $109.99

Security cameras are no longer a luxury; it has become a necessity. And while you’re spending a few dollars, you don’t like a multifaceted product. And Aqara Camera Hub G3 is a multifaceted camera in the literal and figurative sense. If you need know-how, read the review and find it yourself.

Aqara Camera Hub G3: a cute kitty guarding your home

I have an entire article to explain why Akara is smart; In the meantime, let me talk about how adorably cute the Aqara Camera Hub G3 is. The all-white aesthetic and smooth, curved form factor look almost flawless. However, the cat-ear rubber top takes over.

Although, if you don’t like the cute aesthetic, the ears can be removed. I must say that the arrangement of the camera, microphone and IR LEDs is aesthetically pleasing; it does not clutter up the space and fits the theme.

If you need privacy, G3, the camera face can be flipped to the privacy mode screen with eyes closed. There’s also a conveniently located microSD card slot that supports cards up to 128GB. Everything goes well with the overall feline look.

There is also a button with LED light at the base of the cat’s body; it glows blue when active and red when streaming or recording video. The slightly less bright white base looks sturdy and has a super-smooth spinning mechanism.

I have to praise the Aqara Camera Hub G3 for its silent movements; when the camera pans or tilts, all actions are smooth and silent. The base also has a 1/4″ tripod mount to help with mounting.

I don’t know about you, but these little design elements are impressive. It shows the integrity of the design and thoughtfulness of the product.

And not only looks; The Aqara Camera Hub G3 has some smart stuff too. Since we’re done with the Hub G3’s versatility, let’s now explore its versatility. (sorry not sorry ?)

Friends with everyone

Yes, it matters what the camera can do and how well it does it. However, compatibility is paramount. IAkara gets high marks in this section. The G3 offers full compatibility, meaning it supports HomeKit (Apple devices), Alexa, and Google Assistant.

No subscription issues

Incredibly, Aqara doesn’t have a “mandatory”subscription clause. You can use its services without paying the company a monthly or annual fee. This allows you to store data locally on a NAS, SD card, or third-party cloud storage such as HomeKit Secure Video.

What’s more, Aqara even provides free storage for footage. This means that in the event of a triggered event, such as an abnormal sound or unexpected human movement, the camera will record a short video clip (7-10 seconds) that will be synchronized with the Agara cloud.

Protecting the nooks and crannies of your home

The pretty face (camera module) boasts a 110° wide-angle lens. And when combined with powerful and smooth pan and tilt motors, you get a 360° field of view.

Although the G3 camera does not have a security console, you can watch videos and control the camera using the Aqara Home app and the Apple Home app (limited functionality here). Cruise left/right or tilt up/down or set predefined positions and jump to them with one touch.

In addition, there is also a cruise mode. You can give the camera precise instructions and the camera will automatically pan/tilt accordingly, allowing you to scan the scene. The only thing missing here is a zoom lens, so while you can travel around the house in the app, you can’t zoom in or out on certain places.

You can connect the camera to an Alexa-powered smart display or Google Assistant via 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi and broadcast live. It has a lot of intelligent AI technologies built into it, but I will cover that in another section.

Video quality matters!

Want a crystal clear image? Aqara Camera Hub G3 is equipped with a 2304×1296 pixel high resolution sensor to handle this. You can view 2K video with dynamic bit rate technology, so even the picture is clear while cruising. Notably, if you’re using HomeKit secure video, the recording will be in Full 1080p due to HomeKit restrictions.

And if conversations are important to you, the G3 supports two-way conversations. The built-in microphone is quite sensitive and clearly picks up sounds during a call. I’m also impressed with the speaker; For a security camera, the sound is much better.

AI that recognizes you and your gesture

Equipped with an NPU processor, the G3 Camera Hub has multiple options for detecting people, pets, unusual sounds, faces, and even hand gestures. And this is for a local recognition system powered by Al; he does it great. Here is a quick example.

When tracking people or pets is enabled, the camera instantly captures their actions and follows them. And as you can see in the video above, it adjusts the view when people join or leave the frame.

However, there is one problem: you can only use one mode at a time.; i.e. you can use person tracking, face recognition, or hand gestures.

Face recognition

The camera has an incredibly fast and smart face recognition system. Although, unlike the iPhone, it doesn’t scan your face; you must import your photos. But what is the use of this? Well, you can set triggers.

Aqara Camera Hub G3 will perform the specified actions when a person comes into view. For example, you can set a push notification when your kids come home, or turn on privacy mode when you get home. It’s like setting up personalized face-triggered automation.

Gestures

You can also use hand gestures to trigger certain automations. There are five hand gestures, V sign, four, five, ok and a gun. So in total you have five different action triggers. Notably, you can also turn on the two-handed gesture recognition mode, which will improve accuracy.

Smart home controller

Remember the multifaceted comment? Well, that’s the other side I was talking about. Besides the camera-specific function, Aqara Camera Hub G3 can also act as a smart home control center.

With built-in support for the Zigbee 3.0 hub, up to 128 Aqara sensors and controllers can be connected to it, allowing you to enjoy home automation, remote control, and support for third-party ecosystems.

There’s also a built-in IR controller that makes your existing IR capable devices smart and supports local automation. And if that’s not all, you can also use the IFTTT protocol and set up a specific scene’s automation.

And if this all sounds a little complicated, don’t worry; between the manual and the app, everything is explained step by step.

Privacy Matters

Privacy is a major concern when it comes to the camera that records your videos, voice, and images. Aqara claims to care about our privacy and certainly keeps the conversation going. First, having a privacy screen, also known as physical disguise, can be enabled manually and automatically.

Then you don’t have a built-in subscription model, which means your data doesn’t go to the Aqara server. Thus, the likelihood of hacking or data leakage from their end is minimized.

In addition, data streams are encrypted and supported by the latest WPA3 Wi-Fi security standard. And the fact that the camera is certified and meets all the safety standards set by Apple, Google and Amazon is a great achievement in itself.

Should I bring a kitten Akara home?

Aqara kitty, also known as Aqara Camera Hub G3, is a versatile single camera product. It has a nice appearance, high-quality camera and sensors, AI recognition, smart home support, automation triggers, 360° viewing angle, silent movements, privacy protocols, no subscription enforcement, and much more.

Lots of positives with very few negatives. Yes, I think the app should be more user friendly and tutorials can be part of it; but other than that, it’s a perfect camera.

Price: $109.99