Aqara G3 Camera Hub, more complete impossible

We analyze the new camera Aqara G3 Camera Hub, Compatible with HomeKit Secure Video in addition to other platforms, and that includes a Zigbee bridge and specifications that are difficult to beat.

Key features

Aqara's new chamber features a awesome spec listing, both as a camera, and in the other functionalities that it offers us:

• Multi-device Compatibility HomeKit Secure Video
• Compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
• 360º field of view
• Zigbee 3.0 Hub
• Infrared emitter for device control
• 2K recording (2304 x 1296px) (HomeKit limited to 1080p)
• Night vision
• Recording in microSD (up to 128GB) (not included)
• facial recognition
• Gesture recognition
• Alarm system
• Tracking moving objects
• 2,4 / 5Ghz WiFi connectivity
• USB-C powered (included)
• Status light (standby, streaming, paired, gesture recognition)
• Privacy mode

The first thing that stands out about this camera is its design. Inside the box the camera comes covered by a silicone sleeve “with ears” that gives it a fun design. My daughter described it as very “kawaii”, something that I had to search on the internet and that I think, indeed, describes the design of this G3 Camera Hub well. If this design does not convince you, this silicone cover can be removed, leaving a device that reminds me a lot of Eve, the white robot friend of Wall-E.

Included in the box of this G3 Hub is the USB-a to USB-C cable that is needed for its operation, as well as the necessary power adapter. We don't have much else, not even the HomeKit code. We have the camera configuration QR in the iOS Home application printed on the base of the camera, so we will never lose it. No support is included to be able to place it on the wall or ceiling, but the 1/4 thread on the base allows us to adapt any support or tripod for a camera.

If we look at the different parts of the camera, in the front we will find the main lens, which is curiously off-center, thus leaving space for the brightness sensor. Two microphones located on the sides of that front offer us a good audio quality. This front is moved up and down to modify the field of view of the camera, and also turns completely in the "off" mode leaving space for a microSD slot (up to 128GB) for those who do not want to use the storage in the camera. cloud.

In the body, the only thing that we can highlight is a luminous ring whose color changes depending on the state of the camera. It turns off in "Disconnection" mode, is blue when active and red when recording or someone is watching live. In this way, those on the other side of the camera can know if someone is watching them. This LED can be disabled from the Aqara application settings. The body is what allows the camera to move from left to right. in the back we have the loudspeaker, with which we can establish a conversation between one side of the camera and the other, or use the alarm system that this camera offers us.

Configuration

The camera setup process is very simple. It can be done directly from the iOS Home application, but it is recommended to do it from the Aqara app to be able to get the most out of it. Firmware updates, camera movement control, gesture detection ... will be done from the Aqara application. Anyway, you choose the configuration method you choose, it is quite simple, you can see it in the video at the beginning of the review.

If we have decided to use the Aqara app to add the camera to our HomeKit network, once the process is finished it will already be added to the Home application. We can keep both applications running, although this means that some functionalities will be duplicatedFor example, if we disconnect the camera from Home, it will not be enough to put it in "Disconnection" mode, we must go to the Aqara app to turn it off and then it will be completely deactivated. I personally only use the Home app and I only leave the Aqara app for firmware updates, but that will depend on everyone's taste.

Aqara Home, total control

For total control of each and every one of the functions of this camera we must use the Aqara Home app (link) from which we can view the videos at their highest quality, move the camera to vary the field of vision, set the gestures to detect, activate the detection of animals, people ... All recordings can be stored on the microSD card and we can download them to our reel. Some of the functions cannot be used at the same time, for example we cannot activate facial recognition and gesture recognition at the same time, but we can have the recognition of faces, people, animals and movements active simultaneously. It also has the recognition of abnormal sounds, something useful for example for detecting the baby's crying.

An interesting feature is gesture detection. The camera can detect gestures such as the "ok" sign, or the fully open hand, the victory sign "V" ... and trigger actions that we have previously configured. We can configure this detection so that it only activates if the face it detects is identified, or we can even decide if the gestures are with one hand or with both. The pity is that these automations that you can run must always be from within the app, you cannot activate a HomeKit environment with a gesture. Other actions that go independently to Home are face detection or use as an infrared remote control. If you combine the gestures with the infrared function, you can control your air conditioning or your TV with the camera and your hand.

The alarm system that we can create with the camera also deserves special mention. Of course, it works with HomeKit, we can set 4 different modes (at home, away from home, at night and off), but We can only link Aqara accessories to run the alarm (motion sensors, doors, etc) and everything must be configured from the Aqara app, although we can control it from HomeKit. This will be a topic that we will discuss in a video specially dedicated to it.

Home, only the essentials.

One of the characteristics of HomeKit is that all compatible accessories, whatever brand they are, comply with almost identical functionalities. This is generally good, because if you buy a motion detector, whatever brand it is, you know how it will work, and the same goes for a camera. But in this case it is bad for the buyer of this G3 Camera Hub, because we lose benefits. HomeKit does not contemplate quality higher than 1080p, nor camera movement, nor gesture recognition ... so we have to settle for the HomeKit Secure Video features, which are not few, but are very oriented to video surveillance without more extras.

By adding the camera to the Home app we will actually be adding 3 accessories: camera, motion sensor and security system. The camera has all the functionality compatible with HomeKit Secure Video, which means that we have Smart notifications according to our location, different recording states depending on whether we are at home or not, facial recognition, iCloud recording, recognition of people, animals and vehicles, as well as packages that are delivered to the door of the house, night vision, the possibility of viewing videos from the cloud for up to the previous ten days, PiP and apps for iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac and Apple TV.

All this is free as long as you have contracted iCloud storage. With 50Gb you can add a camera, with 200Gb up to five cameras and if you have 2Tb the number of cameras is unlimited. They are very advanced functions that generally have a significant monthly cost, and with HomeKit Secure Video it is "free". It is important to remember that the videos that are stored in iCloud do not take up space in your account, and that after 10 days they are deleted. You can download them to your reel whenever you want.

Editor's opinion

The Aqara G3 Camera Hub camera is undoubtedly one of the most complete on the market. With 2K video quality, Hub function for other Aqara devices, alarm system, motorization, gesture recognition, infrared emitter ... You will not find another similar camera on the market. Although for this you must use the Aqara app, given the limitations of HomeKit with this type of device. Its price of € 155 on Amazon (link) places it in TOP cameras compatible with HomeKit, being much superior to other models from other manufacturers with lower performance.