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I’ve used a few doorbell cameras and really enjoyed my time with the Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4. Like many Aqara products, the G4 is packed with features at a reasonable price and is compatible with HKSV, Google and Alexa. There’s a lot on offer, so let’s get straight to the point!
Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Price and availability
The Video Doorbell G4 is available only through Amazon for $120. As I write this, there is a $22 instant discount coupon that you can clip to apply to your purchase. Currently available only in the US.
The G4 is priced lower than competitors like Arlo, Ring, or Nest, and doesn’t require a subscription to record video, as the repeater features expandable storage for local recording. This will save you a few dollars compared to competing products. It’s important to note that for a few extra dollars, some competing products offer a vertically wider field of view and slightly higher video resolution.
The G4 is available in black or shadow grey.
Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Specifications and Features
The Aqara Video Doorbell G4 is powered by six AA batteries, which can be standard or rechargeable, but will last up to four months depending on how often the activity is triggered. The G4 can also be connected to an AC/DC transformer like some of the The best video doorbells available.. The video is 1080p with a 162-degree field of view, but in my testing I found that I wish it had a larger vertical field of view. I have it placed quite low on my door, as you’ll see in the ultra-wide shot of my patio below. At that level, I can see up to the head height of a 6-foot person, but I can’t see the ground, so when the packages are placed on my doorstep, they are out of sight.
This is also because of the way my porch is set up. It’s pretty narrow, so if you have a larger front porch, you’ll be able to see more of the person as they get closer to the camera. However, you probably won’t see a package on the ground if it’s placed too close to your door.
The G4 has some nifty privacy and AI features, like on-device facial recognition. With the Aqara Home app, you can answer the doorbell with an “uncle,” robot, or clown voice. Another useful privacy feature is the ability to mask areas of the image that may contain sensitive or unwanted views of neighbors’ apartments or houses.
The repeater and doorbell units are single band 2.4 GHz b/g/n only. While the doorbell can be battery or wired powered, with batteries used as backup, the repeater must be connected to an external power source via a USB-C connection. The repeater also supports local storage of up to 512GB via microSD card, allowing you to set up 24/7 recording without needing an internet or cloud connection.
The repeater/doorbell actually has quite a few features. It features a powerful 95 dB speaker, which is great for the custom ringtones you can set with it. You can use facial recognition to activate those custom tones based on who is at the door. It can also be configured with other automations to act as an alarm. Say, if you have other Aqara products like window sensors and someone breaks into that window.
Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Build and Appearance
The G4 will probably evoke strong emotions in different users because of its appearance. While some people like the slim style of the Arlo Video Doorbellthe Aqara G4 is larger and squarer like the Ring doorbell. Its LED-illuminated doorbell button and camera module are large and obvious, not at all discreet.
The G4 feels substantial and is IP rated, although the instruction manual recommends placing it on a porch or other shady area. It is available in two colors, both only in dark tones. If you’re in an apartment and can’t permanently modify the front door or change the doorbell, this unit fits into one of my favorite temporary brackets, the Doorbell Boa. It’s a perfect fit on the front of the Boa due to the large buttons on the front of the G4, but it works with minimal fuss.
Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Ease of use
Setting up the Video Doorbell G4 was very easy. There are QR codes to download the Aqara Home app and link them to HomeKit. The repeater is the part that connects to your home router, while the actual doorbell connects to it. Therefore, you will first set up the repeater by adding it to the Aqara Home app and following the instructions.
I recommend setting everything up on Aqara Home first and then connecting to Apple Home because there are a lot of features worth using that aren’t exposed to HomeKit. Once you set up features like image masking or custom ringtones, you’ll be able to access and use the G4 through Apple’s Home app.
One aspect that doesn’t get enough attention is how easy it is to use most of these HKSV-compatible cameras with your Apple Watch. The folks in Cupertino, CA deserve their flowers for creating devices whose connectivity is pretty solid across the hardware. I love being out and about and checking the Home app on my Apple Watch to see who’s at the door. I can even control the speaker volume and talk directly through the watch to anyone at the door.
Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Competition
There is solid competition in the connected doorbell space, but Aqara’s offering stands out for its value. You get a lot of features for less money than with the competition.
If you need a wider view of the front porch, you can look at the Nest doorbell camera. I have used it and the view is excellent. No matter how narrow the space in front of my door is, I can see a whole person and packages on the floor. The problem, however, is that it is not compatible with HomeKit. Belkin’s Wemo brand has its compact smart doorbell camera, which is compatible with HomeKit, although I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet. It comes with a wider field of view. and price, almost double the cost.
Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Should you buy it?
You should buy the Aqara Video Doorbell G4 if…
- You want a great doorbell at a fair price
- You want a doorbell camera that runs on batteries
- You want lots of customization options
You should not buy the Aqara Video Doorbell G4 if…
- You need a wider field of vision
- You don’t want to deal with a two-piece unit.
Aqara G4 Video Doorbell: Verdict
As I said before, I haven’t tried Wemo’s offering yet, but of the ones I’ve tried, this one is vying for best in show! The Aqara Video Doorbell G4 gives you a ton of customizations, some very cool privacy features, and most importantly, solid video performance with timely notifications. If you’re all in on the HomeKit ecosystem, you might want to go for Aqara and its video doorbell.
Great features, great price.
With the right amount of features and price, Aqara continues to set the standard for smart home products that are reliable and affordable. Just know that the video aspect ratio may be too narrow vertically for some.
