Aqara Launches Camera Hub G5 Pro: A Smart Home Revolution with Matter and HomeKit Support

Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro with HomeKit and Matter

Internally at 9to5Mac, there have been a few conversations about the lack of releases in new HomeKit cameras in recent years. The challenge with HomeKit Secure Video is that the manufacturer sees no option for recurring revenue, so I suspect that might be part of it. The wait for something new is over, though. Today, Aqara has released the new Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro with HomeKit Secure Video support. I've had my hands on one for the last two weeks, so I am excited to share my experience. HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple's smart home framework. I've been using Aqara products since 2020 and am a huge fan of what they offer. It's a nice balance of low cost, but it works great. With the release of the Camera Hub G5 Pro, they've officially stepped into the outdoor camera category. It's available in both power-over-ethernet (PoE) and Wi-Fi versions. The G5 Pro is designed to work anywhere. Its 4MP resolution paired with True Color Night Vision ensures you won't miss a single detail, even at night. I've been blown away so far. The unit I am testing is the Wi-Fi only model, but I love that they're offering a PoE model, though. Especially if you have the ability to run new cabling, it makes powering the camera much easier than trying to hide the USB-C cable. The camera doesn't come with a USB-C wall plug, so you'll need to provide your own. You'll also get screws and anchors in case you want to mount it. The PoE edition is also great for places where you have Wi-Fi deadspots. Smart home wise, the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro has everything you want: it includes built-in Zigbee 3.0, Thread support as a border router, and Matter compatibility so it works great with HomeKit, Samsung, Amazon, and Google. On the HomeKit side, it supports HomeKit Secure Video as well. It also supports eMMC storage to syncing with local NAS servers, etc. For my testing, I stuck with HomeKit Secure Video. If you're using the Aqara app, it has on-device AI, which detects and recognizes faces, vehicles, pets, and packages. Otherwise, you'll have access to what Apple has inside of HomeKit (very similar depending on which camera you're using). The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro is super easy to install and set up. The HomeKit/Matter code is on the camera. Plug it up to power (or PoE), let it boot up, scan, and then HomeKit completes its onboarding process. I had zero issues, and everything went through on the first try. The camera looks awesome during the day. Where it really shines is at night, though. It has a built-in light, so when it comes on, you get a really impressive recording. You can see some examples below of this camera (with the light off) vs. a camera without it. The light can be broken out independently from the camera as a HomeKit tile as well. For an outdoor HomeKit camera, it's really the best option on the market right now. Kudos to the Aqara team to meeting a need with modern HomeKit Secure Video cameras that work outside. The market has been missing them.

This outdoor security camera brings Matter connectivity outside

The weatherized Camera Hub G5 Pro from Aqara packs a hub for Zigbee and Matter devices, effectively bringing Matter connectivity to outdoor areas. Now here's a clever idea. An outdoor security camera that not only keeps watch over your backyard spaces, but also bathes them in Matter and Zigbee connectivity. That's the idea behind Aqara's Camera Hub G5 Pro, a weatherized 4MP security cam with a smart home hub that bridges Zigbee devices and acts a Thread border router for Matter products. Matter, of course, is the new hotness in smart home, promising to bridge the gaps between Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and the other big smart-home protocols. Thanks to Thread, Matter devices can create self-healing networks that can extend throughout the home, but reaching outside your house can still be a tricky task. A big selling point of the Camera Hub G5 Pro is that it can add a Matter hub (including Matter controller and Thread border router functionality) outside, perfect for boosting connectivity for outdoor Matter devices that might otherwise be straining the limits of your home Matter network. The Camera Hub G5 Pro also works as a Zigbee hub, meaning it can extend the network range of Zigbee-enabled lights and other devices. Of course, the Camera Hub G5 Pro is a security camera, too, and it marks Aqara's first outdoor-capable cam. Available in both dual-band Wi-Fi and PoE (Power-over-Ethernet) versions, the Camera Hub G5 Pro boasts 4MP (1520p) resolution and color night vision, complete with an f/1.0 aperture lens and a graphene-cooled 1/18-inch sensor designed to deliver sharp color imagery in low-light conditions. An on-board neural processing unit allows for local AI detection of people (including faces), vehicles, packages, and pets, while the built-in mic and speaker enable two-way chat. The camera also offers end-to-end encryption plus support for Aqara or HomeKit Secure Video cloud storage, or there's also integrated eMMC storage if you'd rather keep your videos local. The Camera Hub G5 Pro comes with an IP65 rating, meaning it should be dust-proof as well as resistant to powerful water jets from any direction. In other words, it shouldn't have any trouble weathering the elements. The included swiveling bracket lets you mount the cam on outdoor walls or under eaves. Priced at $199.99 for the PoE version or $179.99 for dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity (you can also choose between white and grey finishes), the Aqara Camera Hub is shipping now via Amazon. We'll have a full review once we check out a test unit.

Aqara Launches Camera Hub G5 Pro

Smart home company Aqara today announced the global availability of its Camera Hub G5 Pro, which is designed specifically for outdoor surveillance. The G5 Pro integrates with the Apple Home app and it supports HomeKit Secure Video. Available in two colors, the G5 Pro provides 2.6K Quad HD recording with True Color Night Vision that Aqara says provides clear images even at night. The True Color Night Vision feature supports 1520p resolution and offers a 133 degree field of view with an f/1.0 aperture that captures more light than traditional f/2.0 lenses. A built-in neural processing unit allows for on-device AI object detection and sound detection, so the camera is able to analyze footage and alert homeowners of potential threats like an individual lingering or a stolen package, plus it can send alerts when the lens is obstructed and packages are detected. The AI can also be used to set up an automation that will deter intruders, and the camera has a 100-decibel speaker and a dimmable spotlight. The G5 Pro is a Matter Controller, Thread Border Router, and it connects to Aqara Matter bridges, so it can improve smart home networking connectivity. Live and recorded video is end-to-end encrypted, and stored footage is synced to iCloud or Aqara's cloud services. It can also be set up to sync footage to a local NAS system. Both Power-over-Ethernet and dual-band Wi-Fi are supported, with PoE offering an option for uninterrupted connection. With the on-device AI, the camera is able to record critical events and trigger automations even when the internet is out.

Aqara's first outdoor camera is this smart home enthusiast's dream device - here's why

The camera is wired, so placement is limited, and there is no expandable storage, so you need a subscription to access video history or bypass it through video server software. Security cameras need to offer something unique to impress me. I've tested many brands and have come to prefer some over others, but I'm pleased to say the new Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro is one that I truly like. What makes this security camera unique? It can double as a smart home hub, and it's Aqara's first outdoor security camera. Also: I tested this 2-in-1 smart lock with no subscription fees - and it impressed everyone The G5 Pro is a Thread border router and a Matter controller and has Zigbee support for Aqara devices that require a hub. That means you can buy this Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro to surveil your home and add other Aqara devices without having to buy a separate hub. I have two Aqara hubs in my home, an Aqara Hub M2 that was replaced by the newer Aqara Hub M3. This camera is enough to replace both of them -- and surveil inside or outside my house. Also: 7 crucial rules for setting up a home security camera - and risky spots to avoid This isn't the first Aqara camera to double as a smart home hub. Aqara already has the Camera Hub G3, a 2K indoor security camera, and the Camera Hub Indoor G2H Pro, a 1080p indoor camera. The new G5 Pro, however, is the first time Aqara is bringing a hub to the outside of the home, as this security camera is weatherproof, and the first Aqara outdoor camera, aside from its video doorbells. The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro doesn't support expanding its local storage, so you can't add a microSD card to record clips. But you can get creative with it, thanks to the G5 Pro's real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) support. With local RTSP access, you can use video server software via Home Assistant, Frigate, or Blue Iris to record and manage your footage locally. RTSP also lets you store video locally on a NAS (network-attached storage) or SMB (server message block), bypassing cloud storage subscriptions. Of course, when you use Home Assistant to manage your camera, you can also more easily customize your existing smart home devices and set up alerts without relying on Aqara's cloud services. I run a HomeKit smart home, so I use Apple Home as my main smart home controller. (Because I test smart home devices for a living, I also have Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings running.) Also: This smart lock is feature-rich, solves a common problem - and it's 40% off The G5 Pro camera is natively compatible with Apple Home with HomeKit Secure Video (HKSV), so it works seamlessly and swiftly through the Apple app. It's also compatible with Alexa, Google, and SmartThings. Smart home hubs are typically single-function tabletop devices that only work to connect low-energy smart home devices that can't directly connect to your Wi-Fi. These smaller devices, like cameras and sensors, connect to a hub that then connects to the internet. While a hub frees you from having to add 12 devices to your Wi-Fi (potentially congesting your router), hubs generally don't do much else. I like the SwitchBot Hub because it also functions as a thermometer and has buttons that can be programmed to trigger routines and devices. Now, with the launch of the G5 Pro -- Aqara's first outdoor camera that's also a hub -- the multifunctional hub just moved a bit more mainstream. Also: I switched to the EufyCam S3 Pro and can't go back to grainy night vision Aside from the convenience of combining home security with a smart home hub, the G5 Pro's ingenuity lies in its many AI-powered visual recognition features. The camera can not only detect vehicles, people, animals, and packages, but it can learn to recognize faces and even specific vehicles. Using the camera's AI recognition, you can automate functions -- such as opening the garage when a specific vehicle approaches the house, prompting a camera response when a person has been lingering on your property, and triggering an alarm when the lens is obstructed. The camera has four AI-powered audio recognition capacities, including crying, an alarm sound, barking, and coughing. These allow the camera to be used as more than security surveillance, as evidenced by the notifications I got of my toddler crying while grandma was babysitting. Also: If you use Ring, this is the doorbell I recommend most (and it's easy to install) The AI runs locally on the G5 Pro, so you don't need a subscription to enjoy all the custom alerts and issue automations from them. I've tested the camera indoors and outdoors and I love it so far. The Aqara Camera G5 Pro can be a smart home enthusiast's dream device, especially with PoE and RTSP support. While I got the Wi-Fi version to test it in different places in and around my house, I can appreciate how convenient a PoE model would be. Even if you don't like to tinker with your smart home and are OK with paying a monthly cloud subscription, the fact that this camera is so great at running on-device AI and doubles as a smart home hub makes it a great option for both new smart home users and seasoned tinkerers.