Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 overview

Aqara turned a favourite within the HomeKit neighborhood for its dedication to merchandise that not simply assist HomeKit and HomeKit Safe Video, however accomplish that with smooth and trendy designs and superior options accessible within the Aqara app. However the creation of Matter has introduced the likes of Aqara (together with Eve and a few others) with a chance — a chance to assist all main sensible house requirements.

That, nonetheless, additionally means they need to compete with the businesses that didn’t assist HomeKit earlier than, however now accomplish that by Matter. The Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 is an upgraded model of the Aqara G4 — a doorbell that I’ve had put in exterior of my door (besides when reviewing one other mannequin) since its launch. 

So, how does the brand new mannequin carry out? And, given the shortage of digital camera assist within the Matter spec, how does it really work? Fast observe, the PIN pad within the photos on this overview is unrelated to this doorbell — it’s for the Aqara U200 lock that I’m utilizing.

Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 specs

Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 overview: Design

The precise design of the Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 is similar because the G4 earlier than it — however that’s not a nasty factor. Presumably, it implies that Aqara can avoid wasting money on design and manufacturing, however I really fairly just like the design of it too.

The doorbell itself is available in a darkish grey coloration and has a big digital camera module on the highest half and a big button on the underside half. I like the truth that the button is huge and has an LED ring round it. Some doorbells are somewhat cluttered in design, and the result’s that visitors can typically have a tough time understanding what to do. Not so with the Digicam Hub G410.

Picture supply: Christian de looper for BGR

The system mounts to a baseplate, which you’ll then slot the doorbell onto, and use a small screw on the right-hand facet to safe in place. You’ll open this door repeatedly in the event you use batteries to energy the doorbell (as I did with the G4 earlier than I moved to my present place, which really has working wiring). In case you wire it in, you’ll solely actually open it as much as set up or uninstall. Regardless, it’s simple to entry.

Whereas the Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 appears good, it’s nonetheless somewhat cumbersome. A part of that’s as a result of it’s extra versatile — I can solely assume that if it had been a wired-only mannequin, it may be somewhat smaller. The system measures 5.57 inches tall, 3.56 inches large, and 1.2 inches thick, so it’s not essentially essentially the most refined doorbell on the market. However, once more, it appears good sufficient to not be an eyesore exterior of your entrance door.

Picture supply: Christian de looper for BGR

Additionally within the field is a chime, although its extra essential perform is as a hub for the digital camera — and within the new mannequin, different sensible house gadgets. The chime must be plugged in for the system to work correctly — the doorbell itself solely actually communicates with that chime, relatively than connecting to your sensible house itself, as a method to save battery. The chime appears completely effective, however I plugged it in a cupboard and saved it hidden. The again of the chime has an adhesive that you should utilize, in the event you desire, but when not you may simply not take the adhesive cowl off.

On the underside of the chime is a USB-C port for energy, and extra importantly, a microSD card slot for native storage. That’s a neat function — and implies that you don’t need to subscribe to HomeKit Safe Video or Aqara’s personal HomeGuardian service to retailer footage.

Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 overview: App and sensible house

The Aqara Digicam Hub G410 connects by the Aqara app, which is decently well-designed and straightforward to navigate. From the principle display of the app, you may see a snapshot view of what the doorbell sees, together with every other gadgets that you’ve set as “Favorites.” The app additionally has an Equipment tab (for a full record of your related gadgets), an Automations tab, and a Profile tab.

Faucet on the digital camera itself, and also you’ll soar into its settings. You’ll be instantly introduced with a dwell feed from the digital camera, together with buttons to rapidly and simply take a snapshot, enter two-way name mode, and extra. It’s also possible to soar right into a “Playback” tab that exhibits an inventory of recorded occasions. And, you may faucet on the three-dot menu on the highest right-hand nook to entry extra settings. The settings are largely what you’d anticipate, with just a few extras. For instance, you may tweak settings for Face Detection, Lingerer Detection, Doorbell Ringing, and Tamper Detection. It’s a neat contact, and means that you’ve extra management over the digital camera’s settings. Nonetheless, I wasn’t capable of finding settings for movement zones within the app, which is a serious omission.

On prime of having the ability to retailer footage in a microSD card, or by HomeKit Safe Video or HomeGuardian, it’s also possible to set the doorbell as much as be accessible by a LAN connection, which is useful for individuals who wish to tinker somewhat extra.

It’s maybe price explaining how the Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 interacts with different sensible house ecosystems. Buckle in, as a result of it’s somewhat complicated. The sensible house assist right here form of exists in two completely different buckets. For starters, there’s the doorbell digital camera itself, which is accessible by the Aqara app, but in addition works with Apple Residence (together with HomeKit Safe Video), Google Residence, Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, and even IFTTT. From these providers, you may see a video feed and get notifications in regards to the doorbell.

Picture supply: Christian de looper for BGR

Then there’s the Matter assist. The present Matter spec doesn’t assist cameras in any respect, and also you gained’t be capable to add the doorbell itself to your most well-liked sensible house ecosystem by Matter. As a substitute, the chime that comes with the doorbell can act as a Matter hub, and has a Thread radio for extra dependable connectivity with suitable Thread gadgets — however even when added as a hub, it gained’t deliver the doorbell with it. It should, nonetheless, mean you can join different Matter gadgets to it, which can then routinely be added to sensible house providers that you simply add the hub to. Those that wish to take full benefit of the Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 by Apple Residence might want to add the doorbell to HomeKit after which individually add the chime to HomeKit as a Matter hub.

However wait, there’s extra. The hub additionally helps Zigbee connectivity, which implies that you’ll be capable to add Zigbee gadgets to your sensible house by connecting them to the hub. That’s fairly helpful contemplating the truth that many Matter hubs don’t assist Zigbee. So, even you probably have a Matter hub like a HomePod or an Apple TV 4K, you would possibly nonetheless be capable to make the most of the hub performance that comes with the Digicam Hub G410 if you’d like to have the ability to add Zigbee gadgets to your sensible house.

TL;DR: You may’t entry the doorbell by Matter, however you should utilize the hub constructed into the chime so as to add Matter and Zigbee gadgets to your sensible house, and the doorbell helps a variety of sensible house ecosystems by devoted connections. It stays to be seen precisely when the Matter spec will get digital camera assist, however don’t maintain your breath. 

Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 overview: Video efficiency

The doorbell itself could look roughly the identical because the previous-generation mannequin, however it really has just a few upgrades even exterior of the brand new chime. Notably, it has a brand new 2K sensor, upgrading the decision from 1080p. Notice, you gained’t be capable to entry that full 2K decision by HomeKit Safe Video, which limits footage to 1080p, however you’ll nonetheless be capable to view 2K footage within the Aqara app, even in the event you add it to HomeKit Safe Video.

Picture supply: Christian de looper for BGR

On prime of a better decision, the digital camera additionally has a wider field-of-view. It may simply see extra of your entrance yard or driveway, although not like another video doorbells, it could’t see down in direction of your stoop for issues like package deal detection. That is the principle lacking function from the doorbell, and one I want Aqara added.

Nonetheless, video appears fairly good. Colours are fairly correct and vibrant, nonetheless it nonetheless doesn’t have HDR. That implies that it might wrestle somewhat to seize element within the brightest elements of a picture, although this wasn’t a difficulty I struggled with a lot in my setup.

It was good at choosing up movement precisely, too. The doorbell makes use of mmWave for movement detection in an effort to higher decide up solely related movement, and whereas I usually flip off notifications for movement (simply protecting them on for somebody urgent the doorbell), I saved them on for some time for testing and located the alerts to principally solely set off when acceptable.

The digital camera works decently effectively for two-way audio as effectively. I used to be in a position to have a dialog with somebody exterior my door, although if there’s any noise aside from the individual speaking, the doorbell can compress every little thing somewhat an excessive amount of to make spoken phrases simple to listen to. In most conditions, you’ll discover it’s completely simple to listen to what’s happening, although.

Conclusions

The Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 is a superb sensible video doorbell with loads of helpful options. It really satisfies a spread of area of interest use-cases. For starters, it’s one of many solely battery-powered doorbells that helps HomeKit Safe Video. And, it’s a terrific selection for individuals who don’t but have a Matter hub, particularly in the event you’d like so as to add Zigbee-compatible gadgets to your sensible house. If you have already got a Matter hub or don’t really feel such as you want one, and also you don’t want a battery-powered mannequin, then there are nonetheless different choices to contemplate, however even then, this system gives good video high quality and a excessive degree of customizability within the Aqara app.

The competitors

The most suitable choice for you depends upon what you want, however the Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410 might be essentially the most versatile video doorbell I’ve used. In case you’re in a position to wire a doorbell in and simply need one thing that works along with your sensible house ecosystem, then you definitely would possibly wish to think about different choices (just like the Wemo Good Video Doorbell), however even a lot of these fashions value much more than the Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410, and don’t have as many options. 

Ought to I purchase the Aqara Doorbell Digicam Hub G410?

Sure. It’s a flexible and high-tech possibility at a terrific value.