Aqara Video Doorbell G4 with Chime, HomeKit Secure Video

1st foray into video doorbells and I'm happy so far. Device was installed with external AC power. This meant a drill through masonry as there was no existing power connection. (The AC transformer is standard for doorbells, any one that provides up to 24v 0.5A is fine, plenty on ebay. Just test one out with it before you install to make sure you don't have a dodgy transformer and test it for 12 hours at least and make sure there is good ventilation around the power socket as they do get very warm). I have a pebbled exterior and had to wedge a small piece of plastic to one side and then drill the screws to secure the backing which was now level due to the plastic piece. If you have bricks then this won't apply to you. The angled backing plate wasn't needed. FYI instructions that came with item are a joke. Download pdf from the amazon listing, it's halfway down the page and miles better. The chime needs usb power and I used an old iPhone power adaptor. Doorbell was set to low sensitivity as I live on a busy road and it only picked up loitering when someone came into the driveway and it caught the 3 randy fox thruple having loud enjoyment eith each other on the grass. (Dirty dirty b**tards, they carried on despite me mooing loudly through the 2 way doorbell comms). The Aqra app is brilliant, can scroll back on timeline for 7 days and view video when motion is detected as well as saving loitering moments and when doorbell is pressed. I have lots of clips now of friends and family pulling faces and making gestures on it. Lovely! The 1080p resolution will do me and the wide angle means I catch my neighbours entrance as well as 5 houses across from me. I give it 4 stars because the chime needs to be less than 5m to the doorbell. This may be my issue as I live in a house built in the 70s and the walls are thick. Need to use a hotspot downstairs etc but if you are in a newer dwelling then you should be OK. I also have to restart the app as the video hangs now and then when I go live to doorbell. A few folk online have complained the device as 2.4ghz only on WiFi. For me, I could never use 5ghz on account of the thickness of my walls. Overall, I'm happy with this. Not used homekit and the NEST integration isn't great as it would be nice to have all the features available in Aqra app on Nest. I will use IFTTT with facial recognition in the future but it's not one of my main requirements. The 7 day storage is excellent, no subscription needed and ill be using the NAS feature to offload footage when that becomes available via firmware in the future. If anyone as questions please let me know. Happy to help.

UPDATE 2: Customer support from Aqara is awful. Doesn’t reply to any emails after the initial one. Have initiated a refund. Avoid! UPDATE: As of the 1st Feb the doorbell has stopped working. Doesn’t connect to app or HomeKit, when you press the button it doesn’t do anything either. Thought it was a power issue as it was hardwired in, but even with batteries it doesn’t work. As many have stated on here, looks like it isn’t weatherproof… Have contacted Aqara for support. Hopefully will get a new one as I genuinely did like it, but if it breaks again I will be seeking a refund. ——————- Original review below: Ordered this as it’s one of the few smart doorbells I could find that actually works with Apple’s HomeKit… This replaced a Ring doorbell. Setup was very easy. The doorbell was much easier to install vs my Ring one, I could use the back plate to line up the screw holes properly and it’s flush against the wall now. I’ve wired this in so I can’t comment on battery life, but even as someone with minimal DIY experience it was really easy to install! I think it also looks better than my previous Ring doorbell - while it’s bigger, it looks a lot more premium! After installing the doorbell, setting it up was very easy. Just installed their app to guide me through the process, and scan a QR code on the chime to add it to HomeKit. Thanks to having an upgraded iCloud plan, Apple stores 30 days of footage for me and doesn’t go against my storage quota! Clips are also super easy to save, which is reassuring in case I need to save them. Video quality is good, seems about on par with the Ring doorbell. Records and streams in 1080p. One feature this has that I don’t think my Ring doorbell had is facial recognition. This is really cool but I doubt it’s a feature I’d use much. Overall I’m really happy with this doorbell and I hope it lasts a long time!

Love this. Bought to use with HomeKit Secure Video and it worked straight away. It was simple to fit with the include fixings. The video quality playback is good. The thing I don't like is... No ding when the button is pressed for the presser, the people pressing it, don't think it worked and press it multiple times. The internal speaker always dings and I get a notification on all Apple devices.

Excellent video quality, very easy to set up and as it works with both HomeKit and can record to an SD card, it means you don’t need an ongoing subscription unlike other video-doorbells. I choose this over the similar Eufy one as it is compatible with HomeKit secure video, and will be upgraded to support matter. In terms of privacy, all recordings are encrypted before being uploaded to he cloud, so there aren’t the privacy concerns that I had with the Ring or Nest doorbells. The Facial recognition works well, but relies on the data from your Apple Photos app (if using in the Apple ecosystem), so if you don’t have faces labelled in your photos it won’t work with the doorbell. The motion recognition also works well, but if people move past very quickly it will not always wake up in time, but that may be because I have mine battery powered. If it is wired I think it can be more responsive. The motion activation is easy to customise and I have not had any false alerts, and you can also set an activation zone, but I have not tried this. As for the battery life, it is too early to tell. It has dropped to 80% after 2 weeks, but I have been using it a lot more than normal during this time to check it and set it up. Firmware updates automatically install easily and the doorbell rings through my HomePod and through the chime which is fantastic. The night vision is excellent, and although my upstream internet speed is only 1mb/s the live view seems to work well. My only criticism is that the chime, which acts as the hub, needs to be plugged in which limits where it can be placed. I would have preferred if this had a rechargeable battery so it can be more freely placed. UPDATE - on high use settings the batteries lasted 4 months. Based on this they could probably last 6 months in less sensitive settings.

All things considered pretty good. The video quality is good, easy to setup. Lots of mounting options to get a good angle. It can be battery powered or wired in which is brilliant. The batteries go quite quickly but I do have it doing a lot of the features so I could reduce that to keep it simple and have longer life on battery. With HomeKit it works great with Apple, the video auto pops up on my Apple TV when it goes off and it knows who in my family is there via face recognition and that works very well. It’s fun to be able to have any mp3 sound for the chime (and you can get the button to playback a sound as well that can be different from the chime, I setup mine to have R2D2 sound) Overall does the job great for me.

This doorbell is great in basically every single way... I bought it to replace my ring doorbell gen 2, and have been happy with it for the most part. The one thing that lets it down is the connection time when someone rings the doorbell, it takes a decent amount of time to connect and generally by time it has done so it is too late and the person has gone. Given this is a key element to the doorbell that is why I have given it a 3* rating. There are many positives though: - Facial recognition. - 24/7 recording with an SD card. - Looks great and stylish, I've had many people ask me where I got it from. - No subscription fee. - Comes with chime. When all is said and done I am currently moving house and when I do so, I will be fitting a ring doorbell plus instead.

I recently installed the Aqara G4 Video Doorbell Camera, and I couldn't be more pleased with its performance. From the moment I unboxed it, the quality and thoughtfulness in its design were evident. The setup process was incredibly straightforward, with clear instructions that made installation a breeze. One of the standout features of the Aqara G4 is its crystal-clear video quality. The high-definition camera captures every detail, ensuring that I can see visitors' faces and any activity around my front door with exceptional clarity, both day and night. The infrared night vision works flawlessly, providing sharp images even in complete darkness. The real-time notifications are prompt and reliable. I love being able to receive instant alerts on my phone whenever someone approaches my door. The motion detection sensitivity can be easily adjusted to avoid false alarms, which is a thoughtful touch. The two-way audio feature is another highlight, allowing me to communicate with visitors directly through the app. The audio quality is clear, with no noticeable lag. Integration with smart home systems is seamless, making the Aqara G4 a versatile addition to my smart home setup. It works perfectly with my existing other smart devices, enhancing the overall security and convenience of my home. The app interface is user-friendly and offers a range of customizable settings to tailor the doorbell's functions to my needs. Durability and weather resistance are crucial for any outdoor device, and the Aqara G4 excels in this regard. It has withstood heavy rain and extreme temperatures without any issues, maintaining its performance and reliability. Overall, the Aqara G4 Video Doorbell Camera has exceeded my expectations. It combines top-notch video quality, smart features, and robust design in one impressive package. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to enhance their home security with a dependable and high-performing video doorbell.

TLDR - this doorbell literally works only when it feels like it. I should start my review by saying that I have a fairly smart home - Alexa everywhere, Lightwaverf switches, CCTV cameras, cloud enabled heating, in fact the only smart home gadget I didn’t have was a video doorbell. So, after seeing a flood of reviews recently for the Aqara G4 I gave it a try. It’s sadly another classic Chinese tech product, i.e. decent hardware spoiled by unintuitive and flaky software. I really struggle with the Aqara Home app, with its “boards” and “cards” and basic functions buried under several menu layers. When you do drill down to the menu items that actually relate to the doorbell, several basic obvious options just don’t exist. There are options like detection frequency, duration of stay, but with no help file to tell you what these actually do. Apparently Aqara gives you 7 days of cloud storage for free but nowhere is that shown in the Aqara app. I can replay 6 second clips but I have no idea if these are being held on my local SD card or in Aqaras cloud. The alert settings page has a menu title row that I only realised after several days actually scrolls sideways with lots more options! And this row is sited not at the top of the page, but below a mysterious menu called “associated event label” (I still have no idea what that’s for). I used to work for a software company and something this confusing should never have seen the light of day. Clips seem to get recorded at random, and often the Aqara app won’t show any clips less than a few days old. Given the shortcomings of Aqaras software I tried using Apple’s Home app to control and monitor the G4, which is better designed but still far from perfect and often just fails to record anything (just like the Aqara app). Removing and re-adding the doorbell seems to help but isn’t a practical fix. Maybe the fact that this doorbell camera works in Apple Home is the reason why Aqara seems to have made such a half hearted attempt with its own app. I tested the camera for three days indoors in which time the supplied batteries dropped from 100% to 40%. I couldn’t see any way they would last 4 weeks, let alone the claimed 4 months. With 6 AA batteries costing say £3-£5 that’s a fair cost over a year. So, I hardwired mine. Then I heard on various internet forums about the higher incidence of connection issues with hardwired Aqara G4 doorbell cameras, and sure enough the live view in Amazon Alexa no longer works. It worked fine during testing but mysteriously not now. I tried removing the batteries (I’d left them in as backup) but still no Alexa Live View anymore. Everything else does kind of work, so as of today it’s a keeper but I’ll update this review if that changes. (Edit - a few weeks on, and I wish I had returned this when I could). What does annoy me is that I have a bulky oversized doorbell because it’s designed to house 6xAA batteries, which I no longer use. I have found that rebooting the doorbell sometimes makes it work again so I have plugged the Camera unit and chime units into remote controlled sockets that are set to power off and on each night to reset the system. I really shouldn’t have to do that… In summary, my experience so far is that the Aqara G4 doorbell is flaky and untrustworthy. Luckily it still chimes when the button is pressed, so at least I haven’t taken a backward step from my old traditional doorbell…

OJO: si tienes una puerta de metal o de seguridad, es imposible que tengas buena señal entre la cámara y el repetidor. Lo mismo si tienes paredes de verdad (no tablaroca), pésima señal wifi hagas lo que hagas. En mi caso la única forma de que funcione medio decente es que esté tanto el repetidor como el módem afuera de la casa, lo cual no tiene ningún sentido. Está diseñado para las casas de madera de USA, no para tabique, concreto y metal como en la mayoría de las casas de México.

All perfect

I give the Aqara G4 Doorbell a solid 4.8 out of 5 stars. The doorbell is packed with features like motion detection, IR, and seamless integration with Apple HomeKit, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their home security with smart technology. The reason for the slight deduction of 0.2 stars is due to the occasional offline issue; the doorbell tends to go offline almost daily for about a minute. While this is a known issue, it doesn't significantly impact the overall functionality. In addition to its core features, the Aqara G4 offers public zone filtering, two-way audio, and even comes with an angled adapter to ensure the camera is perfectly positioned towards the door area. Overall, it's a great product that delivers on its promises.

The Aqara Video Doorbell G4 offers fantastic value with its extensive features and seamless smart home compatibility. Pros: Great HomeKit Support: Works flawlessly with HomeKit Secure Video, providing real-time notifications, two-way audio, and video storage within Apple’s ecosystem. Affordable Price: Offers many premium features at a more accessible price point. Flexible Storage Options: Supports local storage (via microSD card) and free cloud storage without subscription fees. Reliable Build: Durable design that performs well in various weather conditions. Cons: Limited Third-Party Ecosystem Support: Works best with HomeKit; limited compatibility with some other platforms. Video Quality: Good, but not quite as sharp as some higher-end options on the market. For anyone in the Apple ecosystem or looking for a feature-rich and affordable doorbell, the Aqara G4 is an excellent choice. Highly recommended for smart home enthusiasts!

J’écris ce commentaire parce qu’il est temps de changer les piles de ma sonnette après 7 mois. La sonnette fait le travail, tient ses promesses, et est facile à installer. J’avais seulement peur de la batterie : il faut quand même 6 piles, aussi j’ai acheté des piles rechargeables pour éviter d’en consommer trop. Au final, la durée de vie annoncée sur piles de 6 mois est tenue et dépassée : je suis ravi. Pas vraiment de point négatif à partager, je la recommande.