In today’s era of smart living, combining functionalities into a single device is an undeniable trend. The Aqara Camera Hub G3 embraces this philosophy by merging a Zigbee 3.0 hub with an indoor security camera. But does this innovative duo justify its spot in your smart home setup? Let’s break it down.
A Playful Design with Serious Intentions
At first glance, the Aqara Camera Hub G3’s playful design—complete with rubber “ears”—might seem more toy-like than tech-savvy. But don’t let its charm fool you; this device is designed to integrate seamlessly into modern homes. Its compact, lightweight build (123.4 x 85.1 x 67.8 mm, weighing approximately 500 g) makes it ideal for indoor use. While its all-plastic casing lacks weatherproofing, the minimalistic aesthetic ensures it doesn’t look out of place, regardless of your interior decor.
Setting Up: Smooth but Not Without Challenges
Getting started with the Aqara Camera Hub G3 is mostly hassle-free. The Aqara app guides users through a quick setup process, though mandatory registration and limited language support (English, Chinese, Korean, and Russian) may be off-putting for some. Integration with Apple HomeKit is refreshingly simple, but users lose access to some advanced features, like AI-powered tracking and gesture control, when using HomeKit instead of the Aqara app.
The Camera in Action
The Aqara Camera Hub G3 impresses with its motorized camera, offering a 340° horizontal rotation and a tiltable lens for up to 30° upward and 15° downward movement. Its 2304 x 1296p resolution ensures crisp video quality during the day, though colors and shadows lack depth and vibrancy. Night vision mode is sufficient for small areas, but clarity diminishes for distant objects.
Privacy-conscious users will appreciate the clever “privacy mode,” where the lens physically retracts into the housing when not in use, ensuring no accidental recording.
Smart Features That Impress
Where the G3 stands out is its robust AI functionality, powered by a local AI processor with a dedicated NPU (Neural Processing Unit). This processor enables the Camera Hub G3 to recognize faces, gestures, and even pets locally, ensuring privacy while triggering notifications and automating actions within your smart home. For example, it can alert you when a familiar face enters the room, or even start specific routines based on gesture controls.
However, while face recognition works reliably for familiar faces, motion tracking can be sluggish, especially when multiple subjects are in view. The camera sometimes struggles with fast-moving people or pets, and it can become confused when tracking several targets at once.
A Hub for All Things Smart
As a Zigbee 3.0 hub, the G3 supports up to 128 Aqara devices, providing a cost-effective way to expand your smart home ecosystem. Whether managing sensors, switches, or cameras, the device integrates seamlessly with popular platforms like Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and IFTTT. Dual-band WiFi and WPA3 encryption further enhance its connectivity and security.
Strengths and Weaknesses
What We Loved:
- Compact design with appealing aesthetics
- Combines a Zigbee 3.0 hub and security camera in one device
- Effortless integration with major smart home platforms
- AI-powered local recognition of faces, gestures, and pets
- Physical privacy mode for added peace of mind
What Could Be Better:
- Mediocre video quality in low-light and fast-motion scenarios
- Limited app language support and mandatory registration
- Motion tracking could use refinement
The Bottom Line
The Aqara Camera Hub G3 is an ambitious all-in-one device that caters to both smart home enthusiasts and security-conscious homeowners. While its innovative features, like local AI recognition and seamless integration into smart home systems, make it a standout choice, it’s best suited for those already invested in Aqara’s ecosystem.
For users seeking either a high-quality security camera or a standalone Zigbee hub, there are likely more focused—and affordable—options available. But for those looking to simplify their smart home journey with a multi-functional device, the Aqara Camera Hub G3 is worth considering.
Final Thoughts
The G3 offers a compelling combination of functionality and innovation, but a few software and hardware tweaks could take it from good to great.
See also: Emerson’s Vision For The Future Of Smart Home And Consumer Electronics
