Aqara unveiled its new Video Doorbell G4 in January. It’s the first battery-powered, easy-install doorbell to integrate HomeKit Secure Video. And now it’s available to buy.
This is good news for HomeKit users who don’t like to mess with wiring but would love to have a artificially intelligent video doorbell that triggers automations.
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Aqara Video Doorbell G4
After previewing Video Doorbell G4 in videos released to coincide with CES 2023, Aqara is now selling the smart device. It uses a 1080p camera with infrared night vision and comes with a separate chime-repeater speaker you can place indoors so you always hear it.
Two-way audio allows you to communicate with someone at your door. And the system lets you change the voice over the intercom. You can choose from “uncle voice, robot voice, and clown voice,” Aqara said.
Two power options
While you can power the doorbell with six AA batteries for up to about four months, you can also wire it like a regular doorbell with no batteries needed (except as backup in power outages).
In either case, it uses AI facial recognition that can trigger automations and interacts with HomeKit devices, like showing video on Apple TV and making sounds through HomePods. The system can recognize up to 30 faces. The chime repeater can also sound a siren if anyone tampers with the doorbell.
Here’s how Aqara described Video Doorbell G4:
It not only supports HomeKit Secure Video and local streaming to Amazon and Google smart displays, but it will also work with Matter after the Matter specification for cameras is ready. The G4 features local, AI-enabled facial recognition, which can trigger different automations depending on the person, and the device also includes both the 7-day free cloud storage and the optional local storage via a microSD card.
HomeKit Secure Video
As the company noted, it will give seven days of free cloud storage or you can store video on a microSD card (not included). Recording 24/7 requires operation in wired (not battery) mode.
That said, the doorbell supports HomeKit Secure Video. That means HomeKit users get encrypted video storage on iCloud+.
You can pick up the Aqara Video Doorbell G4 for $119.99.
Where to buy: Amazon
