While up to 2K at 20 frames per second and a 133-degree field of view doesn’t sound great, this camera has a big image sensor, so it produces rich video and has impressive color night vision. The basics are solid, with AI detection that can divide subjects into people, vehicles, animals, and packages with few mistakes.
The real reason to consider it is that the camera doubles as a Matter controller and Thread border router. If you’re sick of your robot mower or outdoor smart lighting struggling to stay connected or they’re not as responsive to commands as you’d like, this camera can help. It can also work as a Zigbee hub for Aqara devices, and it continues to work, even when your Wi-Fi goes down. There are Wi-Fi and PoE versions of this camera. Support for Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) makes it easy to use with a third-party client on your NAS or with Home Assistant.
On the downside, Aqara’s app is sprawling and rough around the edges. It will likely take some tinkering to get it set up the way you want, and features like event filtering, SMS or email notifications, and video sharing require a subscription. If you do want to use HSV, you also need a HomeKit hub, such as a HomePod Mini or Apple TV, and an iCloud storage plan. But none of this is essential.
For indoors, the pan and tilt Camera Hub G3 is worth a look, and if you just want something basic, the Aqara Camera G100 ($40) is very affordable.
Camera Systems I Didn’t Include
Photograph: Simon Hill
I also recently tested some IC Realtime gear, including the IPMX-E40F-W2 ($492) and IPFX-D80V-IRW3 ($858) dome cameras, a large bullet camera, and a video doorbell. These cameras are excellent, with onboard AI detection, and they offer a highly secure, local recording system when paired with the NVR. But they are also very pricey and probably overkill for most regular homes. You can pick up certain models at Amazon or Best Buy, but they mostly sell through distributors and resellers.