When it comes to building out a HomeKit environment, I always look for products that do more than one thing. The Aqara G2H Pro checks a lot of boxes. It’s a HomeKit Secure Video camera, but it also doubles as a hub for other Aqara sensors and accessories, so they can to work with HomeKit. I’ve had it set up in my house for a few weeks now, and it’s proven to be a solid addition that fits right into the Home app without any extra hoops to jump through.
HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.
Setting up the Aqara G2H Pro with HomeKit
The G2H Pro connects over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and pairs with the Aqara app if you want to use it to bridge other accessories, but once you scan the HomeKit code, you’re off and running in with HomeKit. You don’t need to spend time in the Aqara app unless you want to update firmware or fine-tune some settings that don’t show up in HomeKit. I added mine to our kitchen to cover some of our driveway area, and it showed up in the Home app in seconds.
Aqara includes a magnetic base that makes it easy to put on a shelf or mount on a wall. In my previous home, I used the non-Pro version in the garage, and it worked great under a metal shelf. It supports horizontal and vertical mounting, so you can choose where to place it. Once it’s powered up and added to the Home app, it works like any other HomeKit Secure Video camera so you can control streaming vs recording when at home, etc.
Using HomeKit Secure Video with the G2H Pro
One of the main reasons I wanted to test the Aqara G2H Pro was its support for HomeKit Secure Video. Since I already have iCloud+, it’s great to be able to add another camera without yet another subscription. Once it’s added to a HomeKit room, you can tweak recording settings based on your preferences. I have mine set to stream when I am home and record when I am away.
One area where Apple has done a good job with HomeKit Secure Video is its activity zones and notifications with thumbnails. In my testing, the motion detection was reliable without being overly sensitive. Apple’s UI for managing zones is superior to Google’s in my opinion.
Video quality is respectable at 1080p. It is not going to replace a high-end 4K camera, but for general home monitoring and notifications, it gets the job done. Night vision is built in and works automatically based on ambient light. HomeKit cannot go above 1080p yet, so it wouldn’t matter if it was 4K or not.
Aqara’s Zigbee hub features explained
Besides being a HomeKit Secure Video camera, the Aqara G2H Pro acts as a Zigbee hub. This lets you connect various Aqara sensors and accessories and then bridge them to HomeKit.
Once you pair a sensor, it is immediately ready to trigger automations. For example, a door sensor can start a recording or turn on a light if it detects movement. This tight integration with HomeKit means you don’t have to jump between apps. Everything is managed in one place, making setup and control simple and effective.
Where the G2H Pro fits in a smart home setup
For most people, the Aqara G2H Pro makes the most sense in a place where you want both camera coverage and sensor-based automation. I am thinking of places like entryways, hallways, or a nursery. I have mine near our kitchen window right now
Because it acts as a Zigbee hub, it is a great starting point if you are just getting into HomeKit. You can pair a few low cost Aqara motion sensors or contact sensors without needing another hub. I’ve been using Aqara products for 5 years now, and for the money, the ecosystem is hard to ebat.
If you already have a HomeKit setup with sensors and cameras, the G2H Pro still makes sense as a way to expand coverage and add more automations without overcomplicating things. You can use it completely apart from anything to do with the Aqara app or ecocsystem.
Wrap up
One of the best parts of the Aqara G2H Pro is how it works with HomeKit beyond just video. You can use the built-in motion sensor as a trigger for automations as well. It also includes two-way audio, so it works well in places where you may want to communicate with someone in another room. It could be a good option for checking in on pets or using having it as a baby monitor.
You can buy the Aqara G2H Pro from Amazon.
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