Aqara has announced the release of a new HomeKit camera on Tuesday — the Aqara Camera Hub G3. As the name suggests, the latest camera offers more than just home monitoring and convenient app controls with integrated Zigbee hub functionality, IR blaster, siren, and HomeKit Secure Video.
The new camera is a 2K, pan-and-tilt camera with the local facial and gesture recognition features, and it integrates a built-in Zigbee 3.0 hub, allowing the device to connect up to 128 Aqara accessories. The G3 camera supports not only HomeKit Secure Video but also streaming to Amazon Alexa and Google smart displays.
As a security camera, the G3 captures and streams video in 2K with a resolution of 2304 x 1296 through the Aqara app (1080p through HomeKit). The camera sports a 110-degree wide-angle lens, and onboard motorized pan and tilt controls allow for full 360-degree coverage with no blind spots when combined with a convenient automatic cruise mode.
Aqara’s camera also supports advanced AI facial and gesture recognition technology powered by a local NPU-equipped processor. Facial recognition capabilities allow for custom automation to greet visitors or activate a Privacy Protection mode. In contrast, gesture recognition can identify five unique hand signals — such as the universal peace sign.
With HomeKit Secure Video support, the Camera Hub G3 leverages a user’s existing iCloud+ account to store up to 10 days of recorded footage. Users can also keep footage local thanks to a built-in microSD card slot, which also forgoes an additional subscription.
As previously mentioned, the Camera Hub G3 also acts as a Zigbee 3.0 hub, security system, and IR blaster. The camera supports pairing up to 128 Aqara-branded Zigbee devices — including the recently released Aqara TVOC Air Quality Monitor and makes them available through HomeKit and the Home app. The G3 also adds a DIY security alarm in the Home app, which users can use to quickly “arm” the camera so that it is ready to begin capturing events when heading out the door.
Infrared functionality allows the camera to send commands to nearby devices like TVs and robot vacuums, all with a simple setup process in the Aqara app. Users can then add IR devices to automation and scenes with other Aqara accessories, but unfortunately, IR devices are not exposed to HomeKit.
The Aqara Camera Hub G3 is available for purchase now through Amazon in the United States, Canada, and France. The Camera Hub G3 has a retail price of $109.99, but Aqara is currently offering a 20% discount to celebrate the launch. If you are interested in picking one up for yourself, be sure to use promo code USG3PRGE (US and Canada) or CAMERAG3FR (France) to score the discounted price.
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