Aqara G4 Video Doorphone Review: Fast Notifications, Needs More Height

I’ve used a few doorbell cameras and really enjoyed my time with the Aqara G4 smart video doorbell. Like many Aqara products, the G4 is packed with features at a reasonable price and is compatible with HKSV, Google and Alexa. There’s a lot on offer, so let’s get right down to it!

Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Price and Availability

Aqara G4 Smart Video Intercom — (Photo credit: Tshaka Armstrong)

The Video Doorbell G4 is available exclusively on Amazon for $120. As of this writing, there is a $22 instant discount coupon that you can use on your purchase. It is currently only available in the U.S.

The G4 is priced below competitors like Arlo, Ring, and Nest, and doesn’t require a subscription to record video, as the repeater has expandable storage for local recording. That’ll save you a few bucks over competing products. It’s important to note that for a few extra bucks, some competing products offer a vertically wider field of view and slightly higher video resolution.

The G4 is available in black or grey.

Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Specifications and Features

Aqara G4 Smart Video Intercom

(Photo credit: Tshaka Armstrong)

The Aqara G4 video doorbell is powered by six AA batteries, which can be either standard or rechargeable, but will last up to four months, depending on how often it triggers activity. The G4 can also be plugged into an AC/DC transformer, like some of the best video doorbells out there. The video is 1080p and has a 162-degree field of view, but during my testing I found that I wished it had a larger vertical field of view. I placed it fairly low on my door, as you can see in the photo of my patio below in the ultra-wide viewing angle. At that height, I can see about head-height from a 6-foot-tall person, but I can’t see the ground, so when packages are dropped off at my door, they’re out of sight.

Aqara G4 Smart Video Intercom

Screenshot in daylight (Photo credit: Tshaka Armstrong)

Aqara G4 Smart Video Intercom

Screenshot at night (Photo credit: Tshaka Armstrong)

This is also because of the way my porch is set up. It’s pretty narrow, so if you have a larger porch, you’ll have more of a view of the person as they approach the camera. You probably won’t see the package on the ground if it’s placed too close to the door.

Aqara G4 Smart Video Intercom

(Photo credit: Tshaka Armstrong)

The G4 has some cool AI and privacy features, like on-device facial recognition. Using the Aqara Home app, you can answer your doorbell with an “uncle,” robot, or clown voice. Another useful privacy feature is the ability to mask areas of the image that may include sensitive or unwanted views of neighbors’ apartments or homes.

The repeater and doorbell units are single-band, 2.4GHz b/g/n only. While the doorbell can be powered by batteries or hardwired, with the batteries used as a backup, the repeater must be connected to an external power source via USB-C. The repeater also supports local storage of up to 512GB via microSD card, allowing you to set up 24/7 recording without the need for an internet connection or the cloud.

Aqara G4 Smart Video Intercom

(Photo credit: Tshaka Armstrong)

The repeater/doorbell is actually quite feature-rich. It has a loud 95dB speaker, which is great for the custom chimes you can set up with it. You can use facial recognition to trigger these custom sounds based on who is at the door. It can also be set up with other automations to act as an alarm. Let’s say you have other Aqara products, like window sensors, and someone breaks into that window.

Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Build and appearance

Aqara G4 Smart Video Intercom

(Photo credit: Tshaka Armstrong)

The G4 will likely stir strong emotions in different users because of its design. While some people like the sleek style of the Arlo doorbell, the Aqara G4 is larger and more angular, like a Ring doorbell. Its LED-lit doorbell button and camera module are large and obvious, with nothing discreet about it.

The G4 feels sturdy and IP-rated, although the owner’s manual recommends placing it on a porch or other shady spot. It comes in two colors, both in dark shades only. If you live in an apartment and can’t permanently change your front door or replace your doorbell, this device fits into one of my favorite temporary mounts, the Doorbell Boa. It fits snugly on the Boa’s face because of the large buttons on the G4’s face, but it works with minimal effort.

Aqara G4 Video Doorphone: Ease of Use

Aqara G4 Smart Video Intercom

(Photo credit: Tshaka Armstrong)

Setting up the Video Doorbell G4 was a piece of cake. There are QR codes to download the Aqara Home app and to pair with HomeKit. The repeater is the part that connects to your home router, while the doorbell itself connects to it. So first, you’ll set up the repeater by adding it to the Aqara Home app and following the instructions.

I recommend setting everything up in Aqara Home first, then connecting to Apple Home, as there are a lot of features worth using that aren’t available in HomeKit. Once you’ve set up features like image masking or custom ringtones, you can access and use the G4 through the Apple Home app.

One aspect that doesn’t get enough coverage is how easy it is to use most of these HKSV-powered cameras with your Apple Watch. The folks in Cupertino, California, deserve a shout out for creating devices that have pretty solid connectivity throughout the hardware. I love being on the go and checking the Home app on my Apple Watch to see who’s at the door. I can even control the speaker volume and talk directly through my watch to whoever’s at the door.

Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Competition

Wemo Smart Doorbell Mounted on Dark Wood Door

(Photo source: Wemo)

There’s a lot of competition in the connected doorbell space, but Aqara’s offering stands out for its value. You get a lot of features for less money than the competition.

If you need a wider view from your front porch, you might want to check out the Nest doorbell camera. I’ve used it and the view is excellent. Even though the space in front of my door is tight, I can see the entire person and packages on the ground. The catch, however, is that it doesn’t support HomeKit. Belkin’s Wemo brand has a compact Smart Doorbell Camera that supports HomeKit, although I haven’t had a chance to test it yet. It has a wider field of view AND price, almost twice as high.

Aqara G4 Video Intercom: Is It Worth Buying?

You should buy the Aqara G4 video doorbell if…

Want a great doorbell at a fair price?
Need a battery-powered camera doorbell?
You need a lot of customization options

You should not buy the Aqara G4 video intercom if…

You need a wider field of view
You don’t want to deal with a two-piece unit

Aqara Video Doorbell G4: Verdict

As I said before, I haven’t tested Wemo’s offerings yet, but out of the ones I’ve tested, this one is right up there with the best! The Aqara Video Doorbell G4 offers a wealth of customization, some very cool privacy features, and most importantly, solid video performance with timely notifications. If you’re fully into the HomeKit ecosystem, you might want to bet everything on Aqara and its video doorbell.

Aqara video doorbell rendered on white background