Aqara G400 Video Doorbell Review: A Powerful HomeKit Doorbell with PoE and 2K Video
The Aqara G400 Video Doorbell is Aqara’s latest wired smart doorbell and one of the most interesting options available for Apple Home users. It supports Apple HomeKit Secure Video, Power-over-Ethernet connectivity, local storage, and multiple smart home platforms. After using the Aqara G400 Video Doorbell for around a month, this review takes a detailed look at its design, features, setup process, and real-world performance to help you decide if it is the right smart doorbell for your home.
Design and Build Quality
The Aqara G400 Video Doorbell features a modern and minimal design with a black finish, rounded edges and a prominent illuminated doorbell button on the front. The lens sits above the button alongside the Aqara logo, giving the doorbell a clean and contemporary appearance that blends well with most homes. The device includes a mounting bracket that can either be screwed into place or attached using adhesive pads. Aqara also includes an angled bracket if you need to adjust the viewing angle when installing the doorbell.
On the rear of the Aqara G400 Video Doorbell there is a removable block that reveals a MicroSD card slot as well as space for an ethernet cable. Two rear blocks are included in the box, allowing you to configure the doorbell differently depending on whether you are using ethernet or traditional doorbell wiring.
Unlike some previous Aqara video doorbells where the MicroSD card was installed in the indoor chime, the Aqara G400 Video Doorbell places the card slot directly inside the doorbell itself. This likely improves performance when uploading footage to cloud services, particularly when using ethernet connectivity.
The back of the device also contains QR codes used for pairing, so it is worth taking a photo of these before mounting the doorbell.
Indoor Chime
The Aqara G400 Video Doorbell also includes an indoor chime unit. This connects via USB-C power and features a rounded black design that matches the aesthetic of the doorbell itself. The indoor chime handles alerts when someone presses the doorbell and can also be used for two-way communication and quick reply messages.
Overall, both components feel well designed and slightly smaller than Aqara’s previous wireless video doorbell models.
Video Quality and Field of View
One of the standout features of the Aqara G400 Video Doorbell is its vertical video format. It records in a 3:4 aspect ratio rather than the traditional horizontal view used by many doorbells.
This vertical orientation means that when installed at the correct height, the camera can capture a clear view of packages placed on your doorstep as well as visitors standing at the door.
The camera offers 2K video recording in the Aqara app and supports features including: Infrared night vision; Object detection using AI. When used with Apple HomeKit Secure Video, the footage is currently limited to 1080p resolution.
This limitation comes from Apple’s HomeKit platform rather than the Aqara G400 Video Doorbell itself.
Smart Home Compatibility
The Aqara G400 Video Doorbell works with multiple smart home ecosystems including: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings. Apple Home integration is particularly strong.
The Aqara G400 Video Doorbell supports HomeKit Secure Video which enables encrypted cloud recording and advanced features like face recognition. Face recognition can identify people using the photos stored in your iCloud Photos library.
Notifications can even tell you exactly who is at the door if the system recognises them. Another useful feature is the ability to use Apple HomePods as additional doorbell chimes, ensuring you never miss a visitor.
Connectivity and Power Options
The Aqara G400 Video Doorbell can be powered in two different ways: Traditional doorbell wiring with dual-band Wi-Fi or Power-over-Ethernet (PoE).
When using Wi-Fi, the doorbell supports Wi-Fi 6 with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. This flexibility makes the Aqara G400 Video Doorbell suitable for a wide range of installation scenarios.
Ethernet connectivity is particularly useful for users who want the most stable connection possible.
Storage Options
The Aqara G400 Video Doorbell offers multiple storage options, which makes it possible to avoid ongoing subscription costs. MicroSD card storage allows up to 512GB capacity alongside Network Attached Storage (NAS).
NAS support allows continuous 24-hour recording with loop recording if you want to maintain a local archive of footage.
Apple HomeKit Secure Video cloud storage is also an option, as is the network attached storage feature. Aqara offers a cloud subscription service that unlocks additional AI features and extended cloud storage. However, many users will find that the built-in storage options combined with Apple HomeKit Secure Video are sufficient.
AI Detection and Notifications
The Aqara G400 Video Doorbell uses a combination of local and cloud AI detection to identify different types of activity. Detection categories include: People, Animals, Packages, Vehicles, Faces. You can customise notification settings and sensitivity levels to control exactly what triggers alerts.
Apple Home also allows you to choose which types of activity generate notifications. Many users may prefer managing alerts through Apple Home due to its powerful face recognition and notification system.
Virtual Fence and Motion Zones
The Aqara G400 Video Doorbell also includes a useful feature called a virtual fence. This allows you to draw a detection zone within the camera’s view. This is particularly helpful if your doorbell camera captures part of the street or pavement, as you can focus detection on the area immediately around your door.
RTSP and Home Assistant Support
For advanced smart home users, the Aqara G400 Video Doorbell supports RTSP streaming. This allows the video feed to be integrated into platforms such as Home Assistant.
RTSP access makes the Aqara G400 Video Doorbell far more flexible than many competing smart doorbells which lock users into proprietary ecosystems, and helps ensure reliable operation within complex networks.
