Aqara's G410: A Smart Doorbell That Does It All

The Aqara G410 video doorbell has hit the market, and it's a game-changer. Priced at $129. 99, this device is packed with features that make it stand out. It supports Apple's HomeKit Secure Video and can be installed both wirelessly and with a hardwired connection. This doorbell is not just for security; it also acts as a multi-protocol hub, helping smart homes transition to Matter, a new standard for smart home devices. The G410 offers 2K video with a 4:3 aspect ratio and a wide 175-degree field of view. It ensures that live and recorded videos are encrypted end-to-end for security. With dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Thread radios, it can function as an Aqara hub, Thread border router, and Matter controller. This means it can support a wide range of smart home devices, including those from Aqara and even Ikea. One of the standout features of the G410 is its mmWave sensor, which accurately identifies the presence of people. It also has on-device facial recognition, which can trigger notifications or automations. Advanced Matter Bridging allows it to share facial recognition with platforms like Home Assistant, opening up even more automation possibilities. The G410's video feed can be streamed to various platforms, including Home Assistant, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings displays. It can also be streamed to Aqara's seven-inch Panel Hub S1 Plus. Aqara doesn't push recurring fees on its users, which is a big plus. Hardwired installations support continuous 24/7 recording to a 512GB microSD card inserted into the indoor chime hub. Video can also be synced to NAS storage on your home network. While Aqara offers a subscription for advanced features, most users can ignore it.