Now here’s a clever idea. An outdoor security camera that not only keeps watch over your backyard spaces, but also bathes them in Matter and Zigbee connectivity.
That’s the idea behind Aqara’s Camera Hub G5 Pro, a weatherized 4MP security cam with a smart home hub that bridges Zigbee devices and acts a Thread border router for Matter products.
Matter, of course, is the new hotness in smart home, promising to bridge the gaps between Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and the other big smart-home protocols.
Thanks to Thread, Matter devices can create self-healing networks that can extend throughout the home, but reaching outside your house can still be a tricky task.
A big selling point of the Camera Hub G5 Pro is that it can add a Matter hub (including Matter controller and Thread border router functionality) outside, perfect for boosting connectivity for outdoor Matter devices that might otherwise be straining the limits of your home Matter network.
The Camera Hub G5 Pro also works as a Zigbee hub, meaning it can extend the network range of Zigbee-enabled lights and other devices.
Of course, the Camera Hub G5 Pro is a security camera, too, and it marks Aqara’s first outdoor-capable cam.
Available in both dual-band Wi-Fi and PoE (Power-over-Ethernet) versions, the Camera Hub G5 Pro boasts 4MP (1520p) resolution and color night vision, complete with an f/1.0 aperture lens and a graphene-cooled 1/18-inch sensor designed to deliver sharp color imagery in low-light conditions.
An on-board neural processing unit allows for local AI detection of people (including faces), vehicles, packages, and pets, while the built-in mic and speaker enable two-way chat.
The camera also offers end-to-end encryption plus support for Aqara or HomeKit Secure Video cloud storage, or there’s also integrated eMMC storage if you’d rather keep your videos local.
The Camera Hub G5 Pro comes with an IP65 rating, meaning it should be dust-proof as well as resistant to powerful water jets from any direction. In other words, it shouldn’t have any trouble weathering the elements. The included swiveling bracket lets you mount the cam on outdoor walls or under eaves.
Priced at $199.99 for the PoE version or $179.99 for dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity (you can also choose between white and grey finishes), the Aqara Camera Hub is shipping now via Amazon. We’ll have a full review once we check out a test unit.