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Review: Aqara’s Video Doorbell G4 Offers HomeKit Secure Video in a Sleek Design
Beyond HomeKit Secure Video, the Doorbell G4 offers a wide range of features and capabilities, including 1080p video recording, a 162-degree wide-angle lens, two-way audio communication, motion detection, night vision capabilities, weather resistance, support for microSD cards up to 512GB, and more.
Priced at $119.99, the Doorbell G4 comes with a chime repeater speaker, USB-A to USB-C cable, 20-degree wedge, Philips head screwdriver, six AA batteries, two wall screws and anchors, and two wedge screws.
Design
The Aqara Video Doorbell G4 has a sleek and modern design with a Black or Space Gray-like “Shadow” finish. The large circle at the top of the doorbell contains the 1080p camera, an LED status light, a motion sensor that can detect movement within a five-meter range, and a microphone for two-way audio communication. The button at the bottom is illuminated by an LED around its edge and satisfyingly clicks when pressed. A small speaker for audio output and a sprung screw that releases the backplate are located on the sides.
Inside, there is space for six AA batteries, wires for continuous direct power, and a small button that triggers the anti-tamper alarm. The back of the doorbell is adhesive, meaning you can avoid damaging walls with screws if you are happy to rely on it, and has two screw holes for more secure attachment. You can also use the optional angled mounting bracket if you want to get a better framed image of anyone standing directly in front of your door.
The chime repeater module’s design matches the Doorbell G4, adding an LED indicator, a microSD card slot, a USB-C port for charging, and a Menu bottom. Pressing this button toggles the bell noise on and off, while holding it down for longer can reset network settings, or reset to factory settings.
The doorbell is made of durable plastic and Aqara says that it has an IPX3 rating, which should mean that it can stand up to all but the most extreme weather conditions. That being said, I am not sure that the device would be able to withstand significant external force. While this isn’t an issue for most installations, if it fell, I would not be surprised if it broke entirely. This lightweight construction is also evident with the chime, which lacks substantial internal components.
Moreover, if the chime did break and become unusable, purchasing a new one is not an option because the G4 and the chime are pre-paired. The chime links to HomeKit and the 2.4GHz frequency of your home Wi-Fi network, rather than the doorbell itself. The doorbell connects to a unique Wi-Fi frequency generated by the repeater, which can improve overall reliability.
Set Up
The process of adding the Doorbell G4 to the Aqara app and HomeKit is essentially the same as with any other Aqara device. Since it’s a WiFi device rather than a Zigbee child device, you do not need to connect it to a hub, meaning that the process is effectively the same as adding an Aqara hub or camera accessory.
After installing the six AA batteries and ensuring that the chime repeater is powered, you need to open the Aqara app and tap “Add Accessory.” The app then guides you through the setup process, which is relatively straightforward. It will also update the device’s firmware if necessary during this process.
You have the option of adding the Doorbell G4 to Apple’s Home app and using HomeKit Secure video either by scanning the HomeKit code on the repeater or by following the setup process within the Aqara app. While the Home app has basic video recording options, the Aqara app provides a wide range of options. You can customize settings such as motion sensing, video resolution, the LED indicator, and more to meet your specific needs. Once the setup process is complete, you can use the Aqara Video Doorbell G4 with Apple HomeKit to monitor your door, receive notifications, and create automations.
Functionality
The Doorbell G4 has a 16:9 field of view, so it may not capture things like packages left on a porch unless the it can be set back quite a bit. This may be an issue for some users who need a square view similar to many other video doorbell cameras. Even so, the 16:9 view is still good for capturing a wider view.
Notifications and integration with the Apple TV and HomePod work perfectly, sounding off a chime when pressed and immediately showing the video feed on a TV. Native Apple Home features like facial recognition, activity zones, automations, and motion detection also work very well, but Aqara discourages use of the motion sensor for an extended period if you plan to use battery power alone.
The doorbell’s speaker is not particularly clear, but it serves its purpose and this is normal for products in this category. The repeater can get very loud and you can set your preferred volume in the Aqara app.
HomeKit Secure Video does not record all of the time, so if this is your planned use-case, you will need to use Aqara’s app, which also enables additional facial recognition and local storage options. The Doorbell G4 will also support Matter when the specification for cameras is released.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4 is a richly featured smart doorbell with excellent HomeKit integration. The Home app, automations, facial recognition, and notifications work flawlessly with the doorbell. For those who want a smart doorbell but are hesitant to set up a wired connection, the G4 is also an ideal solution, especially as it is the only battery-operated HomeKit Security Video smart doorbell on the market.
Personally, I would have preferred the doorbell to have a more square field-of-view so that it can more easily capture deliveries that are left outside, rather than its 16:9 framing that can sometimes cut off the bottom of the frame compared to other smart doorbells. I also would have appreciated it if the doorbell was rechargeable via USB-C rather than using AA batteries, especially since the six AA batteries only last around four months.
With options for battery operations or wired power, multiple mounting possibilities, and dozens of software settings, the Aqara Video Doorbell G4 is surprisingly versatile. Its sleek design, seamless HomeKit Secure Video support, and reliable operation make the doorbell a great choice for anyone in the Apple ecosystem looking to monitor their front door.
How to Buy
Priced at $119.99, the Aqara Smart Video Doorbell G4 is available from Amazon in both North America and Europe, as well as via selected Aqara retailers worldwide.
Note: Aqara provided MacRumors with a Video Doorbell G4 for the purpose of this review. No other compensation was received.
This article, “Review: Aqara’s Video Doorbell G4 Offers HomeKit Secure Video in a Sleek Design” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Microsoft Teams Is Now Faster, With a Windows 11-Like Design
Microsoft Teams is one of the most widely-used hubs for workplace and organization, combining chats, video conferencing, and much more into one experience. A major update is now rolling out that gives Teams a fresh coat of paint and significantly faster performance.
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Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More
iOS 16.4 and associated releases are also right around the corner with some new features and hints of updated earphones coming from Apple and Beats. Meanwhile, we’re continuing to hear about Apple’s plans to expand its home audio product portfolio, so be sure to read on for all the details on these stories and more!
iPhone 15 Pro Leak Reveals Single Volume Button and Mute Button
We’ve been hearing for a while now that the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will be equipped with solid-state buttons that do not physically move. Instead, the buttons will provide haptic feedback from Taptic Engines when pressed, similar to the Home button introduced with the iPhone 7 and the Force Touch trackpad on modern MacBooks.
Now, a leaked CAD image has revealed that iPhone 15 Pro models will apparently have a single, elongated volume button for turning the volume up or down based on where it is pressed. The image also shows that a small button will replace the mute switch that has existed on every iPhone model sine 2007 for turning the ringer on and off.
AirPods Pro With USB-C Charging Case to Launch Later This Year
In the iOS 16.4 Release Candidate made available to developers and public beta testers this week, there are hidden references to what appears to be next-generation AirPods and a new charging case.
According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, these are likely to be AirPods Pro 2 with a USB-C charging case rather than the current Lightning port. Apple is reportedly also not planning to release USB-C versions of AirPods 2 or 3, suggesting their transition to USB-C will need to wait until a more substantial AirPods 4 upgrade is ready.
iOS 16.4 also includes references to unreleased Beats Studio Buds+ earbuds, which could be a new and improved version of the regular Studio Buds.
iOS 16.4 Adds Voice Isolation for Cellular Phone Calls
Another new feature coming with iOS 16.4 is voice isolation for cellular phone calls. Apple says this option blocks out ambient noise around you so that your voice sounds clearer on the call.
Voice isolation was already available for Wi-Fi calls in apps like FaceTime and WhatsApp on devices running iOS 15 or macOS Monterey or later, and now the feature is available for regular phone calls over a cellular network.
HomePod With a Screen Delayed Until Next Year at Earliest
Apple is rumored to be developing a new HomePod model with a built-in screen to compete with the likes of Google’s Nest Hub and Amazon’s Echo Show, but the company has reportedly paused the project until next year at the earliest due to cost-cutting measures.
Apple relaunched the full-sized HomePod earlier this year after discontinuing the smart speaker in 2021, and it continues to sell the HomePod mini as a smaller option.
iPhone 15 Pro Rumor Recap: 10 New Features and Changes
While the iPhone 15 series is still around six months away from launching, there have already been plenty of rumors about both the regular and model lineups.
Many new features and changes have been rumored for the iPhone 15 Pro models in particular. This week, we recapped 10 new features and changes rumored for the Pro models that are not expected to be available on the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models.
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This article, “Top Stories: iPhone 15 Pro Design Leak, iOS 16.4 Coming Soon, and More” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Huawei Claims To Have Built Its Own 14nm Chip Design Suite
Today, the EDA market is largely controlled by three companies: California-based Synopsys and Cadence, as well as Germany’s Siemens. According to the industry watchers at TrendForce, these three companies account for roughly 75 percent of the EDA market. And this poses a problem for Chinese chipmakers and foundries, which have steadily found themselves cut off from these tools. Synopsys and Cadence’s EDA tech is already subject to several of these export controls, which were stiffened by the US Commerce Department last summer to include state-of-the-art gate-all-around (GAA) transistors. This January, the White House also reportedly stopped issuing export licenses to companies supplying the likes of Huawei.
This is particularly troublesome for Huawei, foundry operator SMIC, and memory vendor YMTC to name a few on the US Entity List, a roster of companies Uncle Sam would prefer you not to do business with. It leaves them unable to access recent and latest technologies, at the very least. So the development of a homegrown EDA platform for 14nm chips serves as insurance in case broader access to Western production platforms is cut off entirely.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.