The smart home security market has long been divided into two camps: expensive, feature-rich cameras that demand a subscription, or budget options that compromise on privacy and ecosystem compatibility. For Apple users, finding a camera that offers high resolution, weather resistance, and HomeKit Secure Video (HKSV) integration—all without breaking the bank—has felt like searching for a unicorn.

Priced at an astonishingly low £34.99, the Aqara G100 Camera is poised to disrupt the entire smart security landscape. It delivers a 2K resolution sensor, dual night vision modes, and an IP65 weather resistance rating, making it equally adept indoors or outdoors. Crucially, it integrates flawlessly with Apple HomeKit Secure Video, leveraging the privacy and encrypted storage that Apple users demand. This blend of premium features at a budget price makes the Aqara G100 Camera the single most compelling piece of hardware for expanding an Apple-centric smart home in years.

The HomeKit Advantage: Privacy Meets Affordability

For many, the biggest appeal of the Aqara G100 Camera is its deep integration with HomeKit Secure Video. This system addresses the primary anxiety surrounding smart cameras: data privacy.

HomeKit Secure Video Explained

When the Aqara G100 Camera is used with HKSV, the process works as follows:

1. Local Analysis: Video streams are analyzed for people, pets, and vehicles locally on a designated HomeKit hub (an Apple TV, HomePod, or iPad). This means the raw footage never has to travel to Aqara’s cloud for processing.
2. Encrypted Upload: Only after an event is detected is the recorded clip securely uploaded to your iCloud account. The footage is end-to-end encrypted, meaning only you and those you share your Apple Home with can view it. Apple itself cannot decrypt the videos.
3. No Storage Penalty: The recorded HKSV clips do not count against your standard iCloud storage limit, provided you have a 200GB plan (for one camera) or a 2TB plan (for up to five cameras). This eliminates the subscription creep so common with other camera brands.

The ability to get a feature-packed camera that fully adheres to Apple’s stringent privacy standards for a price that undercuts many basic 1080p models is the G100’s primary claim to fame. It removes the expensive barrier to entry for users keen to build out their HomeKit security setup. For more insights on securing your connected devices and ensuring privacy, check out our website.

2K Clarity and Dual Night Vision: Beyond the Budget Tag

Despite its remarkably low price point, the Aqara G100 Camera hardware specifications punch well above its class, rivaling cameras that cost three or four times more.

Resolution and Field of View

The camera boasts a 2K (2304 x 1296) image sensor with a wide 140° field of view. While HomeKit Secure Video currently caps the live stream and recorded footage at 1080p due to Apple’s bandwidth management protocols, the fact that the underlying hardware is 2K means the 1080p footage is often sharper and cleaner than cameras natively limited to that resolution. When viewing the feed through the Aqara Home app, users can access the full 2K resolution, which is a great benefit for zooming into details on recorded clips.

Versatile Night Vision

The Aqara G100 Camera provides two distinct night vision options, offering flexibility rarely seen at this price:

1. Discrete IR Night Vision (940 nm): This uses invisible infrared light that won’t give away the camera’s location—perfect for covert indoor monitoring.
2. Color Night Vision with Spotlight: For deterrence and clarity outdoors, the built-in spotlight can be activated to capture footage in full color, making it much easier to identify the color of clothing or vehicles, a significant advantage over standard black-and-white IR footage.

This dual-mode capability makes the Aqara G100 Camera a truly versatile choice, allowing users to select the right approach for different locations—from a low-profile bedroom monitor to a front porch security light. The ability to manage these advanced settings and leverage the dual modes is often limited by simpler cameras, showcasing the G100’s sophistication.

Design and Ecosystem Integration: Ready for Anything

The versatility of the Aqara G100 Camera is enhanced by its physical design and broad compatibility with other smart home ecosystems.

Indoor and Outdoor Ready

The camera features an IP65 weatherproof rating, which means it is protected against dust ingress and low-pressure water jets. This rating makes it ideal for use in covered outdoor areas like porches, eaves, or sheds.

• Design: Its compact, cube-like design, available in black or white, is unobtrusive. The power connection is handled via a waterproof USB-C cable, a thoughtful detail that allows users to swap in longer cables if the camera needs to be mounted far from an indoor power source. Note: Like many modern devices, the power adapter itself is not included in the box, a small concession to the price point.

Beyond the Apple Ecosystem

While the Aqara G100 Camera is a HomeKit champion, it is far from exclusive. Its multi-protocol support makes it highly flexible:

• Google Home & Amazon Alexa: It integrates seamlessly, allowing for voice commands and viewing the stream on devices like the Google Nest Hub or Echo Show.
• RTSP & NAS Support: For advanced users who prefer self-hosted, continuous recording, the camera supports the RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) standard, allowing it to stream 24/7 footage to a local Network Attached Storage (NAS) server like Synology or QNAP. This feature is crucial for avoiding cloud subscriptions entirely and maintaining total local control.
• MicroSD Card Slot: It supports local storage up to 512GB via a microSD card (sold separately), offering a simple, non-subscription option for continuous recording backup.

This broad compatibility ensures that whether you are an Apple purist, a mixed-ecosystem household, or a self-hosting enthusiast, the Aqara G100 Camera will fit your needs. Tech experts often cite this multi-platform support as a reason for the camera’s wide appeal, as detailed in recent reviews of top HomeKit security cameras.

Making the Most of the Aqara Ecosystem

While the Aqara G100 Camera functions perfectly well as a standalone HKSV camera, it shines when integrated with other Aqara devices, unlocking powerful local automations.

The Hub Question

The Aqara G100 Camera itself does not feature a built-in Zigbee hub (a capability found in its pricier siblings like the G3). However, when paired with an existing Aqara hub (such as the M2 or M3), the camera can be used as a trigger for a massive range of sophisticated automations.

• Example Automation: If the Aqara G100 Camera detects a person outside your door, it could trigger a siren on the M2 hub, turn on an external Aqara spotlight, and send a custom notification—all running locally for near-instant response times.

This flexibility allows users to start small with the camera and later expand into the broader, highly reliable Aqara ecosystem, known for its wide array of affordable sensors and controllers. For ideas on linking your security camera to other smart home devices to create responsive, automated defenses, see our guide on our website.

Conclusion: A Game-Changer for Affordable HomeKit Security

The Aqara G100 Camera represents a seismic shift in the market. It decisively proves that top-tier security features—including 2K resolution, IP65 weatherproofing, and encrypted HomeKit Secure Video—no longer require a premium price tag or a mandatory monthly subscription.

For a homeowner invested in the Apple ecosystem, the G100 is not just a cheap option; it’s a strategic purchase that provides the best value proposition currently available. Whether you are looking to monitor a nursery, secure a back garden, or simply add eyes to a seldom-used room, the Aqara G100 Camera delivers clarity and privacy for just £34.99. It is the camera that finally democratizes high-end smart security.