This Aqara smart camera is more than meets the eye
HTG Wrapped 2025: 24 days of technology
24 days of our favorite hardware, gadgets and technologies
IP security cameras cost a dime, so you might not hesitate to look twice at the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro except to note its premium design. However, underneath this flagship smart home camera is a cutting-edge smart home device.
While the G5 Pro is a great outdoor smart security camera, it goes so much more than that. This camera is also a complete smart home hub that speaks virtually every language, covering Zigbee and Thread, with the ability to act as a Matter controller. This is Aqara’s first outdoor smart home hub, and this unassuming device packs an incredible number of features.
By installing an Aqara Hub G5 Pro, you will also increase your smart home footprint. Other devices within range, outdoors or indoors, can connect to your smart home network through the G5 Pro. As a smart hub, the G5 Pro not only connects and manages other Aqara devices, but also Matter-compatible smart home products from other brands, making it an ideal central point for your home security system.
But that doesn’t mean the Camera Hub G5 Pro is entirely dependent on a network connection to perform its security camera functions. An integrated neural processing unit (NPU) allows the camera to run complex visual and audio AI algorithms to perform advanced security functions, such as facial recognition and package detection, locally on the device.
Even more amazing is the incredible color night vision. Powered by a graphene-cooled camera sensor and combined with a built-in spotlight, no one can hide from the G5 Pro!
It’s not just the darkness of night that’s no match for the G5 Pro; rain, sleet and snow are also only a minor inconvenience. With IP65 protection against liquids and dust, combined with resistance to extreme cold (-30C/-22F), there is virtually no place this camera is not suitable for installation.
Privacy is always a major concern with network-connected cameras, and the G5 Pro is designed with a focus on protecting your footage from prying eyes. It’s compatible with HomeKit Secure Video, its onboard storage is encrypted, and for the first time it supports end-to-end encryption when sending footage to Aqara cloud storage. So even the storage provider cannot view the images no matter what.
If you don’t want to use cloud storage, you can stream images in real time to your own local server using software such as Frigate or Blue Iris. Camera storage can also be expanded with a simple SMB network storage share and streamed directly to Alexa, Google and Samsung smart displays and TVs.
Through December 22, the G5 Pro Wi-Fi drops to $119.99 (was $179.99) for one 33% off. This makes it a surprisingly affordable way to anchor a smart home without sacrificing capacity or flexibility. And that flexibility is really the whole story here: Aqara has quietly built one of the most interoperable ecosystems on the market, and the G5 Pro is its new flagship for the future of smart homes and home security.
- Brand
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Akara
- Resolution
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Quad HD 2688×1520
- Connectivity
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Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac 2.4-5 GHz, Zigbee&Thread IEEE 802.15.4 Bluetooth (magicpair support)
- Night vision
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Full color
- Internal or External
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External
The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro delivers superb camera performance, night or day, in extreme conditions. It also offers supreme color night vision and a built-in spotlight. But aside from being a camera, the Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro also acts as a complete smart home hub.
HTG Wrapped 2025: 24 days of technology
24 days of our favorite hardware, gadgets and technologies
