Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera Review: A Smart Home Enthusiast’s Deep Dive

For years, my home security setup has been a patchwork of different brands, apps, and ecosystems. A doorbell from one company, an indoor camera from another, all clumsily stitched together with third-party routines that felt more like a science experiment than a seamless security system. The dream was always a unified, intelligent system that just worked—one that respected my privacy, integrated with my existing smart home (primarily Apple HomeKit), and didn’t require a fortune in monthly subscription fees. The constant worry about a package disappearing from the porch, or wondering what the dog was up to, was a low-level anxiety I wanted to eliminate. Finding a camera that could deliver crisp video, endure the unpredictable British weather, and play nice with all my other gadgets without breaking the bank felt like searching for a unicorn. This quest is what led me to the Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera, a device that promises a feature list typically reserved for cameras twice its price.

Key Considerations Before Buying a Bullet Security Camera

A bullet camera is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for providing peace of mind through visible deterrence and reliable surveillance. Unlike dome cameras which are often more discreet, the distinct shape of a bullet camera makes it an overt statement that your property is monitored, which can be a powerful deterrent in itself. They are typically easier to install and aim than other camera types, making them ideal for monitoring specific entry points like front doors, back gardens, or driveways. The primary benefit is the ability to keep a watchful eye on your home from anywhere in the world, receiving intelligent alerts about activity that matters, and capturing clear evidence should an incident occur. It bridges the gap between being physically present and being digitally aware of your home’s security status.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone invested in building a smart, connected home. This includes homeowners, renters with permission to install devices, and even small business owners who need a flexible, app-controlled security solution. If you are already using ecosystems like Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, or Google Home, a camera like this, which integrates natively, is a perfect fit. It excels for those who want granular control over notifications and value options for local storage to avoid mandatory monthly fees. However, it might not be suitable for those who require a professionally monitored, enterprise-grade system with a central NVR (Network Video Recorder) and dedicated security patrols. Likewise, individuals living in areas with unstable or non-existent Wi-Fi will find any Wi-Fi-based camera, including this one, to be an unworkable solution. For them, a 4G-connected or completely offline system would be a more appropriate, albeit different, alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: The physical size of a security camera matters. The Aqara G100 is remarkably compact (5.8 x 5.8 x 7.2 cm), allowing for discreet placement under eaves or in corners where a larger camera would be an eyesore. Consider whether you want the camera to be a visible deterrent or hidden from casual view. Its small footprint and versatile mount offer flexibility that bulkier models lack.
• Capacity/Performance: This is the heart of any camera. Key metrics include video resolution (the G100 offers 2K, but is limited to 1080p in HomeKit), field of view (its 140° is impressively wide, capturing more of your property in a single frame), and night vision capabilities. The G100’s dual-mode night vision—spotlight-powered color and covert infrared—provides crucial flexibility for different lighting conditions and locations.
• Materials & Durability: An outdoor camera must withstand the elements. The Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera features an IP65 weather-resistance rating, meaning it’s protected against dust ingress and jets of water. This is sufficient for most UK weather, from driving rain to dusty summer days. The build quality, typically a robust polycarbonate, should feel solid enough to endure years of exposure without degradation.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A smart device is only as good as its software and setup process. Look for a straightforward onboarding process via a well-designed app. The G100’s use of a standard USB-C connector for power is a modern convenience, but you must also factor in the need for a power source and potentially a longer cable. Long-term maintenance is minimal, usually just a periodic wipe of the lens to ensure a clear view.

With these factors in mind, we can dive into how the Aqara G100 performs in the real world.

While the Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the Aqara G100: Compact Design, Big Promises

Upon opening the box, the first thing that struck me was the diminutive size of the Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera. Product images often make these devices look larger than life, but this camera is genuinely palm-sized. It feels dense and well-constructed, with a clean, minimalist white housing that blends in easily with typical exterior trim. The camera body attaches to its stand via a powerful magnet, which allows for incredibly easy angle adjustments—a thoughtful design choice that simplifies installation. Inside the box, you get the camera itself, a magnetic base that can also be screw-mounted, a metal plate with adhesive for tool-free mounting, a USB-C to USB-A cable, and mounting hardware. Two things were notably absent, as several users have pointed out: a microSD card for local storage and, more importantly, a USB power adapter. While the move to USB-C is forward-thinking, the omission of a power brick feels like a cost-cutting measure that new buyers must account for. It’s a minor inconvenience, but one that slightly mars an otherwise stellar first impression. You can see the full kit and its current price online.

Putting the Aqara G100 Through Its Paces: A Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

A spec sheet can only tell you so much. To truly understand a product, you have to live with it. We installed the Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera overlooking a back garden and integrated it deeply into our smart home to test its real-world performance, from image quality to the nuances of its AI detection.

Image & Video Quality: The 2K Promise with a HomeKit Caveat

The headline feature of the G100 is its 2K (2304×1296) video resolution, and when viewed through the native Aqara Home app, the quality is outstanding for a camera in this price bracket. Daytime footage is sharp, vibrant, and detailed. The 140° wide-angle lens captures a vast area, easily covering our entire garden and patio. We could clearly read license plates on cars parked at a moderate distance and identify faces with ease—details that are often lost on lower-resolution 1080p cameras. The video is smooth, a benefit of its robust Wi-Fi 6 connection, which handles the higher bitrate of 2K video without stuttering.

However, there’s a critical caveat that potential buyers, especially HomeKit users, must understand. This was a point of confusion for several users in their feedback, and it’s an important one. When you connect the Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera to Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video (HSV), the maximum streaming and recording resolution is limited to 1080p. This is not a fault of Aqara, but a current limitation of the HSV platform itself. The trade-off is significant: you gain Apple’s best-in-class privacy, end-to-end encrypted cloud storage (that doesn’t count against your iCloud quota), and on-device intelligent analysis, but you sacrifice the camera’s top-tier resolution. In our testing, the 1080p feed in HomeKit was still very clear and more than sufficient for general security, but it lacked the fine detail of the 2K stream in the Aqara app. This “dual-stream” limitation is something users must weigh. For us, the privacy and integration benefits of HSV were worth the resolution drop, but if your absolute priority is capturing the highest detail possible, you may choose to use it exclusively with the Aqara app. The camera’s night vision, which we found to be excellent, is another highlight. The spotlight enables surprisingly vivid color night vision, illuminating the garden in a natural-looking light when motion is detected. For more covert monitoring, like in a child’s room or indoors, the 940nm infrared mode is perfect as it emits no visible red glow, a feature that shows thoughtful design.

Smart Home Integration: A True Ecosystem Chameleon

Where the Aqara G100 truly excels and pulls away from its budget-friendly competition is its mastery of smart home integration. This camera is a true chameleon, fitting seamlessly into nearly any ecosystem you throw at it. For our testing, the primary focus was Apple HomeKit. As one user noted, the setup was “seamless” and took just a few minutes. We scanned the HomeKit code in the Aqara app, and the camera was immediately available in Apple’s Home app on all our devices—iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. The performance with HomeKit Secure Video was flawless. It correctly identified people, animals, and vehicles, sending rich notifications with snapshots directly to our lock screens. The ability to define activity zones and have all video analysis done locally on our HomePod mini before being encrypted and sent to the cloud is the gold standard for privacy.

Beyond Apple’s walled garden, the camera’s versatility continues. We linked it to our Alexa account, and within seconds we could ask our Echo Show to “show the back garden,” with the video feed appearing promptly. The same was true for our Google Nest Hub. This cross-platform support is a huge advantage, ensuring the camera remains a viable part of your setup even if you switch ecosystems down the line. For the advanced user and tinkerer, the inclusion of RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) support is a game-changer. Following the lead of a user who successfully integrated it with their Synology NAS, we were able to add the G100’s video stream to Home Assistant, our open-source smart home hub. This allows for truly limitless automation possibilities and 24/7 recording to a local network drive, completely bypassing the cloud if desired. This level of connectivity and control is rarely seen at this price point.

AI Detection and Storage: Local Privacy Meets Cloud Power

The intelligence of a security camera is defined by its ability to tell you what’s important and ignore what isn’t. The Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera employs a hybrid approach to AI. Out of the box, it performs person detection locally on the camera itself. This is a significant advantage for both speed and privacy, as the video data doesn’t need to be sent to a server for analysis just to determine if a moving object is a person. In our tests, the local person detection was fast and generally accurate, correctly identifying couriers and family members entering the garden. We did encounter some occasional false positives on windy days where swaying trees were briefly misidentified, echoing one user’s complaint about detecting motion where there was none. However, carefully tuning the motion sensitivity and activity zones within the app greatly reduced these instances.

For more advanced detection, Aqara offers an optional cloud subscription service. As one reviewer detailed, this unlocks AI recognition for pets, vehicles, packages, and even familiar faces. The subscription is reasonably priced, and for those who need to know specifically when a parcel is delivered or if the neighbour’s cat is visiting, it’s a powerful upgrade. We tested the trial and found the vehicle and pet detection to be quite reliable. The real strength of the G100, however, lies in its flexible storage options. You are not forced into a subscription. We inserted a 256GB microSD card, which enabled 24/7 continuous recording. This is a fantastic feature for those who want a complete, unbroken record of events, not just motion clips. Combining this with NAS recording via RTSP and the encrypted clips stored by HomeKit Secure Video, we had three distinct, redundant storage methods. This flexibility to choose between free local storage and paid cloud features makes the Aqara G100 a versatile option for any user.

Installation, Connectivity, and Durability

Getting the Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera up and running was remarkably simple. The magnetic mount is a stroke of genius, allowing you to pop the camera on and off for charging or repositioning without any tools. For a more permanent outdoor installation, we used the included screws to affix the base to a wooden fence post. The ball-joint mechanism on the mount offers a wide range of motion, making it easy to get the perfect viewing angle. As mentioned, the main installation hurdle is power. The camera is corded electric, powered by USB-C. The included cable is quite short, around 2 meters, which is insufficient for most outdoor placements. We, like another user, had to purchase a longer, 5-meter USB-C cable to reach the nearest weatherproof outlet. This is an additional cost to factor in. One German user rightly pointed out the challenge of finding an outdoor-rated USB-C power adapter, a valid concern for ensuring a safe and durable setup.

Connectivity is another area where the G100 is future-proofed. It supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) on the 2.4 GHz band. While it doesn’t support 5 GHz, the use of Wi-Fi 6 on the more common 2.4 GHz band provides lower latency and better performance, especially in homes with many connected devices. Throughout our testing, the connection remained rock-solid, with live video loading instantly and no dropped frames. The inclusion of the WPA3 security standard also provides enhanced protection against Wi-Fi hacking attempts, a crucial feature for a security device. In terms of durability, the IP65 rating held up perfectly. We’ve had the camera installed through several heavy downpours and one particularly blustery day, and it hasn’t missed a beat. One user from Florida expressed concern about heat and humidity, and while we can’t replicate that climate, the camera’s solid construction gives us confidence in its long-term resilience. The build quality truly inspires confidence for outdoor use.

What Other Users Are Saying

Scouring user feedback reveals a largely positive consensus, especially regarding the camera’s value. Many, like one happy customer, call it “incredible for the price,” praising its crisp video quality and flawless HomeKit integration. The ease of setup is a recurring theme, with one owner noting it took “just a few minutes to get it up and running.” The compact and discreet design also wins frequent compliments, with a user describing it as “small enough to go almost anywhere without being ugly and distracting.”

However, the feedback isn’t without its criticisms, which align closely with our own findings. The most common complaint by far is the resolution downgrade to 1080p when using HomeKit. An Italian user expressed this frustration perfectly, calling it a “compromise that makes little sense on a product advertised as HomeKit compatible.” The other significant, frequently mentioned issue is the lack of an included power adapter and the short length of the provided USB-C cable. One Spanish-speaking user summed it up by saying that “to the price of the camera, you have to add a 5m cable in my case.” These practical omissions are a clear point of frustration for an otherwise highly-regarded product.

How the Aqara G100 Compares to the Competition

The Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera operates in a crowded market. While it carves out a strong niche with its HomeKit prowess, several compelling alternatives exist for buyers with different priorities.

1. Tapo C520WS 2K 4MP WiFi Outdoor Security Camera

The Tapo C520WS is a formidable competitor, especially for those needing to monitor a large, open area. Its primary advantage over the fixed G100 is its pan-and-tilt functionality, providing a full 360° field of vision. You can remotely control the camera’s direction or use its AI-powered motion tracking to automatically follow subjects as they move across your property. It also boasts a slightly higher 4MP resolution and a superior IP66 weather-resistance rating. If your main goal is to cover a wide space like a large garden or the entire front of your house with a single camera and you value active subject tracking over deep HomeKit integration, the Tapo C520WS is likely the better choice.

2. Tapo TC40 Outdoor Security Camera

The Tapo TC40 can be seen as the budget-friendly pan-and-tilt option. It offers similar 360° coverage and smart person detection to its more expensive C520WS sibling but steps the resolution down to Full HD (1080p). It shares the same IP65 rating as the Aqara G100. This camera is a great alternative for users who are primarily attracted to the idea of a pan-and-tilt camera for comprehensive coverage but are working with a tighter budget and don’t require 2K resolution. It presents a strong value proposition for those who prioritize mechanical movement over the G100’s wider static field of view and HomeKit support.

3. Vimtag Outdoor Security Camera Color Night Vision

The Vimtag camera is a more traditional bullet-style camera, similar in form to the Aqara G100. It offers 24/7 recording capabilities and color night vision, making it a direct competitor in terms of core security features. Its 130° field of view is slightly narrower than the G100’s 140°. Where it differs most is in its smart home integration. While it supports Alexa, it lacks the deep, privacy-focused HomeKit Secure Video support that is the G100’s standout feature. A user who is not invested in the Apple ecosystem and simply wants a reliable, wired outdoor camera with good night vision and local storage might find the Vimtag to be a perfectly suitable and cost-effective alternative.

Final Verdict: Is the Aqara G100 the Right Security Camera for You?

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the Aqara G100 2K Indoor/Outdoor Security Camera is a phenomenal piece of hardware that punches well above its weight, particularly for users embedded in the Apple HomeKit ecosystem. Its combination of sharp 2K video (in the native app), excellent night vision, modern Wi-Fi 6 connectivity, and unparalleled smart home versatility makes it a standout product. The flexibility of local microSD storage alongside premium options like HomeKit Secure Video gives users complete control over their data and their budget.

The device is not without its compromises. The 1080p resolution cap within HomeKit is a significant trade-off for the platform’s privacy benefits, and the need to purchase your own power adapter and likely a longer USB cable is an unfortunate hidden cost. However, these are minor grievances when weighed against the camera’s overall performance and value. If you are a HomeKit user looking for an affordable, reliable, and feature-rich camera, the Aqara G100 is arguably one of the best choices on the market today. For others, its broad support for Alexa, Google, and RTSP still makes it a compelling and flexible option. For its price, the level of quality and smart integration is simply hard to beat. If you’re ready to add a truly smart and versatile watchdog to your home, we highly recommend you check the latest price and availability of the Aqara G100.