Security cameras need to offer something unique to impress me. I’ve tested many brands and have come to prefer some over others, but I’m pleased to say the new Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro, a 2K indoor security camera, and the Camera Hub Indoor G2H Pro

The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro doesn’t support expanding its local storage, so you can’t add a microSD card to record clips. But thanks to the G5 Pro’s real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) support, you can get creative with it. 

Smart home hubs are typically single-function tabletop devices that only work to connect low-energy smart home devices that can’t directly connect to your Wi-Fi. These smaller devices, like cameras and sensors, connect to a hub that connects to the internet. While a hub frees you from adding 12 devices to your Wi-Fi (potentially congesting your router), hubs generally don’t do much else.

I like the SwitchBot Hub because it also functions as a thermometer and has buttons that can be programmed to trigger routines and devices. With the launch of the G5 Pro —  Aqara’s first outdoor camera that’s also a hub —  the multifunctional hub just moved a bit more mainstream.  

Also: I switched to the EufyCam S3 Pro and can’t go back to grainy night vision

Aside from the convenience of combining home security with a smart home hub, the G5 Pro’s ingenuity lies in its many AI-powered visual recognition features. The camera can detect vehicles, people, animals, and packages and learn to recognize faces and even specific vehicles. 

I’ve tested the camera indoors and outdoors, and I love it so far. The Aqara Camera G5 Pro