Aqara G5 Pro is an outdoor camera with an ingenious extra feature. It's now at a record low price on Alza.

Looking for a camera that doesn’t go blind in the dark? The Aqara Camera Hub G5 Pro features a very bright lens and boasts a decent resolution. On top of that, it adds another function – it also serves as a smart home hub. During the Black Friday sale on Alza, it costs 3,184 CZK instead of the usual 4,899 CZK, which is 35% less. Alza has never sold it this cheaply before.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense if you want an outdoor camera with quality night vision and also a hub for Aqara sensors and Matter devices.
⚠️ Consider that the Wi-Fi version needs a cable to a power outlet and does not have a memory card slot.
💡 For 3,184 CZK you get both a camera and a smart home gateway in one, so if you’re building on Aqara sensors or Matter devices, you don’t need to buy a second box.

2.6K Image and Bright Lens for Night Monitoring

The manufacturer states a resolution of 2688 × 1520 px, a viewing angle of 133°, and an aperture of f/1.0. It is precisely the very bright lens along with the built-in spotlight that is responsible for the color night vision that Aqara boasts. The camera is IP65 resistant and, according to the manufacturer, can withstand frosts down to −30 °C.

However, it is fixed. It does not rotate and has no optical zoom, so the wide view is mainly suitable for a garden, driveway, or entrance. One buyer on Alza points out that for objects further than about ten meters, they don’t see much detail.

Person, face, car, animal, and package recognition runs directly on the camera. According to Aqara, it also captures sounds like a baby crying, barking, or an alarm, and automations will trigger even if the internet goes down. No subscription is needed for these features.

A Camera That Also Serves as a Smart Home Gateway

This is what sets the G5 Pro apart from most outdoor cameras. Inside, it has a Zigbee hub, Thread Border Router, and Matter Controller, so if you have Aqara sensors at home (or plan to), you don’t need to buy a separate gateway. The camera also acts as a repeater, extending the range of your smart home network.

One limitation is good to know beforehand. According to the manufacturer and a test by PCWorld, it only communicates with Aqara devices via Zigbee; you cannot connect sensors from other brands this way. You can connect devices from other manufacturers via Matter. You then control the camera from the Aqara Home app, Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, or Home Assistant.

Also, keep in mind that a gateway mounted on the facade will be on the edge of the house, so sensors in more distant rooms may be out of range. And if you unplug the camera, it will stop working too.

Recordings Stay at Home, Cloud is Extra

For recordings, the camera has built-in encrypted 32 GB storage. It cannot be expanded, as there is no memory card slot. Those who want a longer archive can send recordings to a home NAS or connect the stream via RTSP to Home Assistant or a network recorder.

iPhone owners will appreciate HomeKit Secure Video support, but this requires an iCloud+ subscription. Aqara’s cloud history is then paid separately, and one buyer complains that the app pushes it quite a bit.

Buyers Praise Night Vision, Have Reservations About Installation and Details

On Alza, the camera has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 from ten customers, all recommend it, and over 200 units have been sold. The return rate is 1.22%. Reviews most frequently praise the night vision, easy connection with Apple Home, and the hub function.

The complaints vary, but installation was mentioned twice. According to one buyer, a screw with a larger head cannot be used in the base, and the wall mount has limited adjustment. Another points out the poorly protected USB-C connector, and according to another, the camera lacks infrared illumination, so it doesn’t see much in complete darkness without the spotlight. One buyer also mentions the clunky Czech translation in the app.

When to Opt for Something Else

Powering is the biggest compromise for the Wi-Fi version. The camera does not have a battery and runs from USB-C (5 V, 2 A), so you need a power outlet near the mounting location. Ideally, you would route the cable into a protected area; otherwise, the adapter must remain outside in a covered outlet box. Those who have Ethernet at home might consider the more expensive version with PoE.

It also doesn’t make sense for those who don’t have or plan a smart home. You would then pay unnecessarily for the hub, and a simpler camera would suffice – for example, the cheaper Aqara G100 Select.

Who the G5 Pro is a Hit for at This Price

For 3,184 CZK, it makes sense primarily for homeowners who already have a few Aqara sensors or are building a smart home around Apple Home and don’t want to buy a separate gateway. Home Assistant enthusiasts will appreciate RTSP and local AI without a subscription. Those who need to monitor a distant fence or a camera in a location without electricity will be happier with a different model.

Would the camera monitor your garden or the entrance to your house?