Review: Aqara Video Doorbell G4 with HomeKit – is it really worth it?

I love smart gadgets that make everyday life easier – and a video doorbell is definitely one of them for me. After all, it’s super handy to see who’s at the door, regardless of whether I’m lying on the sofa or not at home.

The Aqara G4 video doorbell is one of the few doorbells on the market that can be perfectly connected to Apple Home – and that’s exactly what makes it so interesting for many people. But how well does it really work? I have tested it extensively and share my experiences with you here.

First impression: Simple but functional

When I opened the packaging, my first thought was: “Pretty simple – but it makes a solid impression!”

You’ll find everything you need in the box:

✔️ The doorbell with integrated camera
✔️ A chime (gong) for indoor use
✔️ Mounting material (screws, plugs, adhesive pad)
✔️ A quick guide

The design is kept simple: Black casing, silver front, camera at the top, ringer button at the bottom. No frills, but that’s exactly what I like.

A big plus point: the Chime is not just a doorbell for indoors, but also a Wi-Fi bridge. This ensures a more stable connection, even if your router is further away.

Installation completed in 5 minutes

I’ve already had a few video doorbells in my hands, and the setup is often a disaster. I was pleasantly surprised here:

Assembly:

• You can simply attach the doorbell with screws or an adhesive pad. I opted for screws – better safe than sorry.
• Power is supplied either by AA batteries (lasts up to 4 months) or by cable connection if you want to replace an existing doorbell.

Furnishings:

• HomeKit: Simply scan the QR code and the doorbell is immediately integrated into the Apple environment.
• Alexa & Google Assistant are also compatible, but the functions are somewhat more limited there.

The whole thing took me less than 5 minutes – it could hardly be quicker.

How does the Aqara G4 perform in everyday life?

Now it’s getting exciting: Does the doorbell deliver what it promises?

Picture quality: good picture day & night

The camera delivers 1080p Full HD, and it shows:
✔️ A sharp and clear image during the day
✔️ 162° wide angle – you can not only see directly in front of the door, but also the area next to it
✔️ Night vision: thanks to HDR & infrared, you can see everything even in the dark

I’ve already had smart doorbells with muddy picture quality – fortunately, that’s not the case here.

Face recognition

One of the most exciting features is face recognition. After a few days, the camera reliably recognized me, friends and family.

You can even set it up so that you receive a personal notification: “Max is at the door.” Handy if you often get visits from the same people.

Incidentally, facial recognition runs locally on the doorbell, not just in the cloud. This means: faster response & more data protection.

Notifications super fast on the iPhone

I have paired the doorbell with my iPhone and the notifications come almost in real time. As soon as someone presses the doorbell, I immediately see a preview image.

You can also set your HomePod or Apple TV to act as a doorbell – really handy if you don’t have your phone to hand.

Comparison with other doorbells – where does the Aqara G4 stand?

How good is it compared to other well-known models? I’ve put the most important features side by side:

Feature	Aqara G4	Ring Video Doorbell 4	Eufy Video Doorbell
Resolution	1080p	1080p	2K
Night vision	Yes	Yes	Yes
Face recognition	Yes	No	Yes
HomeKit support	Yes	No	No
Battery operation	Yes	Yes	Yes

If you are an Apple user, the Aqara G4 is the best choice because it works perfectly with HomeKit. If you want an even sharper picture, the Eufy 2K could be an alternative.

Disadvantages – this could be better

No product is perfect – so here are the points that I didn’t like so much:

❌ Only IPX3 weatherproof – the doorbell is protected against splashing water, but not against heavy rain.

❌ No direct option for charging the batteries. They must be removed and charged with a separate device.
❌ No cloud storage included – you either need a microSD card or use HomeKit Secure Video (if you have an iCloud subscription).
❌ Design more functional than elegant – not ugly, but not an eye-catcher either.

If you live in an area where it often storms and rains, you may want to mount them in a more sheltered position.

Conclusion: Almost perfect for Apple users

After a few weeks of use, I can say that the Aqara G4 is one of the best HomeKit doorbells you can currently buy.

✅ Fast response to ringing & movements
✅ Super image quality (even at night)
✅ HomeKit integration is top notch
✅ Face recognition works amazingly well

If you are an Apple user and are looking for a smart doorbell that simply works, then the Aqara G4 is a clear recommendation!

If you’re looking for weatherproof alternatives or would prefer 2K resolution, there are other models – but for HomeKit fans, this doorbell is a no-brainer.