The Aqara Camera E1 - No Hub, But With 2K, WiFi 6, Pan & Tilt, And More!

[@myHomeKithome]

It's refreshing that they didn't jam another Zigbee hub into this one. HSV really needs to get it together and give us more than just 1080p resolution. I'd also really like to see Aqara start to work on devices with outdoor ratings. Very informative video as always Simon!

[@homekitnews]

Thanks D. The outdoor cams will be coming, but not until next year now. Yes, plural - outdoor cams.

[@myHomeKithome]

@@homekitnews great to know! Hopefully they also consider producing an outdoor contact sensor, but hopefully it doesn't resemble the P2.

[@ScarthyUK]

Your info on WiFi at 6mins is wrong. WiFi 6 doesn’t mean 6ghz support (that is WiFi6E). This only supports WiFi 6 (ax) over 2.4ghz

[@homekitnews]

Thanks, I have to admit I get things like this confused at times.

[@ScarthyUK]

@@homekitnews it’s minefield for sure! Especially when they rebranded Wi-Fi to include numbers. Wi-Fi 6 over 2.4ghz will be an improvement over WiFi 4 though

[@homekitnews]

@ScarthyUK at least I know now. I guess this still means I need a router that supports AX though.

[@ScarthyUK]

@@homekitnews correct otherwise it will fall back to Wi-Fi 4 (N)

[@bunit8]

It's priced fairly. Any dates on when aqara ceiling light will be released in the US?

[@homekitnews]

Hi, I'm not really sure, and they're running out of time to get it out in 2023. Maybe it'll be the last device this year, maybe in December - which is only 2 weeks away!

[@mrleblanc]

I'm trying to decide between the Eufy C220 (50$, include a power brick) or the Aquara E1 (80$ without the power brick). Can you explain why you made the switch ?

[@homekitnews]

It was a simple switch for me, due to the powerful automations that you can create in the Aqara app. These can also be ported over to the HomeKit app too. Eufy make good cameras, but their app provides virtually no options for automations unless you have their other products and then the options are very basic.

[@homekitnews]

@michael4371 I show everything that’s included in the box, which didn’t show a power brick. I never accept sponsored videos.

[@vded13]

I have set it up in my living room. But I receive more than 500 notifications in a day because it sees my wife and child. Although, it has recognised them from my album photos and have selected the "hide notifications" option still the notifications are sent. It's very frustrating because I want the camera notifications if a burglar came into the house but not sending all the time my family. Is there a solution for this?

[@homekitnews]

Hi, are you getting notifications from the Apple Home app, Aqara Home app, or both?

[@vded13]

@@homekitnews from the HomeKit. I’m not using the Aqara app (I have it only for updating the camera).

[@homekitnews]

In the Home app, you have an option to only send notifications when you - or nobody - is at home, which would be anyone connected to your HomeKit account. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only option available to customise notifications.

[@vded13]

@@homekitnews thank you, that did the trick. Added the wife in the Home app and now I have set the notifications only when nobody is at home. Does the job.

[@PORTER24]

Was hoping for an outdoor camera from aqara. Any news if thats in the works?

[@homekitnews]

Yes, there are outdoor cams coming, but definitely not until 2024 now. They’ll have a battery operated model, and a wired PoE (power over Ethernet) model.

[@PORTER24]

Perfect already got the G4 so will add them to my setup once they release thanks

[@amrgardner]

Are the Aqara smart locks ok for use in the UK with the typical deadbolts we use here?

[@homekitnews]

Hi, it depends on the type of lock you have installed, but if you’re referring to the Aqara mortice type locks like the A100 Zigbee (kzbin.info/www/bejne/nnnKm4iJaZeaoKMsi=-2K3wdYo0NQZysuv,) then it essentially replaces your whole lock with its own. The only thing to bear in mind is that the Aqara mortice type locks aren’t designed for outdoor weather, so if installed they’d need to be covered by a porch or overhang of some sort.

[@a_d_s5361]

Does this have the option to only start recording once motion is detected? Or it all continues recording?

[@homekitnews]

There are three options in the Aqara app - no recording, recording on motion events, and continuous recording. The latter requires an SD card installed in the camera. Similar options are available via HomeKit, except for continuous recording.

[@DaisyLee2010]

How does it work if you place it up high on something like a shelf? Some PTZ cameras have a hard time looking down, not sure if I can mount mine to a ceiling like you did

[@homekitnews]

There is a limit to how far it can look down, but you may well encounter the same limit even if you placed it upright on shelf, so placement depending on what you want to monitor, is key.

[@DaisyLee2010]

If I have a hub with the alarm system, and it gets triggered, will this camera make a siren noise as well? Like the older cameras?

[@homekitnews]

You can create an automation to trigger the same set of sounds as the ones found on other hubs, or use custom audio if you prefer, based on whether the alarm is sounded on one of your Aqara hubs in any of the alarm modes.

[@n25992]

Whats the point of this camera when there is the G3

[@homekitnews]

It’s cheaper and has WiFi 6.

[@Liquid_Snake]

@@homekitnews WiFi 6 does not seem to be working, so just cheaper for now ;)

[@homekitnews]

@@Liquid_Snake I need to get a WiFi 6 router to test it.