Evaluation of the expert
Professionals
- Easy to install
- Excellent app makes the system easy
- Can be used without a subscription
- Ideal for an apartment or apartment
Disadvantages
- Adding enough sensors for a large house can be expensive
- Users must provide their own microSD card for offline video memory
- Professional monitoring not available, not even as a paid option
Our judgment
The AQARA Camera Protect Kit Y100 is one of the easiest to install and furnished technical products that I have tested and performs an excellent task of monitoring a relatively small room. But be clear if you are looking for a professional surveillance option as this is not offered.
Price for review
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Best pricing today
Price for review
$ 139.99 (KIT contains Aqara's Camera Hub G3, vibration sensor T1, movement sensor T1, door and window sensor (1 each) and warning sticker (4 each)
Best prices today: AQARA Camera Protect Kit Y100
$ 119.99 ($ 30.00 / number)
$ 139.99 ($ 35.00 / Count)
The AQARA Camera Protect Kit Y100 bundles the flagship camera hub G3 of the company-one cigbee and matter bridge with a door and window sensor, a movement sensor P1 and a vibration sensor T1 for a solid entry safety system at a price of $ 140).
However, before I get into this review too deeply, it is aware that AQARA does not offer a professional surveillance service in which someone in a central office can monitor their security system and send first aiders in the event of a break -in, fire or medical emergency. While such plans have always paid subscriptions, the absence of some will be a deal breaker (AQARA creates a Zigbee Smart-Rauch detector when self-monitoring is everything you are looking for).
The Materie-compatible AQARA-Kamera-Hub G3 includes a Zigbee radio and a dual band Wi-Fi adapter.
James Barber/foundry
The camera is a Pan/Tilt model with 340 degrees pan, 45 degrees up and 15 degrees down. It has a stationary field of vision of 110 degrees. I can't imagine someone outside the house will set up a Smart Home hub, but the camera offers an IP65 weather evaluation. According to our IP code guidelines, this means that it is insensitive to get a penetration of dust and it is protected from water that is projected in jet from every direction.
The AQARA Camera Protect Kit Y100 is ideal for a small apartment or apartment.
Each of the bundled smart home components comes from the factory, which is advance in the hub, so that the system works almost immediately after leaving the box. Materie compatibility means that it can be integrated into one of the most important Smart Home platforms, including Alexa, Apple Home (along with the support of Apple Homekit Secure Video) and Google Home.
There is also support for Home Assistant, Ifttt and Smartthings. The hub itself supports the Zigbee Smart Home Protocol and connects with your Home Wi-Fi network via 2.4 or 5 GHz spectrum (with support for WPA3).
The buyers also receive 7 days of cloud storage for video recordings, around the clock local records for a microSD card provided by users and complete remote access without paying for a subscription. The optional HomeGuardian service from AQARA offers more extensive functions, including up to 90 days of cloud memory for video recordings.
Installation and setup
The installation was incredibly simple and took less than five minutes. I turned the camera hub to reveal the microSD card slot and insert one of my own (AQARA does not contain any, but the camera can support cards with capacities of up to 128 GB). You should take these functions into account when shopping a microSD card for a home monitoring camera.
After I put the camera, the Aqara iOS app led me to the Wi-Fi network of my house by adding the device. I used his setting to adapt the tracking and alarm functions for the pre-configured home, path and night profiles.
The starter kit contains all the basics, but most people want to buy more sensors for complete protection.
James Barber/foundry
Setting up the door/window sensor, the vibration sensor and the movement sensor was just as easy. The app offers suggestions where these devices are to be placed and the batteries are preinstalled. After pulling out the plastic strips and doing the batteries active, each of the sensors was automatically added to the network.
Users can activate or disarm these profiles from an area on the app screen of the app. The live camera perspective is located directly below this area. Scroll down to see panels that show the status of the four devices of the kit.
Use in real time
The Aqara Camera Protect Kit Y100 seemed perfect for a small apartment, so I set it up in my home media room. My dog helped the tests and played the role of the intruder.
The Aqara app is well done, easy to use and react quickly.
James Barber/foundry
Over a few weeks, I learned how much time he spends with my Ottoman Ottoman period. The system alerted me when he opened the door (triggered the door/window sensor), nudged a closet door (the same with the vibration sensor) and raced into the room and from the room (thanks to the camera and the motion sensor).
The 2K video recordings of the camera (coded as MPEG4 files) were clear when the room was illuminated, and its night vision was as good when the room was dark. When I had the system in away mode, the sensors triggered by the room from the room let the stumbling sensors triggered by the stumbling sensors.
Made to expansion
If you have an extremely modest demands on house safety, the AQARA Camera Protect Kit Y100 may be everything you need. However, most people want to use the large number of compatible add-on products that are also available. And these editions can add up quickly.
Most people of the people have both doors And For example, Windows, for example, if you want to monitor several entry points, you need to spend 30 US dollars for each additional door/window sensor or 20 US dollars for any additional vibration sensor. An alternative security means would be the installation of a movement sensor in a room with several windows, but then you may only be notified by a break -in until an intruder is already in the house.
A movement sensor can replace the attachment of contact sensors on several doors and windows, with the restriction that an intruder is already in the house when the system is triggered.
James Barber/foundry
You can also go beyond the basic security in the apartment to build a complete smart home system by the AQAible AQARA Smart Lock U200 (270 US dollars), AQARA LED lamps-T2-Farb-Led Smart lamps ($ 23 each), Aqara Water LeckSenor ($ 20) and/or/or AQARA climate sensor W100 ($ 40) added.
You can start with the Y100 kit and expand a sensor or a complementary product if you decide that you need you. I am sure that I could cover my entire house with an additional investment of 200 US dollars for additional door/window and vibration sensors, while I continue to depend on my doorbell camera to see what is going outside.
Users can buy a HomeGuardian subscription in the app. If you use a single camera, the price for the “limited offer” is 4.99 USD/month or $ 49.99/year (marked by $ 6.99/month or 83.88 $ 83.88/year. $ 179.88).
With this subscription you will receive 90 days of cloud memory for event-controlled recordings (in 2K resolution). Also protocols of safety events and camera records for the same period. Subscribers in North America and selected countries in Europe also receive security warnings via SMS and e -mail. A 30-day free trial version is included in your purchase.
If you put these stickers on your windows, you can hold the casual burglars, but AQARA does not offer professional surveillance, even as a paid option.
James Barber/foundry
One of the various things I like to Aqara's offer is that I don't think I ever need the HomeGuardian plan after I have installed a 128 -GB microSD card in the camera (this is the maximum supported capacity). I get warnings on my cell phone if something extends the sensors. I don't think I need the SMS/e -mail security warnings associated with this plan.
Without the automatic support of video recordings in the cloud, I could lose the camera shots in a fire or flood. I don't think it is in the foreground during this type of catastrophe. And if a burglar steals the camera, I have no evidence of the crime to provide the police. Having a subscription is more than a simple question of convenience.
Should you buy the AQARA Camera Protect Kit Y100?
Aqara has created a bundle that is incredibly easy to build and is even easier to use. Most users will find that you can use the well -designed app with minimal or even not necessary changes.
This review is part of the detailed reporting on the best DIY home security systems by techhive.
I previously tried a ring alarm system, and this experience included many installation manual videos at the beginning and ended with unreliable door and window sensors. The AQARA sensors worked as announced, and the video quality of the camera is excellent.
The support of AQARA for Apple Home, Amazon Alexa and Google Home means that this security structure can grow with the interest of an owner in smart home technology. Anyone who takes their first steps into security at home will find the AQARA camera that protects Kit Y100, a strong way to start.