Encrypted video stored where you control it, not on someone else's server
At the threshold between the private home and the wider world, a new kind of sentinel has arrived in Australia. Aqara's G400 doorbell camera, priced at $199, enters a market where the question of who controls your front door — and who stores what it sees — has become as much a philosophical matter as a technical one. In a landscape of competing ecosystems and subscription dependencies, this device offers a rare moment of interoperability, letting households choose how much they trust the cloud and how much they keep to themselves.
- Australian Apple users have long faced a near-empty shelf when searching for HomeKit Secure Video-compatible doorbells, and the G400's arrival fills a conspicuous gap.
- The device refuses to be captured by any single ecosystem, working across Apple, Amazon, Samsung, and Google — a diplomatic rarity in the fractious smart home landscape.
- Wired power and Wi-Fi 6 mean this doorbell never sleeps and never needs charging, quietly extending your network while watching your front step around the clock.
- The core features — motion detection, two-way audio, customisable zones — are free, but the more intelligent capabilities like package detection and AI summaries sit behind a $4.99 monthly gate.
- For those unwilling to pay indefinitely, local microSD or NAS storage offers a genuine off-ramp from subscription dependency, keeping footage private and costs flat.
Aqara has launched its G400 wired doorbell camera in Australia at $199, and its most notable distinction is support for Apple HomeKit Secure Video — a feature that remains uncommon in the local market. For households in Apple's orbit, this means encrypted footage can be stored on an Apple TV or HomePod, synced to iCloud, and browsed through the Home app with facial recognition drawn from your Photos library.
The G400 doesn't stop at Apple, though. It also connects with Amazon, Google, and Samsung ecosystems, giving it a wider reach than most rivals. Shown at IFA last year, it lacks the Matter support of Aqara's G350 hub but still covers the major platforms comfortably.
Hardware-wise, the camera records in 2K with a 165-degree field of view. Being wired — via Power over Ethernet or a standard 8–24V doorbell connection — it runs continuously and can even extend Wi-Fi 6 to nearby devices. Out of the box, it handles motion and person detection locally, offers customisable zones, and supports two-way audio, all without a subscription.
More advanced capabilities — package and vehicle detection, AI-generated event summaries — require the HomeGuardian plan at $4.99 per month. But for those who'd rather avoid recurring fees, local microSD recording or automatic NAS backup provides a fully functional, cost-free alternative for storing footage on your own terms.
Aqara has brought its G400 wired doorbell camera to Australia, pricing it at $199 and positioning it as one of the rare devices in the local market that plays nicely with Apple's HomeKit Secure Video system. For Apple users, that means encrypted video recordings can be stored on recent Apple TVs or HomePods, synced to iCloud, and accessed through the Home app with features like facial recognition tied to your Photos library.
The G400 isn't locked into Apple's world, though. It also integrates with Amazon, Samsung, and Google smart home platforms, giving it broader appeal than some of its competitors. The device was shown off at IFA last year, and while it doesn't carry the Matter support of Aqara's G350 camera hub, it still covers enough ground to work across most major ecosystems.
On the hardware side, the doorbell captures 2K video with a 165-degree field of view. Because it's wired—drawing power either through Power over Ethernet or a standard 8-24V doorbell connection—it runs continuously without needing a battery recharge. That persistent operation also means it can supply Wi-Fi 6 connectivity to other devices on your network.
The base package includes motion and person detection processed locally on the device, customisable detection zones, and two-way audio so you can talk to whoever's at the door through your phone. These features work without any subscription. But if you want the more sophisticated stuff—package detection, vehicle detection, and AI-generated summaries of what the camera saw—you'll need to pay for Aqara's HomeGuardian subscription, which costs $4.99 per month in Australia.
Storage flexibility is built in. You can use a microSD card for local recording, or set the doorbell to automatically back up footage to a NAS server on your network. Neither of those options requires an ongoing fee, which means you can keep your video history without committing to a monthly subscription if you don't need the advanced detection features.
Citas Notables
Devices that work with Apple's secure smart home platform can save encrypted recordings to recent Apple TVs or HomePods, and upload them to iCloud.— Aqara G400 product documentation
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Why does HomeKit Secure Video matter so much for a doorbell camera?
Because it's encrypted end-to-end. Apple processes the video on your home hub, not on some company's server. Facial recognition happens locally too, matched against people you've already saved. It's a privacy-first approach that a lot of people care about.
And this is rare in Australia?
Very. Most doorbell cameras that work with HomeKit don't support the Secure Video part. They'll connect to the Home app, but you don't get the encrypted storage or the advanced features. The G400 is one of the few that does.
What about people who aren't in the Apple ecosystem?
That's the smart part of Aqara's design. It works with Google, Amazon, and Samsung too. You're not locked in. You get HomeKit if you want it, but you're not forced into it.
The wired thing—is that a limitation?
For some people, yes. You need either a PoE connection or an existing doorbell wire. But the payoff is that it never runs out of battery. It's always watching, always connected. And it can actually help power other devices on your network through Wi-Fi 6.
What's the catch with the subscription?
The basic stuff—motion detection, person detection, two-way talk—that's all included. The subscription only kicks in if you want package detection or AI summaries. You can avoid it entirely if you're comfortable with local storage on a microSD card or backing up to your own NAS.