Aqara Doorbell Camera G400 (Wired) review

Aqara Doorbell Camera G400 (Wired): Introduction

Over the last few years, Aqara has steadily turned many of its cameras into hybrid smart home devices.

The Doorbell Camera Hub G410, for example, worked not only as a video doorbell but also as a Matter controller, Zigbee hub, and Thread border router, effectively serving as a smart home hub mounted beside your front door.

The Aqara Doorbell Camera G400 (Wired) goes in a different direction.

Rather than cramming in extra smart home functionality, Aqara has focused on delivering a straightforward wired video doorbell experience. There are no built-in hub features or extra radios here quietly managing the rest of your smart home setup.

Instead, the G400 aims to offer an affordable always-on smart doorbell with local storage, extensive smart home compatibility, and support for Power over Ethernet.

Priced at under $100, it comes in significantly cheaper than many premium alternatives while still supporting Apple HomeKit Secure Video, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, Home Assistant, RTSP streaming, and 24/7 recording without locking the basics behind a subscription.

There are also two versions available: the standard G400 (DB-C03E) and the G400 Select (DB-C03D).

In practice, both versions use the same hardware. The Select model simply includes a temporary Aqara HomeGuardian subscription trial in certain regions.

If both versions cost the same, you may as well choose the Select package for the added trial access. If you plan to rely entirely on HomeKit Secure Video though, the bundled subscription matters far less since Apple handles most AI processing locally through your Apple Home hub.

Read on for my full review to see why the G400 deserves serious consideration if you are shopping for a wired smart doorbell.

Design and installation

• Works with PoE or a doorbell transformer
• Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection

At first glance, the G400 shares a familiar look with Aqara’s recent video doorbells, although there are a few notable differences once you actually handle it.

The unit measures 140.97 x 52.97 x 32.4mm, making it slimmer than the G410 while still having enough presence to avoid looking overly cheap mounted beside a front door.

The overall design definitely feels more practical than luxurious though. The plastic-heavy construction lacks the premium feel of metal-bodied competitors like the Nest Doorbell Pro or Ring Video Doorbell Elite, and it also misses the softer matte finish found on the G410.

Still, it feels noticeably sturdier than many low-cost smart doorbells, and the overall construction feels durable enough for long-term outdoor use.

The G400 also carries a proper IP65 weather resistance rating, meaning it is built to cope with rain, wind, and general outdoor exposure throughout the year.

One of the biggest changes compared to the older G4 and G410 models is the way connectivity works.

With those earlier doorbells, the included chime effectively acted as a bridge between the doorbell and your network. If the chime was unplugged or placed too far away, the doorbell could lose connection entirely.

That setup has been dropped here and the G400 now connects directly using either dual-band Wi-Fi 6 or Ethernet, so the chime is optional rather than essential. And, as well data, you can use Power over Ethernet (PoE) to power the doorbell via its wired data connection, provided you have a PoE power injector.

Another change is that the microSD slot is on the doorbell unit itself now, rather than in the chime, as with previous models.

The doorbell itself includes a built-in speaker that plays an exterior chime sound when pressed, while indoor alerts can come through the included chime, compatible smart speakers, or even Aqara hubs such as the Hub M3 or M1S.

One thing worth keeping in mind is that while the G400 can use existing doorbell wiring for power, it cannot trigger your home’s original mechanical or digital chime box. Those wires are only used to supply power to the doorbell itself. This is a growing change and one that’s slightly frustrating: if you’ve already got the hardware there, then why not be able to use it?

Unlike the battery-powered G4, the G400 is wired-only. As mentioned, you can either power it through a traditional 8-24V doorbell transformer or through PoE for both data and power delivery.

I tested the G400 using PoE and I feel like it’s the best way to use this doorbell, if your setup allows it.

Not only does it remove worries about Wi-Fi signal strength at the front of the house, but it also delivered noticeably quicker response times and completely stable connectivity throughout my testing period.

Just bear in mind that Aqara does not include an Ethernet cable or PoE injector in the box, so you will need to provide those yourself.

You get two mounting plates in the box: one for flat installation and another 15-degree wedge mount if your doorway needs a slightly angled view.

Both mounting options include 3M adhesive backing if you want to avoid drilling, although Aqara also includes screws and even a tiny screwdriver if you prefer a more secure install.

For PoE setups, Aqara also includes a rubber sealing block that fits around the Ethernet cable connection to help maintain weather protection.

My review sample was mounted temporarily during testing, so it would obviously look cleaner installed properly flush against the wall rather than sitting over my old doorbell’s blue plastic back box.

Once powered on, the Aqara Home app immediately recognized the G400 and guided me through setup step by step, including installation tips and spoken voice prompts directly from the doorbell.

You can technically add the G400 directly into Apple Home, although you still need to complete Aqara’s own setup process first.

One small thing to watch out for: the Aqara QR code and HomeKit QR code sit right beside each other on the back of the unit, so covering one while scanning the other helps avoid setup confusion.

Features

• 1536 x 2048 resolution
• Supports 24/7 recording
• Person detection

For a relatively affordable wired video doorbell, the G400 offers a surprisingly complete feature set.

The camera records at 1536 x 2048 resolution with a 165-degree ultra-wide viewing angle, and Aqara has wisely opted for a vertical 3:4 aspect ratio rather than a wider cinematic layout.

That means you can actually see parcels sitting directly beneath the camera without needing to tilt it awkwardly downward.

It may sound like a minor detail, but in everyday use it makes the doorbell noticeably more practical.

The G400 also supports 24/7 continuous recording when paired with a microSD card or other local storage solution, with support for cards up to 512GB.

Thankfully, Aqara is not forcing subscriptions onto users for basic functionality either, although some stuff is locked behind the paywall.

Core AI features including human detection and motion detection run locally on-device for free, even if the internet connection drops.

For users who prefer more advanced local setups, the G400 also supports NAS backup, RTSP streaming, and ONVIF compatibility for systems such as Home Assistant, Frigate, Blue Iris, and other NVR platforms.

The G400 also works with just about every major smart home platform, although it is not currently a Matter device.

Support includes Apple HomeKit Secure Video, Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, and Home Assistant through RTSP.

If you connect it to Alexa or Google Home, you can stream live video directly to compatible smart displays, while SmartThings users can also view the feed on supported Samsung TVs.

As mentioned, there is still a subscription layer available if you want additional AI-powered features.

Aqara’s HomeGuardian service adds cloud-based facial recognition, package detection, pet detection, vehicle detection, flame alerts, AI-powered search tools, and 90 days of cloud storage.

It is a little frustrating that some of the more advanced detections require a paid subscription, especially when HomeKit Secure Video already handles many of those AI features locally for Apple users.

Still, the important part is that the G400 remains fully functional without paying extra every month.

The Aqara app itself will feel familiar to anyone who has used the company’s cameras before.

Live view loads quickly, snapshots look sharp, and the interface is laid out logically without becoming overly complicated.

Aqara has once again included its slightly goofy voice-changing effects for two-way audio conversations, so you can mess around with altered voices when answering the door remotely.

Performance

• Sharp video
• Vertical framing captures more detail
• Basic night vision

In everyday use, the G400 performs extremely well considering its price.

Daytime video quality is crisp and detailed, with strong overall balance. Faces remain clear, package labels are easy to read, and the wider viewing angle covers the entire front doorway nicely.

The new 3:4 vertical framing is easily one of the biggest improvements here.

Compared to older widescreen-style doorbells, it provides a much more practical view of what is happening at your front door.

PoE support also makes a real difference in daily use. Live view opens quickly, notifications arrive promptly, and throughout testing I experienced none of the connection instability that can sometimes affect battery-powered models or weaker Wi-Fi setups.

If you already have Ethernet available near your front door, this absolutely feels like the best way to run the G400.

The low-light performance is less impressive though. While daytime image quality is clearly better than the older G4, nighttime footage can look noticeably darker, and there is no color night vision support.

It is still perfectly usable, but this remains one area where more expensive premium video doorbells continue to hold an advantage.

The infrared system itself uses subtle 940nm IR LEDs, which means there is no obvious glowing red ring visible during nighttime operation.

As with Aqara’s other cameras, HomeKit Secure Video users should also remember that Apple still applies its own resolution limits.

Although the G400 records at full 2K resolution inside the Aqara app, HomeKit streams are capped at 1200 x 1600.

The image still looks sharp, but you only get the full-resolution experience through Aqara’s own software.

Final thoughts

The Aqara Doorbell Camera G400 (Wired) feels like Aqara going back to basics instead of trying to turn a video doorbell into an all-in-one smart home controller.

For under $100, you are getting a wired 2K video doorbell with PoE support, local recording, RTSP streaming, HomeKit Secure Video compatibility, wide smart home integration, and flexible 24/7 recording options.

The night vision performance could be better, and the plastic-heavy design does not feel as premium as pricier competitors, but those trade-offs feel perfectly reasonable at this price point.

If you already use Aqara hubs and want your doorbell doubling as a smart home control center, the G410 remains the better fit.

But if you simply want a reliable wired smart doorbell with broad compatibility and no pressure to pay monthly subscription fees, the G400 is an excellent option. If you want something with more resolution or better night vision, read the guide to the best video doorbells.

How we test

When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.

Smart security cameras usually live within an ecosystem, or a range of products that – supposedly – all work in harmony. Therefore, it’s impossible to use a security camera for a week and deliver a verdict.

Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular camera compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.

Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.

Read our guide on our review process for smart security cameras to learn more.