One aim of the Matter standard is seamless, largely unnoticed integration. Buyers should no longer have to worry about the technology. It simply works. Time will pass before we reach this point. However, the new Camera Hub G5 Pro from Aqara (link) shows a way. The Chinese company has packed pretty much everything needed to create a Matter-enabled smart home into this weatherproof camera.
Not a camera in the sense of Matter
A small damper at the beginning: the G5 Pro is not a Matter camera itself. As video cameras were not yet defined as a device type until version 1.4 of the standard, there are no specifications for integrating them into Matter systems. Aqara avoids the problem with existing software interfaces: The Camera Hub G5 Pro supports HomeKit Secure Video and therefore Apple’s proprietary video transmission and storage. According to Aqara, it streams via the cloud to smart displays that are compatible with Alexa, Google Home or SmartThings. Additional support for the Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) allows local transmission within the home network to RTPS video servers and clients such as Home Assistant.
Bridge, controller and border router
Apart from that, the new hub has all three core functions that the smart home standard has to offer. It serves as a Matter Bridge, Matter Controller and Thread Border Router.
- As a Matter Bridge, it forwards Zigbee sensors and actuators from the Aqara range to Matter platforms. This allows products such as lights, door/window contacts, temperature and water leakage sensors that do not support the Matter protocol themselves to be used. The manufacturer calls this operating mode “Matter over Zigbee Bridge”.
- The Matter Controller in the hub allows control of Aqara’s own Matter products – and those from third-party suppliers. Both Wi-Fi (Matter over Wi-Fi) and Thread (Matter over Thread) are used as connection protocols. The integrated Border Router (see below) establishes a connection to devices that use the Thread radio protocol.
- A Border Router is required to be able to use Thread products in the home at all. Major Matter platforms, from Amazon Alexa to Samsung SmartThings, have integrated this function into many of their smart home hubs. Those who prefer to use an Aqara hub instead can also get started with the integrated Border Router and set up a Thread-based wireless network. The Camera Hub G5 Pro is the second Aqara product with an integrated Border Router along with the Hub M3.
The compact Camera Hub (10.1 × 7.3 × 9.8 cm) was already on show as a prototype at IFA 2024 in Berlin, where it impressed with its good night vision qualities. It is to be available worldwide from now on – via the manufacturer’s online store, authorized dealers and major shopping platforms such as Amazon. There are two versions: a model with Wi-Fi connection and a PoE version that receives power and network data via a compatible LAN switch (Power over Ethernet). White and anthracite are available as housing colors.
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