With the Camera Hub G350, Aqara (link) claims to be launching the world’s first Matter-certified surveillance camera. The device combines an indoor camera, a Zigbee hub, a Matter Bridge, and a Matter Controller in a single enclosure.
Certified for Matter 1.5
The Camera Hub G350 supports the smart home standard Matter in its latest version, 1.5. This makes it one of the first surveillance cameras capable of delivering live video, two-way audio, and notifications via Matter platforms. Whether these control systems are already mature enough to fully integrate Matter cameras is another question. Among major providers, only SmartThings has so far completed the transition to Matter 1.5 and announced support for this device category.
For that reason, Aqara is also taking the traditional route and has certified the product for established “Works with …” programs. Alongside the Matter logo, the packaging features badges for Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings. As a result, the camera should also work with the respective proprietary surveillance systems – subject to any limitations. In Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video, for example, video resolution is limited to Full HD (1080p). So, for now, the certification of Aqara’s camera under Matter 1.5 can still be seen more as an investment in the future.
Smart Home Hub, Bridge, and Controller
The Camera Hub also functions as a Zigbee hub and Matter Controller in combination with the Aqara Home app. This means Zigbee sensors and actuators from Aqara, as well as Matter devices from third-party manufacturers, can be managed within a single interface. As a Matter Bridge, the G350 additionally exposes the manufacturer’s Zigbee products to other Matter ecosystems. For more advanced setups, the RTSP streaming protocol enables integration into additional platforms such as Home Assistant.
Dual Lenses, 9x Zoom
On the camera side, the G350 combines a 4K wide-angle lens (3840×2160, 133° field of view) with a 2.5K telephoto lens (2560×1440, 43° field of view), enabling up to 9x hybrid zoom in recordings. A motorized pan-tilt mechanism provides 360° coverage, supports up to 30 preset positions, and enables AI-powered automatic tracking of people and pets – including automatic zoom for close-ups. For night recording, Aqara relies on integrated infrared illumination at 940 nm and a large f/1.6 aperture, which is intended to deliver sharp images even in low light.
On-Device AI Processing
According to the manufacturer, the camera processes data locally on the device rather than in the cloud. Event detection (people, pets) and analysis of household sounds (alarms, crying, coughing, dog barking) take place without internet involvement. Additional features include gesture and smile recognition to trigger scenes or capture photos –whether these are practical or superfluous is up to the user.
Thanks to the ability to store recordings on a microSD card (not included), the footage can remain completely offline if desired. Aqara offers a video archive in the cloud through its paid HomeGuardian subscription, unless the services of a connected platform such as HomeKit Secure Video are used. A physical lens cover provides additional privacy protection. It closes automatically as soon as the camera is turned off. By the way, the cute little ears visible in some of the manufacturer’s product images can be removed. They are made of soft plastic that is pulled over the camera head.
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