We approached the Aqara Camera G100 Select expecting a versatile, budget-friendly security camera that could live inside or outside and play nicely with the smart home gear we already own. On paper it offers a lot: “2K” capture (2304×1296), a wide 140° field of view, a built-in spotlight for color night recording, IR illumination for covert night vision, two-way audio, and broad platform compatibility (Aqara app, Apple Home, Google Assistant, Alexa and SmartThings). Those headline specs make it an attractive option for anyone who wants one device that can handle both indoor and sheltered outdoor use.
Design and build are practical rather than flashy. The Select variant is explicitly positioned for all-weather use and the housing, mounting options and IP rating reflect that—Aqara intends this to be a camera you can use in a garden, over a porch or anywhere you’d put a traditional outdoor camera. The unit itself is compact, with a neutral look that won’t draw attention; installation choices (table, wall, ceiling) are flexible and we liked that the physical build feels solid for the price. If you need a discrete, weather-rated camera that doesn’t shout “camera”, the G100 Select fits the brief.
Image quality and night performance are where impressions split. In daylight the 3MP sensor and f/1.8 lens deliver crisp, wide-angle footage that’s fine for identifying people and general scene context. The spotlight color-night mode is genuinely useful — when active you get color video at night, which makes identification easier than plain IR. That said, some users report the camera’s effective resolution and perceived sharpness fall short of other 2K competitors, and there are quirks when the camera is bridged to third-party platforms (notably Apple Home) where the stream may be downscaled. In short: very good for general security and identification, but if pixel-perfect clarity is your main goal you might find it underwhelming.
Where the G100 Select really shines for us is ecosystem flexibility and local control. The camera can act as a local control center / Zigbee hub for Aqara devices—meaning it can connect directly to many Aqara sensors and participate in local automations—which is a rare convenience in this price bracket. Storage is flexible too: microSD local recording (no subscription required), NAS backup options and optional cloud services give us choices for privacy and retention. For smart home users who want local automation and multiple storage paths, that’s a strong plus.
Usability and software are mixed. The Aqara Home app supports setup, motion/human detection, scheduled recording and automations, but the interface isn’t the slickest and advanced users may find some settings limited or buried. Integration with HomeKit and other platforms is a big selling point, but be aware that linking to certain platforms can change behaviour (for example, some users see resolution limits when connected to HomeKit). Community feedback is broadly positive on value and features, but you’ll want to check how the camera behaves in your chosen smart-home ecosystem before buying.
Verdict: the Aqara Camera G100 Select is an excellent value proposition for people who want a weatherproof, feature-rich camera that doubles as part of an Aqara smart-home setup. We recommend it to families and hobbyist smart-home integrators who prioritise ecosystem compatibility, local storage and flexible night modes. If you’re chasing the absolute sharpest 2K image or require a minimalist plug-and-play experience with perfect third-party app behaviour out of the box, consider testing one in your setup first — it’s capable, but not flawless.
£33.29
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