Aqara G400 Doorbell Review: Finally a Video Doorbell Done Right?
The Aqara G400 Doorbell has been a long time coming—and it addresses three of the biggest problems I consistently see with Apple Home video doorbells:
- Limited HomeKit options
- Unreliable connectivity
- Designs that don’t actually fit real door frames
With support for HomeKit Secure Video, Power over Ethernet (PoE), and a much improved physical design, this might be one of the most practical smart doorbells Aqara has released yet.
Quick Overview
The G400 is Aqara’s newest smart video doorbell, designed to integrate tightly with:
- Apple Home (HomeKit Secure Video)
- Amazon Alexa
- Aqara’s own ecosystem
It follows previous models like the G4 and G410, which have been popular among Apple users—but this version makes several meaningful improvements.
Design & Size: A Much-Needed Fix
One of the biggest upgrades is the size.
Previous Aqara doorbells (especially the G410) were simply too large for many standard door frames—particularly when mounting on trim or brick mould.
That created a real limitation in the field. In some homes, I just couldn’t recommend them.
The G400 fixes this with a slimmer design that actually fits where a doorbell is supposed to go.
If you’ve ever struggled to install a smart doorbell in a tight space, this alone is a big win.
Power: No More Batteries
Unlike the G410, which supported both wired and battery operation, the G400 is:
- Hardwired only (low voltage)
- Or powered via PoE (Power over Ethernet)
At first glance, removing batteries might seem like a downside—but in practice, it’s a smart move.
- Smaller form factor
- More consistent performance
- No battery maintenance
Connectivity: PoE Is a Game-Changer (+ WiFi 6)
One of the standout features here is PoE support.
If you can run an Ethernet cable to your doorbell, this solves one of the biggest smart home frustrations:
unreliable Wi-Fi connections
In my setup:
- I tested PoE indoors
- I’m currently running it on Wi-Fi + low-voltage wiring in its installed location
Both work—but PoE is clearly the most stable option if available.
Video Format: Finally Vertical
The G400 switches from a traditional wide view to a 3:4 vertical aspect ratio.
That means:
- You can see people head-to-toe
- You can see packages on the ground
This is a subtle but important upgrade for real-world use.
Chime: Now Optional
Older Aqara doorbells required a chime because they used a peer-to-peer connection.
That created problems:
- If the chime wasn’t close enough → the doorbell could go offline
The G400 still includes a chime—but now it’s optional.
This makes installation much more flexible.
N.B. The doorbell cannot “ding” your homes existing indoor chime (wired with transformer)
Weather Resistance: Finally Outdoor-Ready
This might sound obvious, but previous models weren’t properly weather rated.
The G400 now includes IP65 weather resistance, meaning it can handle:
- Dust
- Rain
- Outdoor conditions (as expected for a doorbell)
Installation: Simple and Fast
If you already have a wired doorbell, installation is straightforward:
- Remove the old doorbell
- Connect the existing wires
- Mount the G400
Total install time: about 10–15 minutes
Pro Tip: Upgrade Your Transformer
If you run into issues like:
- Doorbell going offline
- Inconsistent performance
Check your transformer.
Most video doorbells perform best with 14–16 volts, and many older homes have weaker ones.
This is one of the first things I check in real installs, especially if you plan on using more than one doorbell.
Setup Experience
Setup is simple:
- Pair in Apple Home
- Pair in the Aqara app (recommended)
You don’t need the Aqara app—but it’s useful for:
- Firmware updates
- Advanced settings
Video Quality
The video quality is excellent.
- Clear, detailed daytime footage
- Infrared night vision (black and white)
One thing missing is color night vision (like Aqara’s G5 camera), but that’s likely due to:
- Size constraints
- Low-voltage limitations
The vertical format really helps here—you get a full view of what actually matters.
HomeKit Integration (The Big One)
This is where the G400 really shines.
With HomeKit Secure Video, you get:
- Local detection (people, vehicles, packages)
- Secure iCloud recording (doesn’t count toward storage)
- Motion-based automations
- Apple TV notifications for doorbell presses
It also exposes:
- A motion sensor
- A programmable doorbell button (advanced setups may require apps like Eve)
Smart Features (Aqara App)
Aqara’s ecosystem adds a lot of additional functionality:
- Person detection
- Vehicle detection
- Animal detection
- Package detection
- Fire safety alerts
And this matters more than you might think.
The difference between generic motion detection and person detection is the difference between:
- Getting spammed with alerts
- Only seeing what actually matters
(For example, something like a flag moving in the wind can trigger constant motion alerts.)
Cloud vs Local
Aqara offers a subscription service called Home Guardian, which includes:
- Face recognition
- Additional AI features
But importantly:
The G400 does not depend on the cloud
You still get:
- Local SD card recording
- RTSP-style integrations
- Local-first functionality
Smart Home Integrations
Thanks to its local capabilities, the G400 can integrate with:
- Apple Home
- Home Assistant
- Alexa
- Google Home
What About Matter?
Cameras were added in Matter 1.5, and Aqara has begun supporting this in newer devices (like the G350).
However:
The G400 does not currently support Matter for cameras.
Who This Is For
Great fit for:
- Aqara users
- Apple Home users
- Privacy-focused smart homes
- First-time smart doorbell buyers
Maybe not for:
- Someone who already has a working Aqara doorbell
- Users chasing ultra-high resolution specs (4K or greater)
This post was created from my review video transcript. Check out the video review:
