I have to say I’m a bit disappointed with the night vision of these cameras. I bought 5 of them to replace Logitech Circleview cameras. I wanted a better WiFi connection. I gave up too much in the process. These cameras don’t have the same quality night view as the Circleview. In fact they’re pretty darn awful in comparison. Sure I can use the spotlight but that’s not ideal. Spot lights draw flying bugs at night which ruin the picture. Also the wide angle on these are less so I’ve lost some views of places I want to see.
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Hi and welcome to the forum!
I completely understand your frustration, but it’s important to keep the price difference in mind here. The Logitech Circle View is a premium camera that costs around $150 to $200. The Aqara G100, on the other hand, is an entry-level budget model that sells for about $30 to $40. It’s really an apples-to-oranges comparison. If you want top-tier night vision that matches or beats the Logitech, you should definitely look into the Aqara G5 Pro, which is the actual premium equivalent.
Regarding the bugs: When you mention the “spotlight”, you likely mean the visible white LED light, which is an absolute magnet for insects.
If you want to stick with the G100s, there is a great workaround you might not know about: External IR (infrared) illuminators. You can buy a cheap, standalone IR floodlight online and mount it a few feet away from your camera. Your camera’s sensor will use this massive boost in invisible light to see much better in the dark. Plus, since the external illuminator is a much stronger light and heat source, the bugs will tend to swarm that external light instead, keeping them away from your camera lens!
As a quick side note: while bugs are still somewhat attracted to the heat of IR lights, the swarming is usually nowhere near as bad as it is with a regular bright white spotlight. Hope this helps!
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The Logitech “WAS” a premium camera when it debuted years ago. Technology has caught them up. Your budget camera should be able to match the night vision capability by now. I made the switch because I needed camera’s with better WiFi (faster and more stable).
Does the G5 Pro use Sony Starvis 2 sensors? That would be worth the asking price. I don’t need the built in hub as I already have the M200.
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Glad to hear the WiFi is working much better for you! That makes perfect sense, as the wireless chips in these newer cameras are definitely a big upgrade.
Regarding the night vision: While it’s true the Logitech Circle View came out in 2020, physics and manufacturing costs still play a huge role here. The G100 is very new (released around mid-2025), but at a $30-$40 price point today—especially with current electronics inflation—there simply isn’t the manufacturing budget for a large, light-sensitive image sensor or premium glass lenses. You get a modern, stable WiFi chip, but the optics are strictly entry-level.
As for the G5 Pro: Aqara doesn’t explicitly advertise it as using a “Sony Starvis 2” sensor. However, it does feature a much larger 4MP sensor that is specifically designed for “True Color Night Vision” and superior low-light performance. Even if you don’t need the built-in hub, the higher asking price of the G5 Pro is largely paying for that significantly upgraded optics and sensor package.
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Agree with poor low light performance! I have three G100. Any of my Wyze budget cameras out perform the G100.