When people ask me where to start with HomeKit, I usually give them a list of products that work well together that are easy to set up: a motion sensor, a door sensor, and maybe a camera if you want one. Aqara has made that question a lot easier to answer with its new Aqara Camera Protect Kit. It’s a true HomeKit starter kit in a box. You get a 2K camera that doubles as a Matter hub, plus three devices that cover most use cases right out of the gate.
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HomeKit Weekly is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks, and everything to do with Apple’s smart home framework.
Aqara Camera Hub G3 is the key part of the Aqara Camera Protect Kit
The key part of the kit is the Aqara Camera Hub G3. It works with HomeKit Secure Video, so you’ll get motion alerts, timeline views, and recordings in the Home app as well as encrypted video recording. Like most cameras that support HSV, it tops out at 1080p when viewed from HomeKit. If you want the full 2K resolution, you’ll need to use the Aqara app. That’s where you’ll also be able to use some of the features like AI facial recognition, pet detection, and gesture controls.
The camera doubles as a hub for all your Aqara gear, so you don’t need to worry about adding a separate Aqara bridge to your setup. It connects over both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, and it also acts as a Matter bridge. That means the camera opens the door to integrating a bunch of other devices into your HomeKit environment.
Aqara Motion Sensor P1
Motion sensors are one of the easiest ways to make your HomeKit setup feel smart without overcomplicating things or worrying about complex schedule. The Aqara P1 motion sensor in this kit is small, battery-powered, and connects right to the Camera Hub G3. You can put it in a hallway, by the front door, or in the kitchen. Anywhere you want things to happen automatically.
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I’ve used HomeKit motion sensors to turn on lamps when I walk into a room, trigger a scene when someone goes upstairs, or even send a notification if there’s unexpected movement during certain hours. It works fast with HomeKit. Once you use motion sensors for HomeKit automation, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start sooner with them in your common areas. It’s one of those “living in the Jetson’s world” type experiences.
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