WIRED praises Aqara’s Camera Hub G350 for its dual-lens design, local AI detection, and smart home hub capabilities, though highlights some compromises and uneven integrations for home security enthusiasts.
WIRED’s latest security camera round-up places Aqara’s Camera Hub G350 near the top of the list for home users who want more than a simple webcam. According to WIRED, the indoor pan-and-tilt model pairs a 4K wide-angle lens with a 2.5K telephoto lens, giving it a dual-lens design that can zoom digitally up to 9x in hybrid mode. The publication says the camera delivers sharp, colourful video, while local AI handles person, pet and sound detection without sending every decision to the cloud. It also supports microSD recording and network-attached storage, which gives buyers a route away from a paid cloud plan.
The G350’s wider appeal is that it is not just a camera. WIRED notes that it also works as a smart home hub, with Matter, Thread and Zigbee support, alongside compatibility with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings and IFTTT. In practice, though, the integrations are uneven. The review says Google’s support for non-Nest camera feeds is still incomplete, which makes the Aqara app the safer route for now, while Apple HomeKit limits the camera to 1080p. Aqara’s Zigbee hub function is also restricted to Aqara accessories, so it is less open than the headline specifications might suggest.
There are also compromises. WIRED says the camera records at 20 frames per second, which can leave motion blurred, particularly in low light. It also objects to the automatic trial enrolment for Aqara’s cloud service and to the cluttered app layout, which may take time to learn. Several AI extras, including filters, video summaries and richer notifications, are also locked behind a paywall. That matters because the camera is aimed at buyers who want a technically capable device without necessarily committing to a subscription.
For readers looking at a cheaper pan-and-tilt alternative, WIRED highlights the Wyze Cam Pan V4 as one of the stronger budget options. The publication says the camera now offers 4K video, a built-in spotlight, 360-degree panning and 180-degree tilt, plus waypoint patrols, privacy mode and local recording to microSD cards of up to 512GB. But the review is clear that Wyze still relies heavily on subscriptions for AI detection and richer alerts, and that the low-light frame rate drops sharply. WIRED also says past security incidents continue to affect the brand’s reputation, even though Wyze has improved its security policies.
That tension between price, privacy and functionality runs through the rest of WIRED’s guide. The publication points to Reolink for buyers who want flexible local storage and wide coverage, Blink for those seeking a very low entry price but little value without a subscription, and Philips Hue Secure for households already invested in Hue lighting. It also warns against unknown brands and recommends looking closely at storage options, two-factor authentication, firmware updates and camera placement before buying. In other words, the best camera is not simply the one with the highest resolution. It is the one whose storage model, software support and privacy controls fit the home it is meant to protect.
Disclaimer: This content is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise their own judgement, conduct due diligence, or consult a qualified expert before acting on any information provided.
