Key Points The Aqara Camera E1 provides a full 360 degree view of your home with its pan/tilt functionality, making it a versatile indoor security camera. The camera offers great video quality day and night with 2K resolution and features such as person detection and camera position setting for easier use. No subscription is required to access stored video, as Aqara offers 24 hours of free cloud storage and the option to use a microSD card or Apple HomeKit Secure Video for longer storage periods.

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Whether you want to protect the inside or outside of your home, the vast majority of security cameras require an additional subscription to store video and many other features. But if you need a cheap option for indoor use without the extra expense, the Aqara Camera E1 should be at the top of your list. It is compatible with the three major smart home ecosystems and offers a full 360 degree view thanks to its pan/tilt functionality.

Aqara Camera E1

The Aqara Camera E1 provides full 360 degree coverage in your home. The main function of the camera is the pan/tilt control, so you can move the camera to get a better look at what's going on. The camera is compatible with all three major smart home platforms (Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Home) and offers clear and sharp 2K video day and night. Instead of requiring a paid subscription, Aqara offers 24 hours of basic video storage at a lower resolution. You can also use an optional microSD card or Apple HomeKit Secure Video via HomeKit. If you agree to pay, there is an option for cloud storage of full resolution video for 30 days.

Brand: Aqara

Resolution: 1296p

Connectivity: Wi-Fi

App compatibility: Yes

Night vision: Yes

Lens: f/2.0 aperture

Integrations: Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Home

Hub required: No

Field of view: 101 degrees diagonal

Colors: White

Audio: Two-way

Storage: Optional microSD card

Weather resistance: No

Motion detection: Yes

Subscription required? No

Privacy mode: Yes

Dimensions: 2.72 x 2.72 x 4.09 inches

Weight: 5.8 oz

Pros

• Strong quality 2K video
• Supports all three major smart home platforms
• The Aqara app is well designed and easy to use
• No subscription required for access to recorded video
• Person detection works well with pan/tilt tracking
• Can be installed almost anywhere in the home with included equipment

Cons

• Apple Home app cannot control pan/tilt
• Small field of view compared to some other cameras
• Free 24-hour cloud storage only works at 360p
• Short USB-C cable and no power adapter included

A complete view of your home, while most indoor cameras can only provide a specific view of your home depending on where you place it, the Aqara Camera E1 is slightly different. The big appeal of the camera is its pan/tilt functionality that can provide a complete 360 ​​degree view of the location. In addition to being able to rotate in a full circle, you can also point the 2K camera up and down depending on what you want to capture. Typically, pan/tilt cameras are significantly larger than other models due to the additional motors required. So I was really surprised when I unpacked the Camera E1. It's as small, if not smaller, than any indoor camera I've used. Continue Reading