Aqara has released its latest smart home security camera, the Camera E1, which is the company's most affordable camera with high-end features. Priced at $60, the indoor camera was unveiled at the IFA 2023 technology conference and is now available in the US and Europe. Despite its low cost, it boasts impressive specs including 2K video, a wide-angle lens, 360-degree pan and tilt view, local storage, and on-device smart alert handling. Additionally, the camera supports Apple's HomeKit Secure Video (HKSV), making it one of the most affordable options for working with Apple's end-to-end encrypted video storage service.

While there are other cheap cameras that work with Apple HomeKit, there are not many that also support the HKSV service. Some comparable options include Eufy's E220 for $55, which also has pan and tilt capabilities, and the C120 for $43, which is a static camera. The Camera E1 is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, and will support Matter when the smart home standard video is added to the specification. It is also the first device from Aqara to support Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2.

The Camera E1 does not have a built-in Zigbee hub like Aqara's G camera line, which starts at $110 for 2K video. This omission is one reason for the lower price. The camera can record video locally on a microSD card or NAS, through Aqara's cloud service, or via Apple's HomeKit Secure Video service. However, HKSV only supports 1080p video, and Apple does not support the pan and tilt capabilities in the Home app. Aqara's app has additional security features, such as a privacy mode that deactivates the camera and turns the lens away from an activity zone.

The Camera E1 is available at a 20% discount at launch on Amazon through November 17, using the code USE1CAMERA in the US and CAMERAE1EU in Europe, bringing the price down to $48. This makes the E1 the cheapest pan and tilt camera with HKSV available.