Aqara Camera E1: A Smart Camera Offering Superior Privacy Protection

Aqara Camera E1: A smart camera with excellent privacy features

Aqara’s Indoor Security Camera E1 is the little sibling to their excellent Camera Hub G3, aimed at those who don’t quite need all the bells and whistles or the higher price. But don’t let that fool you! The pan and tilt E1 is a robust indoor security camera with a great feature set and solid video performance in both daylight and nighttime scenarios. I have only one minor complaint, which will be touched on shortly.

Aqara Camera E1: Price and availability

The Aqara Indoor Security Camera E1 is currently available only through Amazon.com for $59.99. Although price drops on this unit don’t happen often, it was $44.99 in December 2023. At the time of this writing, Amazon is offering a 10% off voucher in the US.

Aqara Camera E1: Specs and features

Aqara’s Camera Hub G3 is one of their best indoor cameras, but if you’re invested in the Apple ecosystem, an Aqara hub may not be what you’re after. That’s where the Indoor Security Camera E1 comes in. For $50 less, you get much of what the G3 offers and some updated features in a smaller 4-inch tall package.

The E1 supports Wi-Fi 6, while the Camera Hub G3 is Wi-Fi 5. The E1 enhances the G3’s privacy features by adding masking zones, allowing users to block certain areas from the video feed. This is in addition to an automated privacy mode that enables the camera to pan towards a wall or other privacy area during designated times. The 2K, f/2.0 camera performs well in both good lighting and low-light conditions.

Connected to Apple HomeKit, the E1 supports Secure Video for cloud storage. It also includes a microSD slot for up to 512GB of local storage, especially handy when using the camera’s 24-hour recording with timelapse mode. The microSD slot is easily accessible by tilting the camera’s lens.

One notable feature is the 2-way telecom system, which includes a speaker and microphone, allowing users to communicate through the camera.

Aqara Camera E1: Build and looks

The Camera E1 is well-built despite being made primarily of plastic. Its compact size—4 inches tall by 2.68 inches wide—makes it suitable for placement on bookshelves or other surfaces. It can also be ceiling-mounted, with video orientation adjusted via the Aqara Home app. The camera’s infrared backlight is unobtrusive, and its motor is whisper-quiet.

Aqara Camera E1: Ease of use

Setting up the Camera E1 is straightforward, done via QR code in the Aqara and Apple Home apps. However, it does not come with a power adapter, just a USB-C cable.

Privacy settings are easy to configure in the Aqara Home app, though there may be a slight delay in response. It’s important to note that once the camera is bound to HomeKit, users lose access to many privacy features and manual pan and tilt controls. Human tracking and motion detection remain available, but setting privacy zones requires the Aqara Home app.

Privacy features are processed locally on the device thanks to a neural processing unit that allows person and sound detection.

Aqara Camera E1: Competition

There are few pan and tilt cameras that support HomeKit Secure Video, but the Eufy Pan 2K (now called the 2K Indoor Cam E220) is a worthy competitor, priced at $35.99. Another option is the VOCOlinc Opto HomeKit Indoor Camera, which costs $49.99 but only supports 1080p video.

Aqara Camera E1: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if…

• You want pan and tilt at a great price
• The privacy features are essential for your use case
• You don’t need all of the Camera Hub G3 features

You shouldn’t buy this if…

• You need to mount it on a vertical surface like a wall

Aqara Camera E1: Verdict

With the Aqara Indoor Security Camera E1, you get a feature-rich camera at an excellent price. The built-in person and sound detection, combined with strong privacy features, make it ideal for those concerned with controlling what’s visible on camera at specific times. The addition of Wi-Fi 6 ensures reliable video streaming, even in homes with many devices. Its 360-degree rotation further enhances coverage.

While there are few pan and tilt cameras with this level of functionality at this price point, the Camera E1 stands out as a top contender for those seeking PT functionality, especially with its robust privacy options.