2 Issues for the Aqara G4 Smart Video Doorbell

I installed 2 Aqara G4 Smart Video Doorbells several months ago. I like a lot of features about these doorbells, but there are some issues that may cause me to look for something else.

I've done a few videos about these doorbells which you can find at my channel or by clicking on the Aqara playlist at the end of this video.

Everyone wants a functional smart home with products that do not need lots of attention, but also products that really perform their designated functions. I am a real user in a real home in real life. I want to have a smart video doorbell that immediately alerts me when someone is approaching the house and that gives a perfect view of my porch(es).

Ease of use is really key for products to be adaptable into our routines. People do not want a smart home that requires weekly maintenance in the apps or on the products themselves. Changing or charging the batteries is about the extent of what most people are willing to do. When we get logged out of our apps or have to perform manual updates, we get frustrated quickly with the attention required to maintain our devices in real use. If we have to reconnect to wifi or reset a device, most of us are going to want something else - a device that works seamlessly in the background that gives us the views or messages needed but otherwise doesn't require our attention.

Here is where real smart home users are different than what is seen in our YouTube videos. It actually took me several months of daily use to really diagnose what I like and don't like about these Aqara doorbells. So, I am updating and sharing my findings on YouTube to help you decide whether the advantages of these (especially that they work with Apple HomeKit and have local storage) outweigh their shortcomings as detailed in this video.