Aqara Protect Kit Y100 Review: I Tested the Tiniest Security System for Personal Spaces
CNET's expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
8.0
/ 10
SCORE Aqara Protect Kit Y100 $140 at Amazon Pros Super compact sensors that can fit anywhere
High quality 2K pan/tilt camera hub included
Smart home compatibility includes Google, Alexa and Apple support
Very easy to set up compared to many security systems
AI detection and many detailed routine options with Matter support
Mostly intuitive app
Responsive sensors
Local video storage option Cons No outlet adapter for wired cam
Support for functions like video is lacking for Apple
Some features, like setting up routines or managing sirens, can be confusing for new users
No professional home monitoring options here
Aqara Protect Kit Y100
8/10/10 CNET Score
$140 at Amazon
Aqara's approach to security systems is refreshing in two ways. First, the company combines the classic security system hub that sensors connect to with a pan and tilt camera. You get a cam (which most security system starter kits don't have) and you don't have to manage an extra hub device. Second, the set of three included miniature sensors are both effective and charming, ready for even the smallest places that need attention.
Aqara wraps up this DIY security kit in an affordable bow, making it one of the lowest-cost systems I've seen, especially when on sale. It may not be able to guard a whole house, but it could be just what you'd want for an entryway, home office, loft or small apartment.
Design and durability
Aqara's tiny sensors are made to fit in all kinds of places.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
When I say Aqara's home security system is the tiniest, I mean that literally. The three accompanying sensors are each about the size of a thumb, including the door and window sensor, Vibration Sensor T1 and slightly larger Motion Sensor P1 (which comes with a stand you can use to mount and angle the motion sensor in any direction).
Their small size makes them a bit more delicate than large security systems, but they can fit in all types of spaces, watching over things that big sensors may struggle with. That's one reason they're a good fit for an office or a study closet with drawers and safes that need an extra eye, while the camera hub scan the whole room.
Installation and setup struck me as particularly easy thanks to Aqara's united approach. Plug in the camera hub, add it to the Aqara app, and you can quickly pair each tiny sensor in a few seconds once you find the right model on the setup list. A set of adhesive strips come for each device I could simply pop them in place for testing once they were added, creating a very streamlined experience.
The one downside is that my Aqara Camera Hub G3 didn't come with a power adapter, only a USB cable, so my choices were either plugging it into a USB socket on my computer or power strip, or using a compatible outlet adapter from a third party. Some users may not like these alternatives if they want an outlet-based setup. The advantage is that when connected to a computer, the USB-C connection supports video-out capabilities to display video on a larger screen.
Camera quality and features
Aqara's camera provides a highly customizable, expandable indoors security option.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
I've seen many 2K cameras, and Aqara's G3 model is a good example. The image quality is particularly clear and I found it consistent, with nearly 360-degree viewing thanks to the pan/tilt features. It's far larger than the sensors, but still has a compact, bubbly design that's meant to be placed on a table or shelf. Low light and night vision modes also worked quite well without sacrificing any detail within the average home room out to 30 feet or so.
Audio proved more disappointing. While latency was very low and sound was loud, audio quality wasn't especially high. My tests sounded a little buzzy, which could make it difficult to discern conversations if there's ambient noise.
Connected security sensor performance
Aqara's little vibration sensor can detect glass breaking, tampering, unexpected movement of objects and more.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
Once I got the sensors up and running, my tests showed they were accurate -- at times too accurate, with the motion and vibration sensors logging every small change. Fortunately, there are sensitivity modes to lower how frequently some of the sensors go off and how frequently they log reports to stop repeated alerts from a single incident.
Otherwise they proved accurate. The motion sensor can detect both movement and light, while the vibration sensor can detection glass breaking or strange movement like "tapping," "dropping" and other, mostly accurate, guesses at what's going on. The access sensor also proved just as accurate as door/window sensors many times its size.
Aqara has many other sensors you can add, including leak sensors, presence doors, air quality monitors and more, but these sensors were all that cam with the base kit so I spent most of my time with them.
Subscriptions and video storage
You don't need a subscription to store video recordings from motion triggers with the Aqara Protect Kit Y100. The camera hub includes a microSD card on the front that you can use for local storage and video management. However, Aqara does offer a Local Storage plan for cloud storage, as well as a HomeGuardian plan ($5 to $10 depending on the number of cameras) with more flexible video management including unlimited storage space, offline reviews and AI event filters.
App settings and controls
Aqara's app showing cards for security cam views, lights, sensors and more.
Tyler Laocma/CNET
Aqara's app is easy to use for basic management. Each connected device has its own card on the home screen. A touch brings up recent alerts, history, battery life and an option to go into the settings menu and make more changes. The camera card is especially useful, allowing you to glance at a live view snapshot, stream video with a touch and quickly see recorded history. But more complex interactions get a little less easy.
AI detection and routines
Aqara's settings include AI recognition buried in the camera features.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
Even without the subscription, Aqara's security system offers a number of AI features and smart home routines. That includes recognizing gestures (so you can give the cam a thumbs up, for example, and have it disarm the security system or trigger an event), and learning people's faces for more specific alerts about who's there.
The included siren even has a host of customization options, from included siren sounds to the ability to add your own recording. And if you want to add other smart home devices, you can link your camera recognition to a variety of If/Then routines and scenes to make it do what you want in certain situations.
Aqara's automations will take work and experimentation to master.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
The problem is that these features, while promising and free, won't be easy for newcomers to find and manage. Some customization is hidden behind camera settings menus, while routines are found in the Automations menu, although it's not immediately clear how Aqara differentiates a scene and a routine or how to use them together. You can get there eventually, but it will take time and effort, and Aqara's UI could do a better job of organizing all its features. Fortunately, once the learning curve is passed, routines come together quite well.
Smart home integrations
Aqara's sensors have some compatibility with Apple Home, but I found it quite limited compared to other options.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
Aqara's hub functions as a Matter bridge, which gives it excellent compatibility with other platforms -- within limits. It can integrate with Apple Home, Alexa and Google Home, and with the right connections, it can control devices connected to those systems, which opens up routine possibilities for people who have a lot of smart devices.
However, the Matter standard has been slow to support video so video options are hit or miss. That's especially true in Apple Home, where video is only available at lower resolutions, infrared functions are missing and I had so much trouble trying to connect video it turned out much easier to just use the Aqara app. Many advanced functions, like AI and customizations, are only available through the Aqara app as well.
Final verdict on the Aqara Protect Kit Y100
Aqara's security system lets you pick a siren or record your own.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
Aqara's little system does what few smart home security kits do: It bundles accurate sensors, a high-res camera hub and super-easy setup into one very, very affordable package. Tons of AI recognition, tagging, routine setting and customization await beneath the simple startup, but that's a much messier place for newcomers who will have to do deal with a sharp learning curve.
Fortunately, most of the features are entirely free and video storage is free if you get a microSD card, so experimenting doesn't have a high cost. Plus, those tiny sensors can fit nearly anywhere, so the system excels at watching over a rented room, garage, study or smaller space even if it can't handle a whole house without further investment. The only thing that's really missing is professional monitoring, which may be a dealbreaker for certain buyers.
Compared to other fully DIY home security systems, Aqara's system feels like a step forward, not just because of how compact it is, but because of all the customize and smart features you get for $165 or even lower on sale. For a first system or special room, it's a top recommendation.
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