2026 verdict
For an iPhone household that wants recordings without a monthly bill, the
Aqara Camera G100 is the better small security camera by a clear margin.
It records 2K to a microSD card or a NAS over RTSP, is IP65 rated so it can go outdoors, has a spotlight for color night vision, and works with Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant. The
Ring Indoor Cam stays the simpler option for a Ring and Alexa home: tiny, plug and play and often cheaper, with the same person alerts, two-way talk and siren, but it saves nothing without a Ring Protect plan and is indoor only. Choose the
Aqara Camera G100 for flexibility and local storage, and the
Ring Indoor Cam if your doorbell and alarm are already Ring.
What owners say
Owners of both cameras describe setup as close to instant, the Aqara by scanning a HomeKit code and the Ring by plugging in and following the app. Aqara Camera G100 owners single out the spotlight-assisted color night vision, IP65 reliability through rain and frost, and local storage on microSD or a NAS with no subscription; their complaints are a USB-C cable too short for outdoor installs, occasional Wi-Fi drops that need a power cycle, overheating in sustained direct sun and AI alerts behind a subscription. Ring Indoor Cam owners focus on value and simplicity, using it as a pet or nursery cam and praising the clear two-way audio and privacy cover, while warning that without Ring Protect there are no saved recordings and that the image blurs in near-total darkness.
Price history compared
Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.
- Aqara Camera G100
- Ring Indoor Cam
