I Can't Go Back To Grainy Night Vision After Testing This Security Camera

2 days ago

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

The EufyCam S3 Pro is disposable separately for $220 aliases successful a two-pack pinch nan HomeBase 3 for $550.
This EufyCam is an fantabulous 4K outdoor information camera that delivers connected its nighttime imagination promises, features nary monthly fees, and has dual mobility discovery to trim mendacious alerts.
The biggest downsides are that nan camera is expensive, particularly erstwhile you bundle it pinch HomeBase 3, and its solution drops to 1080p pinch HomeKit.

Eufy Security launched a caller information camera arsenic a successor to nan EufyCam S330 this year, and it is simply a monumental upgrade to nan best information cameras I've tested. The newer EufyCam S3 Pro has 1 immense advantage complete different high-end information cameras: Eufy's MaxColor Vision.

Also: This video doorbell camera successfully replaced my Ring pinch nary subscription (and it's connected sale)

Rather than being nan sanction of a 1980s TV channel, MaxColor Vision captures elaborate images, moreover astatine night. This exertion produces nighttime imagination footage that looks for illustration daytime pinch stunning clarity, acknowledgment to artificial intelligence (AI).

The EufyCam S3 Pro besides has a brace of spotlights if you request other ray to seizure much item successful low-light conditions. These spotlights weren't ever necessary, but could beryllium adjuvant successful definite situations.

Also: You tin get an Arlo 2K video doorbell for only $60 pinch this deal

As soon arsenic I group up my caller EufyCam S3 Pro, I installed it successful spot of my older S330 solar-powered cameras, which will now get a caller location surveilling nan sides of my house. The quality successful nan footage was instantly glaring. The caller EufyCam S3 performs stunningly during nan night, moreover successful my backyard, which has zero lights connected overnight.

The EufyCam offers striking colour images pinch nighttime imagination utilizing AI that processes nan image to heighten and sharpen it successful existent time. Hardware besides plays a cardinal domiciled -- speech from being a 4K-resolution camera, nan EufyCam S3 Pro features an aperture of f/1.0 and a 1/1.8" sensor for accrued ray sensitivity.

Setting nan exertion up pinch HomeKit was a spot disconcerting. The image value drops to 1080p successful HomeKit, which tin beryllium a letdown erstwhile you've paid for a 4K device. Because you're utilizing Apple's HomeKit Secure Video (HSV), nan footage is stored connected your iCloud, not nan HomeBase 3. This setup requires an iCloud subscription, which ranges from $1 to $10 monthly for plans from 50 GB to 2 TB. Apple's HSV features end-to-end encryption, staying existent to Apple's committedness to personification privacy.

Also: I recovered a worthy Ring replacement successful this video information camera (and it has nary subscriptions)

After trying nan camera pinch HomeKit, I kept nan instrumentality pinch nan remainder of our Eufy information cameras and siren strategy successful nan HomeBase 3 hub pinch an outer HDD. This keeps footage local, arsenic nan cameras link to nan HomeBase and each nan video is stored connected nan hub.

The EufyCam S3 Pro has a ample star sheet connected nan top, which Eufy has improved since nan EufyCam S330. The technology, called SolarPlus 2.0, offers up to 365 days of artillery life done nan ample 13,000mAh battery. The institution claims conscionable 1 hr a time of nonstop sunlight tin support it moving without you having to intervene to complaint it.

My older S330 information cameras, which characteristic SolarPlus 1.0, were installed connected my north-facing driveway and south-facing backyard. While I person to complaint nan driveway camera each six months aliases so, I ne'er person to complaint nan backyard camera since it gets nonstop sunlight.

As a result, I urge installing these cameras wherever they tin get astatine slightest 1 hr of sunlight a time year-round, though it tin beryllium nether partial shade, arsenic conscionable 2,500 lx initiates charging. If you can't get this sunlight, you'll request to return nan cameras down to complaint them astatine home.

Also: Better than Ring? This video doorbell has akin features and nary of nan monthly fees

Like different cameras, nan EufyCam S3 Pro features two-way talk, customizable mobility discovery zones, upwind resistance, and face, human, pet, and conveyance detection.

Facial nickname is 1 of my favourite features of nan HomeBase 3. When nan cameras seizure footage, nan Eufy Security app tin show you which group were seen, fto you adhd them arsenic group you know, and springiness them names. Once you've named a family member, your notifications will opportunity who was seen erstwhile nan camera captures them again.

The EufyCam S3 Pro is not prone to mendacious alerts. Its alerts are meticulous erstwhile mobility is detected, but it tin spot truthful good that I've had to region nan thoroughfare astir 200 feet distant from its mobility discovery area truthful it doesn't nonstop an alert to each car that passes by.

ZDNET's buying advice

The EufyCam S3 Pro captures awesome footage, nary matter nan ray conditions. I'd urge nan instrumentality to anyone looking for a information camera for acheronian areas, particularly erstwhile you request a batch of detail, for illustration by a broadside doorway aliases your driveway.

Also: I tested a thenar nickname fastener that doubles arsenic a video doorbell - and it's stylish and smart

Aside from bonzer nighttime imagination capabilities, nan bundled EufyCam S3 Pro 2-pack and HomeBase 3 package, though expensive, is bully capable to usability arsenic a afloat information system. The HomeBase 3 sounds a siren erstwhile nan strategy is equipped and detects movement. It useful arsenic a hub for each Eufy Security devices. The hub's capabilities besides mean you tin shop your videos locally and ne'er person to interest astir monthly fees for unreality storage.