Eufy Edge Security System review: AI smarts meet solar power
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The Eufy Edge Security System is a wireless outdoor security camera system you likely won’t need to charge
Editor’s Choice
(Image: © Eufy)
Tom’s Guide Verdict
At $549.99, the new Eufy Edge Security System is more expensive than other wireless outdoor security camera systems. However, you get two EufyCam 3 cameras, a HomeBase 3 to control them and you don’t have to pay any subscription fees. The HomeBase 3’s BionicMind AI intelligently detects people, animals and vehicles and you may not even have to charge the cameras thanks to their integrated solar panels.
Pros
- +
Two-way audio
- +
Integrated solar panels
- +
AI-powered facial recognition
- +
Waterproof and dust resistant (IP67)
- +
HomeBase 3 supports up to 16TB HDD or SSD
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Eufy Edge Security System review: Specs
Field of view: 135º
Resolution: 3840×2160/15 fps
Power: 13,400 mAh battery, integrated solar panel
Size: 2.6 x 5.1 x 2.6 inches
Weather resistance: IP 67
Night vision: Up to 24 feet infrared and color night vision
Works with: Alexa, Google Assistant
The Eufy Edge Security System aims to fix two of the most common problems with wireless security cameras: false alerts and having to charge the cameras’ batteries.
To avoid creating a constant stream of false alerts, Eufy’s system has a BionicMind self-learning AI to the HomeBase 3, which acts as a data hub for the two included EufyCam 3 cameras. As for having to take the cameras down to charge them, the company added solar panels on the top of each EufyCam 3. With just two hours of sunlight per day, the cameras can stay fully charged indefinitely — so says the company.
Another thing that sets Eufy’s security cameras apart from other devices on our list of the best outdoor security cameras is that there are no subscription fees whatsoever. Instead, the company’s customers can store and access recorded videos for free using the HomeBase 3’s built-in storage. While the HomeBase 3 ships with 16GB of local storage built-in, its storage capacity can be expanded all the way up to 16 TB using a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD.
Our Eufy Edge Security System review will explain everything you need to know about this wireless outdoor security camera bundle along with our impressions after using it for the past few months.
Eufy Edge Security System review: Price and and availability
The Eufy Edge Security System costs $549.99 and includes two EufyCam 3 outdoor security cameras and a HomeBase 3 data hub. The bundle is now available from both Amazon and Best Buy in the U.S and additional EufyCam 3 cameras can be purchased separately for $219.
99. On its site, Eufy also sells a bundle that includes the Eufy Edge Security System and a 1 TB hard drive for $629.
Eufy Edge Security System review: What’s included
(Image credit: Future)
While all of the devices in the Eufy Edge Security System can be purchased separately, the main bundle includes everything you’ll need to install the cameras and begin monitoring your home.
In addition to the HomeBase 3 and two EufyCam 3 cameras, the box itself also includes two mounting bases for the cameras along with the hardware you will need to install them. The same goes for the HomeBase 3 which comes with an Ethernet cable since the device needs to be hardwired to your router. Eufy also packs in a USB-C cable to charge the cameras and a sticker you can put on your window to let potential intruders know that your home now has “24/7 Monitoring by Eufy Security”.
If you run into any problems, a metal pin for resetting your EufyCam 3 cameras is included with the Eufy Edge Security System’s quick start guide.
Eufy Edge Security System review: Setup
(Image credit: Future)
Before mounting your EufyCam 3 cameras outside, you first need to setup and configure the HomeBase 3.
Both cameras communicate wirelessly with the HomeBase 3, which needs to be connected directly to your router. (If you have one of the best mesh routers though, I found I was able to connect the HomeBase 3 via Ethernet to one of the nodes of my Deco XE-75 and it worked just fine.)
(Image credit: Future)
If you plan on adding a 2.5-inch HDD or SSD to the HomeBase 3 for additional video storage, you should do that first. Adding a hard drive is quite easy to do: the magnetic top of the HomeBase 3 pops right off. After unscrewing a single screw, you can pull out a tray, insert your hard drive, screw it in and put everything back together again. The process was quite simple and it only took me a few minutes to add the 1 TB hard drive supplied by Eufy to the device.
With the HomeBase 3 plugged into an AC outlet and to your router, you then need to install the Eufy Security app.
After creating an account or logging in and adding the HomeBase 3, you then need to add the cameras. Be forewarned though, as the EufyCam 3 features a massive 13,400 mAh battery, each camera needs to charge for eight hours before you can add them to the HomeBase 3.
Once charged, you need to place each camera close to the HomeBase 3 and press the sync button at their rear for two seconds until you hear a beep. You then need to repeat the process by pressing the sync button at the back of the HomeBase 3. After 30 seconds, the HomeBase 3 will say “Device was added successfully” and you can now control and access your EufyCam 3 cameras from within the Eufy Security app.
(Image credit: Eufy)
Installing both cameras was a fairly simple process as Eufy includes two screw positioning stickers so that you can easily drill pilot holes. Keep in mind though, the cameras should be 7 to 10 feet off the ground and in direct sunlight to take advantage of their built-in solar panels.
Eufy Edge Security System review: Audio and video performance
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The Eufy Edge Security System has excellent video and audio quality. Also, the addition of 4K makes the pictures from both cameras sharper and in the app, you can zoom in for even more detail. Pictures taken during the day like the one above are quite clear though the EufyCam 3 also does an excellent job at night.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
When recording at night, you can configure the spotlight to turn on when motion is detected in order to see in color. However, doing so drains the battery faster. The black and white night vision mode uses the IR LED instead of the spotlight and even then, you still have a clear view at night as you can see in the picture above.
In the clips above, you can see how the EufyCam3 mounted by my front door and the one above my garage performed both during the day and at night. You can also hear the audio captured by the camera’s microphone.
Suffice it to say, I’m very impressed with their performance.
The EufyCam3 allows you to see quite far into the distance though I was limited by the layout of my neighborhood and the fact that I have a corner house. Still, I could see people approaching my home clearly and the microphones on the cameras picked up anything they said. As for false alerts, I received almost none in my time testing the Eufy Edge Security System. There were only a few times the cameras detected movement when it was actually shadows moving on my car parked in the driveway.
While the AI did a good job of recognizing me and the other members of my household, I wish there was a way to add familiar pets and vehicles in addition to familiar faces. This way I would get a notification I could ignore when my dog or my wife’s car were spotted by the cameras. Hopefully, this is something Eufy can add in a future update to either the EufyCam 3 or the HomeBase 3.
Eufy Edge Security System review: Smart home features
The Eufy Edge Security System works with both Alexa and Google Assistant right now and Apple HomeKit support is currently in the works.
After adding the Eufy Security skill to Alexa and both cameras in the Google Home app, I was able to view live feeds from each of the EufyCam 3 cameras on the best smart displays. My Nest Hub Max showed video from the EufyCam 3 in a full size window; my Echo Show 8 allowed me to do this as well, and I was also able to watch each video feed in a smaller Picture-in-Picture window. I could view live video feeds from the Eufy Edge Security System in the Alexa app without any problems but the Google Home app did not allow me to do this.
Eufy Edge Security System review: App and web portal
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The Eufy Security app is where you’ll manage both of your EufyCam 3 cameras and view any footage captured by them. From the main Devices tab, you can view live video feeds from either camera while the Events tab lets you know whenever they detect a human, pet or vehicle. You can also tap on the date at the top to review previously recorded events.
Meanwhile, the Edge tab lets you add Familiar Faces as well as review unfamiliar faces. Here, you can also set up vehicle detection and pet detection but you can’t add pictures of your pets or vehicles to Eufy’s AI.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
By tapping on the three dots at the right of each camera in the Devices tab, you can pull up the settings for your EufyCam 3 cameras. Here, you can enable or disable motion detection, turn on anti-theft detection and adjust streaming as well as recording quality. The Notification menu lets you lower or increase the frequency of notifications but you can also have a thumbnail show up alongside them.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
For me personally, I really like the thumbnails the Eufy Security app shows in your notifications. Not only are these thumbnails zoomed in on any people or pets detected by the cameras, but the app also adds a red square around them if they are difficult to make out.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The Eufy Security app also has some tips on where to place your cameras for the best coverage in its Scenarios tab.
The Modes tab next to it lets you switch between Home, Away, Disarmed and other modes that change how the Eufy Edge Security System works. Finally, the Automation tab allows you to create your own automations though there are also a few recommended ones to help you get started.
(Image credit: Eufy)
Eufy also has a web portal that allows you to view either of your EufyCam 3 cameras from your browser. However, you can only view one camera at a time and since the HomeBase 3 encrypts all of the clips it stores, you can’t view any events in the web portal unless you subscribe to the company’s cloud recording service.
Eufy Edge Security System review: Battery life
(Image credit: Future)
To give you an idea of the battery life of the two EufyCam 3 cameras included in the Eufy Edge Security System, I first installed them in mid-September and have not had to take them down to charge yet. In fact, both cameras still have a full battery icon even though I check them frequently and I do have their spotlights turn on at night.
Your mileage may vary but if you install the EufyCam 3 cameras in a place where they get direct sunlight, you may not have to take them down to charge at all.
Eufy Edge Security System review: Verdict
At a time when most other wireless outdoor security cameras still record in 1080p, Eufy has taken things up a notch by adding 4K to the EufyCam 3. This gives you higher quality recordings, makes it possible to zoom in on numbers and text in license plates and represents a huge upgrade over the EufyCam 2. While Eufy’s BionicMind AI did take some time to begin recognizing me and the other people in my household, it now works like a charm. However, I wish there was a way to add familiar vehicles and pets in the same way that you can do so with people.
The only other wireless outdoor security camera that records in 4K that comes even close to the EufyCam 3 is the Arlo Ultra 2 XL. However, as it lacks a built-in solar panel, you’ll still have to take them down to charge, though Arlo does sell rechargeable batteries you can quickly swap out.
If you want a set it and forget it wireless security camera system that doesn’t require a subscription fee, the Eufy Edge Security System could be the perfect fit. Also, you can easily add more storage to the HomeBase 3 on top of its built-in 16 GB of storage.
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Anthony Spadafora is the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to password managers and the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. Before joining the team, he wrote for ITProPortal while living in Korea and later for TechRadar Pro after moving back to the US. Based in Houston, Texas, when he’s not writing Anthony can be found tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
Blink Outdoor camera review | Tom’s Guide
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The Blink Outdoor camera is the best weatherproof, wireless home security camera under $100
(Image: © Tom’s Guide)
Tom’s Guide Verdict
Get the Blink Outdoor if you’re looking for a home security camera under $100 that can withstand the elements.
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Blink Outdoor Camera review: Specs
Field of view: 110 degrees
Resolution: 1080p/30 fps
Power: Two AA batteries
Size: 2.8 x 2.8 x 1 inches
Works with: Alexa
The Blink XT2 was one of the best home security cameras for those who wanted an outdoor camera for less than $100. Its successor, the Blink Outdoor, improves on its successor with a better camera and the ability to save videos locally rather than just in the cloud.
You’ll find in this Blink Outdoor review that everything that made the XT2 great is still here — and that the camera is still a bargain. That’s why it’s one of the best outdoor security cameras for those on a budget, and why we recognized it in the 2021 Tom’s Guide Awards for Smart Home.
The Blink Outdoor camera first went on sale in the fall of 2020, when this review was originally published. An individual camera plus its base station costs $99.99. If you want more than one camera, a two-camera kit costs $179.99, a three-camera kit is $249.99, and a five-camera kit is $329.99. Add-on cameras are $89 each.
- Blink Outdoor at Amazon for $59.99
Blink’s new outdoor camera is more or less the same size as the XT2 (a small square measuring 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.2 inches), but has a few refinements.
Blink XT2 (left) and Blink Outdoor (right) (Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The Blink Outdoor’s base station, called the Blink Sync Module 2, connects the camera to your home Wi-Fi network.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
The Sync Module 2 is the same size as the XT2’s, but the newer one will let you plug in a USB stick and use it as local storage for up to 10 cameras. You can pair older Blink cameras with the base station too. The Wyze Cam Outdoor uses a similar setup, though its base station (and camera) are much bulkier.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
I set up both the Blink Outdoor and the Blink XT2 by my compost pit, about 100 feet away from the base station. Both were able to connect, but the XT2 struggled with the range; the newer Blink Outdoor had no trouble.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Like its predecessor, the Blink Outdoor is weather-resistant and powered by two AA lithium batteries, which should last up to two years on a charge. I’ve had the XT2 for more than a year and it and its batteries are still going strong.
The Blink Outdoor Camera went on sale in September 2020. A kit that includes the camera and the base station costs $99; a two-camera kit is $179, and a three-camera kit is $249.
Additional cameras are $89 each.
While not a huge improvement over the XT2, the 1080p camera on the Blink Outdoor did seem a bit better when compared side by side.
For one, the camera lens is now flat and recessed, rather than bubble-shaped as on the XT2. I found this helped eliminate lens flare when the sun was shining directly at the camera. Colors are a bit richer, too.
Nighttime video was very good. I set up the Blink Outdoor next to my compost pit, threw in some fresh watermelon rinds and let nature take its course. Over the next two weeks, the compost pit was visited by a large rat, a young opossum, and a portly raccoon. You can clearly make out individual hairs on the raccoon as well as the stripes on his plush, furry tail.
Only once did an animal take an interest in the camera. The raccoon sniffed it once, but went back to munching on scraps. The next week, he brought a friend.
The Blink Outdoor’s microphones were very sensitive, too, picking up all the cricket noises at night.
Among budget home security cameras, Blink’s app offers plenty of customization options. You can create both motion and privacy zones and adjust the length of clips (from 5 to 60 seconds), the sensitivity of the camera, how long the camera should wait before starting a new recording and more.
Because the camera has a thermometer in it, you can even get temperature readings as well as notifications if the temperature goes above or below a certain threshold.
However, there are a few caveats: There’s no way to record a motion event for its duration — you’re limited to a max of 60 seconds. Also, Blink’s cameras can’t detect people as many other security cameras can.
There is one weird quirk to Blink’s cameras; if you have multiple cameras connected to one sync module, you can’t set custom schedules for each. You can only create one schedule for all of the cameras connected to that module, which is a pain.
Blink’s cloud-storage plan is similar to that of Ring’s, which is not surprising considering both companies are owned by Amazon.
The Basic plan, which costs $3/month or $30/year, gets you 60 days of rolling cloud storage for a single camera, though it’s limited to 120 minutes total. The Plus plan, which is $10/month or $100/year, gets you the same amount of storage for an unlimited number of cameras at a single location.
If you purchase a new camera, Blink is waiving its subscription fees through the end of 2020. Also, if you created a Blink account before April 15, 2020, you’ll continue to receive free cloud storage for any new Blink camera you purchase.
Of course, if you don’t want to pay for a subscription, you can plug a USB drive (not included) into the Sync Module 2 and use that as local storage.
If you have an older Blink XT2, you get free cloud storage in perpetuity, no matter when you purchased the camera. However, you can’t save video locally on the Blink Outdoor base station.
Blink’s cameras work with Alexa, but not Google Home or HomeKit. If you’re looking for a fully wireless outdoor security camera that is compatible with more smart home platforms, check out our EufyCam 2 review.
It’s a bit more expensive, though.
Blink made only modest improvements with the Blink Outdoor camera, but they’re enough to have it maintain its title as one of the best outdoor home security cameras you can get for less than $100. It’s small and inconspicuous, and records good-quality audio and video.
While it is true that new customers won’t get the free cloud storage that came with the Blink XT2, it’s less of an issue now that you can store video files locally, so you don’t have to pay for a subscription if you don’t want to.
If you’re looking for one of the best home security cameras that’s weatherproof, wireless, and costs less than $100, the Blink Outdoor camera is the one to get.
Next: This solar panel is a game changer for security cameras like the Blink Outdoor camera.
Blink Outdoor: Price Comparison
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Michael A. Prospero is the U.S. Editor-in-Chief for Tom’s Guide. He oversees all evergreen content and oversees the Homes, Smart Home, and Fitness/Wearables categories for the site. In his spare time, he also tests out the latest drones, electric scooters, and smart home gadgets, such as video doorbells. Before his tenure at Tom’s Guide, he was the Reviews Editor for Laptop Magazine, a reporter at Fast Company, the Times of Trenton, and, many eons back, an intern at George magazine. He received his undergraduate degree from Boston College, where he worked on the campus newspaper The Heights, and then attended the Columbia University school of Journalism. When he’s not testing out the latest running watch, electric scooter, or skiing or training for a marathon, he’s probably using the latest sous vide machine, smoker, or pizza oven, to the delight — or chagrin — of his family.
Selection of CCTV cameras with color night illumination
Today, there is a wide variety of IP cameras that are capable of recording color video even in the dark.
Full color night vision cameras are typically equipped with advanced image sensors and can deliver high quality color images and video in low light conditions, identifying details such as human faces and license plates.
How do night vision cameras work?
Color security cameras absorb much more visible light due to powerful image sensors that are very sensitive to light. Thus, night vision cameras can still capture color images or videos in low-light areas, while conventional cameras automatically switch to black and white.
Is it still worth it to choose color surveillance cameras or give preference to conventional ones? Consider a few criteria…
Image quality . Full color night vision color camera images with enhanced contrast in low light areas provide more visual detail to easily identify potential suspects, vehicles or other objects than conventional cameras.
Installation scripts .
As noted above, outdoor color night vision video surveillance systems require a minimum amount of light to produce color images at night. If you intend to monitor areas with poor street lighting or other small light sources, color security cameras are the absolute best options.
Price . Let’s dispel a popular myth – color night vision cameras do not always cost more than regular cameras.
How to choose a security camera with color night illumination?
An ordinary simple user understands a little among a large amount of technical information for a particular device, so we will try to explain some, in our opinion, the most important ones, for choosing the right model.
· Resolution : The higher the resolution of color night vision cameras, the better the image quality and the more visible details. To get a fairly clear image and high quality video, choose high-resolution surveillance cameras (at least 1080p).
· IR range : Specifies how far night vision color cameras can see in natural light.
3D DNR : This is a kind of benchmark for noise reduction technology in both static and moving images, resulting in a clearer picture with finer details.
· Wide dynamic range : Color night vision cameras with WDR technology can balance light to improve images and videos. Thus, they are most suitable for high contrast lighting.
· IR cut filter : The IR cut filter is designed to make night vision color cameras deliver true color so you can get high quality images and videos day and night.
· Angle of view : The larger the field of view, the wider the areas that your wireless color night vision camera can cover. In other words, if you need to monitor large areas with a single camera, cameras with a wide field of view are the best choice.
Surveillance camera placement If you install a video surveillance camera indoors, remember the rule – you can not place them behind glass or windows – the picture will be blurry.
And if you place color surveillance cameras in your children’s room – they may be afraid of the red glow at night, and hiding or blocking it will lead to the fact that you will not see anything, which will deprive you of the point of buying such a camera. A possible solution is to place the infrared light anywhere in the room, and turn it off on the camera.
Outdoor color security cameras must be IP65 weatherproof to withstand temperature extremes, wind, precipitation, pressure and humidity. It would be ideal if the cameras were equipped with additional protection. It also needs anti-vandal protection.
Summing up, we can say that in choosing from a variety of camera models, focusing on the technical characteristics you need, you can choose the perfect video camera that will suit you. Our online store offers a wide range of video cameras and related products needed to create your own security system.
Night vision cameras with IR illumination
Video surveillance systems have become an indispensable element of security systems at various facilities.
But in order to achieve the maximum effectiveness of video surveillance even in low light conditions, you need to use indoor and outdoor cameras with the ability to shoot at night. They are equipped with a special IR-illumination, which is invisible to strangers and can provide high-quality shooting at night. The Control.ua online store made sure that you can buy a night vision camera from well-known brands on favorable terms, just call us or leave a request on the website.
Key features of cameras with IR illumination
The night vision camera is additionally equipped with a specially designed illumination – LEDs that transmit infrared illumination. Modern infrared illumination for the camera is absolutely invisible to the human eye, which makes the night camera actually hidden from others. The installed backlight creates special lighting that is sensitive to light and makes it possible to shoot not only in poor lighting, but even in complete darkness. Although the price of the cameras is not much different.
All night cameras shoot in black and white, so even in the absence of light, you get a high-quality picture with high detail. Now, not only during the day, but also at night, attackers will not be able to quietly get into the facility, harming loved ones or property. Video surveillance of night shooting is the safety for loved ones and the safety of valuables.
Among the varieties of IR illumination are:
- built-in diodes – the illumination is located directly inside the case, hidden from others and is highly efficient;
- separate light – to increase the range of the night mode, the user can buy a spotlight and other device with infrared radiation.
Before you buy a night vision camera with recording on a flash drive or other modification, it is important to pay attention to such characteristics as:
- illumination angle;
- glow power;
- chassis form factor.
This is all a guarantee of comfortable use and safety on site.
Characteristics of night cameras
Not all IR cameras are equally effective at night shooting. An efficient and reliable model must meet the following characteristics:
- day/night mode – automatic transition from color to black and white mode during operation;
- high power adaptive infrared illumination;
- the camera should have a high-sensitivity matrix – improves the quality of shooting at night;
- the presence of an ICR filter – makes it possible to ignore the operation of the backlight during the day;
- housing with a high protection index – it must withstand vandalism and atmospheric agents without problems.
As for the illumination itself, when choosing a camera with IR illumination, pay attention to the distance, angle of operation and body type. The backlight angle should be similar to the viewing angle of the surveillance camera lens, otherwise an overexposed spot may appear when shooting. The power of the IR illumination depends on the power – for large objects you need a powerful illumination up to 80 meters.
For comparison of the effectiveness of the night illumination, freeze-frames without IR illumination are shown above, with IR illumination below.
Remember that high-quality CCTV cameras are the best insurance for the safety of property and the safety of loved ones.
Where is the use of night vision cameras with IR illumination relevant?
The range of uses for IR cameras is incredibly wide. But cameras with Day/Night mode remain the most popular – they are completely universal and suitable for use in various operating conditions. Wireless IP cameras with infrared illumination are used in such protected facilities as: shops, offices, warehouses, on the door in the entrance and on the territory of a private house. All this allows you to completely abandon the security guard and rely on equipment that the security service at the facility can control.
Street-type IR night vision cameras are very popular, they are simply indispensable in a guarded parking lot, parking lot, house territory, railway station, airport, embassy, etc.
Usually, cameras with a flash drive and recording are purchased for such purposes. it is not always possible for the user to control the entire flow of information that is transmitted from several cameras. And, of course, mini-cameras remain indispensable, which are virtually invisible and do not require much space for installation.
Selecting an IR camera
Before buying an IR camera, it is essential to pay attention to the characteristics of the IR camera, because only in this case it will be possible to achieve high efficiency. There are three main selection criteria:
- IR illumination range – this is important when using IR illumination without additional illuminators, but also such a high power illumination will heat the camera and consume a lot of electricity, so do not forget about the cooling system;
- illumination angle – care must be taken to ensure that the illumination beam is similar to the camera’s viewing angle, otherwise there may be dark spots along the edge of the frame, which complicates the video surveillance process;
- service life – from different manufacturers, diodes for infrared illumination have different service life – from 20,000 to 50,000 operating hours, after which it will be necessary to replace the diode.
