This can be a condensed evaluation of the Eufy eufyCam C35 and Homebase which is was initially featured on mightgadget.co.uk
The eufyCam sequence has been a noteworthy possibility for wi-fi cameras, notably since fashions just like the eufyCam 2C had been launched. The first benefits have typically been the shortage of a compulsory ongoing subscription, in contrast to rivals resembling Arlo or Ring. Battery life has additionally been a robust level, performing properly in opposition to different manufacturers, together with Reolink, which additionally gives a subscription-free mannequin.
I’ve ongoing expertise with the EufyCam S3 Professional, which has demonstrated important battery longevity, not requiring a recharge since its set up regardless of one digital camera being in a shaded location.
Just lately, Eufy launched the eufyCam C35. That is an inexpensive mannequin obtainable as a standalone digital camera that connects on to WiFi, or as a part of a package with the brand new Homebase Mini. This C35 and Homebase Mini bundle serves as a substitute for the older 2C and 2C Professional fashions. It incorporates many superior options beforehand seen on dearer fashions.
These options embrace true-colour evening imaginative and prescient, AI detection for people, automobiles, and pets, facial recognition, help for photo voltaic panels, and cross-camera monitoring.
Specification
Listed below are the important thing specs for the eufyCam C35:
- Sensible Perform
- AI Detection: Human / Car / Pet
- Two-Means Speak: Sure
- Sensible Integration: Alexa / Google Assistant
- Energetic Zone: Two, hexagonal zones
- Photo voltaic Panel Assist: Sure, exterior photo voltaic
- {Hardware} Parameters
- Color: White
- Product Dimensions: 59 x 54.5 x 83 mm
- Energy Provide: Battery (6500 mAh), 5 V / 2 A
- Energy Port: Sort-C x 1
- Button: SYNC x 1
- Storage: Micro SD (as much as 256 GB, not included)
- Mounting: Magnetic mount
- Video High quality
- Decision: 1080P (1920 x 1080)
- Lens Aperture: F1.2
- Picture Sensor: 1/2.9″ CMOS
- Color Night time Imaginative and prescient: Sure
- IR Night time Imaginative and prescient: Sure
- Zoom: Digital zoom
- Audio
- Microphone: Constructed-in
- Speaker: Constructed-in
- Alerts
- Alarm Notification: Sure (guide or computerized set off)
Digital camera Options and Design
The eufyCam C35 cameras are compact, with a extra curved, up to date design in comparison with earlier generations.
The mounting mechanism has been altered. The cameras use plastic mounting brackets that push right into a socket on the rear. This feels safe, however its long-term sturdiness in comparison with the widespread screw mount on different wi-fi cameras is questionable. The mounting bracket itself is magnetic, which supplies flexibility for placement, particularly indoors. For outside use, a separate screw-in bracket is supplied, which the magnetic mount slots into.
Charging is dealt with through USB-C, which is a contemporary commonplace, although some manufacturers nonetheless use microUSB.
The cameras embrace a microSD slot for direct-to-camera recording when linked to WiFi. When paired with the Homebase Mini, they document to the SD card inserted into the Homebase. The digital camera additionally has 8GB of built-in storage.
The C35 is IP67 rated, making it appropriate for each indoor and outside use.
Set Up and Set up
The setup course of differs barely relying on whether or not you purchase the cameras individually or as a part of the Homebase bundle. For the bundle, the Homebase Mini have to be arrange first, after which the cameras are added to it.
The method is much like many different sensible dwelling units. Utilizing the Eufy app, you choose so as to add a brand new system, scan the QR code on the unit, and observe the on-screen directions, which embrace urgent the sync button.
The identical course of applies to the cameras. Throughout their setup, you might be given the choice to attach on to your WiFi (when you don’t have a Homebase) or to hook up with an current Homebase.
Eufy App Performance
Having used the Eufy app for a number of years, I discover it to be one of many extra usable purposes for dwelling surveillance merchandise.
The house display shows all linked cameras. A small notification circle signifies the variety of new occasions recorded for the reason that app was final checked.
The settings menu is in depth, providing a variety of customisation. You may alter movement detection sensitivity, specify which objects to detect (human, pet, automobile), and configure exercise zones.
An influence administration part permits you to select between prioritising battery life with shorter video clips or prioritising surveillance with clips as much as 60 seconds lengthy.
Notifications are additionally customisable. You may choose which detected objects set off an alert and whether or not the notification is an easy textual content alert or one that features a thumbnail picture.
There are minor drawbacks inside the app. Small ads for different Eufy merchandise are current. You might also obtain notifications asking to donate video clips to assist prepare Eufy’s AI. Customers who opt-in to this may obtain rewards, and the edge for incomes a reward is comparatively low.
Efficiency: Detection and AI Options
Movement detection has persistently been a robust space for Eufy cameras. The Homebase Mini allows superior options first launched with the Homebase 3, resembling facial recognition and cross-device monitoring.
As with different Eufy cameras, I discovered the movement alerts from the C35 to be immediate and dependable, with few false positives.
When the system detects faces, it permits you to view uncategorised people and assign names to them. This improves the accuracy of alerts, letting you understand particularly who has been detected in your property.
Cross-camera monitoring additionally capabilities properly. In my testing, it primarily labored with a single digital camera however would hyperlink separate occasions collectively when it recognized the identical particular person in consecutive time ranges. For instance, the system detected my accomplice strolling down the drive, getting into the home, after which linked this to a subsequent occasion of her coming again exterior.
A key limitation is that cross-camera monitoring is tied to a single Homebase. I presently function each the Homebase Mini (with the C35) and a Homebase 3 (with EufyCam S3 Professional). The S3 Professional screens my again backyard. It will have been helpful if the system may observe somebody getting into the aspect gate (C35) and strolling via the backyard (S3 Professional), however this was not doable because the cameras are on completely different Homebases. This is a matter that may solely have an effect on a small variety of customers with a number of Homebases, and it may be resolved by pairing all cameras to the identical Homebase.
The digital camera additionally contains built-in sound and lightweight alarms that may be triggered to discourage intruders.
Video High quality: Day Time
With 4K cameras turning into extra inexpensive, the 1080p video high quality of the C35 is suitable however not excellent. The primary challenge I noticed was resolving high-quality facial options of individuals strolling down my backyard path. This can be a widespread problem for a lot of safety cameras because of low body charges, however the C35’s decrease decision makes it extra pronounced.
Nonetheless, contemplating the digital camera’s inexpensive value level, the general day time high quality is adequate for basic monitoring.
Video High quality: Night time Time
Whereas the 1080p decision is a limitation, the low-light footage is healthier than many competing inexpensive cameras because of the ‘PureColor Imaginative and prescient’ expertise. This enables the digital camera to document footage in color in the course of the evening with out requiring built-in spotlights or infrared illumination.
My backyard, which is illuminated by brilliant road lights, shouldn’t be the most effective surroundings to reveal this expertise’s full functionality in very darkish situations.
Regardless of this, the color evening imaginative and prescient supplies a very good understanding of an individual’s look and the color of their clothes, even when it doesn’t seize high-quality facial element.
Battery Life
Eufy has not made any particular claims concerning the C35’s battery life, which is uncommon. The corporate usually advertises lengthy battery-life spans of six or twelve months.
I’ve examined the cameras for 8 days.
- The entrance backyard digital camera, set to ‘optimum surveillance’ mode, nonetheless reported 100% battery after 140 detected occasions and 80 recorded occasions.
- The again backyard digital camera, utilizing the identical settings, dropped to 96% after 150 detected occasions and 26 recorded occasions.
The primary distinction between these two cameras is the WiFi sign power. The entrance backyard digital camera has a really robust sign, whereas the again backyard digital camera’s connection is barely weaker.
Primarily based on this utilization, the again backyard digital camera’s battery would final roughly 96 days, or simply over three months. It’s troublesome to estimate the entrance backyard digital camera’s lifespan, however at this charge, it might possible final properly over six months.
Worth and Various Choices
The Eufy eufyCam C35 2-camera package with the HomeBase Mini has a advisable retail value of £170, however on the time of writing, it was obtainable for £130.
Eufy seems to be positioning this because the successor to the eufyCam 2C and 2C Professional. For comparability, Amazon lists the 2-camera 2C package for £127 (on sale for £112) and the 2C Professional for £145.
The eufy S300 (or eufyCam 3C) 2-camera package prices round £230 and contains the HomeBase 3, which additionally has AI detection options.
There are few direct rivals to the C35 at its value level.
- The Reolink Argus 3 Professional is one consideration, costing round £60 per digital camera with a photo voltaic panel included from the Reolink web site. It has a superior 2880 x 1620 decision, and the photo voltaic panel aids battery life. Nonetheless, it lacks color evening imaginative and prescient with out spotlights and superior AI options like face detection.
- The Reolink Atlas is a high-performance digital camera however prices £110 per digital camera.
- TP-Hyperlink gives the C420S2, usually obtainable for £130. This can be a 2K digital camera with a Starvis sensor. It doesn’t have true color evening imaginative and prescient however supplied color footage in my reasonably lit entrance backyard. A major disadvantage is that some options, together with AI detection, are restricted behind a subscription.
- Amongst lesser-known manufacturers, the Baseus S1 Safety Digital camera was a very good performer and is out there for round £50. It has a 2K digital camera and a tilting built-in photo voltaic panel, which might significantly prolong battery life. Its picture high quality was good, nevertheless it depends on a highlight for color evening imaginative and prescient.
Total Conclusion
The eufyCam C35 is a robust product, notably for its value.
Whereas the 1080p video high quality shouldn’t be in the identical class as dearer, higher-resolution fashions, it’s first rate for its value bracket. The true color evening imaginative and prescient supplies a notable benefit over many equally priced cameras.
The movement detection and superior AI options, particularly the facial detection supplied through the Homebase Mini, enable the C35 to outperform most of its direct competitors.
Though I’ve not had the digital camera lengthy sufficient for a definitive evaluation of its battery life, my preliminary testing exhibits minimal battery drain. I might anticipate the digital camera to final for a number of months on a single cost beneath typical situations.
Total, the eufyCam C35 is a perfect resolution for anybody looking for an inexpensive dwelling surveillance system. It supplies dependable notifications, superior AI options, and glorious battery life, making it a good selection for customers who don’t require absolutely the highest picture high quality.
Abstract
The eufyCam C35 and HomeBase Mini supply spectacular efficiency for the value, with efficient movement detection, dependable alerts and helpful AI options that outperform most equally priced rivals. Whereas the picture high quality shouldn’t be class-leading, particularly in contrast with increased decision fashions, the color evening imaginative and prescient and robust battery efficiency make this a well-rounded and reliable possibility for inexpensive dwelling safety.
Total Score: 90%
Execs
- Good color evening imaginative and prescient
- Dependable movement and facial detection
- Sturdy battery efficiency
- No subscription required
Cons
- 1080p video lacks high-quality element
- Mounting system feels much less sturdy
- Cross-camera monitoring restricted to a single HomeBase
