Smart, Remote Surveillance

This article was updated to include the eufy Solar Panel T8700 for eufyCam.

My extended family and I purchased a vacation home not too long ago up in the mountains where temperatures could fall well below freezing. Our intent had been to turn the house into a short-term rental (ie. AirBnB, Vrbo, HomeAway) to help recover some of the monthly expenses for while we were not there. Under consideration was the 5,500′ elevation the 2,500 sq ft, 3-story property sat on, constant East-West sun exposure, winter storm conditions that could knock power out and burst water pipes, and privacy and security of our neighbors and guests. We also had to consider the fact that no exterior, electrical outlets were available to power said devices. To accomplish those objectives, we looked into electronic devices with remote control capabilities, including:

Short-Term Rentals (STR): AirBnb, HomeAway, Vrbo

• Door locks
• Video Surveillance systems
• Thermostats
• WiFi network systems

We researched recommendations, anecdotes, and reviews for months in our search for the “best” with great security and reasonable prices. Ultimately, we purchased the Yale Assure Door Lock Touchscreen and Nest Learning Thermostat. We also installed a newer Linksys Velop Mesh WiFi system than the one I had been using and recommending since 2018.

Next on our list were cameras.

Video Security Systems

Our primary homes had already been equipped with cameras from Ring, Kuna, Yi, Canary, and SimpliSafe, but Yi was the one we had been most happy with because no subscription was needed to view past recordings. Videos were stored onto each camera’s microSD card instead of forcing you to use their Cloud services. Yi’s outdoor offerings were extremely limited, however, as we wanted a variety of cameras to address specific needs.

Our 3-story vacation rental property is 2,500 sq ft (242 sq m) in size, sits on a 10,600 sq ft (985 sq m) lot, and 5,500′ (1,675m) in elevation. The latter measurement was obtained from dCode’s GPS Elevation calculator.

SoloCam S40 Solar

The search for a security ecosystem for a home of our size led to Amazon Ring and Netgear Arlo. But, even though both were trusted companies whose security practices should be top-notch, they were expensive and offered a limited number of free services.

My youngest brother asked me to look into Anker-owned Eufy. I did not know they offered video cameras besides Roomba-like vacuums? “You don’t have to subscribe to their cloud service”, he said, referring to a doorbell he already had from that company. Anker makes great products, and so I looked into what Eufy offered and was pleasantly surprised: no monthly fees required, a variety of models for different scenarios, and from a company owned by Anker. I went ahead and purchased the cameras I will be reviewing here.

Eufy Video Surveillance in 2K

The cameras and accessories I bought were:

• SoloCam S40 Solar – $169.99 @ Amazon
• SoloCam E40 – $129.99 @ Amazon
• eufyCam 2 Pro with HomeBase 2 – $369.99 @ Amazon
  • HomeBase 2 (Standalone) – $99 @ Amazon or Eufy
  • Backup Battery for HomeBase 2 – $39.99 @ Amazon
• Solar Panel T8700 – $59.99 or $39.99 (Refurbished) @ Amazon

Until we had external, electrical outlets installed, our requirements were to have 1) cameras operate independently of a power outage, 2) long battery life, 3) great video quality, 4) remote control, 5) no required monthly fees for basic services, 6) ability to withstand harsh weather conditions, and (7) good motion notification and configuration options.

In relation to our vacation home rental property, the cameras would be used to monitor weather conditions, communicate with guests, monitor noise level and unauthorized guests, enforce parking rules, and provide overall peace-of-mind. Not only did we want to be good neighbors within the community, it also was the law as part of our short-term rental permit.

Overall Impressions

Taking all cameras being reviewed in this article into consideration, here are some of the likes and dislikes common to all of them. Note: May not apply to the entire Eufy lineup of cameras and just to the ones evaluated here.

Pros

• Cloud subscription NOT required
  • Record to local memory card, Eufy Cloud, Eufy HomeBase (hub), or remote storage (like NAS) — Support depends on camera model
    • Videos are downloadable at no cost and can be screenshot
    • As local storage gets full, new recordings will start overwriting the older ones
  • Reasonable cloud subscription pricing per address
    • Basic: $2.99/month per camera for 30 days of video history (OR) $29.99/year per camera ($2.49/mo)
    • Premier: $9.99/month for up to 10 cameras for 30 days of video history (OR) $99.99/year (as low as $0.83/mo per camera)
  • 24/7 monitoring & dispatch service available through Noonlight partnership. Possible 20% discount on home insurance
    • Example: If a $103/year insurance discount was available for adding fire/burglary monitoring to the house, and Eufy Protection plan is $50 or $100/year, the discount would pay for that service entirely
  • Although Eufy touts best-in-class privacy and security (with ISO 27001 certification), including 128-bit AES encryption of its memory and HomeBase video storages, it did suffer a software bug in May 2021 that exposed thousands of customers to each others’ video feeds

Eufy touts best-in-class privacy and security with ISO 27001 certification and 128-bit AES encryption of its devices’ local storage.

• Excellent, 135-degree image quality with 2K resolution (or manually configured for 1080p)
  • Day and night videos were quite sharp and clear, though distant faces were not at night
    • Helps monitor for unauthorized guests and enforcement of parking rules
  • Night vision options: (1) Infrared black and white and/or (2) Floodlight-assisted color with some models (at expense of battery life and more limited range)
  • “Eufy” watermark can be removed
  • Video can be viewed LIVE as long as desired, though a warning will remind you that battery life would be affected

SoloCam S40 Solar – Status, Spotlight, Infrared Night Vision

• Simple, guided installation via EufySecurity app (for Apple iOS and Android) with tips for optimal placement
• Professional-looking build quality
  • Rotated cameras stayed firmly in place even in windy conditions
  • Reliably worked through snow storms, rain, and heat at 5,500′ elevation
• Great battery life
  • Power management options to optimize battery life, surveillance, or create custom setting
    • Surveillance scheduling and motion sensitivity settings help to additionally conserve power
  • Solar panel add-on available for some camera models
  • Most models can be hardwired with an outdoor microUSB cable, though the charging port will be exposed to the elements. This route is not recommended unless well-protected against the weather, including rain
  • Cameras can be used while charging

Motion Detection & Power Optimization – SoloCam S40

• Multiple motion sensitivity and detection zones
  • Customize which parts of the screen you want to monitor with 2 or 3 zones, depending on model
    • Zones have multiple points that can flexibly be dragged to fit specific areas. Yi camera only provides a 4-point rectangle
  • Alert for any motion or only when a human was detected (AI does not always identify correctly, but Eufy claims that its AI will improve accuracy as it learns)
  • AI detection of human body and/or faces
• Privacy zones, on supported models, so motion in those areas are not monitored or recorded (ie. exclude neighbor’s activities)
  • Up to 2 zones available. Area is blacked out in recorded and live video
• LED Spotlight, for some models, with adjustable brightness levels and color temperatures (4,000K – 6,000K)
• Built-in speaker and microphone good enough for two-way, half-duplex communication (like a walkie talkie)
  • Helps communicate with guests and monitor noise level — we strictly enforce Quiet Time in the evenings as part of being good neighbors
• Integration with display-equipped Alexa and/or Google Assistant devices. Apple HomeKit and HomeKit Secure Video support are in the works
• Anti-theft detection for camera models linked to a HomeBase
  • Both the camera and HomeBase would sound an alarm when camera is moved
• Loud, 90dB alarm that can be automatically or manually triggered from the EufySecurity app
• Only the longer-range 2.4 GHz WiFi radio frequency is supported

• Shareable: Select who has access to which cameras and with what rights
  • Each user can personalize own alert settings, something the Yi cameras frustratingly do not offer
• Web access at: https://mysecurity.eufylife.com
• EufySecurity App – Supported on Android and Apple iOS
  • Cameras can be renamed, temporarily muted, grouped by “Homes”, have display order re-arranged
  • Event filtering by date, cameras, video type (human, pet, package, crying — varies by camera), and/or storage path (local, cloud)
  • 3 notifications options: (1) Send immediately as message only, (2) Send immediately as message with thumbnail to follow when or if available, or (3) Send only when both message and thumbnail are available
• Eufy is part of the well-respected Anker brand

Cons

• Delayed start of recording — Our biggest source of frustration
  • Activity detection seemed to lag 5+ seconds later than it should (ie. a car or human already was well within the activity zone when the recording started)
    • Example: One person arrived on the property, parked the car at the edge of the activity zone, got out, and walked about 28′ (8.5m) across the zone when the alert finally came in. The recording started at that time. What a delay! (Sensitivity was set at level 5 out of 7)
  • The issue may partially be due to the cameras being battery operated and thus do not constantly record to preserve battery life. As a result, there is no pre-recording buffer
  • Yi and Kuna cameras both show at least 3 seconds leading up to when the motion was detected

• Stops recording prematurely
  • By default, cameras are configured to stop recording when no motion is detected or 20 seconds, whichever occurs first
  • There were multiple instances where a human stood still, then recording stopped but no subsequent video was made when further movement should have been detected later — he/she must have gone SOMEWHERE after having stood there, no?
    • Workaround: Continuously record for 60 seconds with 15 second retrigger interval. Do not set to “end clip early if motion stops”. A shorter retrigger interval helps ensure smaller gaps between clips, but at the expense of battery life
  • Ideally, the camera would continue recording for another 10-30 seconds after no motion was detected. This would allow one to view any small movements he may have made or to see how long he stood there (looking through the window, for example)
• No 24/7 recording ability (most likely due to battery life limitation)

Camera Settings – SoloCam S40

• Cameras without cloud subscription or Eufy HomeBase link could have their videos be inaccessible in case of theft
  • Should a camera be stolen and/or the local memory is reset, footage is lost or irretrievable. Be sure to download anything important from time to time

Should a camera be stolen and the local memory is reset, footage is lost. Be sure to download anything important from time to time, sign up for a cloud subscription, and/or use a camera that can be linked with Eufy’s HomeBase device.

• AI erroneously identified a car or bird as human from time to time, but Eufy claims that its AI will improve accuracy as it learns
• B&W Night Vision
  • Date/Time text in the top-right corner is white and not visible over bright areas (ie. where neighbor’s porch light may be)
    • Eufy should consider adding a slightly opaque, dark background behind the text
  • Distant faces are not entirely clear at night despite the 2K resolution
• Li-ion battery cannot be replaced by consumer
  • Li-ion, in general, loses 20-25% capacity after every 500 charge cycle. This means the battery can last 6-10 years with up to 2000 cycles, but with diminished capacity after every 500 cycle
• Built-in, encrypted eMMC memory storage cannot be removed or replaced by consumer
  • Helps maintain privacy in the event of theft (memory is encrypted and not easy to steal), but if the chip fails — which is rare for eMMC — camera will be at the mercy of the warranty period to have it fixed

Built-in, encrypted eMMC memory storage cannot be removed or replaced by consumer.

• No temperature, humidity, or noise level sensor
  • Would be useful for monitoring weather and how rowdy/loud the guests may be during Quiet Time
• Only the 2.4 GHz WiFi radio frequency is supported and would be a problem for access points that only offer 5 GHz
• Cannot flip video orientation within the app
  • Not a big deal since the camera hardware itself can be rotated into nearly any position
• EufySecurity App Limitations
  • No concurrent, live view of multiple cameras (ie. 2, 3, or 4 on the same screen)
  • Cannot grab a fresh thumbnail of each camera’s current view (Kuna’s app does this)
    • Only a snapshot of the last, live viewing is shown
    • Ability to refresh the dashboard with a current image of each camera would be convenient for a quick glance of all systems
  • Potential bug: I sometimes received an alert on Android, touched to view it, but saw nothing displayed. The Events history strangely also showed no recording for that timeframe

Now, let’s take a look at the INDIVIDUAL devices’ strengths and weaknesses.

SoloCam S40 Solar

Noon Sun Approaching

Our immediate need was to have some eyes on the driveway to monitor snow conditions and guest arrivals from a place that would not easily be reachable. This also meant that we did not want to periodically retrieve it for charging.

The solution? SoloCam S40, a solar-powered, standalone camera. In ADDITION to the ones listed under “Overall Impressions“, here are this camera’s strengths and weaknesses:

Pros

• Solar-powered and great battery capacity (13,400 mAh)
  • Battery capacity: Same as eufyCam 2 Pro and double SoloCam E40’s 6,700 mAh
  • 2 hours/day of full-sun charging is recommended per Eufy to remain fully charged
    • Rated to last 4+ months without any recharge
  • Real Test: Between 1/16/2022 – 3/21/2022 (64 days), 469 events were detected
    • Recording was set to 60 second clips with 15 sec retrigger and no early termination. Detection sensitivity level at 6 of 7
    • Battery level dipped down to only 98% on any given morning. Camera’s solar panel was oriented south-west
• IP67 water resistance rating: Protection against dust, rain, and snow. Can be submersed in 1m (3.3′) freshwater for up to 30 mins

• 8GB eMMC local, encrypted storage
• Night vision options: (1) Infrared black and white and/or (2) Floodlight-assisted color (at expense of battery life and more limited range)
  • LED Spotlight with adjustable brightness levels and color temperatures (4,000K – 6,000K)
  • Can be used to provide Color night vision or visually flash an alarm
• Works independently and does not need the Eufy HomeBase

Cons

• Eufy HomeBase capability is in the works. Eufy Cloud or NAS storage not supported
• Built-in, 8GB eMMC local, encrypted storage cannot be upgraded
• No anti-theft feature to sound an alarm when moved, although it can be triggered from the app
• No Privacy Zones to black out areas from both motion detection and video recording
• Solar panel add-on not yet available but is in the works
  • Built-in panel only outputs up to 2.6W (unverified)
• 2+ hours of full sun is needed per day to remain fully charged, depending on the number of recorded events
  • For optimum results, tilt the built-in solar panel at a 45 degree angle towards the sun

The SoloCam S40 met my requirement to be as hands-off as possible with its solar-charging capability. It had proven very valuable over the past 2+ months with keeping an eye out on our driveway and never having the battery dip below 95% each morning.

SoloCam E40

The SoloCam E40 is a standalone camera that does not require the Eufy HomeBase (hub) to operate. In ADDITION to the ones listed under “Overall Impressions“, here are this camera’s strengths and weaknesses:

Pros

• Its 6,700 mAh battery is rated for 4+ months of operation
  • SoloCam S40 — with twice the capacity at 13,400 mAh — is marketed to last the same timeframe. Eufy’s claim of 4 months for the E40 is optimistic
  • Real Test: Between 2/5/2022 – 3/21/2022 (44 days), 518 events were detected. Battery level was at 42% with default detection and video settings
  • Solar panel add-on support for limitless power
• Night vision: Infrared black and white only
• Less expensive than SoloCam S40 and eufyCam 2 Pro
• Works independently without needing a Eufy HomeBase
• IP65 water resistance rating: Protection against dust, rain, and snow. Can withstand water projected from a nozzle
• 8GB eMMC local, encrypted storage

Cons

• 50% less battery capacity than the SoloCam S40 and EufyCam 2 Pro
  • Some customer reviews claimed a battery life of just 2-3 weeks
  • Needs to be recharged more often unless coupled with the Eufy Solar panel for limitless power
• No LED Spotlight
  • Night vision is only in infrared black and white
  • No visual flashing to accompany the 90dB audio alarm
• No Privacy Zones to black out areas from both motion detection and video recording
• Eufy HomeBase capability is in the works. Eufy Cloud or NAS storage not supported
• Built-in, 8GB eMMC local, encrypted storage cannot be upgraded
• No anti-theft feature to sound an alarm when moved, although it can be triggered from the app
• IP65 water resistance rating does not allow the camera to momentarily fall into a pool of 3.3′ deep water like IP67 does

The SoloCam E40 was our least favorite of the cameras we tested, but also the most affordable. Its biggest strength is its independent operation without the need for a HomeBase, though its smaller battery capacity also meant more frequent recharging. However, couple it with the Eufy Solar panel, and that weakness quickly goes away.

eufyCam 2 Pro with HomeBase 2

The eufyCam 2 Pro is more of a surveillance SYSTEM than a standalone camera as it must be paired with a Eufy HomeBase — a central hub — to operate. Each camera does not have any local storage to save recordings to and instead sends them to the linked base station. There are advantages and disadvantages with this type of setup. In ADDITION to the ones listed under “Overall Impressions“, here are this camera system’s strengths and weaknesses:

Pros – EufyCam 2 Pro

• Great battery capacity (13,400 mAh)
  • Same capacity as SoloCam S20 and double SoloCam E40’s 6,700 mAh
  • Marketed to last 12 months without any recharge — I was VERY skeptical of this, but the actual data surprised me:
    • Real Tests: Between 2/6/2022 – 3/21/2022 (43 days)
      • Recording was set to 60 second clips with 15 sec retrigger and no early termination. Detection sensitivity level at 4 of 7
      • Front Door (with view of driveway, street, and passing cars): 934 events were detected. Battery level was at 73%
        • At that rate, the battery may deplete in 5 – 5.5 months
      • Back Door: 165 events were detected. Battery level was at 94%
        • At that rate, the battery may deplete in 1.3 – 1.8 years (!), making Eufy’s claim of a 12-month charge very plausible
  • Solar panel add-on support for limitless power
• 140-degree FOV (4% more than the other cameras tested in this article)

• Cameras can be magnetically mounted
  • Additional eufyCam 2 Pro or 2C Pros can be added for pairing with the Eufy HomeBase
• Privacy Zones to blacks out up to 2 areas from both motion detection and video recording
• Record to Eufy Cloud, Eufy HomeBase (hub), or remote storage (like NAS)
  • HomeBase 2 has 16GB of encrypted storage available and is shared between all linked cameras
    • HomeBase also strengthens an existing WiFi signal so distant cameras up to 300′ (91m) away can still reach the Internet
      • Various factors do affect the effectiveness of that feature, such as quality of the existing WiFi signal, walls, microwave, 2.4 GHz handheld phones, and more
      • A better way to provide strong WiFi throughout the whole house is through a dedicated mesh WiFi system, such as the Linksys Velop or the Amazon eero Pro
  • Cameras continue to record to HomeBase even when Internet is down (as long as WiFi works)
  • No local, on-device storage ensures that if camera is stolen, no recording is lost (they are stored on the HomeBase)
• Anti-theft feature to sound a 90dB alarm from both the camera and HomeBase when moved
• IP67 water resistance rating: Protection against dust, rain, and snow. Can be submersed in 1m (3.3′) freshwater for up to 30 mins
• Night vision: Infrared black and white only
• Less expensive than solar-powered SoloCam S40, but more than standalone SoloCam E40

Cons – EufyCam 2 Pro

• Cannot operate independently. Requires Eufy HomeBase / HomeBase 2 to store its recordings on via WiFi
  • If HomeBase is stolen or fails, recordings for all linked cameras are gone. Be sure to regularly download important videos
• No on-camera storage to record videos on in case the WiFi connection to HomeBase is severed and/or power to the house is interrupted (by events like a snow storm)
  • HomeBase 2 does have a backup battery add-on to help ensure the cameras can still communicate with it for up to 8 hours
• No LED Spotlight
  • Night vision is only in infrared black and white
  • No visual flashing to accompany the 90dB audio alarm
  • eufyCam 2C Pro model has a small spotlight built-in, but has a few disadvantages against the eufyCam 2 Pro, including a smaller, 135-degree field-of-view, shorter battery life, and no anti-theft detection

The eufyCam 2 Pro with HomeBase 2 makes for a compelling option with its very long battery life, centralized recording to the HomeBase hub, and wider field-of-view than the other cameras reviewed here. The HomeBase also helps ensure that all video recordings are safe when any of the cameras fail or are stolen. However, dependence on it can also be detrimental: if a prolonged power outage depletes the HomeBase’s backup battery or the HomeBase becomes inaccessible in any other way, the cameras will no longer be able to store videos for that time period. As such, any HomeBase-linked system would not be suited where surveillance is critical and/or prolonged power outages may occur without a backup battery or generator available.

Let’s also go over and summarize the specifics of the HomeBase 2.

Pros – HomeBase 2

HomeBase 2 + Backup Battery

• Centralized storage for linked cameras
  • 16GB of encrypted storage and shared between all paired cameras
    • Eufy originally had plans to make 128GB available via a USB dongle, but appears to have scrapped that option
  • If any camera malfunctions or is stolen, its recordings are not lost as they are stored on the HomeBase
• Cameras continue to record to HomeBase even when Internet is down (as long as WiFi works)
• Can strengthen an existing WiFi signal so distant cameras up to 300′ (91m) away can still reach the Internet
  • Various factors do affect the effectiveness of that feature, such as quality of the existing WiFi signal, walls, microwave, 2.4 GHz handheld phones, and more
  • Multiple HomeBase 2’s can be used to provide stronger WiFi for the cameras closest to each one
  • Note: A better way to provide strong WiFi throughout the whole house is through a dedicated mesh WiFi system, such as the Linksys Velop or the Amazon eero Pro

• Anti-theft feature to sound a 90dB alarm from both the camera and HomeBase when moved
• Can be connected to the router via wired Ethernet or WiFi
  • Automatically switches between both connectivity options as needed — to some extent
• Up to 16 cameras and 16 sensors can be paired with each HomeBase 2
• Works with eufyCam 2/ 2C/ 2 Pro/ 2C Pro/ Battery Video Doorbell 2K/ Alarm Kit
• Backup Battery add-on available to keep it powered for up to 8 hours during a power outage

Cons – HomeBase 2

• Takes up a wired Ethernet port on your router
  • Can be switched to WiFi after the initial configuration
• While power is out, linked cameras cannot be viewed live nor can they store any recording
• While HomeBase malfunctions (ie. needs a manual reboot), linked cameras cannot be viewed live, but recordings may still be stored
• Guests may inadvertently think it is the internet router and mess with it. HomeBase should be locked up (also helps keep the recordings safe)
• Eufy originally had plans to make 128GB of storage available via a USB dongle, but appears to have scrapped that option

Although the HomeBase provides a nice number of features and conveniences, it also would not be suitable for environments where surveillance is critical and/or prolonged power outages may occur without a backup battery or generator available.

Backup Battery for HomeBase 2

The Backup Battery keeps the HomeBase 2 running for up to 8 hours during a power outage. This helps ensure the linked cameras can still send their surveillance videos to it for storage. Pairing the battery with the HomeBase is very simple.

Solar Panel T8700

Panel mounted in shade (not optimal)

Eufy provides an optional solar panel for use with specific camera models to minimize the need for manual charging.

Pros

• Easy installation
• Weatherproof wiring seals for eufyCam 1, 2, 2 Pro, 2C, 2C Pro, E, and Solo series cameras
• Long cable (13′ / 4m)
• Panel rotates to any angle
• Despite our less-than-optimal installation under the upper deck’s shade, it kept our eufyCam 2 Pro’s battery level at 85%
  • We plan to mount it to a DIY-extension pipe so it gets more sun exposure

Solar Panel’s small output is meant to keep battery level topped off and not to fully charge from empty.

Cons

• Only generates up to 2.6W — in practice, that would translate to no more than 2.08W of solar output
• Takes a VERY long time to fully charge a camera
  • Panel is not meant to charge from empty, but to top off the battery
• Only works with specific camera models

Final Thoughts

After having used Kuna, Yi, and Canary cameras for nearly a decade, Yi was our preferred choice for our security needs because it did not require any cloud subscription — the size of your microSD card dictated how far back you could keep recordings for. However, the company’s outdoor offerings is nearly non-existent in the USA, and that prompted us to try the Eufy surveillance system upon my youngest brother’s suggestion. No monthly fees, reasonable cloud subscription pricing, and a large variety of camera and storage options from a company owned by well-respected Anker certainly looked very enticing.

• SoloCam S40 impressed me with its always-full battery life thanks to its built-in solar panel, generous battery capacity, and LED spotlight. Disappointingly, it did not support Eufy Cloud or NAS, though Eufy HomeBase integration was in the works that may also unlock the aforementioned storage options.
• SoloCam E40, on the other hand, fell short with its 50% smaller battery and lack of LED spotlight, but made up for it with support for an add-on Solar panel and lowest pricing. Like the S40, I expect it to offer Eufy Cloud and NAS support once HomeBase integration is available.
• EufyCam 2 Pro offered the most capabilities with a surprisingly long battery life, larger field-of-view, magnetic mount, and support for Eufy Cloud, NAS, and HomeBase/ HomeBase 2. It did, however, lack an LED spotlight that its EufyCam 2C Pro sibling possesses. As much as the HomeBase has advantages, any camera dependent on that central hub is exactly that: dependent on it to be operational. You would have to weigh the strengths and weaknesses against how you intend to surveil your environment. The Backup Battery is a MUST for the HomeBase 2 so the cameras can keep sending the recordings for up to 8 hours.
• Solar Panel T8700 helped keep the camera’s battery level constant despite being under less-than-optimal shade. I expect it to top off the charge once moved into full sun.

Overall, the Eufy video surveillance ecosystem offers a large selection of devices and integrations for whole-house security and conveniences suitable for primary and secondary homes, including vacation rentals like AirBnB, HomeAway, and Vrbo. They work well together as a whole, and installation could not be easier with detailed, step-by-step guides through the EufySecurity app. I was quite impressed with the amount of education and optimization tips offered throughout the setup process. The cameras looked professional, offered better-than-expected video quality, though night vision images of human faces were not quite good at greater distances. They were tack-sharp when closer to the devices, however.

I was also impressed by the flexibility offered by the Motion Detection and Privacy Zones that left the Kuna, Yi, and Canary behind in the dust. Let us not forget that the cameras can be viewed from anywhere using a web browser at https://mysecurity.eufylife.com.

Built-in Solar Panel – SoloCam S40

The delayed start of motion-detected recordings was my biggest frustration with all of the cameras because that meant missing the seconds prior to the event discovery. It also resulted in gaps between video clips, forcing us to look at other cameras to see if those moments were captured. Critical moments could be missed, and that is NOT good. However, the gaps can be narrowed by configuring the motion detection retrigger interval to be shorter — but at the expense of battery life. That is key: the issues are likely due to the cameras being battery operated and thus not being able to constantly record 24/7 without quickly getting drained. I suspect that their wired models may offer constant recording and pre-buffering since power would no longer be a limitation. So, we may purchase or evaluate the highly-rated Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro in the near future. I do believe that the capture delay could be fixed with a software update, and hopefully, Eufy sees this review and has their engineers look for a solution to make their devices an even more compelling surveillance system. There is no reason I can think of NOT to offer a pre-buffer (and ideally also a post-buffer) for each video clip, if each camera could stay fully charged with a paired Eufy Solar Panel.

Eufy’s artificial intelligence (AI) recognition of human beings also could use more work — birds and passing vehicles do not look like homo sapiens. What I also would like to see the company offer are temperature, humidity, and noise level sensors (and over-threshold notifications) built into their devices to make them perfect for short-term rental properties.

I am hopeful that Eufy will keep improving the same way that Anker produced better and better products based on customer feedback. For now, the three cameras, HomeBase 2, Backup Battery for HomeBase 2, and Solar Panel T8700 sufficiently meet our needs to keep an eye out on our rental property.

Where To Buy

• Eufy Security
  • SoloCam S40 Standalone Solar / SoloCam E40 Standalone
  • Solar Panel for eufyCam Add-On: New or Refurbished
  • eufyCam 2 Pro with HomeBase 2
    • Backup Battery for HomeBase 2 / HomeBase 2 (Standalone) (Also available at Eufy)
    • eufyCam 2 Pro (Add-On) / eufyCam 2C Pro / Other eufyCam
  • Floodlight Cam 2 Pro
• Smart Devices
  • Yale Assure Door Lock / Nest Learning Thermostat
• Mesh WiFi
  • Linksys Velop AC2200 or AX  – See our Review
  • Amazon eero Pro

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