Review: EufyCam S3 Pro
2-Cam Kit – A Security camera Eu’ll want to tell the world about!

Eufy has been operating in the home security and smart home appliance market for some time. Launched in 2016, it’s backed by a larger company – Anker Innovations.

While other manufacturers have adopted a subscription-based cloud storage option, Eufy emphasises local storage and privacy. Eufy’s competitive pricing has contributed to its rapid growth and popularity with security cameras for every budget. Today, we shall be examining the EufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit. This kit also comes in three and four camera variations.

It’s quite pertinent that I am reviewing a security camera today as I have recently had an unpleasant experience of a burglary incident. We hear about these things happening to other people but never think it could happen closer to home. Fortunately, on this occasion, nobody was harmed, but it is shocking to know that some individuals have no qualms about invading another’s house and taking whatever they want with force.

The EufyCam S3 Pro: What is it?

The EufyCam S3 Pro (2-Cam Kit) is a feature-packed wireless security camera system that offers some advanced features with a strong focus on user privacy. Doing away with mandatory cloud subscriptions and favouring local storage, the S3 Pro aims to provide a comprehensive home security solution without the drawbacks of ongoing storage costs.

What’s in the Box?

The EufyCam S3 Pro 2-Cam Kit typically includes:

•  Two EufyCam S3 Pro cameras

•  HomeBase 3 (the system’s hub)

•  Mounting brackets and screws

•  Charging & connection cables

•  User manuals

Key Features

A glance over the packaging gives a clear indication of the impressive capabilities of these cameras. These include the following:

4K UHD Resolution: This captures sharp, detailed footage, allowing for clear identification of people and objects. Other home security cameras only offer 2K resolution, which is fine, but as 4K captures more detail, this enables the user to zoom in closer on the footage when reviewing recordings (something that could prove vital if circumstances require this).

It should be mentioned that while the cameras are ready 24/7, they are not constantly recording. The recording is activated by an event. Either a person, animal or vehicle entering a predetermined zone will trigger a recording of a 20-second clip. If the user requires a more frequent shot of the location, the accompanying app can be programmed to take a snapshot at regular intervals throughout the day and/ or night. This avoids recording unnecessary footage and clogging up storage space.

Colour Night Vision: Once the preserve of security forces, night vision utilises a highly sensitive sensor along with a wide aperture to provide colour images even in low-light conditions. Lots of security cameras have night vision capabilities but the quality of the EufyCam S3 Pro stands head & shoulders above anything I’ve seen. The quality of the night vision footage is superb even with minimum light. It’s virtually as good as daylight footage even with the spotlight switched off. If you do have the spotlight switched on, its adaptive nature ensures the image remains clear and not overexposed. There is also Infra Red (IR) mode, which is great for locations where there is no light at all.

Integrated Solar Panel: The top surface of the camera body is a solar panel. This helps maintain battery charge, reducing the need for manual recharging. In fact, the camera only requires a reported hour of sunlight per day to keep it charged for over a year! This is important to me as I live in the UK which is infamously reputed to be bereft of prolonged sunshine for most of the year. However, I think it’s important to distinguish sunshine from daylight. I found that the camera was able to perform at its peak even when it was installed in a shaded area, out of direct sunlight. For added reassurance though, the camera is equipped with a USB-C port which can be used for charging the integrated 13,000 mAh battery. For even more reassurance, the kit also includes a separate solar panel which measures approximately twice the size of the panel on top of the camera. The convenience of this is the solar panel can be positioned in a sunny area while connected to the camera with the long USB charging cable (also included).

Dual Motion Detection: This is the clever bit! The underside of the camera is home to the radar and PIR sensors. This feature minimises false alerts.

AI-Powered Person and Vehicle Detection: Intelligently identifies and records relevant events.

Facial Recognition: Allows you to create a database of known faces and receive specific alerts. After some initial hiccups, the AI can be trained to recognise familiar faces and learn not to send an alert. This could be especially useful in a business environment where you may have a constant flow of individuals coming and going through an area. However, as the camera was positioned above me, it took a few attempts to recognise me as a “safe individual” as I was wearing a hooded top at the time.

Local Storage: Stores recordings on the HomeBase 3 which acts as a hub for the camera setup. It ensures privacy and eliminates subscription fees. With an integrated storage capacity of 16GB, you won’t find yourself scrambling to find SD cards to store footage on. The HomeBase 3 is cleverly designed to allow the user to insert a 16TB storage drive. In the eventuality that users need to download any footage, they can simply insert a portable USB flash drive into one of the two USB-C ports located at the back of the HomeBase 3. As it records 20 seconds of footage at a time, I can’t say how much footage can be stored on a 16TB drive (a very long time I presume.)

Two-Way Audio: Enables communication with visitors or deterring potential intruders. I found the audio quality to be very good with an impressive range of over 25ft. If users need to utilise the siren, the camera can produce an ear drum-piercing 105dB. If you find this too loud, it’s good to know that you have the option to adjust the volume in the app.

Weatherproof Design: Built to withstand a variety of weather conditions. The EufyCam S3 Pro has been built with IP67 weatherproofing which ensures protection from airborne particulates (dust/ sand) and rain, as well as extreme temperatures.

Pros

Exceptional Image Quality: The 4K resolution and advanced lens produce stunningly clear and detailed footage, both day and night. Color night vision powered by MaxColor Vision™ technology is a standout feature, providing a very noticeable advantage over traditionally grainy infrared night vision cameras.

Truly Wireless and Simple Installation: The wireless connectivity makes installation a breeze although I needed an ethernet cable during initial setup. Once the app is downloaded, the user is guided through the installation and connectivity process with verbal commands that are simple to follow. The included mounting brackets of which there are three – two for the cameras and one for the solar panel, offer a lot of flexibility to the user.

No Monthly Fees: Local storage is a major selling point, saving users from ongoing subscription costs and the all-to-common data breaches we hear about. The recordings are stored on the internal 16GB hard drive located inside the HomeBase 3 and not, as you might expect, on SD cards installed in the cameras. This ensures that should the cameras ever be stolen, the footage will always remain with user.

Intelligent AI Features: Although very clever, AI has become prolific over recent times mainly for producing pointless memes. The EufyCam S3 Pro harnesses the technology more productively. Person, vehicle and facial recognition worked surprisingly well in my tests bar a couple of false warnings.

Solar Charging: The integrated solar panel is a definite plus. Effective at maintaining battery charge in often challenging weather conditions, this further reduces the unenviable task of recharging batteries.

Smart integration: Although I haven’t specifically tested this, it boasts seamless integration with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control and remote access.

Weather resistance: The cameras provide IP67 protection and maintained unhindered monitoring even in unpredictable, UK temperatures.

Cons (I’ve struggled to think of these)

Price: Currently priced at $549, the EufyCam S3 Pro 2 Camera Kit is a top-end product with a higher price tag than some of its rivals but in my opinion, you do get so much more for your money.

HomeBase 3 Placement: The HomeBase 3 requires a wired Ethernet connection to your router for initial setup. This may limit its placement options.

Occasional AI Inaccuracies: While generally I found this to be reliable, the AI features are not 100% perfect and may occasionally misidentify objects or trigger false alerts. As this is AI, it may take a few attempts for it to learn from its mistakes!

Need to temporarily switch to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi: This is a common requirement for the initial setup of many devices. My Amazon Eero is dual-band. This allows me to switch from 5 Ghz to 2.4GHz as and when needed.

No continuous recording: The cameras only record when motion is detected, which may result in some missed events. It would be nice to be able to record continuously for long periods and have the option to automatically erase old, unnecessary footage.

Summing up

The EufyCam S3 Pro delivers a premium user experience with its high-quality video, intelligent features, and ease of use. The setup process is welcomingly straightforward, and the Eufy Security app is intuitive and well-designed. Navigating through settings, viewing live feeds, and reviewing recorded footage is simple and efficient.

The cameras excel in both daytime and nighttime recording. The 4K resolution crucially captures fine details. The MaxColor Vision™ night vision is a real game-changer. It provides much more useful information than the traditional grainy pictures we have all become accustomed to seeing.

While the price may initially seem prohibitive, the S3 Pro delivers excellent value for those who prioritise image quality, privacy, and the advanced features I’ve mentioned.

More information and cost

As I mentioned earlier, the 2-Cam kit is currently available for $549. If my review has piqued your interest, check out the camera at https://www.eufy.com where you will find further details including the various bundles available.