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Since they don’t need to be plugged into the wall, battery-powered wireless home security cameras can be put up in more places than mains-powered wireless cameras. But they often need to be taken off to charge, which may not be easy if the camera is high up on your property.
Now, the SoloCam S40 from Eufy, the smart home brand of Anker, aims to make life easy. This version of the company’s SoloCam E40 battery-powered security camera is bigger and heavier. It has an integrated solar panel, which Eufy says needs 2 hours of sunlight a day to keep the camera charged.
Eufy SoloCam S40 specifications
| Specification | Description |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 2K |
| Field of View | 150 degrees |
| Night Vision Range | Up to 40 feet |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 months (with 3 hours of usage per day) |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
| Storage | Local and cloud |
| Operating Temperature | -4°F to 122°F (-20°C to 50°C) |
| AI Detection | Human, pet, and vehicle detection with customizable zones |
Eufy SoloCam S40 review: Design
The Eufy SoloCam S40 really stands out. The smart security camera can stand on its own, so it can be put on any flat surface or screwed into a wall. The 130-degree camera lens is housed in a matte white case with a shiny black front. There is also an LED that lights up when it senses motion or when it is being charged.
The device also has a microphone that lets the user talk to anyone who is in the camera’s line of sight. The solar panel is on top of the camera, and if you need to charge it manually, there is a USB-C port on the back. In our area, this won’t be a problem, though. If, on the other hand, the SoloCam S40 is put somewhere with no sunlight and no shade, it could take up to eight hours to fully charge. You can buy this camera fro its official website
Features & Performance
The camera also has a lot of features that make it less likely to send unwanted messages. On-device AI can tell if a movement was caused by a person or something else, and activity zones make sure that you only get alerts about activity in certain places.
We were surprised by how clear and detailed the recordings made by the Eufy SoloCam S40 were. The flashlight can be set to turn on automatically at night when it senses movement. This means that both daytime and nighttime videos will be in color. The video had a small fish-eye effect, but not enough to make it hard to see the details.
The brightness and tone of the lighting can be changed. It can go from a warm white to a cooler, more stark white. We were unhappy, though, that you couldn’t set the light to stay on for longer, so it could be used to light up the outside of your home like the Arlo Pro 4 does.
Eufy SoloCam S40 review: Video quality
After leaving my Eufy SoloCam S40 outside for a few weeks, we found that we didn’t need to manually charge the battery at all—solar power was enough. Depending on where you point your camera and how much sun it gets, you may get different results.
We took some test videos at different times to see how well the camera worked. The camera can record video at a 2K resolution and has a 130-degree field of view, so it could easily cover most of my yard. During the day, the video is clear and sharp. The Eufy SoloCam S40 isn’t like other cameras that tend to blur out details in the grass or on bricks.
Eufy SoloCam S40 review: Battery life
Eufy says that the 13,400mAh battery can go for up to four months without needing to be charged. But you’ll never have a dead battery if the solar panel gets at least two hours of direct sunshine every day. Since we set up the camera three months ago.
We have never had to charge it. Along with the other features, eufy has added options and information about the battery. With the Power Manager, you can change how sensing and recording work in different modes, which can affect how long the battery lasts.
Eufy SoloCam S40 review: Pricing and availability
The eufy SoloCam S40 went on sale for $199.99 in June 2021. Since it came out, there have been a few sales, with the lowest price being $169.99. The camera only comes in white, and you can find it at places like Amazon, Home Depot, Walmart, and the eufy website for $199.99 or less when you use one of the many coupons that are often available.
Final Words
The eufy camera is a very smart way to keep your home safe. By using AI to recognize people and detect motion, the S40 records what is important and necessary and doesn’t bother you with useless messages. In the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other places in the Middle East where there is a lot of sunlight, you will almost never need to use a cable to charge this camera. The Eufy SoloCam S40 security camera is a great outdoor camera because it can record in 2K and there are no monthly fees.
Eufy SoloCam S40 Ratings
Eufy SoloCam S40 review: the good and the bad
The Good
- Free video storage
- Integrated solar panel
The Bad
- Bulky
FAQS
The S40’s solar panel will only work if it gets at least 2 hours of full sun every day. Only exposing part of the screen won’t work. The best place to use the S40 is in a sunny area that can’t be hardwired, like the back of the yard.
It meets the IP65 standard for weatherproofing, so it should be fine in dust and rain. It also has a rechargeable battery, so you don’t have to worry about running cables to keep it going. Eufy says that a single charge will last up to four months, based on how long the clips are, how often they play, and how clear they are.