ecobee SmartCamera
Ecobee’s first security camera delivers a solid punch
$179 From ecobee, ecobee.com Features 1080p video, night vision, two–way audio, person detection, cloud storage only
The ecobee SmartCamera features a clean design, with a sleek metal stand that allows for vertical adjustments. It can also be mounted to a wall. The camera is for indoor use and doesn’t have an internal battery, so you can’t access it if the power goes out.
Image–wise you get 1080p resolution with a 180° field of view, recording at 30 frames per second, night vision, and two–way audio with an integrated microphone.
It connects directly to a Wi-Fi network without needing a separate hub and has the Alexa voice assistant built-in, which enables voice commands. The SmartCamera also supports HomeKit for streaming live footage on demand through the Home app.
In–app features include digital panning, zooming, and a siren activation option. Image processing is performed on device by an eight–core processor, and can distinguish between humans and pets. It also enables Smart Focus, which tracks activity by panning around to follow people in view.
Setup is quick and painless, and the app is easy to navigate. The live stream fires up instantly and footage is clear and detailed, even at night. Oddly, when you get alerts on your iPhone, there’s no thumbnail preview.
There’s no local storage on device. Instead, footage is encrypted and sent to ecobee’s cloud storage. One month is included, and after that, pricing starts at $5/month for one camera. You get a rolling 14–day timeline of events, and snapshots and videos can be saved to your phone’s storage at any time. It’s not cheap, but we’re told that HomeKit Secure Video — the privacy–centric iCloud storage solution — will be available soon.
THE BOTTOM LINE. A smart and capable, if expensive, security camera. CHRIS CLOSE