eufyCam 2 Pro
A nice, if minor, upgrade to the original eufyCam 2
$349.99 (Two cameras and HomeBase, exclusive to bestbuy.com) From Anker, eufylife.com Features 2K video recording, 140° field of view, 365–day battery life, IP67 weather resistant
The eufyCam 2 Pro is an upgraded version of last year’s eufyCam 2 and provides enhanced 2K high–definition visuals. The completely wireless camera works in conjunction with the eufy HomeBase 2, which connects to your network and offers local storage without a subscription fee.
The upgraded model also includes most of the same standout features from the eufyCam 2, which is already one of our favorite wireless cameras for HomeKit. These include long– lasting battery life that can reach up to 365 days on a single charge, local image analysis to filter out nuisance notifications, two–way audio, and infrared night vision.
One of the big changes is HomeKit Secure Video support, which allows the camera to utilize Apple’s iCloud storage for recorded video as well as enabling access to home automations with other accessories within the home. The eufyCam 2 Pro will also be compatible with upcoming HomeKit Secure Video features in iOS 14 such as face recognition and activity zones later this year.
As with the eufyCam 2, being completely wireless opens the door to locations that would be tricky to use with traditional cameras, and an IP67 weather resistance rating means it’s safe to use in all weather.
Unlike the eufyCam 2 model, which only supports 1080p, the Pro version has 2K video resolution for both live streaming and recordings, which is impressive. It’s not a dramatic boost in image quality over the older model, since you’re only getting an extra 128
pixels along the vertical (2048x1080p versus 1920x1080p), but it does seem crisper, with distant details, like faces, easier to make out.
To make images even better, eufy employs what it calls “Smart Image Enhancement” technology which uses artificial intelligence to focus in on humans when a motion event occurs. AI also allows for the elimination of false motion alerts by determining what’s in front of the camera’s view, something that other manufacturers charge for as part of their cloud packages.
It’s worth mentioning that although there’s facial detection here, the Pro 2 doesn’t support facial recognition, so the app won’t automatically detect known faces and you’ll still get a motion alert — a shame, but not a deal breaker as this feature will be available in iOS 14, as we mentioned earlier.
As with the standard eufyCam 2, the 2 Pro offers 365–day battery life. Naturally, when you’re recording video at 2K resolution the battery will, in theory, drain more quickly. After a month of testing (624 motion events detected, with 368 of these recorded) with the camera set to optimal battery life, total battery life was down to just 94%, so it’s safe to assume that a year of use before having to charge it up is definitely achievable.
THE BOTTOM LINE. A brilliant outdoor wireless security camera that puts a check mark in nearly all the boxes. But if you have the original eufyCam 2, there’s not much point changing your cameras unless you’re adding more to your existing network. NICK ODANTZIS