Summary
The Wyze Cam v4 review , a cost-effective security camera, is a very effective device. The device exhibits a 2.5K resolution, enhanced color night vision capabilities, and a bigger sensor, resulting in a high-quality picture that is comparable to top-tier home security cameras priced three times more. Additionally, it is equipped with an integrated siren and spotlight.
Wyze Cam v4 review
However, it is important to note that this camera assumes a significant role as the successor to the Wyze Cam v3, which we have identified as the most cost-effective security camera we have evaluated. In our evaluation, we commended the color night vision and affordability of the older camera. Can the improved Wyze Cam surpass its elder sister as the most cost-effective option? Alternatively, may Wyze’s advancements be overshadowed by the proliferation of cost-effective, contemporary indoor and outdoor surveillance cameras, such as the Blink Mini 2, that have emerged in recent years? Continue reading to get knowledge.
Wyze Cam v4 review:: Cost and accessibility
The Wyze Cam v4 was made available for purchase on March 26, 2024, with a price tag of $35.98. This product is more affordable compared to the budget Blink Mini 2 ($39, Amazon) with which it competes. Indeed, the Wyze Cam exhibits superior value due to its enhanced resolution and the inclusion of a weatherproof socket, therefore obviating the need for a separate outside power kit, as is the case with Blink.
Wyze Cam v4 review : Design
Wyze’s renowned 2-inch cube camera undergoes many sophisticated enhancements. The product is now available in two color options: light gray or white, both with a sleek matte finish. This enhances its curved contours for a less rigid and more contemporary appearance. Wyze designed the camera with a body certified IP-65, which ensures its ability to endure high temperatures ranging from -4°F to 122°F, as well as factors like rain.
The front of the Wyze Cam v4 has a prominent lighting, a central camera, status LEDs flanking the camera, and a microphone positioned at the bottom. When the device is inverted, the rear side exhibits a speaker system positioned at the uppermost section, while the previous Micro USB power port protrudes from the central region of its posterior surface. When the accompanying 6-foot power line is connected, there is sufficient flexibility to access a power outlet located behind furniture or on the side of the house. Although the Micro USB communication standard may be less convenient than USB-C, it is not a battery-operated device that requires frequent plugging and unplugging. Therefore, this is not a significant issue. The charging button, MicroSD card connection for local storage, and foldable magnetic base are located on the bottom.
The base of the camera may be extended from its bottom to increase its height whether it is positioned on a shelf or mounted on a wall at an inclined angle. The camera cube has the ability to pivot and rotate, allowing for artistic manipulation of angles and placements. Without any further setup, I have affixed it to magnetic surfaces such as the corner bead of my living room wall or the metal plant container under my awning. I positioned myself in a prime location, elevated over my rear entrance, with a downward orientation, to observe my yard. The Wyze Cam v4 may be easily mounted or positioned in any location, providing a remarkable degree of adaptability that is unparalleled. Naturally, the package also includes conventional mounting hardware. In addition, Wyze offers 3M sticky metal rings that may be conveniently affixed to brick or vinyl siding, facilitating the magnetic mounting of the Wyze Cam v4.
Wyze Cam v4: Enhancing image and audio capabilities
The Wyze Cam v4 surpasses other inexpensive HD cameras with its exceptional 2.5K QHD (2560×1440) quality and remarkable low light capabilities. The sensor is capable of generating a clear and vivid picture in both daytime and nighttime conditions, owing to its advanced color night vision capabilities. The device captures functional video even under intense light exposure, such as sunshine penetrating through the windows of my living room, as seen in the image below. This camera intelligently optimizes the image quality to maintain sharp focus on visual elements such as the leopard pattern in the rug or the persons inside a photo frame.
Budget cameras with lesser resolutions often experience the adverse effects of light fluctuations, resulting in flickering and color balance problems. The primary emphasis of the Wyze Cam v4 is on the immediate foreground rather than the backdrop, therefore mitigating potential issues related to diminished picture quality and the loss of comprehensive details in shadows or highlights. This is seen in the side-by-side comparison below, as the first photo provides a detailed and comprehensive view of the Wyze. By scrolling right, you will see a noticeable disparity between the Blink Mini 2’s worse image quality, which primarily focuses on capturing the trees in the distance while sacrificing clarity of the room’s activities.
Wyze’s 2.5K resolution image is more crisp and has a higher number of pixels compared to the usual 1080p budget camera, resulting in a better picture. This feature enables users to digitally magnify objects such as lettering on a box or t-shirt by up to 8 times, while minimizing pixelation. The distinguishing feature of the Wyze Cam v4 that sets it apart from other affordable cameras is its Smart Focus AI motion tracking capability. This feature is designed to detect, magnify, and track a specific object and is often limited to high-end security cameras. When persons and items were shuffled across the camera’s view, Smart Focus effectively caught them inside a virtual rectangular box with high accuracy. In addition to identifying the topic (person, package, vehicle) for rich alerts, the onboard AI also tracks them throughout the event.
By disabling Smart Focus tracking, you can guarantee that the camera consistently captures a broader perspective without zooming in. However, I was particularly surprised by the camera’s ability to effectively track me in expansive outside areas, as it accentuated intricate features such as my attire and the tattoo on my neck. The Wyze Cam v4 has rapid motion detection capabilities, promptly initiating a notification within a time frame of less than two seconds upon the subject’s entry into the camera’s field of vision. Without subscribing to a premium Wyze plan, users are simply provided with a snapshot indicating the event trigger, and are need to wait for a duration of five minutes before receiving another message. The cooldown interval might be exasperating if you fail to get the first message, since several events can transpire during that duration.
Wyze demonstrates a commendable level of generosity, since the camera offers the capability to save local videos on a MicroSD card without necessitating a monthly fee. The intermittent stutter or delay in recordings may be attributed to the device’s low frame rates and absence of 5GHz WiFi capability. Although the Wyze Cam v4 does not achieve the highest level of smoothness in professional security camera video, it consistently performs well over 90 percent of the time, despite being far more affordable.
This camera effectively detects motion events in low-light conditions throughout the nighttime and produces a satisfactory infrared image. The built-in 72-lumen spotlight was used to provide a brilliant white light, so illuminating the porch from a distance of seven feet. The light facilitates vibrant night vision, capturing intricate images with realistic shades, particularly evident in my red shoes or the green illumination from my neighbor’s residence in the aforementioned video. The color reproduction of this camera is comparable to that of professional HDR-equipped models I have evaluated, exhibiting a wide range of shades in the green and yellow tones seen in grass, as well as the brown tones derived from leaves in my front yard.
The Wyze Cam v4 excels in audio quality, producing good sound even when positioned horizontally against a wall. The speech and sounds, including the barking of a dog, seem genuine but are somewhat compressed on playback. This is done to eliminate background noise such as wind or passing automobiles. One may readily perceive auditory communication in a bilateral audio chat or decipher the content of recorded conversations.
Wyze Cam v4 review: Application
The Wyze app has a simplified interface that consolidates all of your cameras, recorded video, and comprehensive settings into a one location. No intrusive suggestions or advertisements for new items appear between your devices or controls. Upon accessing the “Home” menu, users are presented with a live thumbnail showcasing the many Wyze devices they own. A dedicated button portion is positioned at the top of the device, allowing users to activate their cameras by just pressing a “I’m away” indicator. Adjacent to these pre-established configurations are advantageous recommendations that promote the exploration of interconnecting smart home equipment, such as activating intelligent lighting systems upon motion detection by a designated camera or upon the arrival of your mobile device at the residence.
By selecting the camera thumbnail, users may promptly access the live stream of the camera. From this location, users have the ability to manipulate the spotlight, microphone, siren, or capture records using various buttons. To access more sophisticated functionalities, use the settings cog. This include activities such as documenting changes in resolution, establishing areas for detecting motion, or configuring sound triggers to alert for C02 or fire alarms, or even the sound of a baby crying.
Establishing a detection zone is as simple as touching on certain locations on a grid with several points. The absence of drawing or stretching forms facilitates precise selection of the desired region for coverage. At the bottom, there are tabs that lead to the Events area. This part categorizes various events based on their category, such as person, package, vehicle (membership required), or the device that caused them.
Review of Wyze Cam v4: Smart house
Wyze seamlessly integrates with Alexa and Google Home, plus also provides the added flexibility of IFTT customization. This is due to its status as an independent firm, unlike Ring, Blink, or Nest, which are supported by Amazon. The video stream and controls of the device may be conveniently accessible via various smart speakers, smart displays, and preferred web browsers. While its universality is advantageous, it does not provide access to some platform-specific integration capabilities. As an example, Ring cameras possess the capability to autonomously initiate a video stream on either an Echo Show smart display or an Amazon Fire TV upon the activation of the doorbell.
Both the Echo Show 15 and Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen) were connected to the same 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network, and the Wyze device was used for this purpose. The announcement of motion events and loading of video feeds on both of these smart displays were executed promptly, without any apparent advantage seen on either device.
Subscription costs for Wyze Cam v4
The Cam v4’s sophisticated subject recognition capability and cloud video storage are restricted to a subscription, similar to other security cameras. The pricing for Cam Plus begins at $2.99 per month, allowing for the storage of 14 days’ worth of rolling film in the cloud. For a monthly fee of $3.99 per camera, you have the option to upgrade to Cam Protect. This upgrade includes Facial Recognition, allowing you to identify faces and get alerts on the individuals that activated the camera. Additionally, this higher-tier plan has the capability to activate your camera as an alarm system, accompanied by round-the-clock monitoring services. In the case that motion is activated while in possession of a weapon, the siren will sound and the camera will transmit a recording of the incident to a live agent who may promptly contact emergency services on your behalf, even if you are not connected to your phone.
Video may be stored on the camera itself via the utilization of a MicroSD card, obviating the need for an additional module or USB thumb drive. This alternative is more cost-effective since it eliminates the need for payment in order to view the clips. Nevertheless, access to valuable functionalities such as rich alerts remains inaccessible until a payment is made.
The verdict of Wyze Cam v4
Some security cameras may provide more seamless interaction with smart-home screens or provide video without any interruptions. Additionally, they are much more expensive than the Wyze Cam v4. This security camera surpasses its physical dimensions to provide advanced monitoring and security capabilities inside a single unit.
The Wyze Cam v4 surpasses all affordable cameras in terms of both visual and auditory quality. Identifying flaws would need meticulous attention, particularly considering the price of $35. The Wyze cam v4’s 2.5K resolution quality and exceptional color night vision make it a commendable upgrade, especially for those who own a more outdated and costlier security camera from established brands such as Arlo or Ring. This security camera is considered one of the top choices due to its versatility in placement, high-quality hardware, extensive range of features, and compatibility with many smart home systems.
