4G/Solar Powered Camera Shootout - Eufy, Hikvision, Reconeyez, and Vosker
4G/Solar Camera kits can be deployed quickly and at a far lower cost than custom-designed systems, but how well do they work, and what shortcomings do they have?
To see who stands out, we bought and tested 6 4G/Solar Powered Camera Kits, including:
- Eufy 4G Starlight
- Hikvision's 4G Solar-Powered Camera (See Original Test)
- Reconeyez Detector (See Original Test)
- Vosker V150, V200, and V300 (See Original Test)
In this report, we analyze performance across major criteria, including:
- Pricing
- Physical Differences
- Specific Issues Encountered
- Configuration Differences
- Mobile Apps
- Dashboards
- Full Light (~180 Lux) Image Quality
- Color Low Light (~1 Lux) Image Quality
- Dark (<0.1 Lux) Image Quality
- Analytics Performance
- Country Of Origin
Readers should also see our other recent shootouts:
- Vape Detector Shootout
- Network Switch Shootout
- White Light Camera Shootout
- Repositionable Multi-Imager Camera Shootout
Executive *******
*** **/***** ******* ****** *** ***** own ********** ****** *** *********** ***** during *******, ******** ** *** '******' section *****.
*** ** *** **** ******* ********, we ******* **** ********'* *********** ************ and ******* *** '****' *** ' Worst' ****** **** ********:
- **** ***** ******* *******:*** ********* ** ***** ****** ******** the **** ***** ******* ** *** scenes ******, ********* *** **** ****** on *** ******* *** *****.
- **** ********** ** ***********: *** **** ** ********* ****** provided *** ****-********** ** *********** ** motion *** *********** ******** ****** ~**', completely ********* ******* ****** ***** *** Vosker **** ******** **** ****** ** subject *** ***** ** ********** ** scenes **** ***********.
- **** ****** *********:*** ****** ******* ****** *** *** best ******, *******, *** ****** ********* and ******** ***** ******** ** ****** sources **** ** **** *******, *******, and ***** *******.
- **** *************:*** ********* ** ****** ******** *** best ****-****** ************, ********* ***-******* **** streaming, ********* ~*-* ******* *** *** Hik-Connect ****** *** ****** *******.
- ***** ***** ***********: *** **** ** Starlight's ***** ***** *** * ~**.*' long *****, ***** ******* *** ***** panel ** ** ******* **** **** the ******, *** *** ***** ***** can ** '*****,' ***** ***********' ****** are *****, ** **** ****** ********* to *** ******.
- ***** *** ********* ******:*** ****** ****** ******** *** **** PIR ********* *******, ********* ****** ** ~95-100' *** ******** ** ** ~***' consistently. *** ***** ******* ********** ****** subjects ** ** **-**', *** ********* detected ******** ************ ** ** ~**'.
***********, *** '*****' ****** *** **** criteria, ***** **** ***** ******* **********:
- ************ **********:***** *** **** ** ********* ****** has * ********* *** **********, *** actual ********** **************** ******** ************; ****** *******, *** max ********** ******** *** ***, *** most ********, *** ********** ******** ** 1MP (**% ********** ********) *** ** weak ******** ******.
- ***** ******* ***** *******: *** ****** **** ******** *** worst ******* ***** *******, ** *** camera *** ******** ****** ***** ***** not ** ********, ***** ******** ******* and ***** ******* ** *** ***** quality *******.
- **** ***** ***** ************:*** ********* ****** *** * ****/****** white ***** ************; ******* ** ~**' in *** ****** *** *** ******* but **** *** ** *****, ***** details ** *** ************ **** *** further ******** ** **** ************ *** noise.
- ***** ***** ***** ***** *******:*** **** ****** *** * ******** and **** **** ************ **** *** Hikvision *** ******** ****** ***** ******* overall *** ** *****, **** ***** fidelity, *** ********* **********.
- ***** ****** *********:*** **** ** ********* ****** **** provides ****** *********, *** ****** *******, detection ** ****** *** ********** ** to ~**'. ***** *** ********* **** limited, *** ******* ****** ******** ****** false ***** *******.
- **** **** ****** *******:*** **** ** ***** ****** *** severely ****-******* **** ********* ** ** ~60 ******* *** ** * **** cellular ******. *** ****** **** *** high-latency **** ********* (********* ** ******* or ****).
- ***** ***** ******: *** ****** ****** ******* **** solar ****** ***** ******** ** *** of *** ***** *** ****** ** repositioned ** ***** ** ******** ***** charging ******* ******** *** *** ** Area ** ********, ******* *** ***** devices *** ** ********** **********.
- ********* ************: *** ********* *** ****** **.* pounds, *** *** ******** ***** ***** is ****** **" ****, ****** *** kit ********* ** ******* *** *** person.
- ***** ******* **** / ***** ********:*** ****** **** ** *** **** camera **** *** *** ******** ********** operation, ** *** ***** ***** *** not ******* ***** ******, *** ****** operated *** * **** ** ***** winter ********** **** ~***-*** ****** *** day.
Key *********** ******* ********
- ******* **** / ********** *********:*** *** *********** ******* ********* ******* life *** ********** ********* **** *** well *** ******* ********** ******* ****, how **** *** ***** ****** ******* the ******* ** *** ****** **** impacted ********** **********.
- Cellular ********** ***********: *** *** *********** ******* **** ****** the ******* *** ** ******* *********** vary ******, **** ********* **********, ********* latency, ** **** ** ******** ******* in ****** *****, ** **** ********* are ******* ** * ****** ******** provider.
- **** ***** *********** (~******):*** *** *********** ******* ********* **** light *********** **** ***** ********, *********, and ****** ** *** ******* *** chart.
- Integrated ** ***** ******* & ************: *** *** *********** ********* *** integrated ** ***** ******* **** ********, motion ****, ****** ******** *** ** hotspots, *** ******** ** ************
- Color *** ***** *********** (~*Lux): The key performance factors impacting low light performance were overexposure, noise, subject/chart detail, ghosting, and color fidelity.
- ***** ***** ***** ******* & ************:*** *** *********** ******* ********* ***** light ***** ******* *** ************ **** evenness ** ************, ****** *******, ********, motion ******, *****, *** ****** ****. Color ******** ******** ******** *** ** a ****** ******.
- Monitoring, **********, *** *************: *** *** ******* ********* ************* *** management **** *** **** ** *********** and ******** ******* ** ***** ********** interfaces *** ********** ******** **** ******* usability *** ** **********, **** ** live *********, **** *************, ***.
Pricing **********
*** ******* ** ********, **** *****, and ******* **** **** ****** ********. Here ** * ********* ** *******:
Physical ********
*** ******** *************** ** *** ****** kits **** ******; *** **** ******* is *** ********* ** ****** ** the ******* *** ******** *******, **** a ~**" ***** *****, *** **** complete, ****** ~**.* ***. ************, *** Reconeyez ********* ******* * ****** ** communicate **** *** ********* ******, ******* other ********* ****** ** ***. ***** is * ***** ******* ******* *** physical *********** ** *** ******* ******.
Manufacturer *********** *********
** *** ******** *****, ** ******* a ***** ******* ** *** ******* performance ** **** ************. ************, ** there *** ******** ******, *** ***** like ** *** ***** ** **** we **** ******, *************@****.***** ******* *****.
Eufy *********** *******
***** *** **** ** ********* ****** was *** ***** ********* ****** ****** (~$250 ***), ** *** *** **** model ********* ********** ** *** ***** light ************. ***********, *** **** ** Starlight ****** *** ******* ****** ***** made ** ******** *******, ********* ********* resolution ** *** (**% ********) *** high **** ****** ******* ** ** to ~** ******* *** ** **** cellular ******. ******, ****'* ****** ********* is ******* ** ****** *********, ******* Reconeyez *** ****** ***** ******* *********.
Hikvision *********** *******
***** *** ********* ** ***** ****** outperformed *** ******* ****** ** ***** quality, ** *** *** **** ********* camera ****** (~$*,*** ***), ********* *** most ******* ** *** ******* *** chart ** *** ****** ******. *******, the ********* *** **** ******* ****** detection *** *** *** ******** / most ********* ****** ** ******* (******** ~18.8 ***.). ******* ************* ****** **** encountered, ******* *** ****** ** ** reset ~*-* ***** ****** ******* *************.
****: ********* **** ****** * ** model, ***** ****** "********" (****** *** Vehicle *********) *** *** *** ******** at *** **** ** *******.
Reconeyez *********** *******
***** *** ********* ******** ******** ***** object *********, ** ** ******* *** to ** ***** ************ ** ****** apps, ********* *********** **** *** ***** monitoring ******, ** *** ********* **** not ********** **** ****-**********; *******, *** commercial *** ** *****-***** ***********, ***-***** monitoring *** ***** ******. ***********, *** initial ************* *** ******** ******** ********* were ************* ********** ******** ** *********** (detailed *****).
*** ********* ******** ** *** **** device **** *** ******** *******, * 1MP ***** ****** *** * *** day ******.
Vosker *********** *******
***** ******'* ********* ********* *** **** overall, *** ******* ******** ******** ******** (detailed *****). *** **** ** ******* to ******, ***** *** **** *** V300 ***** ***** ************; *******, **** streaming ** ********* ($**/** *******) *** is **** ********* ** *** **** model. *** ****** ****** *** *********** easy ****-********** ** ******, ****** ***** were ****** **** **** *********.
Manufacturer ****** ********
*** ******* ****** *********** ****** ****** testing, ****** *** ****** ****** *************. In *** ******* *****, ** ******* brief ************ ** *** ****** *********** during *******.
Eufy's ********** & **** ****** ******* ******
***** *** **** ** ********* ****** markets '** **********' (***), ****** *******, we ***** **** *** ********** ****** depending ** ******** ******* ********. *** max ********** ******** ****** ******* *** 2MP, ****** *** **** ****** ********** provided *** *** (**% ********** ********). Furthermore, ***** ** ** ********** ** what ********** ** ******** ** *** camera. **** ********* ** **** *****, stating:
***, *'** ********* **** **** ** true. *** ***** ******* ****** ********* on *** ******* ******, *** ** might ******** *** ** **** ******** coverage ** ** *** ********** ** weak
*** **** ** ********* **** *** significantly **** **** ****** *******, ** to ~** ******* ****** *******, ****** most ******** *** ~**-** *******, *** to **** ******** ************.
Hikvision ************* ******
****** *** ******* ************* ** *** Hikvision ** ******, ***** **** ****** connecting *** ****** ** ********** *** cellular ************. *** ****** **** **** PIR ****** ******, ************ ***** ***** connected *** ********. **** ******** ** to ***** *** ****** (~*-* *****) and **** *****-****-**** ******* *****.
Reconeyez ************ & ******** ****** ******
*** ********* ********* **** * *********** mounting ****** ** *.*'; ** **** height, ********* *** ** ****** ******** with, *** ****** *******, **** ******* at ********* *******, ********* *********** *********.
***********, *** ******* ************* *** ******** update ******* ** *** ********* ******* was * ********** *******, ***** ********* of *** *********:
- ****** ** ******* ******.
- ******** *** ********* ***** *********** **** from *** ********* *******, ** **** application ** * *** ***** *** and ** *** ********* ** *** Play *****.
- ******** **** ******'* ****** ******** ****, and **** **** ** *** *******.
- ********** ** ************* *** **** ********* support.
- ******* **** ******* ****** ** *** computer *** ****** *** *** ***** to *** ******* ******.
- ******* ** *** ********* **** *** Connecting *** ********* ** *** ******* device (*** ********** ***** ********** **** or **** *******).
- ********* *** **** *********** *** ***** to **** ******** ******.
********* **** **** ******* ** ********* done ** ***** *********** ** ******** who *** **** ** **, ** we *** *** ******* ***-***** ****** such ********* ** ******** **** *******.
Vosker */* - **** ****** - **** ******* ****** - ***** ***** ***********
*** ****** ******* **** *** ********** IR *** **** ******; *******, *** V200/300 ******* ***** ******* ********** ********, even ** ****-*** ****** ***** *** levels **** ~******+.
*** **** ****** ** *** **** Vosker ****** **** ****-****** ************. *******, latency *** ********* ** ******* ** more, *** *** **** ****** ***** fail **********. ************, *** ****'* ****** appear *** ** ***** *** ****** be *********, ***** ******** **** ******* on ******** *** ******. ****** ****** this **** ** ********* **** * FW ******, ******** ** ** ****.
***********, *** ****** ***** ****** *** affixed ** *** *** ** **** device *** ****** ** ***** ** optimize *** ***** *****'* ********. ******, The ****** **** ****** ***** ***** did *** ******* ********** *********, *** this ****** *** *** **** ****** that **** ****** *******.
Battery/Solar ********* ********
**** *** **** ~*-* ***** ** testing, **** ***** ****** *** ******* to **** ********, **** ****** ******* to ******* *********** ** ** **** encountering ******* ~***-*** ****** * ***, cold ************, ****, ****, *** ***** days (~*-* ***** ** ********).
****** *******, *** ****** **** *** the **** ****** **** ********** ****, while *** ***** ******* ******** ***** ~65-70% ** *** ******** ******* ****.
*** **** *** *** **** ******* remained ***** **% *** ********** ***** recharge ~**-**% ********** *** ***, ********* to ~**-**%. *** *** **** *** V200 ******, ***** **** ** ****** sustaining ********** ********* ***** *** ***** panels ** ***** ****** **********.
*** **** ** ********* ****** ******** above ~**% *** ***** ******** ~**-**% during *** ***, ********** ********** ********* using *** ***** ***** ** ***** winter **********. *******, *** ******* *********** increases ************* ***** *** ****** ** live-streamed.
*** ********* ** ***** ****** ******** above **%, ******** ********* ** **** battery ******** ****** *** ***; *******, there **** ** ****** **** ********** operation ** ***** ****** **********.
*** ********* ******** ******** ***** ~**% without ***** ***** **********, ********** ********** operation ** ***** ****** **********. ******, the ********* ********* *** ********* *** ~50,000 ****** ******* ********.
Cellular ******* ***********
*** ******* ****** ******* ** ** mobile ********, *** *** ******** ****** has ********* ******* ** ***********, *** most ******** ********* ******** ***** *** live ****** *******.
*** **** ** ********* ****** ******** on **&*; ****** *******, ***** **** many ****** **** *** **&* ****** in *** ****** ****, ***** ********* resolution ** ** **% *** ********* live ***** ******* (** ** ~** seconds). *** **** *** *** * supplied ***; * **** **** ****** an ******* ** ******** ****.
*** ********* ** ***** ****** *** tested ***** *** *-****** ******** *******, the ****** ** *** **** ** testing *** ********* *****; *******, **** the ****** *** *** "******," ******* would ******** ******** ** ~*-* ******* (~5-6 ******* *******) ***** ** ***** competitively ******** ** ***** ********* ******. A **** **** ******** * ****-**** SIM *** **** ****, ** *** is *** ***-******** **** *** ********* 4G ***** ******.
*** ********* ******** ******** ** *-****** networks, ****** ********* ******** * *** with *** ******** ** *** *******. We *** *** ********* ******* ****** with *-****** ** *** ******* ****. However, ***** ** * ***** ** the ****-********** ****** ***** ***** ********* in *** ********* ***** ******, ***** typically ****** **** ~**-** ******* ** the ****** *** ********* **** *** Reconeyez ***** ******.
*** ****** ******* ******* ** ******* or ********** ******** ** *** **. During *******, *** ****** *** ********* strong, ********* ** ** ***** "*/*" signal ********; **** ** */*, *** live ****** ******* *** ********* ********* by ~*-* ******* (** ~**-** *******).
Limited *********** / *******
**** *** ****** ******* ****** ** integrated **** *** *****, ***** ****** monitoring ** **** *** ** ****** app **********.
*** ********* ***** ****** ********** **** its *** ******** ********, ****** *** functionality ** ************* ******* (******* ******** Below).
******, ********* ****** ***** ******* *** be ********** **** **** "********** ********" or ********* ** *** ***** ******** (Further ******** *****).
Full ***** (~*** ***) ***********
**** ***** *********** *** ******** *** details ** *** ******* *** *****, color ********, *****, *** *********.
*** ********* *** ************ *** ******* in *** **** ***** (~*** *** scene), ********* ***** *****, *******, *** color ********.
*** ****** **** ************ *** **** camera ********* ***** ****** ** *** subject/chart *** ***** ********.
*** ******* **** *** ****** **** the ********* ******** ******* * *********/***** hue, *** **** / *** ******** going **** **********, *** *** **** with ******** ******, ***** ****** **** they *** ******* ** *** **** a ** ****** ** ** ****.
Integrated ** ********** & ****** ***********
*** ********* *** *** *** **** camera ****** **** *** *** **** Integrated **. *******, *********** ****** ************* between *** ****** ******.
********* *** ****** **** *** **** feature '*******' **, ***** ***** ** as *** ***** ** ********, ***** typically *********** ******** *** ****** ****** ~20'.
*** ****** **** ******** *** **** usable ******* ** *** ******* *** chart, ***** *** ***** ******** ****** details ** *** ******* *** ***** due ** *****, ************, ** ******** issues.
*** ** ****** ***** *** ******* to *** **** ** ********* ******* as *** ****** **** *** ********* issues, *** *** ****** **** *** Reconeyez ********* **** **** ***** ******.
***********, ********* *** ** ****** ** Reconeyez *** ****** ******* *** *** possible ** *** ** ************ '******'/**** not ****** ***********, ******* *** **** camera's ************ ********* ** ********** *** scene.
*** **** ** *********'* ** ************ spread ********* ******** ******* ******* ** the ******* *** ***** ** *** center *** **** ** ** ************.
**** ****** *****, *** ****** *** not ****** ** ***** ** ********, and ******** **** *********** ****** ~**' from *** ******. ***********, *** **** camera ******* ****** ** ******, ** shown *****:
Color *** ***** (~* ***) ***********
*** ***** *** ***** (~* ***) scene ****** *********** *** *** *******, but *** ********* ****** *** ********* the **** *******.
*** **** ** ********* *********** *** chart *******, *** ****** ****** ***** fidelity ** ****.
*** ********* ******** ***** ***** ******** and ******* ******* *** ********* *********** the *****.
*** ********* ******** *** *** ****** cameras **** ** ********** **** ** this ***** ***** *** ***** *** be ****** **** ***** ****.
**** ****** ***** ** *** ***** Low ***** (~* ***) *****, *** cameras ********* ** ******* ****** *******.
*** **** ** ********* ****** ******** minimal ******* *** ** ************, *****, and ********.
*** ********* ** ****** ******** *** most ******, *** ****** ******* **** weak *** ********* ******** *** ** noise, ************, *** ****** ****.
****: *** ****** **** **** ********* issue ********* ** **** ********* ****** performance ********; **** *** ****** *** in ********** ** **** *** ***** and ****** ** ****** **** ***** mode.
Weak ***** ***** ************ & ***** *******
***** ***** ************ *** ******* ** the **** ** ********* ****** *** the ********* ******.
***** *** **** ** ****** ******** the ********* ***** ***** ************, ***** cannot ****** *** ************ ****** ** adjust ***** ***** ******** ** ******** performance.
***** *** ********* ****** ******** *** weakest ************ *** * **** ****** illumination *******, *** ******* ** *** subject *** ***** **** *** ********* with ***** ***** **. ************, ** the ***-******* ****** ***, * **** can ****** *** ************ ** *** white *****; *******, ****** *******, **** did *** ******** ******* ***********.
*** **** ** ****** ******** * more **** ************, ********* ******* ****** on *** ****** *** **** ** illumination.
***** *** ********* ****** ******** * dim *** **** ******* ***** ***** illumination, ***** ****** **** ******* ** the **** ***.
**** ******* ******** **** ****** ****** due ** *****, ****** ********* ******** more ****** ** *** ******* *** chart *******.
**** ****** ***** ** *** ***** light *****, *** **** *** ********* cameras ********* ** ******* ****** ****** due ** *****, ****** ****, *** ghosting. ***** ****** ******* *** ********, Hikvision ******** *********** ******* ** *** subject *****, ******* *** **** ** Starlight **** ***.
***** *** *** **** ****** ** the **** *** ********* ***** ***** walks.
Mobile **** *********
**** ******** ****** *** * ****** app, ****** **** **** ** ************* significantly. *** ********* ****** *** ** the **** *******, ***** **** ****** users ** ******* ********** ********, ******* life, ** '***' *** '******' *********. When ***** ***** *** ******* ***, Reconeyez ******:
******* ** *********** *** *** *** release ** ***** **** **** ** a ******** *** ****** ***** **** alarm ************ *** ****** *************.
****, *********, *** ****** ****** **** are ******* ** *************, ******** ***** to ********* ******* (****** ******* ** comparison ** ** *******' *** ***), review ******, *** ******* **** *************. Here ** * ***** ***** ******* each ****** ***'* ******* *************:
***********, *** ****, *********, *** ****** cameras **** **** ************* ** ***** when ****** ********, ******* ******** **** of **********. ********* ****** **** ************* are ********* ** ****.
Web **********
**** ******** ****** ******** *** **********, the **** ** ********* ** *** supported ** *** **** *********, *** the ***-******* *** *** **** ****** displays ****** ****** *** ****** ***********; but **** *** ********** *************, **********, or **********.
*** ****** *** ********* *** *** same ************* ** *** ****** ****** app ******** ***** ** ****** ****** and ****** ******, ****** ********, *** execute **** ********* ** *** **** camera.
*** ********* ********* ** *** **** source *** ***** ** ****-******* *** manage ***** ********* *******, ***** ******** events, ****** *******, ************* ********, *** more. **** ** * ***** ***** showing **** *********.
***** ** * ***** ******* ******* the *** **********:
********* **** *** ******* *** ** monitored ** *** ***** ********** ******** and **** ******* *********** **** **** "monitoring ********":
- *******
- ***
- *** ******* **********
- ***** **********
*********, ********* ******* *********** ****:
- *****/********
- ********
- **** *******
Analytics ***********
*** ********* ***** *** *** *** only ******** ****** **** **** *** feature ****** *********. ***** ** * comparison ***** ** ******** ******* ** offering:
****** *******, ****, *********, *** ****** provided ***** ****** *** ******* ********* overall *** ******** ****** ***** ***** sources **** ** ****, ***** *******, shadows, ***. *******, ***** *** ** edge **** ** * ********* ******** alerting ** ****** ****, ***** *** (later) ******** *** ****** **-** *******.
***** ****, *********, *** ****** ***** object *********, ********* ** *** **** offering **** ******* ******** ***** *** confidence ****** *** ******** *******.
****** *******, ****** ********** ******** ******* such ** **** *** **** ** animals, ******* *********** ** ***.
Vehicle ************** *******
***** ********* *** ****** *** ****** vehicles, **** ********* ****** ******* **************. Reconeyez's ******* ************** *** ******** ***** our ******** ******* ** *********; *******, box ****** **** *************** ********** ** cars *** ******.
Hikvision ******** ******* *********** ********
*********'* ****-**** ** *** **** *** that ******** *** ** ***** ****** while ***** ******** ************. *******, *** 4G ****** ************* ** *** *********.
****** *******, ***** **** ********* *** 4G ******, *** ****** *** * limit ** * ******* ****** *** stream *******, ******* "** ******** ******* for **** * *******".
'***** ******' ********** ** *** ** camera ******** ** *** '***** ******' in * **** ******, **** ***** images *** ****** ** * ********* schedule ** **********:
**** ** ***** ** ********, * video ******** *** * ********* ********. Additionally, *** ****** *******' ************ ********* on *** *** *****, ***** ** useful ** *** ***** ******** ******* are ********** **** ********.
Country ** ******
*** **** ** ********* ******, ********* 4G ***** ***, *** ****** ******* are **** ** *****, ***** *** Reconeyez ******* *** **** ** *******.
Camera & ******** ******** ******
*** ********* ******* *** ******** ******** were **** ****** *******.
- **** ** *********: ******* *.*.*.*
- ********* **-*********-**/**/******: ******* **.*.* ***** ******
- ********* ********: ******* *.*.*
- ****** ****: **.**.**-** ***:*
- ****** ****: **.**.**-** ***:*
- ****** ****: *.*.*-*-**********
Mobile & *** *** ******** ******
*** ********* ****** *** *** *** versions **** **** ****** *******.
- **** ********: ******* *.*.*
- ***-*******: ******* *.*.*.********
- *********: ******* **.*.********
- ******: ******* *.**.*
*** ******* ** ******** ****** ** version **.*.*.* *************
*****! * **** ******** ** ***** is **** ******* ** **** ********.