High-performance EufyCam from Anker almost perfectly captures the essence of a reliable, secure surveillance camera.
The EufyCam 2C Pro, a security camera from Anker, is making waves in the market with its focus on privacy and user control. This device supports HomeKit Secure Video and local storage, offering a unique blend of security and data protection.
Key Features
The EufyCam 2C Pro records videos in 2K resolution, providing clear footage. However, it's worth noting that HomeKit Secure Video only supports 1080p, limiting access to the full 2K video resolution when exclusively using Eufy's app.
One of the standout features of the EufyCam 2C Pro is its local processing and storage capabilities. The camera employs on-device AI to detect people, and footage can be stored locally with expandable options, or optionally uploaded to iCloud. This approach contrasts with competitors like Ring that require subscription cloud storage.
The EufyCam 2C Pro also integrates with HomeKit Secure Video, Apple’s privacy-focused ecosystem. This integration requires a home hub (iPad, HomePod, Apple TV) to perform encrypted, on-device video analysis, identifying people, animals, and vehicles without sending raw footage to external servers. Video recordings are stored encrypted in iCloud without counting against the user’s storage limits. No subscription beyond the iCloud plan is needed for this.
Privacy and User Control
EufyCam 2C Pro stands out for its privacy and user control features. It uses AES-128 encryption for data protection, ensuring privacy even when stored locally or optionally uploaded to the cloud. This secure approach generally provides stronger user control versus cameras relying mainly on cloud-only storage.
The integration with HomeKit Secure Video provides additional advantages like end-to-end encryption and local processing, which many competitors do not offer or tie to costly subscriptions. Furthermore, unlike some cameras requiring accounts and significant data sharing, HomeKit cameras let users maintain better control without extra apps or accounts.
The EufyCam 2C Pro also offers users control over who accesses footage and automation of privacy zones, benefiting from Apple’s trusted privacy architecture. This is more user-centric than some competing ecosystems that depend heavily on vendor cloud platforms and subscriptions.
Setup and Functionality
The EufyCam 2C Pro offers largely foolproof setup and installation, good-looking video, and overall consistent functionality. However, it's important to note that using automatic local storage on the Eufy Security app depletes the camera's batteries rapidly.
The camera's batteries are not user-replaceable and are similar to those used in e-cigarettes. They charge via micro-USB. The Eufy app offers options for customizing recording length, timestamps, status LED, and motion sensitivity.
The camera's motion detection is iffy, working about 50% of the time. However, it does come with a siren that can be customized through geofencing settings.
The EufyCam 2C Pro retails for $320 for a two-camera package and a hub. It also offers options for NAS storage.
In conclusion, the EufyCam 2C Pro is a strong choice for those prioritizing privacy and user control. Its integration with HomeKit Secure Video makes it one of the most privacy-oriented smart home camera platforms today. However, potential buyers should be aware of the limitations in terms of battery life and motion detection reliability.
[1] https://www.macworld.com/article/3598300/eufycam-2c-pro-review.html [2] https://www.macworld.com/article/3528040/eufycam-2c-pro-vs-eufycam-2-which-is-right-for-you.html [3] https://www.macworld.com/article/6869333/homekit-secure-video-review.html
- The EufyCam 2C Pro, a security camera from Anker, offers 2K resolution for clear footage, yet HomeKit Secure Video only supports 1080p, limiting access to the full resolution when using the Eufy app alone.
- With local processing and storage capabilities, the EufyCam 2C Pro employs on-device AI to detect people, allowing footage to be stored locally or optionally on iCloud, in contrast to competitors like Ring that require subscription cloud storage.
- Integration with HomeKit Secure Video provides the EufyCam 2C Pro with end-to-end encryption and local processing, offering privacy-focused features that many competitors do not offer or tie to costly subscriptions.
- The EufyCam 2C Pro retails for $320 for a two-camera package and a hub, offering options for NAS storage, making it a strong choice for those prioritizing privacy and user control in home-and-garden gadgets and technology.
