AliExpress Smart Spotlight Security Camera

AliExpress Smart Spotlight Security Camera Review
https://youtu.be/4ZRswRnm_Uc

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I have bought a few items from Aliexpress in China and with mixed success. This camera, with the Tuya brand name, for which I paid around £35, is widely available from multiple sellers within Aliexpress and looks very similar to the much more expensive Reolink Argus 3 camera I wanted to replace with it.

It is a rechargeable 1080p external wifi security camera with a spotlight and motion detector. The appeal to me, aside from the price, was that it is controlled through the Smart Life app and can be linked to Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

In the box you get the camera, a dual purpose mount, a mounting kit, USB-C charging cable and a well written user guide. I have to say that the build quality all looked equal to the Reolink and it was quick and easy to pair with the Smart Life app and then to Alexa.

Looking at the camera, on thr front is the camera lens, infrared night light, Spotlight, i/r sensor, power status LED, WiFi status LED, and the motion detector PIR sensor. On the back is a metal tripod mount and the speaker grill, on the base is a second tripod m,ount, together with a gromett protected flap concealing the SD card slot, USB-C charging port, a camera reset switch, an On/Off switch, and a blank SIM card slot.

The camera gives excellent results too with sharp and clear 1080p video and two way audio. I have also tested it with an external solar panel (also from AliExpress) and it seems to work well with it. That said, the video does look rather better inside the app than when downloaded. The video size from the card was 2304x1296, 15fps. It has the option for colour or infrared night vision, scheduled or 24/7 video with motion detection (with human discrimination), along with a good bright spotlight and a 100db siren.

It can be powered either using the battery charged about once every two weeks or so or with a solar panel. I bought a cheap solar panel from AliExpress to use with it and this seems to be working OK even during the short winter days.

Now the bad news. After a few days suddenly and for no reason the motion detection stopped working. I have reset the camera, removed and added it again to the system and confirmed the correct settings in the app but motion detection no longer works by day or by night. The camera will work for manual recordings and when in 247 recording mode but that is all. Also, like many cameras of this design (and there are many) it is very prone to raindrops getting onto the lens and distorting the picture.

That's the way with AliExpress, you win some and you lose some. Had I bought it from Amazon I would have sent it back, but I am sceptical about my chances of getting a refund from the AliExpress seller. I will probably just keep it in use as a general security camera in 247 mode.

Music: YouTube Audio Library: Jane Street - TrackTribe