Security camera reviews are all over the place, and you might be looking for a reliable security camera with features that work well. You want to make sure that your family is safe and you can see what’s happening in the event of a crime or other emergency. The Eufy SoloCam S40 2K offers all this and more, with its 1080p HD video resolution for sharp images no matter how far away from the camera you are looking at it.
What good is a security camera if you can’t see what it sees? That’s why this review will take a look at the features of the Eufy SoloCam S40 2K Security Camera. This article includes all you need to know about this Security Camera. Let’s get started.
Eufy Solocam S40 2K Security Camera Review
The Eufy Solocam S40 2K Security Camera is an Editors’ Choice for two years running. The reviews are made five stars, with one star being poor and five stars being excellent. Throughout our review period, we test the compatibility of the Eufy SoloCam S40 2K Security Camera with different smart home systems. This allows us to see how easy it is to automate each camera using voice commands or through an app.
Design & Build
The Eufy Solocam S40 2K Security Camera comes with a built-in solar panel and 8GB of onboard storage. The camera can be mounted anywhere, as long as it has a strong signal from your router. The solar panel on top of the camera is black, not shiny. The SolarCam S40 is weatherproof so it can stand up to harsh conditions. The USB-C port lets you charge your device via power from the sun.
Features & Performance
The Eufy Solocam S40 2K Security Camera is easy to set up and has a range of features. The camera automatically detects people and animals, with the goal of capturing time-lapse videos (10-20 seconds). The Eufy Solocam S40 is compatible with the Eufy app and uses QR codes to connect. The camera can maintain a Wi-Fi connection from 20 meters away. The app gives you thumbnails from any Eufy cameras you have installed.
The S40 captures short video clips when motion has been detected, not continuously. There are three recording modes for the SoloCam S40 2K Security Camera; “Motion Detection” mode records 10-20 seconds of footage after detecting movement, while the “Optimal Surveillance” mode records until movement stops (up to two minutes), regardless of how long it takes for that activity zone(s) to be clear again. If a motion is detected within an activity zone that you have previously designated, then the “Custom Recording” mode will record for the length of time that you’ve set in advance (between 1 and 60 minutes).
The camera does not have an option to retain footage for an extended length of time, with the default being 10-20 seconds and a maximum length of two minutes. The longest duration is only available in “Optimal Surveillance” mode, which gives users some control over how long recordings last.
The camera can record up to two hours of HD video. The S40 has a built-in motion sensor which will trigger an alert on your iOS device when it detects an incident. The 2K resolution and 130° lens give high-quality images. The camera is also suitable for nighttime use, with colour footage captured well when using the 600-lumen spotlight.
The Solocam S40 is easy to set up and use; the flood light on the S40 causes a taxing battery life, so it should be used sparingly (it’s best to keep it turned off). The audio quality from the microphone is excellent, even in adverse weather conditions. AI allows you to filter out smaller movements that could indicate a person, animal or something else.
The Solocam S40 is a 2K security camera that can be set to only detect movement within certain activity zones by activating crying detection (which makes the device unable to distinguish between humans and objects). This setting worked well during our tests but did generate one false alarm.
The camera can use your phone’s microphone as a two-way communication device. The app offers some really convenient controls for the built-in motion sensors and light, but it would be better if they were on the main screen.
The camera is built with a solar-powered battery that loses 1 to 2 percent each day, falling between 63 and 64 percent by the end of testing; this means that you’ll need to charge it every few days (the light has only short burst use).
Price & Availability
The SoloCam S40 is more expensive than the SoloCam E40, but this may be due to its larger size. The S40 comes in at around $199 and has a solar panel for power. It can be purchased on Amazon, Walmart and eBay.
Video quality
The camera captures great footage at all times of the day and night. The Eufy SoloCam S40 has excellent daytime visibility up to 2K resolution. It is designed for outdoor use; it can be left outside without any need for maintenance or charging by solar power alone. The Eufy SoloCam S40 is good at capturing footage in both black and white, as well as color. The camera does have some blurring problems on grass or brick surfaces but overall the video quality is impressive, especially when compared to other security cameras in this price range.
Power Options and Battery life
The SoloCam S40 2K Security Camera comes with a built-in solar panel that charges the battery automatically. The camera needs eight hours to fully charge the battery, and it lasts for up to four months if you record five minutes a day.
The battery life of the SoloCam S40 2K Security Camera is dependent on how often it detects motion, how often it’s viewed live and if the siren is triggered. If all of those things are happening regularly, then you can expect about two months of use on a full charge. However, if motion is only detected every other day and you only view live footage once a week, then the battery will last around four months. The camera also has a Power Manager feature that you can use for battery conservation.
Smart Home Integration
The SoloCam S40 2K Security Camera allows you to see a list of installed cameras and their most recent motion detection. The camera’s live feed displays in real-time or can be watched from the Events tab at the bottom. The most common settings for each camera are customizable from this screen by tapping on them.
The camera comes with integration for Google and Amazon Alexa, allowing users to view the live feed on their smart display. This way, homeowners can keep an eye on their homes while they are away without having to constantly check their phones or computer. Additionally, the SoloCam S40 is compatible with other apps for home automation, such as Wink and IFTTT
Smartphone App
The Eufy Security App allows you to customize the camera from a smartphone or tablet. You can change settings like spotlight color temperature, toggle notifications on and off, monitor battery life and storage levels, and more. The app is where to find all of your security camera’s information – from battery life to storage levels to solar charging efficiency statistics.
Does SoloCam s40 require HomeBase?
The SoloCam S40 does not require the HomeBase to operate, which is a plus. The SoloCam S40’s strengths are that it does not need HomeBase but its weaknesses include the inability to back up recorded footage unless on cloud storage It is tempting to compare this outdoor camera to the ones from Nest, Arlo, and Canary; however, SoloCam S40 has a solar panel and battery which offer unlimited power supply and can last for up to three hours of use without charging.
What we like about the Eufy SoloCam S40
The Eufy SoloCam S40 is a low-priced camera that offers some great features. For example, the company’s site often offers discounts on the SoloCam S40 and other cameras.
Another thing we like about this camera is that it has a wide field of view. This means you can see more of what’s going on in your home or office with just one camera. We also appreciate the fact that this camera records in 2K resolution. This ensures high-quality video footage, which can be helpful if you need to review something later on.
Finally, we like the fact that this camera is easy to set up and use, and the solar panel for charging batteries when you are off the grid. You don’t need any special skills or knowledge to get started with it – just plug it in and you’re good to go!
Should I buy the Eufy Security SoloCam S40 Solar Powered Wireless Outdoor Security Camera?
The Eufy Security SoloCam S40 Solar Powered Wireless Outdoor Security Camera is a 2K resolution, 600-Lumen spotlight camera that uses an integrated solar panel. The camera offers AI Human Detection technology and supports a siren. The camera comes with 8GB of built-in storage which requires no monthly fees.
Although this camera is expensive, it is worth the buy. If you are looking for an outdoor security camera, we recommend purchasing Eufy Security SoloCam S40 Solar Powered Wireless Outdoor Security Camera that has been tested and proven reliable by other customers who have used them before.
Notable Features
- Color: White
- Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n @2.4GHz
- Power source: Solar Power/Built-in Battery
- Resolution: 2K, HD
- Field of view: 130 degrees
- Audio: Two-way talk
- Lighting brightness: 600 Lumens
- Smart assistant support: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
- Operational temperatures: -4 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit
- Weight: 1.1 pounds
