Eufy SoloCam E40 solves a couple of issues that plague many home security cameras. The Eufy SoloCam E40, which is powered by a rechargeable battery, allows for a wire-free installation, which eliminates logistical issues such as finding an accessible electrical outlet or installing whole new electrical cabling, both of which can be difficult in outdoor installations. Second, it comes with 8GB of onboard storage, which is enough to save around a month’s worth of video recordings, so you won’t need to pay for a cloud subscription to get the most out of the camera.
The Eufy SoloCam E40, like the EufyCam 2, features a rectangular shape that allows it to stand freely on any flat surface. It comes with a small wall mount that fits into the camera’s rear and can be mounted on a wall using the included hardware. The ball-and-socket joint on the mount gives you a lot more angling flexibility than using the camera freestanding, which is important if you plan to use the IP65-rated camera outdoors.
The camera takes footage in up to 2K resolution and has a 130-degree field of view. In low-light circumstances, it also has night vision. The E40 can detect motion and distinguish between human and non-human sources. You can talk to anyone within range of the camera thanks to the built-in microphone and speaker.
Following the prompts in the Eufy Security app to connect the camera to my Wi-Fi, I was able to swiftly set up the E40. A scrolling toolbar at the bottom of the screen provides straightforward control of the camera in addition to a live video stream. This includes the ability to manually record a video clip, take a photo, review captured video clips, and trigger the camera’s microphone, among other things. You can also use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to manage the camera and view live footage on a compatible smart display by pairing it with the E40.
The E40 captured crisp, detailed video in both day and night settings during my testing. Despite the camera’s broad viewing angle, no fish-eye distortion was visible. Because night vision footage is black-and-white, it won’t record details like the color of an intruder’s clothes or car, but it will provide enough light to make out facial characteristics, license plate numbers, and other forensic details.
The motion warnings on the E40 were timely, and the AI consistently distinguished humans from various animals moving within its area of view. You can change the motion sensitivity, enable “human only” detection, schedule monitoring hours, and user activity zones to specify a specific region where you wish to detect motion to control the frequency of notifications. I combined all of these techniques to reach a sweet spot that didn’t overwhelm me with notifications.
All video clips are kept and displayed in reverse chronological order, according to the date they were recorded. A thumbnail of the person’s face is saved alongside the video for each human-detected event and can be expanded by tapping it to obtain a closer look. Clips can be saved immediately to your device and shared with cops via email, text, or social media.
The E40’s battery, according to Eufy, may last for around four months on a full charge, but that will depend on how many videos you’re capturing. However, you’ll need to recharge the battery at some time, and this is my one true criticism of the camera: Because the battery isn’t removable or swappable, you’ll have to take the camera off duty to recharge it, which means it’ll be out of service for around 8 hours.
Although the app offers a Power Manager tool that allows you to monitor and optimize battery life, an attachment such as a solar charger, which Reolink uses for its outside cameras, would be a nice addition. You might also consider the SoloCam S4, which has a built-in solar panel; however, the device costs $200.
Overall, the Eufy SoloCam E40 is one of the better indoor/outdoor cameras we’ve tested, and at only $130, it’s an excellent deal since there are no additional membership fees. As a result, it’s an appealing option for anyone looking for a simple, economical, and dependable home security system.