The latest security camera from Eufy, Anker’s smart home subsidiary, offers enhanced nighttime visibility, utilizes radar motion sensing to minimize false alerts, and supports 24/7 recording when wired. The new model, S3 Pro, includes features such as free facial recognition, and detection capabilities for packages, vehicles, and pets. It also allows for locally stored video without monthly fees.

Distinct from other Eufy cameras, the S3 Pro is compatible with Apple Home and Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video service.

Launching this week, the EufyCam S3 Pro is available in a two-camera bundle with a HomeBase S380 at a price of $549.99. This HomeBase 3 unit facilitates smart alerts, local storage (16GB onboard, expandable up to 16TB), and connects the S3 Pro to Apple Home, marking the first Eufy camera with such capability since 2019’s EufyCam 2 series.

Eufy spokesperson Brett White confirmed to The Verge that the S3 Pro will indeed support HomeKit Secure Video, Apple’s end-to-end encrypted storage solution. White mentioned Eufy’s plans extending this compatibility to future devices and potentially older models.

The S3 Pro features a new color night vision technology called MaxColor Vision, promising day-like video quality in total darkness without the need for a spotlight. A demonstration at the IFA tech show in Berlin showcased this technology and it performed impressively. Inside a dark room, the camera provided clear daytime-like footage to an external monitor. The tech is powered by a 1/1.8-inch CMOS sensor, F1.0 aperture, and an AI-enhanced image signal processor.

The S3 Pro also includes a customizable, motion-activated spotlight that adjusts based on real-time lighting conditions for optimal images and can be manually adjusted via the app.

Equipped with dual motion detection, the S3 Pro employs radar sensing and passive infrared (PIR) technology to more accurately identify human motion, thereby reducing false alerts significantly, reportedly by up to 99%.

The camera is battery-powered with a substantial 13,000 mAh battery, offering up to a year of usage. Its built-in solar panel allows extended operation without the need for recharging. For example, the EufyCam S3’s solar panel ensured over a year of uninterrupted power during testing. The S3 Pro’s solar panel is 50% larger and is designed to keep the camera charged with just one hour of sunlight per day. An external solar panel is also included for flexible installation.

The S3 Pro records up to 4K resolution and utilizes a USB-C cable for power. When connected, the camera can provide uninterrupted 24/7 recording, a first for Eufy’s consumer-level battery-powered cameras.

Additional features of the S3 Pro include:
– Full-duplex two-way audio
– Dual-mic array capable of capturing voices up to 26 feet away
– 100dB siren and motion-activated voice warnings
– 24/7 snapshot feature taking photos every minute
– Activity and privacy zones
– Integration with Google Home and Amazon Alexa
– IP67 weatherproof rating
– 8x digital zoom capability

In light of notable security and privacy incidents in 2022, Eufy has updated its privacy commitments, now available on its website. The company collaborated with cybersecurity expert Ralph Echemendia, who conducted an independent assessment validating that Eufy meets all proactive and reactive security standards.

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