Camera Disruptor Wyze Enters Sensor / Security Market

Published Mar 28, 2019 15:34 PM

Wyze, the company that has disrupted consumer IP cameras, combining American marketing and Chinese manufacturer, has just announced its expansion into the sensor / security market.

This comes shortly after the company announced $20 million in VC funding and selling more than 1 million cameras in their first year.

Can Wyze make an impact in the low-end consumer market with $20 sensor kits just like it did with $20 cameras?

Inside this note, we examine Wyze's new offering and how it contrasts to other DIY offerings such as Ring, Simplisafe, and Nest.

Wyze ***** ********

****'* ********* ***** ******** * ***** of *** *** ********:

**** ***** *** *******, ***** **** wireless ******* ** *********** ******** **** a ******* ******.

*** ****** *** *********, ****** '**** Bridge' ***** **** *** **** ** **** ******* *** **** *** ******'* ************ ** the *** *** ****** *** ********** of *** *******:

*** ******* ********** ****** ** *** standard **-**** ******** *********, ******** *** ability ** ***** ******* **** *********, or ****** ***** ******* ******* **** [EDIT: **** ******* ***** ** ********* are ****** ***********, *** '**** ******* battery **** ** ** ****** ** most *****'.] **** *** **** ******** by *** *******:

*******, ** *** ******** ****** **** retails *** $*, *** **** ** replacing * ******* **** ********* ***** ~$1.25 - $*.** **** ***** **** be ********* ** **** ********* *** entire ******.

Small *******

**** **** *** ****** **** ** to **** ******* ******* **** ******* sensors, *** *** ******* *** *** sensor *** ****** ******* **** ******* sensors **** ****, **********, *** ****.

*** ***** **** ****** *** **** risky '**** & *****' ************, **** a ******* ******* ****** **** ** be ***** **** *********** *** **** visually ********* **** ****** ******** ****** than ****** *** **********.

** ******, **** ** ********* * contact *******, * ****** ***, *** the ******* ******** ** ** ******** to ******* ********* ***** ***** ***** that *** **** ********** **** *** camera *** ****** ********.

Contrasted ** ***** ***

*************, **** ******* *** *** ***** systems **** ****** **************, *** **** ************* ** ** *** * **** intrusion ********* ****** ****, *** * 'general ********' ********** ******.

***** **** *** ***** ******* ***** some **** ** ******* ******* ********** to ******** ******** ** ******, **** does ***.

****, ******* ** ***** * ******** hub ** ******* *******, **** ** using * ****** ****-** ****** ****** 'Bridge'. ** *** **** ** ***** Wyze *****, *** $** ******* ** ** ********* **** ***** ******* are ** ****** *** ***** *** security *******. *******, ***** ***** *** systems ******* * ****** ** ********** controls ******* ** *** ******, **** does ***.

Wyze's *** ******* 

*** ****, *** ****** ** **** Sense **** ** *** **** ** *******; ********** *** *******.

** ******, **** ** ******** *** Bridge ******, *** ******/****/******* ********, *** one *** ****** ****** *** $**.  

** ********, *** ********** ********** ****** costs ~$***, ***** *** ****.  

Outlook *** *****

***** *** ********** ******** ***** ** the ****** **** ** ***** ********, Wyze ***** *** ******* *** ****** simply ** *********** **** ********** *** of ******* ******* **** *** ** inexpensive.

***** *** ** ********* ** ***** $40 ** * ******* ** ******* their *** ***** ** ****** **** using ***** *** *******, *** ** Wyze ****** *** **** *** ~$*, applications *** ******* ******** *** ***** Wyze *******.

IPVM **** ********

**** *** *** ****** **** *****, so ** ****** ******** ** *********** matches ******, *** ** **** **** the ****** **** ** ******* *********.

 

 

Comments (12)
Avatar
Tom Sharples
Mar 28, 2019

Interesting. I use Qolsys systems and sensors with Alarm.com monitoring and alerts on my rental properties, including leak detectors, selected closet door detectors and activity detection in critical public areas. I like the small sensor size from these guys, altho for me (and probably other landlords), the cost difference doesn't matter nearly as much as range & reliability. Can they offer that at such a low price point? Seems like something would have to give unless the're selling below cost to obtain market share. And they really have to have some way to plug into a central monitoring system to be a serious contender.

(3)
Avatar
Sergio Guzman
Mar 28, 2019
Pine Crest School • IPVMU Certified

O-M-G

(1)
Avatar
Sal Visone
Mar 28, 2019
DWG • IPVMU Certified

Nice little DIY solution in terms of bang for the buck.  They did a great job with their introduction and explanation video.

(2)
U
Undisclosed #1
Mar 28, 2019
IPVMU Certified

At launch, Wyze is offering the Bridge module, two window/door/opening contacts, and one PIR motion sensor for $20.

there goes the neighborhood ;)

(1)
UM
Undisclosed Manufacturer #2
Apr 01, 2019

I do wonder if it is using ESP8266 module or something proprietary. If it were using the ESP8266 then it means that the information could potentially be used for IoT applications, as well as security; which makes it a lot more appealing.

SM
Sean Mahoney
Apr 01, 2019

The video states they are not using wifi for the sensors to communicate to the bridge. The bridge plugged into the camera gets it on the network.  Not sure what they use in the cameras.

Avatar
Michael Votaw
Apr 01, 2019

Certainly cost effective and catering to the DIY market which I suspect continues to grow, it would scare the heck out of me putting in all this product that you can't validate cyber security on.  I believe that before long there will be some major hack and people will be horrified to find out what our government, a foreign government and various corporations know about us and have seen. 

UD
Undisclosed Distributor #3
Apr 01, 2019

e; nevermind, more power to them.

SD
Shannon Davis
Apr 02, 2019
IPVMU Certified

I bought one of these to test out in my house. I will let everyone know after I get it sometime in May. I have a couple of the cameras and for the money work fairly well. To me this won't be as much about security as about notifications or home automation once they release light bulbs. The better case will be if you could hook into other systems or devices.

(1)
UD
Undisclosed Distributor #3
Apr 02, 2019

Let me know about build quality, I'm interested in the materials.

SD
Shannon Davis
Apr 02, 2019
IPVMU Certified

Same here. One concern is in the video they explained that they switched to gold plated battery connectors and moved the antenna away from the battery. Seems like this would be standard for any electronics engineer to think of from the beginning. 

SD
Shannon Davis
Apr 25, 2019
IPVMU Certified

I got notice that my order was shipped yesterday. More to come later with this.