SimpliSafe Camera Tested

By John Scanlan, Published on Mar 07, 2017

SimpliSafe is one of the most controversial companies in the industry, as they have become the symbol of the DIY threat to traditional alarm providers. Indeed, Simplisafe is doing very well financially.

Expanding from their foundation in alarm systems, Simplisafe has a camera, allowing users to add video to their SimpliSafe system.

We bought and tested the SimpliSafe camera (along with their second generation hub) to see how it compared to other consumer/DIY cloud camera offerings in image quality, usability, physical features, and more.

*******

***** ** *** *******, the ********** ****** ** limited ******** ** ******* consumer/DIY ******* **** ** Nest ** *****, **** below ******* *** ***** imaging, *** ******* ** usability ******** (** ******* zoom, ****, ***.).

******* ** ***** ******, the ****** ** ****** only ********** ** ******** SimpliSafe ***** *** **** to *** "****" ** their ******, *** ***** looking *** * **** featured ****** ********.

Key ***********

***** *** *** *** limitations ***** ** *** tests ** *** ********** camera, ***** ** ***** SimpliSafe *****.  ***** *** our **** ******** **** responses **** **********:

  • **** *** ***** ***** quality: ***** *** **** ***** image ******* *** ***** or ******* ** ***** ***********, the ********** ****** ********* poorly ** *** *****, with **** ******* ***** and ***********.
  • ********* ***** ********* ****:***** ** **** ******** when ********* ****** **** place ** *** ********** hub. ***** ** ** option *** ********** ** manual *********.
  • ******* ********* ****/******** *********:**** ***** **** ******* and **** ********/******** *** supported. ***** ****** ******** such ** ******* ****, snapshot, **** *******/******, **** audio, ***., *** *** available. 

Response / ******* *********

** ******** ** *** test ********, ********** **** they *** ******* ** several ************:

  • ********** *** ******:* ********** ****** **** app ** ******* *** early ** ****, ***** will ********* *** **** for * ***/******** ** add *** *** *** camera. [[****: ******* *** *** be **** **********, *** use *** **** *** as *** ********** *****]]
  • ***/***/****** *********:********** ***** ** ******* additional ********* ***** ***** with *** ********** ***, using *** ******'* ***, video ****** *********, ** well ** **** ********* manual *********. [[****: *** released]]
  • ********* *********: *******, ********* ********* **** as ******* ****, **** management, *****-*********, *** ********** adjustments *** *** ******* after *** ******* ** the ********** ****** ***.

********** *** ** ********* plans ** ******* * higher ********** (*****+) *****, saying **** *** "******* focused ** ********* ********** and ********** [*****] *********** ********** so **** [****] *** ******* higher ********** ******* ** future *******." 

Camera *******

*** ********** ****** ***** for $** *** ****** from **********. **** ** significantly **** **** **** consumer *******, **** ** the **** *** (~$***), and ****** ********* ** EZVIZ's ******** (~$**), ****** both ***** *********** ****** are ***** ******* ** 720p.

******** ** ***** ********** models, **** ** *** 720p ** **** ** EZVIZ **** *, **** ~$40, *** ********** ****** is **** ***** *** price.

Subscription *******

******* * ************, *** ****** is ******* ** **** streaming, ******* ******* ********, and ****** ******** ****.

**** ************, $*.** *** *** month ***** *** ***** free *****, *** ********* features *** *********:

  • ** **** ** ***** based **********
  • ***** ************ ** ******
  • ***** **** ******** (***)
  • **** ************* **** ** video ******

**** ******* ** ********** lower **** ******* ***** subscriptions, ~$*-** *** ***** per ******. ***** ** no ****** *** ***** SD **** *********.

Physical ********

** **** *****, ** review *** ******** ******** of *** ********** ******, including the ******* *******, **********, status ***, *** **** comparison ** ****.

Basic *************

***** *** ******* ************* options ********* ** *** SimpliSafe ******, *********** **** status *** **/***, ** LED **/***, *** ******* shutter ******* ******* ******** to ******** *** ******.

Privacy *******

*** ********** ****** ******** a ********* ******* ******* which *** ** *** to ****/***** ******** ** automatically ***** ** ****** mode. **** ******, ** video *** ** ********. Along **** *** **** light ************* *** ***** shutter ******* *** *** black ****** ***** ** is **** ** ****** that *** ******* ****** with **** * ******. This ********* ***** *** privacy ******* ******* *** closing.

Limited *** *********

******** ** **** ******** cameras, *** ********** *** is ******* ** ******** available *** **** **** and ********.

** **** ****, *** only ******* ********* *** play/pause ** ******* ** the ******'* *****. ** snapshot, ******* ****, ** audio ********* *** ********** here. **** **** ***** is ****** ******* ** live *** ******** ***** and ****** ** ********.

** ******** ****, ******* by ******* ** * specific *****, *** ********** controls ****** *********: ******** clip *** ** ****** rewind/forward, ***** ****:

Image **********

*** ***** ** **** for ******* ** ***** below.  *** ***** *** taken **** *** ********** Home ******** ******.

** **** ***** *** SSCM1 ********* ****, ********* similar ****** ******* ** the ***** *******. *** SSCM1 ******** **** ******** less ****** ** ** chart, ******* ****** ****** to **** *** *** line *** ***** ** the ***, ***** **** *** higher ********** ******* *** 4th **** *** ** read.

 ** *** ***** *** SSCM1 ********* *** ***** of *** ******* ******, not ******* ****** ****** ** identify **** ***** ** a ***** ** *** FoV.

Comments (4)

Undisclosed #1

03/07/17 11:13pm

"...the camera is likely only attractive to existing SimpliSafe users who wish to add "eyes" to their system, not those looking for a full featured camera offering."

Is Simplisafe trying to be a full featured camera offering?

I think they might be coming at it more from an alarm system viewpoint...  i.e. the addition of "eyes" (weak as they may be, as you note, compared to other available "eyes" on the market) is seen as a compelling reason to choose their alarm system over others that do not have "eyes"... at least at their current price points.

Avatar

Attila Szucs

03/09/17 12:38pm

That privacy shutter is a great idea. But as it could be automatic, I'm afraid can be controlled from the other side of the world too.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 03/28/17 06:37pm

SimpliSafe has added manual recording in their latest mobile app update. Recordings can be manually initiated from live view, and are then shown in the system timeline for review.

Avatar

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 02/08/18 04:30pm

Update: Simplisafe has added motion recording to the app, in addition to motion and event recording:

Also, cameras can now be used without a Simplisafe system, standalone. It does not use a separate app. Users simply only use the "Cameras" section of the Simplisafe app.

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