Testing $20 WyzeCam, The Money Losing Amazon Vet Startup

By: IPVM Team, Published on Dec 12, 2017

This startup is perfecting the old adage:

We lose money on every sale, but make it up on volume

But it is no joke. The company, Wyze Labs, is led by ex-Amazon managers, who clearly have money for an incredible PR campaign, including fawning coverage in the NYTimes, CNET, Engadget, and more plus slickly produced marketing videos like so:

Wyze's pitch is simple and amazing - IP cameras for just $20 sold on their website and Amazon, with 2 weeks free cloud recording.

Indeed, the NYTimes, evidently seriously, declared:

Wyze did not create a home internet camera for a tenth of the price of rivals by skimping on quality.

However, our tests results show the quality is significantly inferior to competitors like Nest and others on many dimensions but we do believe there is potential for this as a business.

**** ******* ** ********** the *** *****:

** **** ***** ** every ****, *** **** it ** ** ******

*** ** ** ** joke. *** *******,**** ****, ** *** ** ex-Amazon ********, *** ******* have ***** *** ** incredible ** ********, ********* fawning ******** ** **********,****,********, *** **** **** slickly ******** ********* ****** like **:

****'* ***** ** ****** and ******* - ** cameras *** **** $** sold ** ***** ******* and ******, **** * weeks **** ***** *********.

******, **********, ********* *********, ********:

**** *** *** ****** a **** ******** ****** for * ***** ** the ***** ** ****** by ******** ** *******.

*******, *** ***** ******* show *** ******* ** significantly ******** ** *********** like **** *** ****** on **** ********** *** we ** ******* ***** is ********* *** **** as * ********.

[***************]

Testing ********

******* ******* **** ********** problems, ********** ****** *********, poor *** ***** ***********, poor ***** ******* *** non-existent **** *******.

** *** **** ****, it **** ****** *** record *****, ***** *** its ***** (~$** *** plus * ********** ********* SD ****) **** ** attractive *** ****** *** just **** *** ****** at * ****-****** *****.

Market ********* **********

******* *** ******* ******* problems, ** ******* **** has * **** ** being * ****** *********. They **** ******* ************ strong ********* ********* *** obviously * ******* ****** that ** ******* ** lose ***** *** **** time ** **** ***** up. ** **** *** scale **, **** **** have *** *********** ** add ** ****** **** / ****** ****** ******* and ****** ********* ** ongoing ************ ******** *** various ***-*** (****** *******, advanced ********, ***.). **** are *** ***** ***** low-cost ** ****** ******** who ******** ********* ***** and ****** ** ******* funding. **** *********** ***** work.

Impact ** ***** *************

*** ******* **** ** to ******* *************, **** Hikvision / *****. ****'* super ***-**** ***** ******** with ***** ******* ********* is **** ***** *** Chinese ************* ** *****. For *******, **** *** gotten **** ****** ** in **** *** **** month **** ***** *** ever ******. ** **** can ***** ** (*** there's ********** ****), **** could ********* ********** ** the **-**-***** *** ***** low-cost, ********/'****-******' ** *******.

Physical ********

******* ** ******* **** most ********/*** *******, ******** slightly ****** ** ******** from *********** ****. **** noticeably, *** ******* *** its **** *** **** from *******, ****** *** camera **** ********* ******** to *** ****.

***** ** * ******** overview ** *** *******:

*******

*** ******* *** ** purchased ******** **** ********** ********** ~$** ***. **** pricing ******** *** ****** and ** **** ** free ******* *******. **** that **** ** *** WyzeCam **** ***** *** the ****** ** ********** ~$30.

******* ** *** ******* is ************* ***** **** other********/*** ************* *** ******** ***** >$100.

Non-Existant **** *******

****** *******, ******** ******** to ******* **** ******* were ****. **** ********** phone ******* ** **** informed **** ** ***** were ********* ** *** time *** ** ****** instead **** *** ********* through *-****. ******** ** contact ** *-**** **** replied **** ********* *********.

Frequent ********** ******

****** *** *******, ******* had * ****** ** issues ********** ** *** wireless *******, ********* ****** numerous ******** ** *******. Note **** ******* *** only ******* ** *.**** networks. ***** ** *** error ******** **** ********** to ******* *****:

**** ** ** **** inserted, *** ******* *** be *** ** ************ record. *******, **** ****** to **** ********, ******* constantly ******* ** **** the ****** ** *** connected. *** ***** ***** persist *** ~* ******* before *** **** ****** responsive. ***** ** ** example ** *** "****** not *********" *****:

Motion ****** **********

****** ******* ****** ****** provided ** **** ************ despite ***** **** ** turn **** ** ** off.

****** ****** **** ****** to ** **********, ********** on ******* *** ***** changes ** **** *** lowest ********. ******* ****** no *** ** *** up ********* ****** ***** to ****** ******** ******. Seen ***** ** ** example ** **** ***** trigger ****** *********:

**** ***** ****** ***** triggered, ******* **** ****** a **-** ****** ****, after **** **** ** recorded ******* **** *** record *** ***** ****** events *** * *******. In *** *******, **** proved ** ** *** short, ********* ******* *** event ********* ***** ** front ** *** ****** after ********* *** ****.

***** ****** **** ****** of * **** ** all ***** ************* **** deleting *** ****** *** then ****** ** ***** to *** ******* *** the ****** ** *** named *** **** ** it ********** ***.

Full ***** ***** *******

*** ***** ***** ***** the **** ***** *** both *** ******* *** Nest. **** **** *** Nest ****** *** * wider ***** ** ****, resulting ** * ***** pixel *** ****.

** ~**' *** ******* offered *** **** *******, Nest ******* ******** ****** than *******.

** ~**' *** ~*** lux, ******* ******* ****** facial ******* **** **** but ****** *** *** chart, ****** ********** **** the ***** **** **********.

Dark ***** ******* *** ** *******

******* ********* ********* ** Nest ** ***** *********. Nest ******* **** ****** clarity ** *** ***** below, ***** **** ***** of *** ***** *** visible **** *******.

*** ** ****** ** WyzeCam ****** ** ********** the *******, ****** *** person ****** ********** ** ~18'.

App *********

*** ******* *** ** reasonably ****** *** ***************, making ** **** *** non-tech-savvy ****** ** ********** all ** *** ******** available. ****** ******* ** did **** ******** **** push ************* *** ********* an ***** **** * motion ***** *******. ***** is ** ******** ** the *** *** *** features:

Test **********

*** ********* ******** ******** were **** ** **** test:

  • *******: *.*.*.**
  • ****: ***-******

Comments (31)

Undisclosed Integrator #1

12/12/17 03:56pm

$** ******. $* * ***** *** *** ***** *********. ***** is ** *** **** ******* **** ** ****** ** * year ******* * ******* *****. *** ** ***** ** *** the *** **** ************?

Undisclosed #2

12/12/17 04:08pm

*** **** *** *** ** ** ** *** ***** **** the ******** ** ****** *********?

Avatar

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 12/12/17 04:42pm

*** **** *** *** go ** ** *** scene **** *** ******** to ****** *********?

** ** **** *** way *** ******** ** in *** **** **** was **** **. ** ~10' * ** ** the ***** ** *** lighting *** ** ~**' it ** ** *** of **.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Rob Kilpatrick | 12/12/17 04:54pm

**, **. *** **** ***, *** * *** ******** **** just *** ****** ***** **** *******. ****** *** ******** **** up.

Dennis Ruban

12/12/17 11:20pm

** ** ****** ****** or **** *** **** box ******?

******

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Dennis Ruban | 12/13/17 02:01am

**** **** **** *** OEMing ******'* ******** *** the ******** *** *** app *** ***** ***.

****, **********, **** ** selling ***** ******* ** less ***** **** ****** pricing *** *** ****** one.

Frantz Mathias

12/13/17 02:52pm

*** ***** ************?

***?

*****?

Avatar

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Frantz Mathias | 12/13/17 03:24pm

*** ***** ************?

***?

*****?

*** ****** *** ** Wired ********** *** **** not ******* *****.

Dennis Ruban

In reply to Frantz Mathias | 12/13/17 03:42pm

***** **** * ****** **

Avatar

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Dennis Ruban | 12/13/17 04:01pm

***** **** * ****** **

*** *** ******* **** ********? ** ** ******** *** ********?

Dennis Ruban

In reply to Rob Kilpatrick | 12/13/17 04:28pm

*'* *** ****. * was ***** ** *** this ****** *** *** I ******* ** * can *** **** ** it, **** * ***** some *********** ** * forum *** ** **** it ** ** *** third-party *** *** *** to *** ******** *****

Avatar

Scott Napier

01/04/18 12:45pm

* **** *** ** these ** ** ***** and **** *** ****** enough *** **** * need. * **** ***** that **** ******* ****** ** ******, *** **** ******* issues **** **** ******** there *******.

**** *** **** ********** some ** *** ******* security ******** **** ***** had ***** ***** ********* analysis ** *** *******.

* **** **** ** cards ** **** *** of **** *** *********/******** seem ** **** ****. I ** *** ***** any ** *** ***** features, ***** ***** * am *** ***** *** of *** *** ***** either. * *** *** see *** **** *** it.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Scott Napier | 01/04/18 12:59pm

*****, **** ********, ******! Btw, **** *********** / peculiar **** **** *** providing ******* *** ******. I ** **** ** works *** **** ****** but * ***** ** works *** ****.

Avatar

Scott Napier

In reply to John Honovich | 01/04/18 05:49pm

* **** ** **** if **** *** ** intentional ****** ** ***, I ******** **** ** by *******. ** ** a **** ******** ****** if **** **** ** up.

Undisclosed #2

01/04/18 11:00pm

******* $** *******, *** ***** ****** ****** *** *******

** **** ****** *** ******** *** ***********’* ******* ** ***** pets?

John Honovich

IPVM | 01/18/18 12:57am

******, **** *********** * ********* *********** ********* *****:

** *** **** ****, the ***** *** * lot ** ********, ***** is ****** * ******* of ***** **** ***** at $** **** **** non-existent **** *******.

John Honovich

IPVM | 05/04/18 01:29am

****** *******:******** ******* - *** a **** ****** ******* is ****** ** ****** and ******, *** ******:

  • ***** ** ******** ***** / *** ** **** profits - "*** ****** ** **** money ** *** ********** product *** ******* ** many ******** *** ***** because ** ****** ******* that **** ********** *** help ****** *** ** want ** *** ** in ** **** ***** as ********." **** **** have **** **** *** it's *** *********.
  • "** **** ***,*** ** our ******* **** *** sold *** ****** *********** and **** **** ******* inventory ***** ****." ****'* $2 ******* ** ***** at ~$** * *****

Undisclosed Integrator #3

05/04/18 01:17pm

***** **** ** *** a ******* *** ** viewing *****(******** ******* ** once) ** * *** on **, * **** three ** ***** ** my *****, *** ******* app ** **** *** only ****** *** * view ** * ****. They **** * ********** for **, *** ** involves * ******* *** to *** ******* *** run ** ******** ** the **** ***, *** it ** * ******** hog. **** ******** ****** for **** * **** at * ****.

Avatar

Matthew Del Salto

BLACKBOX USA | In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #3 | 06/01/18 02:22pm

*****://******.*** ***** **** ***. I **** ********** ****** it *** *** ******* it ***** **** ********, Milestone, ***.

John Honovich

IPVM | 05/30/18 07:54pm

**** ******** * $** ****** mini ***:

Avatar

Dori Ribak

RBtec Perimeter Security Systems | In reply to John Honovich | 05/31/18 03:23pm

*****...

**'* ** *** ****** Dafang ** ******* ************* for **** ** ****.

*****://***.**********.***/****/******-******-*****-*****-****-**-******-*****-******.****

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Dori Ribak | 05/31/18 04:07pm

****, ****'* ****'* ******** model. (*) ****** ****** low *** ******* **** a **% ******, (*) spend ******** ** ** marketing, (*)******

**** **** ** ** their *** ******** *** have ** *********** ********** team, ** ***** ** certainly * **** ** make ***** ** **** point, ****** * ** not ***** ***.

Avatar

Dori Ribak

RBtec Perimeter Security Systems | In reply to John Honovich | 05/31/18 04:21pm

**'* ****** ***** ** me.

** ****** **** *** Camera, *** **** *** cloud ********.
** ** ***** ****'* what **** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Dori Ribak | 05/31/18 04:26pm

****, *** ******* / camera ******** **** ** days ** ***** *******.

Avatar

Dori Ribak

RBtec Perimeter Security Systems | In reply to John Honovich | 05/31/18 04:29pm

*'* ****** **** **** after *** ** **** it's *** ****.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Dori Ribak | 05/31/18 04:35pm

****, *** *** **** consumers ****** $** ******* are ***** ** *** for ******* ****** * weeks? ****'* *** * business *****.

Avatar

Ross Vander Klok

IPVMU Certified | In reply to John Honovich | 06/13/18 07:21pm

* **** *** **** up *** ******* *** about * **** *** and ** ***** *****. The **** ****** * have **** ** ** the ****** ******** ********* sucks *** ** *** to **** *** ****** automatically **** * (** phone) ** ****. *********, this ****** ** ****** sweet *** *** *****.

Avatar

Matthew Del Salto

BLACKBOX USA | 06/01/18 02:20pm

***** ********** ****** **** *** *** *******.

*****://******.***

Dennis Ruban

In reply to Matthew Del Salto | 06/01/18 08:05pm

** **** **** *****? I ****, **** ******** to ****** *** ** but ** *****’* **** any ***** *** ****

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

06/13/18 02:12pm

**** *** *** * *** **** ***** *** $**. ****** here: *** ** ******: **** ****** ******: **** *** *** – $** ******* **-** ******** ******. *****://******.***/*********/*/***********

******* **** **** *****://***.*******.***/*******/****-***-***/

Avatar

Ross Vander Klok

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 | 06/13/18 07:25pm

*** *****, **** ********* this **** ***** *** included * ****.

* ***** ***% **** the ******** ****** ******! Thanks *** ********* ****.

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