At a look
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Integrated photo voltaic panel
- Local microSD storage as much as 512GB
- Quick, wire-free setup
Cons
- Limited to 2 exercise zones
- No superior AI options (e.g., car/pet/face recognition)
- Local-only storage means no offsite backup if the digicam is stolen or broken
Our Verdict
If you desire a simple, subscription-free photo voltaic cam for dwelling monitoring, the Baseus S1 Lite nails the fundamentals and battery life, however energy customers will need extra.
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
Price When Reviewed
$79.99
Best Prices Today: Baseus S1 Lite
$49.99
$79.99
Baseus has been steadily pushing past its roots in cellphone chargers and equipment, and its newest transfer is to broaden it’s sensible safety lineup with two solar-powered outside cameras: the Baseus S1 Lite (reviewed right here) and the Baseus S2 (which we’ll cowl at a later date).
The firm pitches the Basues S1 Lite as a budget-friendly possibility designed for individuals who need reasonably priced safety with out being tied to month-to-month charges for cloud storage. The query is whether or not the digicam appears like a real discount or only a bunch of trade-offs.
Design and options
Unlike the standard bullet- and dome-style cameras you see on most homes, the S1 Lite has a flat, rectangular form. The design permits its photo voltaic panel to be built-in into the digicam physique fairly than bolted on as a separate unit. That small element offers the S1 Lite a sleeker, extra fashionable look than many different solar-powered cameras.
The photo voltaic panel is paired with a 5,200mAh battery. A few hours of daylight a day is sufficient to maintain it topped off, based on Baseus, with a single cost lasting as much as 150 days. It’s weatherized to deal with the outside, with an IP67 ranking for mud and water resistance, and is constructed to function in temperatures from –4 levels Fahrenheit to 122 F. (Allow us to explain what you need to know about IP codes.)
The Basus S1 Lite has an built-in photo voltaic panel on high that retains the design clear, not clunky.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
The digicam data in 2K decision and has a 135-degree discipline of view, that’s vast sufficient to cowl chunk of a yard or driveway. An 8x digital zoom allows you to get a more in-depth take a look at individuals or objects inside about 26 ft. At evening, a built-in highlight kicks on to ship colour video when movement is detected, efficient out to about 20 ft.
The S1 Lite isn’t overloaded with AI options, nevertheless it covers the fundamentals: It can distinguish between human motion and normal movement, and you’ll draw as much as two customized exercise zones whereas masking out two privateness zones. Two-way audio allows you to hear what’s occurring exterior and communicate with guests and supply individuals. For storage, you may slot in a microSD card with a capability as much as 512GB (our guide to microSD cards will assist you to decide one). This means your recordings are saved domestically, with AES and RSA encryption, and free from subscription charges.
For smart-home customers, the S1 Lite ties into the Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant ecosystems and is managed by way of the Baseus app for Android or iOS.
Setup and efficiency
Setting up the S1 Lite begins with downloading the Baseus Security app, which you’ll want to attach the digicam to your Wi-Fi community. Once the digicam is powered on, the app robotically detects it and walks you thru the connection course of step-by-step. From there, you may mount the digicam with the included screw mount, a job that takes only some minutes because of its wi-fi design. Connectivity is proscribed to 2.4GHz Wi-Fi networks, which is frequent at this value however price noting in case your community is already overcrowded.
The digicam’s microSD card slot and charging port are protected against climate by a rubber cowl.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
Video efficiency is stable for a finances digicam. The 2K decision captures good element through the day, and the wide-angle view means you may cowl a yard or driveway with a single unit. At evening, black-and-white infrared evening imaginative and prescient retains watch till movement triggers the highlight, enabling the digicam to ship colour video that may seize particulars like the colour of clothes or automotive paint.
The Baseus Security app features properly as a management hub for the digicam. The dwelling display screen reveals a reside feed with fast entry to features like recording, snapshots, highlight, and two-way speak. Dive into settings and you’ll regulate video and audio high quality, handle battery efficiency, or fine-tune movement detection. Sensitivity is managed with a easy slider, and you’ll select between detecting all movement or simply human exercise. It’s an easy, no-nonsense structure that makes it simple to get the digicam working the way in which you need with out feeling buried in menus.
Smart alerts had been typically responsive in my testing. Setting the detection to “human” lower down on the variety of notifications from timber swaying and different incidental movement, successfully conserving notifications manageable.
The Baseus Security app retains the digicam controls clear and intuitive.
Michael Ansaldo/Foundry
I’ve all the time been a fan of native storage, because it retains my information in my fingers and eliminates ongoing charges for cloud storage. But it’s price noting that Baseus doesn’t present any means for backing up the digicam’s video recordings offsite. So, if the digicam is broken or stolen within the fee of a criminal offense, you’ll don’t have any forensic proof. That trade-off will matter extra to some than others, however at this value level it appears like a good compromise.
Should you purchase the Baseus Security S1 Lite Outdoor Camera 2K?
The Baseus S1 Lite makes a powerful case as an entry-level outside digicam. At $80–and promoting for a lot much less on-line–it’s cheaper than many 2K solar-powered opponents, and the absence of a subscription payment to retailer its video recordings within the cloud lowers its complete value of possession much more.
You might want to make some small compromises, nonetheless. Support for under 2.4GHz Wi-Fi will restrict its efficiency on crowded networks. The two-activity-zone/two-privacy-zone restrict may show restrictive should you’re monitoring a bigger house. And superior AI smarts like car or pet detection will likely be missed if you wish to be careful for unfamiliar automobiles or wandering critters. If these issues matter, both maintain buying.
For budget-conscious owners, although, the Baseus S1 Lite hits the fitting notes. You’ll quit some bells and whistles, however you’ll nonetheless get a succesful solar-powered digicam that delivers on its core promise: reasonably priced outside safety.