Hands-on gadget review: Yale Floodlight Camera

Like many people, four different TV streaming services and three types of cloud storage make me feel subscription fatigue. So the new hated gadget is the one that requires direct debit.

Enter Yale Floodlight Camera. Most security cameras and doorbell cams charge a monthly fee to store footage in the cloud, which can store video onboard. As such, it can be paired with larger Yale security systems, but works fine as a standalone 1080p high-definition camera with no subscription fees. There is no internal storage, but you can add a MicroSD card up to 256GB. For non-stop recording, that’s enough for 10 days of footage (H.265 compression and 2MP resolution). If you don’t set the video to always record, but instead set it to be triggered by motion, that capacity will obviously last longer.

How much you record is up to you. You can set and trigger motion alerts, choose sensor sensitivity or record all the time. Includes 10m night vision, 2-way audio and 110dB siren.

It is mains powered and Yale recommends professional installation. Purchasing online allows you to reserve a third-party installer. This in itself costs around £199. For this, you’ll hire someone to not only mount it outside your home, but also drill it into your wall and wire it to the fused switch spar inside. It also helps with pairing and setup with the Yale View app (iOS or Android). It can also be installed as a DIY job or using your own electrician.

Installation went pretty smoothly, but I wish I had known to pair the camera with the app before mounting it on the wall. To pair, you have to point your phone’s camera at her QR code on Yale (not her QR code in the description, confusing). It then uses the phone’s microphone to play audio and communicate with the Yale Floodlight camera’s microphone. I installed it before pairing it, so I had occasional trips up and down ladders with my phone. At least I remembered to insert the MicroSD memory card into the weatherproof camera’s slot before installing it.

But the pairing worked and the app successfully taught the camera how to connect to my home Wi-Fi. After that, the camera and the app worked together beautifully. Your camera stays connected to Wi-Fi and can be accessed from the app wherever you are. It’s worth climbing the ladder for a while after installing until you get the app working. Viewing your footage on the screen will help you find the best angle to point your camera at (it can be adjusted up and down, but not left and right).

The Yale View app gives you a live view from your camera and optionally allows you to hear the audio as well. You can also directly control floodlights and sirens, and speak via the built-in microphone. You may already be using this feature with your doorbell camera. Disembodied voices coming from above are strange to delivery drivers, but they can come in handy. It may also be good for trick or treat pranks.

View recent records in the app with a scrolling calendar and timeline. If you have the app set to record footage all the time, colored bars in the timeline indicate when motion is detected, so you know what points in the recording are interesting.

You can set the motion detector to trigger your camera and send push alerts to your phone. You can also choose from five levels of sensitivity and select areas to pay attention to and areas to ignore. Frustratingly, you can only set one sensitivity threshold. What I want is for the camera to record every movement and only alert me when someone is marching towards my front door.

Also, there is no AI. Cams can’t tell the difference between people, packages, or cars. Other cameras in the Yale ecosystem have AI (there are different colored bars in the app’s timeline indicating different types of events), and Yale is making these features available as his 2023 firmware update to Yale. It says it will be introduced in Floodlight Camera. The app will notify you. Free update users can tell to install over Wi-Fi. No need to climb a ladder.

The camera footage is very impressive. 1080p high-definition images are detailed and you can zoom in on your footage. The camera cannot pan and tilt, but it is fixed. The camera position determines the camera angle. For example, can you see a person’s face or the top of their head?

And if you’re recording an important video (be it a robbery or a family prank) you can download it from the app and save or share it. Otherwise, it will be overwritten when the memory card is full.

All in all, the Yale Floodlight Camera delivers on its promise of storing home security footage without requiring a monthly subscription fee. Allocate extra time (DIY) or money (professional) for installation. After that, it should run on mains power, be maintenance free, and benefit from firmware updates that add functionality. Yale put a lot of thought into creating a great standalone security camera, but the idea of ​​the app supporting other modes is clear. So if you want to extend your security system, use a Yale product that can monitor you. From the same app.

£169.99

Alternative proposal

eufy Security Floodlight Cam 2 Pro

Use pan and tilt to avoid blind spots and see more details with the 2K HD camera. Three light panels can adjust color temperature and brightness (up to 3,000 lumens) triggered by sunrise and sunset, schedule, or motion detection. Lock and track AI targets, sirens, and two-way audio too. No subscription required, but 8 GB of storage is not expandable.

£279 eufy.com

Google Nest Cam with Floodlight (wired)

Motion detection, intelligent alerts, and a system that integrates well with mobile phones make this 1080p HDR camera attractive. Includes 3 hours of event history, but requires a paid subscription to store 1 month.

£269.99 store.google.com

ring spotlight cam plus battery

This compact security camera has a rechargeable battery that needs to be recharged, so keep it within reach. It works similarly to Yale, but requires a subscription to store and share footage. If you don’t have a subscription, you’ll only see live view and notifications.

£179.99