Imou AOV PT 4G solar camera review: the security cam that works without Wi-Fi (aff)
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A solar-powered security camera with 4G backup and continuous recording aims to solve one of the biggest frustrations in home security
The choice of wireless solar powered security cameras has become pretty vast and bewildering in recent years. But there are still some features that set them all apart.
Take the Imou AOV PT 4G Solar Panel Camera System, for example, which not only has Wi-Fi connection and a solar panel to charge it, it can connect to a 4G network. This means it really couldn't be any more wireless if it tried.
It makes it a truly viable option for people who want a camera to protect their property, but either their Wi-Fi won't stretch to the device, or they don't have Wi-Fi in the first place.
By connecting to a cellular network, through a SIM card that's included with the kit, you simply don't need Wi-Fi. It also means, if your Wi-Fi goes down, you've still got a connection. It switches over automatically.
It's a great idea, and it makes the AOV PT very versatile. Not that it's the only compelling feature.
Because it also delivers 3K footage, it has AI-powered human detection, smart tracking, and a 10,000mAh battery.
Given that you can buy one on Amazon at the moment for £119.99 on a special offer, it really does offer a lot for the money.
There's also a clever continuous recording system that records a frame of footage every two seconds until it detects motion, when it will instantly switch to full recording.
This means you'll always have some sort of images to look back on, and video footage when you need it. It saves battery power, and makes much more of the storage which, incidentally, is captured on a supplied SD card.
It's this technology, bundled with the solar panel, and the back-up 4G system in place, that means this is perhaps the most reliable camera on the market. And it's a clever innovation, sure, but there his a hitch.
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That 4G connectivity is going to come at a cost. At least, eventually. Imou does give you a SIM card with the package, and it's bundled with a rather generous 6GB of data, but if you want to carry on with it after the three months the SIM will work for, you'll either have to pay monthly, or source your own SIM and package.
If I'm nit-picking, the footage goes a little jittery while it's tracking motion, and the app isn't the best I've used - but it's certainly not bad.
Besides these minor niggles, it's a truly impressive setup, and really does add something that other cameras can't.
True 24/7 smart surveillance, with unlimited battery life, decent footage, and all the other smart tech you'd expect from a camera at this price, really does make it seem very good value for money. Especially if you can catch Amazon's discount.
Whether you need all these features is up to you, there are 4K smart cameras that will perform well for less money, but that continuous recording and 4G back up does make this a rather compelling prospect.