Eufy Security Cam S350 Dual Lens Camera

The Eufy Security Cam S350 is the value powerhouse of home security, and it does something no other camera here manages: dual 4K cameras, motorised pan, tilt and zoom, and full smart detection with no subscription, ever. At $249 it is the cheapest camera on our list. The trade-off is that it needs mains power, and there is a privacy backstory worth knowing.

It pairs a wide 162-degree 4K lens with a 40-degree telephoto 4K lens, so it can keep a wide view and zoom in on detail at the same time, and the motorised head physically follows movement. It is fully weatherproof at IP67, stores everything locally to a microSD card, network drive or HomeBase 3, and runs all its artificial intelligence detection (person, vehicle, animal, package) on your own network. It works with Google Home and Alexa, but not Apple HomeKit.

What the RefDat test lab found

For the money the capability is remarkable. The dual-lens tracking genuinely works, holding a wide view while the telephoto picks out a face or a number plate, and 4K means you can crop in and still read detail. Night-time infrared is clear, motion tracking is quick, and being wired means it never runs flat. The local storage with no monthly fee is the headline saving against subscription cameras. The honest limit is that the telephoto's narrow view makes it a poor only-camera, and being mains-powered it is less flexible to place than a battery unit.

What owners actually report

Owners on Whirlpool and OzBargain rave about the value and the no-subscription local storage, and many switched from subscription brands specifically to escape the monthly fee. Two watch-outs come up. First, the Eufy app is functional but less polished than Google's or Arlo's. Second, and more important, Eufy was caught out in 2022 when security researchers found some cameras marketed as local-only were uploading thumbnail images to the cloud and that streams could be accessed remotely. Eufy acknowledged it and tightened its practices, but it is a fair reason to keep the firmware updated and to know exactly what you are enabling.

Who should skip it? If you need a battery camera you can mount anywhere, or you want Apple HomeKit, look at the Reolink Argus 4 Pro. If you have power at the spot and want the most camera for the money with no ongoing fees, the S350 is outstanding.

You will find it at JB Hi-Fi, The Good Guys and Officeworks. OzBargain regularly posts deals on Eufy security gear.

Australian Consumer Law (ACL): an outdoor security camera at $249 should reasonably last 5 to 8 years, with the consumer guarantees realistically covering 3 to 4, beyond the typical 2-year warranty. If the motor fails, the lens fogs permanently or the power supply dies in that window, you have a claim. Take it to your retailer.

Bottom line: the most capable camera here for the least money, with no subscription, as long as you can run power to it. Highly recommended on value. Keep its firmware current given the brand's past privacy stumble. RefDat score 4.2 out of 5.