First impression of the YI Home Camera 1080p
Design, workmanship and What's in the box
With a size of only 122 x 70 x 59 mm and a weight of 132g, the YI surveillance camera is comparatively small and light. The design is simple and the compact size makes the camera look inconspicuous, which is why it can be placed inconspicuously. The design is much more reminiscent of a modern webcam than a smart surveillance camera.
As usual with other YI products, the workmanship is convincing. The plastic housing makes a valuable impression and the included accessories are also made flawlessly.
The scope of delivery is clear. In addition to the YI Home Camera, it also includes a charging cable, a power adapter, an adhesive pad and a multilingual user manual. A separate bracket is missing because the stand connected to the camera is also the bracket.
Hardware and equipment
Image processor and image sensor
An Ambarella Cortex-A9 image processor works inside, clocking at 600MHz. The memory equipment is 2GB DDR3 RAM and a 1GB SLC NAND flash memory. Recordings can be saved directly to a MicroSD memory card (8GB - 64GB) via an SD memory card slot.
The image sensor is a 2.12 megapixel CMOS from Panasonic with vMaicovicon technology, which creates a detailed image even in poor lighting conditions. Videos are recorded with a maximum resolution of 1080p at 25 frames per second. The focal ratio of the lens is F2.0. In addition, the camera has an extremely wide field of view of 130 °. Video compression is based on the H.264 level 5.1 and MJPEG standard. An additional picture improvement is achieved by a 3D noise filter, the 3D LUT color correction and WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) as well as HDR (High Dynamic Range).
IR night vision, WiFi and audio system
There are a total of 11 infrared LEDs (940nm) around the lens. The YI Home Camera 2 automatically switches to night vision mode when it gets darker or when there is insufficient light. This function can also be deactivated in the camera settings. There are additional status LEDs (yellow and blue) on the camera housing that indicate a power connection (yellow) and an existing WLAN connection (blue).
The YI Home Camera 2 has an integrated 2.4GHz WiFi module for data transmission. The standards 802.11 b / g / n as well as the encryption WEP or WPA2 are supported. Speech can be received and played back via a two-way audio system. The surveillance camera is equipped with a 1W loudspeaker and a microphone for this purpose.
OPERATION
The YI surveillance camera receives power from the included power adapter and USB cable. This solution is convenient because a USB cable of any length can be used. The power adapter is also identical to that of a smartphone, which is why it can also be easily replaced. The mounting option is less convenient. The firmly connected bracket allows the camera to be set up perfectly, but the YI surveillance camera can only be attached to the wall with an adhesive pad. There is no screw option.
An Android or iOS device is required for commissioning. First of all, the so-called "YI Home" app must be downloaded. Then you have to create a "YI account". To do this, you either log in with an email address or use the “Facebook login”.
Next, you will be guided through the steps necessary for commissioning. The language of the app is German. An additional, English voice output explains the current status of the camera. To be able to use the YI Home Camera 2, it must be integrated into an existing WLAN. The WLAN data is transmitted using a QR code that is generated with the app and held in front of the camera lens.
YI Home app and functions
The app is clearly laid out and offers numerous setting options. Several YI cameras can be managed via this, as well as a live image of the respective connected camera is displayed.
main display
If you have selected a connected camera, video and photo recordings can be made via the app, you can send and receive voice messages, as well as get an overview of the triggered alarms.
In the test, the main display convinces by a simple operability and clarity. All necessary functions can be reached by a few steps.
alarm function
How and when an alarm is triggered can be set individually. Among other things, an activity region can be defined, a person recognition can be activated and there is even a "crying baby recognition". Person recognition triggers as soon as a person is recognized. The "crying baby detection" is triggered when the baby is crying loudly. For each type of detection there are also 3 sensitivity levels (high / medium / low), an alarm frequency (high / medium / low) and a schedule indicating when the alarm should be activated or muted.
A short recording is saved when an alarm is triggered. This is synchronized with the "YI Cloud" and can also be called up while on the move. The live image is also synchronized with the YI Cloud and can be viewed remotely from anywhere. The fact that the camera is constantly synchronized with the YI Cloud can already be seen from the delay in the video signal. This is delayed by about 6 seconds, although the receiving device used in the test was in the same network. Unfortunately, remote access cannot be switched off completely. Only the saving of alarm recordings within the YI Cloud can be deactivated. If you want to continue using the alarm function afterwards, you have to insert an SD memory card.
YI Technologie promises that the data transmission is encrypted and the surveillance camera can be provided with a PIN, but unauthorized access can never be ruled out! About 90% of the intentionally triggered alarms were detected in the test. Person recognition is generally rather imprecise. Even pets were recognized as "persons".
gesture control
Video messages can be transmitted with the "Gesture control" function. To do this, stand in front of the camera at a distance of about 2 meters and hold your outstretched hand at shoulder height. The YI Home Camera then lights up with a green LED and indicates that the gesture has been recognized. If you then fold your hand into a fist, the video recording begins.
The gesture control worked without any problems during the course of the test. If you followed the individual steps exactly, the error rate was zero.
Settings
The setting options are extensive. There are other settings for:
- Resolution (1080p @ 25 / 20 or 720p @ 20)
- volume
- Microphone
- Status LED
- object distortion
- night vision
Updates
As soon as a firmware update or app update is available, you will be notified via the YI Home app. Updates are then downloaded and installed fully automatically.
Picture and sound quality
The image display is high resolution sharp and very detailed. Colors are reproduced accurately. Even in poor lighting conditions, the YI Home Camera 2 produces usable images. The change to night vision mode works well. In this mode, however, the refresh rate is felt to be reduced, which creates a slight "dragging" effect. However, the image quality remains as expected.
The sound transmitted to the YI Home Camera 2 is clear and distinct. It doesn't sound tinny even at the highest transmission volume. The tone transmitted to the receiving device is also understandably clear.
YI Home Camera 2YI Home Camera 1080p
Design and workmanship
usability
Functional range
Image and audio quality
SD memory card slot
USB power supply
Remote access cannot be disabled
Attachment with adhesive pad
transmission delay
The Yi Home Camera 2 from Yi Technology is a convenient surveillance solution that offers a comprehensive and well-implemented range of functions and surprises with its very good image and sound quality. This means that the Yi surveillance camera is in direct competition with the "Nest Cam" and is a much cheaper alternative.
The range of functions and the convenient operation are to a certain extent due to the “Yi Cloud”, which among other things stores recorded videos and enables remote access to the video stream. Yi Technology promises a secure data connection (P2P) and data encryption, but you can never know where the data is stored and how this data will ultimately be used. If you want to be on the safe side, you should completely exclude internet access for the Yi surveillance camera. The video stream can also be accessed locally.
Alexander Reder
11. July 2018 10 to: 54
Dear TECHREVIEWER team,
I found the article on the Yi Home Camera 2 very helpful, but I have 2 very important questions for me. Firstly, I would like to know whether the Yi Camera can also be operated via a power bank instead of the power supply unit and, secondly, whether “a 2.4GHz WiFi module is integrated” means that the camera itself is WiFi-direct capable. If this is not the case, is it possible to couple the camera to a WiFi-direct enabled device such as a cell phone (i.e. without a router)?
Thank you,
Alexander Reder
Timo admin
11. July 2018 12 to: 49
Hi Alexander, you can operate the camera with a power bank. WiFi Direct is not available, however. With WiFi we mean that the camera does not create its own WiFi that you can connect to, but has to be integrated into an existing WiFi as a client.