Samsung SmartThings Cam review: A high-end security camera particularly suitable for SmartThings users

First things first: Samsung's latest security camera, simply dubbed the SmartThings Cam, shouldn't be confused with its old one

SmartThings Camera

or the different products of the range

SmartCam HD Pro

from Samsung. This latest camera is more capable, more streamlined, and best of all, moderately affordable at under $90 with no service plan required. (That said, keep reading for the fine print on the subscription plan

optional

.)

Designed as part of Samsung's push to grow its SmartThings brand, the SmartThings Cam doesn't require the SmartThings Hub to operate. But SmartThings users will appreciate being able to integrate an indoor camera into this ecosystem and use the same app to control it. This is a full Wi-Fi camera that can connect directly to your Wi-Fi network (connecting on 2.4 or 5 GHz frequency bands, which is refreshing).

The hardware is understated and attractive, with the body camera attached to a small arm that sticks out of a plastic base. A hinge allows you to rotate the camera lens up or down, but not left or right. The design benefits from a clever idea that allows the thin power cable to pass through a small gap at the base of the arm, keeping the cable out of the way and helping to ensure it cannot be easily ejected from the appropriate camera socket.

[ Further Reading: The Best Home Security Cameras ]

Samsung SmartThings

Ultra-sharp video (1080p resolution with HDR) is one of Samsung's SmartThings. The main selling points of the camera.

A speaker is built into the back of the camera; when combined with the two built-in microphones, you can use two-way audio to chat with anyone spotted on video. Finally, the bottom of the base comes off, exposing holes that can be used for wall mounting if desired (hardware to do this is included).

Setting up the SmartThings Cam involves installing the SmartThings app on your phone. The setup was seamless in my testing. The process involves scanning a QR code on the base of the device, then connecting the camera to your Wi-Fi network in the SmartThings app. This pairing process took me less than a minute.

In the SmartThings app, you'll be asked if you want to enable SmartThings Home Monitor, and you should probably get the most out of the system. This lets you use the camera as an ad-hoc security device, with 'stay' and 'away' modes, and it also lets you connect other SmartThings-enabled sensors, including motion , door/window, water leaks and smoke sensors. If one of these sensors is triggered, the camera, depending on where it is in your home, can provide insight into what triggered it. The camera also records video when motion is detected while armed (in “away” mode), and it streams live video on demand whether armed or disarmed (in “stay” mode) . You will need to enable away mode in the app.

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Operationally, the camera works quite well. The motion sensor is spot on and its sensitivity is quite triggering, but a handy motion detection zone system lets you define areas where you specifically do and don't want to monitor movement. (Warning: jostle the camera slightly and zoning becomes imprecise.) With a 145-degree field of view, the lens provides a very wide view of its surroundings, and an effective night vision mode automatically kicks in when it gets dark. Overall image quality (captured at 1080p resolution with HDR) was exceptional in my testing, although the crackle and crackle on the recorded audio left a lot to be desired. The other disappointment: the clips are limited to only 10 seconds each.

It is important to note that the camera does not, in itself, constitute a security system. There is no on-board siren or professional surveillance plan, even as an option. And when the camera detects motion, it sends a standard notification to your app: there's no email or text. If your notification settings are low, you can easily miss the news that someone is walking through your living room. If the app is open, SmartThings provides a much more detailed notification, along with a thumbnail image of the potential intruder. If you're looking for a security system, you might be best served by Amazon's Ring Alarm System.

Christopher Null / IDG

The Samsung SmartThings app lets you define areas where motion will be ignored.

SmartThings keeps a very detailed history of it all, although it's stored in two separate places: in the Home Monitor part of the app, you get a summary of all alarm-triggered events. In the camera management system, you get a history of whenever motion, sound, or a person (as opposed to any other type of motion) is detected, as well as when those things

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be detected. This isn't the most useful list of events, as a single day will typically include hundreds of events, but those with an extreme need for detail might find some value here.

The fact that the SmartThings Cam offers free 24-hour cloud storage of your video clips for up to four cameras per account. Accessing these clips is quick and easy, although it can be confusing and unintuitive to navigate through different parts of the SmartThings app. Some things are easier to manage in the more holistic SmartThings Home Monitor. Some are easier to manage if you treat the camera like any other smart device and manage it independently.

Again, all of the features listed above are completely free, but you can upgrade your service for $7.99 per month. A paid subscription offers 30 days of storage (instead of just one), support for eight cameras (instead of four), and clips last up to 60 seconds (instead of just 10). That last perk is arguably the most appealing, though $79.99 per year (when paid annually) seems awfully high for such a modest upgrade.

Overall, I didn't have any major issues with the Samsung SmartThings Cam on a day-to-day basis. operation, and if you're willing to traverse an unfortunately complicated interface to work with, that's worth considering, especially if you're using SmartThings to control other parts of your smart home and don't need the features that require a subscription.

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