- IMOU has launched a home security camera with "unlimited" battery life
- It uses low-power image capture, with motion-triggered video recording
- It can also switch between Wi-Fi and 4G LTE to maintain connectivity
IMOU, a company behind some of the best home security cameras we've tested here at TechRadar, has just a launched a new outdoor cam that's totally wireless, and offers "true, unlimited battery life" thanks to a solar panel, power-efficient always-on video recording, and extra-large capacity battery.
The IMOU AOV PT 4G Solar Panel Camera System includes a camera with 300-degree pan and 90-degree tilt, meaning you only need one to cover a large area. You can set custom privacy zones using the IMOU Life app. If you want total privacy, a physical privacy mode tilts the camera's lens right down and disables recording.
The camera captures one frame every two seconds when idle, and switches to full motion capture when it detects movement.
The claim of "unlimited battery life" is based on the its solar panel receiving two hours of direct sunlight, with 100 recording events triggered per day (50 during daylight hours, and 50 at night). Your actual results will depend on the intensity of sunlight and the number of triggers.
That's where the camera's on-board AI with person-detection comes into play, helping avoid false alerts. As we've seen with some other security cameras we've tested, false triggers aren't just irritating, they can drastically cut battery life. Companies like Reolink have shown how effective AI can be at preventing this, so I'm pleased to see it being applied more widely.
Wi-Fi and 4G switching
For areas with intermittent Wi-Fi coverage, IMOU's new camera can switch to 4G LTE connectivity to maintain connectivity. It has a built-in SIM, and comes with a free data trial so you can see whether it's useful where you plan to install it.
Your videos can be stored in the cloud (with a premium subscription) or locally on an SD card. In always-on video mode, with no recording event triggers, you can store up to 690 days of footage on a 512MB card.
The IMOU AOV PT 4G Solar Panel Camera System is available now for £129.99 from Argos in the UK (about $170 / AU$260). I'm hoping to test the new camera very soon to see how it compares with rivals from the likes of Swann, Ring, Baseus and Blink, and bring you a full review so you can choose the right cam for you.
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➡️ Read our full guide to the best video doorbells
1. Best overall (US):
Philips 7000 Series Video Doorbell (US)
2. Best overall (UK):
EZVIZ EP3x Pro Doorbell (UK)
3. Best budget:
Arlo Video Doorbell
4. Best wireless
Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus
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