Anker's new 4K security camera follows intruders with a spotlight

Following an earlier preview and countless tests, the Anker eufy camera reached the market on November 9. Its dual-radar detection system covers a 180-degree area at distances of up to 12 meters (40 feet), while a motorized spotlight tracks detected individuals and adjusts its beam according to their distance. For particularly persistent visitors, there's also a 105 dB siren and red-and-blue flashing lights.

The TrackLight Cam S1 records 4K video with color night vision and up to 10x digital zoom. It has a motorized mechanism which offers 355 degrees of horizontal movement, while a 15,000 mAh battery and detachable 5.5 W solar panel support wireless installation. Continuous 24/7 recording is possible, although that requires a wired power supply.

Interestingly, the camera also has a more welcoming side. Using Bluetooth identification through registered smartphones, it can recognize household members and greet them with softer lighting instead of treating everyone approaching the driveway as a potential criminal. That takes out of the suspects’ list the husband coming back home late after a “working meeting” with the boys from the office.

The IP65-rated camera supports Google Home directly and Apple Home through a compatible HomeBase 3. Footage can be stored locally without a mandatory monthly subscription, though a microSD card or compatible storage device is needed.

The Anker eufy TrackLight Cam S1 is available for $299.99 in the United States, £249 in the United Kingdom, and €299 in Germany through retailer expert TechnoMarkt. Its rather theatrical approach seems designed to make potential intruders feel like unwilling stars of their own crime show. Whether that actually discourages them remains to be established, but it should at least make the footage considerably more interesting