We all know home security cameras, but have you ever seen one with two cameras in one unit? That’s right, the Xiaomi C500 Smart Home Security Camera has decided that one lens just isn’t enough. It gives you two different images at the same time, so instead of swiveling one camera around, you can see both directions without so much as lifting a finger. One unit, two views—kind of like having two cameras, but without the hassle of managing them separately. It’s like security evolved, minus the part where you juggle multiple gadgets.
Not only does the C500 [CH] serve up this double vision, but it also does so with some serious AI muscle. It can detect pets, track people, listen out for baby cries, and even create virtual boundaries. That’s right, you can draw an invisible line, and the C500 will make sure no one crosses it without triggering an alert. It’s basically a nosy neighbor but with more brains. Wait. Why is there a neighbor in your house? Scratch that analogy but you get the idea. The dual AI detection tracks humans and locks onto them like a high-tech watchdog, eliminating blind spots and recording every move.
This camera (or cameras, honestly, it’s hard to say) comes with a 4 MP CMOS sensor and f/1.6 aperture for capturing clear images, even in low light. Speaking of the dark, the C500 has 16 units of infrared lights, so it’s not afraid of the dark. And because it’s got 360-degree coverage, no corner goes unwatched, well, at least it minimizes blind spots. And let’s not forget the Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth pairing for faster connectivity. If this camera was any more plugged in, it would probably start streaming your favorite shows.
With a 1 TOPS computing chip under its belt, the C500 crunches data like it’s training for the Olympics, and the A35 CPU keeps things running smoothly. The chip is born out of the TSMC 28 nm process, btw. Privacy is handled by Xiaomi’s MJA1 safety chip because no one wants Big Brother to turn into literal Big Brother. It even supports bi-directional communication—so, yes, you can talk back at it—and has a speaker that’s ready for action.
This smart cam also plays well with others, especially with Xiaomi Hyper Connect. You can set it up to turn on the lights when it spots movement or point it at the door when someone’s fiddling with the lock. And if mounting things upside down on your ceiling is your thing, the C500 supports inverted installation. When it comes to storing footage, it is flexible too. You record it on a microSD card, to the Cloud, or stuff it into your very own NAS setup. The choice is yours.
The new Xiaomi C500 Smart Home Security Camera is available in China for an introductory price of just 299 yuan [CH] (approximately US$43 based on today’s going rate).
Images: Xiaomi [CH].
