V1 or V2 ?
It would be helpful for Woot to include whether it is V1 or V2. Looking at the lens, this looks like a V1, assuming Woot is using the proper photos. The lens on the V1 is smaller than on the V2.
The V2 gets an improved sensor and 130° field of view vs 110° on the V1.
We own a V1 and a lot of other Wyze gear. Initially it was a pretty horrible product. But with updates it got a lot better to the point where it is basically usable.
Wyze, oh how we’d like to like you. But you are your own worse enemy.
With the V2 and initially, the V3 standard (not OutdoorCam like this deal) cams, everything was pretty good.
Then two things happened at Wyze:
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Wyze apparently realized their business model would fail with “no charge” full cloud functionality. (Well, they also lost an IP legal battle related to the motion detection logic in the V2.). So Wyze commenced on a very frustrating, for customers, journey of jerking us around on cloud functionality and requiring subscriptions in changing ways to make the cameras fully useful.
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Wyze, still a startup company, went crazy drunk with new products. Products they clearly could not support, much less design properly as a small company. And many (most?) of those products have been a fail or mediocre at best. The worst was Wyze V1 Security System - when the initial coin cell batteries failed, the sensors bricked! So within a year or so, the complete sensor system was useless. Wyze support initially replaced bricked sensors when you complained, but eventually simply abandoned those customers.
BTW, there’s something generally really slowww about Wyze network responsiveness (they use Amazon AWS cloud servers, but apparently not enough). Even with their full cloud subscription service, the responsiveness of their notifications and recordings is delayed. These are not “security cameras” in the sense of giving live alerts. Even now simple things like Wyze smart bulbs are unreliable, losing their connections, and with slow responsiveness. (We know since our TP-Link smart bulbs and plugs are dramatically faster and bullet-proof reliable, even after a power outage.)
Bottom lIne: yeah, the Wyze prices are cheap. There will be die-hard Wyze loyalists excusing the problems, but don’t be expecting excellent results. Learn to accept them for what they are, cheap compromise products. We still run a lot of Wyze cameras. But if we were to start over, I think we’d spend more to get more.
As a cloud subscriber I would personally disagree with the portion of your statement around notifications. I have been a sub for a couple years and have near instantaneous notification delivery when an event occurs.
My Wyze products are significantly less than conpetitors and perform the functions desired. YMMV
Do you own an OutdoorCam? How about other Wyze products?
Were you a V2 cam owner prior to the Wyze cloud subscription games?
True, YMMV.
I have an outdoor cam, floodlight, several indoor cams, scale, safe, and irrigation controller.
I have 4 Wyze cameras. A Wyze hand vacuum, a cordless vacuum, 2 pairs of wireless headphones. I like their products. Oops forgot. I have their garage opener as well. They make good products for a small amount of money. Would you compare a Sonos speaker to an Amazon Echo puck? No. Of course not. But some will. And beat their chest and declare, " I made fire".
It’s a wireless camera that gets good results. If you want a Sonos camera system, go wired and show everyone how awesome it is and degrade a small upstart company for innovation.
I like their products and will buy more. If it fails. I toss it. No biggie.
So I just want something to watch the front of my small townhome and store the video for a day or two. Is this enough for me or is it garbage?