Eufy Wired Wall Light Cam S100: A Stylish Security Solution

Floodlight cameras are often perceived as necessary evils: powerful security devices that sacrifice aesthetics for functionality. Their bulky, industrial designs can be off-putting, even if their bright illumination provides peace of mind. But what if you could have both security and style? The Eufy Wired Wall Light Cam S100 aims to bridge that gap, offering a more understated and attractive alternative to traditional floodlight cameras.

The Eufy S100 is not a floodlight in the conventional sense. Instead, it functions more like a porch light with an integrated camera, cleverly concealed between the stacked lighting elements. This design makes it less conspicuous than typical security cameras, blending seamlessly with your home’s exterior. The result is a security device that doesn’t scream "you’re under surveillance," creating a more welcoming atmosphere for your guests.

Design and Features

The Eufy S100 boasts an attractive industrial design that is a welcome departure from the utilitarian look of most floodlight cameras. The camera is nestled between two conical luminaires, which can be independently twisted to direct light where you need it most. You can even turn them around to face the wall, creating an ambient lighting effect with a palette of nearly 1 million colors. The ability to adjust the color temperature of the white light further enhances the customization options.

The camera itself can also be twisted left or right, allowing you to precisely aim the lens for optimal coverage. This level of adjustability ensures that you can capture the most important areas around your doorway or entryway.

Compared to the Netatmo Smart Outdoor Camera, a similar product in terms of design philosophy, the Eufy S100 offers several advantages. It is significantly less expensive, slightly brighter (1200 lumens vs. 1000 lumens), and captures video in 2K resolution (2048 x 1536 pixels) compared to Netatmo’s 1920 x 1080 pixels. The Eufy’s camera also boasts a wider 160-degree field of view, providing more comprehensive coverage than the Netatmo’s 100-degree view.

Both cameras offer dimmable lights and onboard storage, eliminating the need for costly cloud storage subscriptions. The Eufy S100 comes with 4GB of eMMC storage, while the Netatmo includes a 32GB microSD card. Eufy further enhances its storage options by offering network-attached storage through its HomeBase 3 product, which can accommodate up to a 16TB hard drive.

While Netatmo supports Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video, both cameras are compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, offering seamless integration with popular smart home ecosystems.

The Eufy S100 carries an IP65 weatherization rating, ensuring its protection against dust and water jets, making it suitable for outdoor use in various weather conditions.

Installation

The installation process for the Eufy S100 is similar to that of the Netatmo device, requiring a bit of patience. The first step involves adding the device to the Eufy app by scanning a QR code before connecting it to your home’s electrical wiring. This requires plugging the camera into a USB power adapter (not included) using the provided Micro-USB cable until the LED begins blinking red.

Once the camera is set up in the app and connected to your Wi-Fi network (2.4GHz only), you can attach the mounting bracket to the wall, ensuring that the hot, neutral, and ground wires pass through the center hole.

Instead of traditional wire nuts, the S100 uses a plastic wiring block with sockets for the three wires. This design, while clever, can be a bit tricky to work with. Pushing the light onto the bracket requires significant pressure, and you’ll need to hold it in place while screwing in small set screws on both sides. Having a helper during this step is highly recommended to alleviate frustration.

Performance and Features

The Eufy S100 excels at capturing excellent quality video, both during the day and at night. Its lights are bright enough to illuminate the surrounding area without being overpowering, making it a suitable porch light.

You can program the lights to turn on and off on a dusk-to-dawn schedule or configure them to activate only when motion is detected. The device features a passive-infrared motion sensor with a range of 30 feet.

The camera can recognize human motion and be set to record clips only when it detects people in its field of view. It also sends push notifications with thumbnail previews of what triggered the motion detection. Two-way talk is supported, and a 105dB siren can be activated to deter unwanted visitors.

The Eufy app allows you to customize motion sensitivity, specify whether to react to human or other types of motion, and create activity zones to ignore trees or shrubs in the camera’s view. The 2K camera records crisp, high-quality video with excellent color, ensuring clear identification of facial features. The night vision is also very good, although most users will likely configure the motion sensor to turn on the light at night.

Conclusion

The Eufy Wired Wall Light Cam S100 is a compelling alternative to traditional floodlight cameras, offering a more stylish and understated security solution. While it may not be as powerful as some of its competitors, it nails the basics with excellent video quality, customizable lighting, and a user-friendly app.

Its attractive industrial design blends seamlessly with your home’s exterior, and the absence of obtrusive surveillance cues creates a more welcoming environment. The quirky installation process, particularly the set screws, requires a bit of patience, but the overall performance and features make it a worthwhile investment.

If you’re seeking a security cam/light combo that prioritizes aesthetics without compromising functionality, the Eufy Wired Wall Light Cam S100 is an excellent choice. However, if you require a brighter light or a completely wireless solution, consider exploring other options like the Eufy Security Solar Wall Light Cam S120, although it is significantly less bright. Overall, the Eufy S100 provides a balance of security, style, and affordability that makes it a standout product in the crowded market of home security cameras.