Swann Xtreem Security Camera review

One-minute review

Swann is probably not a reputation that many individuals are accustomed to, however the Australian model based in Melbourne has been round for a while and its status is steadily rising.

The Swann Xtreem safety digicam is its newest mannequin and combines a Full HD lens with a not significantly vast 110-degree viewing angle for capturing motion. Storage is offered both through a Micro SD card (a 16GB card is supplied with the digicam) or through the cloud. Two cloud choices can be found. Either you'll be able to retailer clips within the cloud for twenty-four hours without spending a dime or pay for Swann’s Secure+ Service subscription service for as much as 60 days of rolling clips from $4.99 / £4.95 / AU$6.95 per 30 days.

Swann claims that its True Detect warmth and movement sensing know-how leads to fewer ‘false alerts’ brought about, for instance, by passing vehicles or swaying timber. Alternatively, it’s potential to make use of the software program throughout the app to regulate movement sensitivity relying in your setting. Other options embody the choice of a siren that goes off when movement is triggered and two-way audio so you'll be able to communicate to whoever is at your property. It additionally works with each Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa if you'd like voice management.

What’s significantly good about this Xtreem mannequin is its versatility. Rather than being mains-operated which limits the place it may be mounted, this mannequin boasts a chargeable battery, which provides as much as six months of use from one full cost. It’s additionally weatherproofed (IP56) which signifies that it may be mounted open air in addition to inside. A magnetic base for mounting the system both to the wall or to a flat floor reminiscent of a desk or bookcase, can be offered.

Costing $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$199.95 there are definitely cheaper dwelling safety cameras round, however the Xtreem is a solidly constructed and well-equipped unit. What’s extra, you don’t must pay an extra month-to-month subscription cost for storing video clips because of a Micro SD card slot and free rolling 24-hour cloud storage.

Swann Xtreem Security Camera value and availability

List value: $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$199.95

The Swann Xtreem safety digicam is priced at $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$199.95 and is out there worldwide from Swann.

As we’ve already talked about, the digicam can retailer movies recorded for twenty-four hours freed from cost. If you need o review them after this, you’ll must subscribe to Swann Secure+, which prices from $4.99 / £4.95 / AU$6.95 per 30 days and likewise consists of pet and car detection, in addition to wealthy notifications.

The Swann Xtreem security camera resting on a wall outside

(Image credit score: SociallyTrend)

Design

Solidly constructed unit
Powerful battery
Waterproof cowl for sockets

There’s definitely nothing flimsy in regards to the Swann Xtreem safety digicam. A cumbersome unit, it seems and feels reassuringly effectively made, tipping the scales at round 0.77lb / 350g. Part of the rationale for that is built-in rechargeable battery that gives as much as six months of cost. At the entrance is the Full HD lens whereas beneath is the movement sensor and the recording and /pairing lights which illuminate purple and blue respectively.

On the highest of the unit beneath a water-resistant cowl is the reset button in addition to the Micro SD card slot for storage. Underneath you will discover a micro USB slot for charging the battery, and a speaker for speaking with individuals who come to your door or who're in your own home.

A screw mount so you'll be able to connect the digicam to a tripod if you want, and a strong magnetic mount that make sure the digicam can be utilized freestanding, and may be simply angled for various places, are offered. On prime of that, two screws and two uncooked plugs are included for drilling the mounting bracket into the wall in addition to double-sided adhesive tape. However, we wouldn’t suggest utilizing the tape to connect the safety digicam to the wall as it's a significantly heavy unit.

Finally, included within the field are dozens of safety stickers in numerous languages so you'll be able to let folks know that you've got a Swann safety digicam put in if you happen to so want.

The Swann Xtreem security camera mounted on a wall on the exterior of a home

(Image credit score: SociallyTrend)

Performance

Clear footage recorded indoors
Needs to be near WiFi router
Not the widest viewing angle

When it got here to testing the Xtreem Security safety digicam indoors we didn’t have any issues. The image high quality was good and the unit was delicate sufficient to report movement. However, utilizing the unit exterior proved way more problematic, particularly as we moved additional away from the home router.

With different safety cameras we’ve examined, even at round 100 ft / 30m we’ve been in a position to stream affordable high quality footage. Not so with this Swann unit. Signal high quality appeared to drop off in a short time which meant that behind our home, away from the router situated on the entrance of our property, it wasn’t potential to view photos. Instead, we simply bought the message ‘authenticating’ and the digicam wasn’t in a position to sync with the app in any respect.

That stated, shifting the digicam a lot nearer to the router (we might suggest 33 ft / 10m or much less) yielded glorious outcomes. Despite a fairly slender viewing angle of 110 levels (some models supply 180-degree viewing angle) photos have been very detailed. Also very helpful was the power to regulate sensitivity to seize motion both near the digicam or a lot additional away. However, this unit doesn’t have the ability to report motion in sure elements of the show solely (ie. movement zones) as you'll be able to with gadgets just like the Ring Spotlight Cam.

App

App arrange through QR code and voice directions
Three customizable modes
Easily adjustable movement detection settings

Control, as with most safety cameras, is offered through a smartphone app quite than an internet interface. Simply download the Swann Security app on your iOS or Android system and scan the QR code on the underside of the system. This brings up the mannequin throughout the app and after inputting your particulars together with WiFi code you have to be able to go. To assist arrange, voice directions with instructions reminiscent of ‘Ready for Pairing’, ‘Set up in Progress’ and ‘Connection Succeeded’ are offered.

Certainly, the app could be very complete. Perhaps most helpful is the power to set movement detection for various modes – dwelling, night time and away. For instance, if you're at dwelling all day you may wish to change movement detection off fully, so it doesn’t set off a recording each time you progress round. Conversely, at night time it's your decision greater movement sensitivity ranges, reminiscent of ‘far’ and ‘maximum’ so the digicam data each little bit of movement. Other settings embody speaker and microphone degree changes (we might suggest setting them fairly excessive), a don't disturb choice so that you don’t obtain push notifications and a siren choice.

Thankfully, scrolling by means of earlier recordings is easy because of a calendar format that lets you search by date after urgent the playback button on the underside of the display screen. Alternatively, you'll be able to hit the Live View button to see footage out of your digicam at any explicit second – helpful if you'd like a fast examine in your property from wherever you're on the earth. Using the app you may also view footage from another Swann gadgets you will have in your arrange.

The side of the Swann Xtreem security camera resting on a wall

(Image credit score: SociallyTrend)

Battery life

Battery lasts as much as six months between expenses
It takes round 5 hours to totally recharge the battery
The battery isn’t swappable

Swann says the battery will last as long as six months between expenses, though this may rely upon how usually and for a way lengthy reside view is activated, in addition to how usually movement is detected. We’re not in a position to verify this primarily based on ‘typical use’, as we’ve put the digicam by means of heavy testing in a brief time frame for this review.

The battery took 5 hours to totally recharge, which is disappointing, as as a result of the battery is built-in the digicam will likely be out of motion whereas the battery is charging. We’d favor to see a swappable battery, as within the Arlo Ultra 2 and the Arlo Pro 4, in order that, offered you buy an extra battery, the digicam won't ever be offline.

Should I purchase the Swann Xtreem Security Camera?

Buy it if...

You wish to use it open air
The Swann Xtreem has IP56 weatherproofing for out of doors set up

You don’t need video saved within the cloud
This digicam shops video domestically on the Micro SD card offered

You haven’t bought energy close by
This safety digicam is powered by rechargeable batteries so if you do not have an influence outlet close by, it’s not a difficulty.