With our ever-increasing tech-fuelled life with devices that digitally store and manage our personal information, whether for work or our personal lives, our belongings are becoming more and more personally valuable; if not invaluable. So how about adding another tech device on top of that to look after your belongings? That’s where indoor security cameras come in, to help you keep an eye on your house and valuables in case of break-ins, even remotely. However, such accessories might not always come with an affordable price tag.

For those on a budget who still want to reinforce the security of their homes, Winees from AiDot recently launched a $52 indoor camera, the Winees M2.

The package comes with the following items:

• Winees M2 camera
• AC adapter with micro USB cable
• Screw and wall anchor
• Reset pin
• Wall-mounted plate

 

Details about the Winees M2’s specs can be found below:

As you can see in the pictures above, there are some missing elements in the package as the unit sent for testing was pre-used. However, it was a fully functional one. 

Being a fan of the minimalistic designs, I was immediately fond of the Winees M2’s look. Save for the lens area, it packs an all-white body with no particularly stand-out features and thus blends well with the existing furniture. 

Its two-part design is also original, with the camera itself attaching magnetically to the stand in a ball-and-socket fashion. This enables the camera to be freely rotated so as to be positioned at a desired video capture angle. One downside of this design though is that the USB cable that powers the camera limits the latter’s motion.

Some might also have issues with the USB cable itself as it is a micro-USB one. While I don’t mind it, a USB-C one would have been more welcome given their increasing popularity and it could even potentially provide the opportunity for a wireless dongle to be fitted into the device. That said, having a detachable cable is very welcome as it enables easy replacement as well as convenient storage.

 

Just as the Winees M2 is easy to assemble, it is as easy to start using. You’ll need to plug it to a power source and pair it to the companion AiDot app. I encountered some issues initially due to my account not being the same as the device version. This requirement should be revoked in my opinion but potential buyers should bear it in mind for the time being. Once this issue was resolved, the security camera was ready to be used. 

The app provides live video feeds, complete with audio and allows you to take pictures as well as video recordings. However, the quality of the audio stream is rather poor, with lots of noise coming through and artefacts during speeches. But it is still handy to be able to record audio in addition to video at the same time as you might be able to capture warning signs from the audio that aren’t visible in the live stream. There is also a handy two-way audio feature which can allow you to speak through the app to the person/intruder on the other side. Alternatively, it can also be used for monitoring and communicating with children as well as the elderly, without any input from them.

Winees also integrated a motion and person detection feature that sends you a notification if it detects someone walking past the camera. It also provides a 15 second footage of this instance for you to review and gauge any appropriate action (you can also provide the app feedback in case it mistakenly detects a person).

  

One of the Winees M2’s highlighted features is its night vision. Through embedded IR illumination, the device provides fairly decent video capture at night/low light conditions, albeit in black-and-white. There is an option to toggle the night vision on/off or even set it to trigger automatically.

  

Given that this device is potentially recording 24/7 one’s personal space, privacy issues will arise, especially given that it is paired through an app. Luckily, Winees also included handy privacy-focused features for its camera. Through the companion app, you can disable audio so no sound is recorded in the live stream. Another feature allows you to set “privacy zones” within the viewing angle that the camera won’t capture.

Whether through night vision or regular video feedback, the image quality is decent, although I wouldn’t call it crystal clear. Close ups can be quite muddy and lacking in details. However, for the purposes of this device, the quality is acceptable, although better resolution would still be welcome. 

The fisheye aspect of the lens, with a 135° viewing angle, helps provide a larger coverage of the surveilled area. While this is a welcome feature for a security camera, the Winees M2 is limited in that it is a static camera. Once you’ve positioned it and left the surveillance of your room/house in its stead, that positioned angle is the only one where you’ll receive video feedback from. Being able to move/rotate it along an axis would be a welcome, if not expected, feature of a security camera. But this is lacking in the Winees M2 and it will have to be placed strategically to capture enough area.

As a whole, the Winees M2 offers a decent indoor security option with handy features that won’t break the bank. But should you wish to use its cloud storage features, you’re looking at at paid subscription but for most cases, such as short trips, using a microSD will suffice.