Swann Xtreem surveillance camera review

Swann Xtreem surveillance camera review

One minute review

Swann may not be a name many people are familiar with, but the Melbourne-based Australian brand has been around for a while and its reputation continues to thrive. The Swann Xtreem surveillance camera is its latest model and combines a Full HD lens with a not particularly wide viewing angle of 2 degrees to capture movement. Storage is via a Micro SD card (a 99GB card is provided with the camera) or via the cloud. There are 95 free cloud options. You can save clips to the cloud for free for 6 hours or pay for Swann's Secure+ subscription service for up to 56 days of streaming clips from €XNUMX / €XNUMX / AU$XNUMX and five a month. Swann claims that its True Detect heat and motion sensing technology results in fewer "false alarms" caused by, for example, passing vehicles or swaying trees. Alternatively, you can use the in-app software to adjust the motion sensitivity according to your settings. Other features include the option for a siren that sounds when motion is triggered and two-way sound so you can chat with anyone on your property. It also works with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa if you want voice control. What is particularly good about this Xtreem model is its utility. Instead of running on the mains, which limits where it can be mounted, this model has a rechargeable battery, which gives up to XNUMX months of use on a full charge. It is also weather resistant (IPXNUMX), which means that it can be mounted both outdoors and indoors. A magnetic base is also provided for mounting the device on the wall or on a flat surface such as a table or shelf. Starting at $XNUMX / £XNUMX / AU$XNUMX, there are indeed more affordable home video surveillance cameras out there, but the Xtreem is a solidly built unit and well stocked On top of this, you don't have to pay for an extra monthly subscription to save video clips thanks to a Micro SD card slot and free XNUMX/XNUMX cloud storage.

Swann Xtreem Surveillance Camera Price and Availability

The Swann Xtreem surveillance camera retails for €99 / €95 / AU €XNUMX and is available worldwide from Swann. As we have already mentioned, the camera can save videos recorded over twenty-four hours for free. If you want to see them after that, you'll need to sign up for Swann Secure+, which starts at $XNUMX / £XNUMX / AU$XNUMX per month and also includes animal and car detection, as well as rich notifications.

Swann Xtreem security camera mounted on an exterior wall

(Image credit: LaComparacion)

Integrated

Indeed, there is nothing weak about the Swann Xtreem surveillance camera. A large unit, it has a reassuring look and feel, tipping the scales at around 0,77 lbs / three hundred and fifty g. Part of the reason is the built-in rechargeable battery that offers up to 6 months of charge. In front is the Full HD lens, while below is the motion sensor and the recording and / or pairing LEDs that light up in red and blue respectively. At the top of the unit, under a waterproof cover, is the reset button and Micro SD card slot for storage. Underneath you will find a micro USB slot to charge the battery, and a speaker to communicate with the people who come to your door or who are in your house. A threaded mount allows you to attach the camera to a tripod if you wish, as a powerful magnet mount ensures the camera can be used independently and can be easily angled for different locations. Other than that, 2 screws and 2 raw plugs are included to drill the mounting bracket on the wall, just like double-sided tape. However, we do not advise using the tape to hold the surveillance camera to the wall, as it is a particularly heavy unit. Finally, dozens and dozens of security stickers in different languages ​​are included in the box so that you can let people know that you have installed a Swann surveillance camera if you want to.

Swann Xtreem security camera mounted on a wall outside a home

(Image credit: LaComparacion)

Performance

When it came to testing the Xtreem Security surveillance camera indoors, we didn't find any issues. Image quality was good and the device was sensitive enough to register movement. However, using the unit outdoors proved to be considerably more challenging, especially as we distanced ourselves from the family router. With other video surveillance cameras we tested, even at around one hundred feet / thirty m, we were able to deliver reasonably quality images. This is not the case with this Swann unit. The signal quality seemed to drop very quickly, which meant that at the back of our house, away from the router at the front of our property, it was not possible to view the images. Instead, we got the message "Authentication" and the camera could not pair with the app. That said, moving the camera considerably closer to the router (we recommend thirty-three feet / ten m or less) worked really well. Despite a reasonably narrow viewing angle of XNUMX degrees (certain units offer a XNUMX degree viewing angle), the images were highly detailed. The ability to adjust the sensitivity to catch movement close to the camera or much further away was also really helpful. However, this device does not have the ability to record motion in certain parts of the screen only (ie areas of motion) as you can with devices like Ring Spotlight Cam.

Application

Control, like most video surveillance cameras, is via a smartphone app rather than a web interface. Simply download the Swann Security app for your iOS or Android device and scan the QR code at the bottom of the device. This displays the model in the app and after entering your details, including the WiFi code, you should be good to go. To make setup easier, voice prompts are given with commands such as "Ready to Pair", "Setup in Progress" and "Connection Successful". It is true that the application is very complete. Perhaps most useful is the ability to set motion detection for different modes: home, night, and away. For example, if you're home all day, you might want to disable motion detection entirely, so it doesn't trigger a recording every time you move. Conversely, at night you may want higher levels of motion sensitivity, such as "far" and "maximum" so that the camera records every movement. Other settings include speaker and microphone level settings (we recommend setting them high enough), a Do Not Disturb option so you won't receive push notifications, and a siren option. Fortunately, scrolling through previous recordings is easy thanks to a calendar format that lets you search by date after hitting the play button at the bottom of the screen. Alternatively, you can press the Live View button to be able to view your camera feed at any time, which is useful if you want to quickly check out your property, no matter exactly where on the planet it may be. . With the app you can also view images from any other Swann devices you may have in your setup.

The side of the Swann Xtreem security camera on a wall

(Image credit: LaComparacion)

Battery duration

Swann claims the battery will last up to 6 months between charges, though that depends on how often and how long you're viewing live, as well as how often you notice motion. We cannot confirm this on the basis of "usual use", as we have put the camera through extensive tests in a short period for this review. The battery took 5 hours to fully charge which is disappointing as with the built in battery the camera will be dead while charging the battery. We'd prefer to see a swappable battery, like in the Arlo Ultra XNUMX and Arlo Pro XNUMX, so as long as you buy a backup battery, the camera never disconnects.

Should I buy the Swann Xtreem surveillance camera?

Buy it if...

You want to use it outdoors
The Swann Xtreem is IP56 sealed for outdoor installation You don't want video stored in the cloud
This camera saves video locally on the supplied Micro SD card You have no power nearby
This surveillance camera runs on rechargeable batteries, so if you don't have a power outlet nearby, that's fine.

Don't buy it if...

You have a limited budget
It is one of the most expensive models on the market. You don't have any DIY skills
You will probably need a drill to install this heavy unit Your WiFi router is far away
The Swann Xtreem is best located near the WiFi router First review: June XNUMX

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