Eufy Wall Light Cam S4 review: a prettier way to protect your home
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A security camera that doesn’t look like a security camera? Eufy’s solar-powered wall light is a clever combination, but its £229 price and five-minute lighting limit deserve a closer look.
Security cameras are getting cleverer all the time, but plenty of them still look as though they belong outside a warehouse rather than beside your front door. There’s nothing particularly welcoming about a large lens staring down at visitors, but Eufy's latest launch takes a more subtle approach to surveillance.
It's called the Wall Light Cam S4, and it combines an outdoor wall light with a 4K security camera, with the light being the star of the show, and the camera being a discreet addition.
It's powered by a rechargeable battery, with a detachable solar panel to help keep it topped up, which means it needs no mains connection, just some stints in the sun.
At £229, it's not cheap compared to some of Eufy's dedicated cameras, and there are much cheaper 4K cameras from other brands to choose from, but that's not the point. The appeal here is having two useful functions working together, rather than another camera bolted alongside everything else.
What I liked about the Eufy Wall Light Cam S4
The most appealing aspect of this new approach is that the combination makes sense. A light helps you see where you’re going, makes an entrance more welcoming, and draws attention to activity outside.
A camera records what is happening in the same area, and uses that light to enhance the image.
Putting them together is a sensible bit of design, then, particularly beside a gate, porch or side entrance where you might otherwise install both separately.
I also like that the lighting has some flexibility. There are warm and cooler white settings, alongside RGB colours if you're feeling festive.
You can favour something understated for everyday use or introduce a bit of colour when the occasion calls for it.
The solar arrangement is another thoughtful feature. Because the panel can be detached, the best position for the camera doesn’t necessarily have to be the best position for collecting sunlight. That is useful around entrances shaded by a porch roof or overhang.
The lens can be adjusted manually, too, which lets you refine the view once the light is mounted, rather than accepting whatever angle the wall happens to provide.
The S4 combines radar-based detection with AI recognition for people, vehicles and pets. And Eufy has always been good at getting this type of tech right. The Wall Light Cam S4 just makes this work effectively, with a limited number of false alerts, and a reliable detection system.
You'll be pleased to hear there's no need for a subscription with this camera, as it has 32GB of storage built in, and the detection functions come as standard.
What I didn’t like about the Eufy Wall Light Cam S4
The biggest catch concerns the light itself. Despite the name and the decorative colour options, the S4 doesn’t support always-on lighting, and you can only set it up to run for up to five minutes.
This is obviously because battery power will take a hit if the light stays on, so it does make sense, but it's worth bearing in mind that this is solely a motion-triggered illumination than a conventional porch light.
Its maximum output is 500 lumens. That's plenty for a doorway or a small area nearby, but I wouldn’t expect it to flood a large garden with light. For that, you'd need a hard-wired lamp.
It has to be said, £229 is a lot of money for a camera and light combination these days. I've tested the Eufy Wall Light Cam S4 against the Tapo C615F, which currently costs £99.99. The light output is similar, the footage is slightly better from the Eufy, but the Tapo has a pan and tilt camera with automatic tracking. It's half the price, then, but definitely not half the camera.
Overall verdict - should you buy the Eufy Wall Light Cam S4?
The Eufy Wall Light Cam S4 is an appealing way to add security without making your home look quite so heavily monitored, and that really is its greatest strength. It's incredibly attractive and subtle.
I like the integrated design, the separately positionable solar panel and the ability to keep recordings without committing to a subscription.
Eufy's ecosystem and app is about as good as it gets, so you'll be buying into a brand you can build not only a security suite around, but a complete smart home. It really does make some of the best consumer tech in the business.
If you want a powerful light, a full-featured camera, and endless power in reserve, you need to think again, but if you want something for a particular location that brings two useful jobs together neatly, this is the device for you.