Logitech's cute Wi-Fi home security camera slims down and goes modular
Logitech, makers of seemingly ever kind of computer accessory imaginable, is giving its well-received Logi Circle home Wi-Fi connected home security a complete overhaul.
The company's new Logi Circle 2 security camera isn't just smaller, it's also modular this time around.
The original Circle camera received our Mashable Choice award for its simple and thoughtful design, beautiful app, and easy-but-powerful features. The Circle 2, available in wired ($179) and wireless ($199) model, pushes those ideas over the top.
First things first, the camera itself is now a whole lot smaller. The ball-shaped body is gone, replaced with a slimmer design. I kinda prefer the older look, which looked a little more Apple-ish, but the slim down allows the magnetic mount to move from the base to its backside.
The shrink down doesn't come at the expense of improvements, though. Unlike the original, the Circle 2's weatherproof so it works both indoors and outdoors.
The lens' field of view has been improved from 135 degrees to a wider 180 degrees -- no motorized pivoted required like on some other Wi-Fi security cams.
Video capture resolution is still full HD 1080p (1,920 x 1,080) resolution -- it would have been great to get a bump up to 4K or at least use 4K resolution for further digital enhancements like Nest's upcoming Cam IQ -- but, honestly, it should still look great. We had no issues with 1080p when we reviewed the original Circle cam.
Besides the redesign, and features upgrade, the most exciting thing about the Circle 2 is its modular design. Logitech says its users have been asking for a way to mount the Circle cam in different places that would have previously been impossible or too challenging.
For example, if you want to mount the Circle 2 to a window to record outside, simply attach the Window Mount ($39). The mount also smartly helps combat glare by disabling the infrared sensor and optimizes night mode to work for better low-light capture.
Or if you want to mount the camera somewhere low to, say, monitor your pets, you might go with the new Plug Mount ($29).
Sure, these are all extra pieces you'll have to buy, but the advantage of a modular system gives you the flexibility to change things up when you want to.
Other add-ons for the Circle 2 include the weatherproof extension kit ($29), which extends the camera's cables by 15 feet and has a protective cover for the power adapter (great for outdoors), and a backup rechargeable battery that lasts up to three months.
Though it doesn't have a 4K image sensor, one area the Circle 2 beats the Nest Cam is digital assistant integration. You can program Logitech's own Pop Smart Buttons or voice commands through Amazon's Alexa to do simple things like turn the camera on/off, start a recording, and start a live chat, to name a few things. It'll also support Apple's HomeKit through a software update.
And of course, the Circle 2 comes with the same excellent 24-hours of free encrypted cloud storage, which you can then use to create those awesome Day Brief timelapses (like the one below). If you need more storage, you can pay $3.99 for 14 days or $9.99 for 31 days; the latter comes with some more powerful extras like motion zones and person detection.
Wi-Fi security cameras are admittedly not super sexy, but when paired with voice assistants, they bring us closer towards bringing Star Trek technologies into our homes.
It'll be interesting to pit the Nest Cam IQ against the Circle 2 and see which one comes out on top. Stay tuned for that when we get the cameras in for testing.
Topics Cybersecurity Cameras
Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.
