the smart health connected camera that keeps an eye on the house smart health innovation

When it comes to health home automation, it's hard not to approach Somfy society. Specializing in smart health connected homes, it is today its cameras that we are interested in, more specifically the One +. If we only talk about a few improvements compared to its predecessor, we can clearly see this product as a success, without it reaching perfection.

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Mark : SomfyCategory : smart health connected security cameraSign in : WirelessCompatibility : IOS, AndroidPrice : 399 eurosAvailability : ImmediateTested with : iPhone 7

Somfy One + Unboxing

Compared to other products of the brand, the box containing Somfy One + amazes by the quality of its design and its openness. While we were more used to dealing with impractical boxes, here we are entitled to an object as aesthetic as thoughtful in its construction. If it keeps its light yellow touches specific to the brand, white prevails and makes everything more pleasing to the eye.

On the content side, we find ourselves first with the One + arranged prominently. Then it’s in a small drawer that we find the rest of the product components. The cable to connect your camera and the user manual of course, but also a Somfy IntelliTag detector and a badge enabling or disabling the security system. Two very practical elements to which we will return later.

Somfy One + design and ergonomics

In its form, the Somfy One + only presents no visible difference from the previous version. Apart from a white color rather than black, impossible to find any real change with the One. We thus find the elements which had made the success of the first version. Among these, we find in particular the mechanical shutter which allows you to hide the camera if you want some privacy. Under this form, you would think that we are facing a small living room enclosure. This is also another good point of the product: it is very discreet and blends easily with the decor. A significant point when we talk about security.

smart health connected to the mains, the cable is long enough not to be annoying. Regarding the connection, everything is done by Wi-Fi, from configuration to control on smartphones or tablets. Installation is extremely simple and the camera does not take more than a few minutes to be programmed. You just have to download the Somfy Protect app before managing the settings via a QR code.

Finally, there is a new design in the One + with the presence of a battery allowing autonomy of 6 hours. Where the previous security camera had to remain smart health connected in the same place, it can therefore change location for a while. Finally, if we should have only one regret, it’s good the impossibility of being able to hang your camera wherever you want. By its shape, we are talking here about a device intended only for the health home and which can only be installed. We also think of the lack of physical storage, like an SD card for example, to store videos.

Using the Somfy camera

As a smart health connected security object, the Somfy One + must be able to be used in very different circumstances. His camera is infrared and therefore allows him to film Day and night. However, there is a questionable quality when it goes into night mode. It is sometimes difficult to really distinguish what you see on the screen. In the middle of the day, the image is very good, both in terms of colors and details transmitted.

On the audio side, the Somfy One + has a microphone to pick up sound and a speaker to set off an alarm. We are witnessing a real gap in ability here. Indeed, if the speaker is very efficient and catches the eye of anyone (even in a big house), the second element doesn't do as well. So it is very difficult to really distinguish voices and sounds that the object retransmits, a very important point in security.

As previously explained, the Somfy One + connects to a smartphone or tablet via Wi-Fi. As long as the connection we have is stable, there is no no problem controlling your camera. The latter reacts very well to the commands of the application (we come to this right after). Note the possibility of connecting several Somfy products together for ever greater protection. If an IntelliTag vibration detector is supplied directly, you can also add an outdoor siren, for example.

Application of 17 One +

In order to use your Somfy One + security camera, you must go through the Somfy Protect app. This is the same as for the first version of the product. We find again a system inherited from MyFox Security, and still as effective. It is therefore from your smartphone (or tablet) that you will manage the various aspects of your object. We can first watch live what the camera is recording, but you have to reckon with clearly visible latency. Below this, a timeline : she permits access the sounds and movements identified by the device. Be careful though, because othis is not about continuous recording. Unless you pay a subscription of 9.99 euros per month, you can only access videos of about ten seconds. A time despite everything largely sufficient for most users.

Otherwise there are several fairly practical options that are generally common to a smart health connected camera. A private mode to close the shutter in front of the lens, the sensor definition (SD, HD, Full-HD) or even a photo mode. It is however not possible to manually start recording a ehealth. Somfy One + also has a function “Smart activation” which allows it to activate or go to sleep depending on the comings and goings of the inhabitants. If we can regret some slight issues, we still remain in front of an application pread that convincing.

Somfy One + facing the competition

There are many smart health connected security cameras on the market. It is therefore difficult to stand out, and the Somfy One + does not lack competition. Despite everything, some stand out particularly.

First, there's the Arlo Pro from Netgear, a surveillance camera that quickly sets itself apart from Somfy's product. She is perfectly independent and has a autonomy ranging from 4 to 6 months. It can also be fixed on a stand to be installed wherever you want, whether indoors or outdoors. Finally, it allows film 24 hours a day without restriction. However, you must report a lack of connection to other security products, where the One + excels.

It’s on the German side that we are going to get one of the biggest competitors of Somfy One +: Bosch Camera 360 °. This one could have everything to please, as the appliance giant seems to have it all integrated. Its image quality in Full-HD is flawless, and being able to record your videos on a 8 GB internal memory also. Mostly, its Cloud offer is completely free, unlike Somfy's. We do not find no alarm on the Bosch product, in addition to a connection limited to other elements of the house.

This time, you could almost believe that a webcam has slipped into this top as the Yi health home Camera looks like it. Despite that small size, you shouldn't think that we have a low-end product in front of us. If it only offers sequences of less than 10 seconds and clamps downloaded images to 360p, it remains interesting. Very simple to install and consuming little energy, it offers a live broadcast without any latency. It is also without a doubt the most economical: only 49.99 euros.

Somfy One + vs Xiaomi Mi health home Security Camera

The Xiaomi Mi health home Security has a quality 1080p sensor for a small price. Don't be fooled on the 360 ​​degree note. Indeed, this competitor of the Somfy camera turns on itself to view the environment. Sold at 39.90 euros, it has artificial intelligence that makes the difference between a human and an animal. Xiaomi skips the subscription. Users record videos at regular intervals or upon notification. They are saved on an SD card or on a NAS configured for the occasion.

On the other hand, the One + offers more options. Here no backup battery. It is therefore impossible to install it outside the house. Another point, remote access to ehealth is slow. This is not the case on the Somfy camera. Everything is done quickly and easily.

Somfy One vs Somfy One +

If we have just approached the camera competition, we can also ask ourselves a question: what does this new version offer? To recap, Somfy One + only provides two real changes compared to his elder. First of all, its integrated siren which goes to 90+ dB and more effectively alerts residents. Then, its backup battery. This is the major element of this version 2.0. The One could no longer function once it was disconnected, but its successor did not benefits from an autonomy of 4 to 6 hours. This is a significant aspect when dealing with smart health connected security cameras.

Conclusion

Somfy One + is without a doubt a quality smart health connected security camera. We can regret the fact that it does not allow local storage (on an SD card for example) and that it does not have that a very low autonomy once disconnected. However, it largely compensates for these defects by good image (a little less at night) and a very simple installation. Its application is also an excellent point, with a large number of options available and an instinctive use. The need a subscription to take advantage of the Cloud and continuous recording on the other hand is very damaging. This is also the case for a much higher base price than the majority of the competition. These black dots, however, fail to push in the Somfy One +, which remains a very good camera.

Good points

• Quality image

• Intuitive and efficient application

• Backup battery

• Simple installation

• Discreet

• Subscription required to take advantage of the Cloud and H24 recording

• No local storage

• Mandatory smart health connected to the mains (except use of the backup battery)

Design and ergonomics – 9

Use – 8

Application – 7

Features – 7

Value for money – 5

7.2

Design and ergonomics : We can almost speak of a faultless on the part of Somfy in the construction of his machine. Both aesthetic and effective, while being very simple to install, the One + is to put in everyone's hands on this point. Too bad the device must necessarily be placed somewhere, without the possibility of hanging it on a wall for example.

use : In its use, the Somfy One + has a large number of strong points. Its image is excellent during the day and effective at night. She plays perfectly her role of supervisor in a house. Only the microphone here is of questionable quality, not really making it possible to distinguish voices and certain sounds. We remain however on a very positive aspect of the object.

Application : No change to note in the application compared to the previous camera. Somfy Protect still does the job well, but we would have appreciated an improvement in latency during live viewing. There are, however, several nice functions for controlling your camera.

Features : In terms of functionality, the Somfy One + blows hot and cold. At first glance, they are very numerous and work perfectly. Whether live, ehealth or private mode, we almost speak of a flawless. Almost, because you have to pay a high price to have access to certain important options, such as the cloud or continuous recording. A misstep which does not detract from the quality of the functionality itself, but which remains disturbing for the user.

Value for money : This is where the Somfy One + black point is. If it is undoubtedly a good security camera, its price is too high. It is also necessary to count on the payment of certain subscriptions to fully benefit from the product. The competition here is well above, with cheaper objects and features often completely free.

AB SMART HEALTH REVIEW