Anker Eufy Essential 安防套裝評測：免費人臉辨識需升級 Hub

Tyler Lacoma/CNET Art Team

Eufy Security Essential Alarm System 7-piece

8.0

Pros & Cons

• A very broad array of features and settings for a DIY security system
• You can add a camera and upgraded hub for more advanced AI features like free face detection
• No subscriptions for abilities many other brands charge for, like object recognition and video storage
• Quick and simple sensor pairing with customizable modes

• App isn't always intuitive and there's a lot to learn
• Motion sensor behavior was a little wonky at first
• Requires add-ons for the most advanced free features

Anker Eufy has released some of my favorite no-subscription devices, like its compact, magnetic security camera. But this fall the company is trying something different: a new security kit made for DIYers that prefer to handle setup themselves while dodging any subscriptions or monitoring fees.

This was also an excellent opportunity to test out a feature I’ve never tried before, Eufy’s latest facial recognition technology, available using one of its newer hubs. Most face recognition or familiar face tech requires a subscription, usually around $20, to enable — or a pricy DIY setup if you want to do your own platform work, which is out of reach for most users. Anker Eufy is at the forefront of companies offering localized, free AI features like face recognition, without fees or worries about sending biometric data to the cloud.

With Eufy’s latest Essential security system ($400) and a couple of the newest cameras including the Anker Eufy C31 ($40), I was ready to try out everything new. What I found was a robust DIY system that offers some features even subscription security brands rarely have, although you will need to get comfortable with a sometimes confusing app.

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Setup and installation

Eufy’s kit comes in a neatly packed box with a keypad, a hub device, a motion sensor and four access sensors for windows and doors. I switched out the small hub for my larger HomeBase 3 ($200), which enables the “BionicMind” AI face recognition and other object detection I was eager to test, but either will work with this set of sensors. The cameras are sold separately: For this review, I tested the wired Anker Eufy C31 camera, which makes a strong add-on but is not included with the standard Essential security system.

Unlike some brands, Eufy’s access sensor halves don’t magnetically bond to each other, but are otherwise easy to set up. Eufy included both screws and adhesive options for each sensor, as well as an app walkthrough on how to place the sensors, so installation proved quite easy. The included keypad is quite versatile, allowing you to choose a wired or wireless setup, and a shelf or wall mount position.

After setting up the hub, you will need to add each sensor independently and name them based on where you’re putting them. This may take slightly longer, but it’s otherwise no trouble. More complications comes in when setting up the keypad. Interestingly, it offers not only home and away settings, but also a customizable mode that allows you to set individual sensors on or off based on your unique needs, something few security brands offer.

The downside to all this DIY is that Anker Eufy’s system is more expensive than most starter kits, beginning at $400 for what I tried, minus the security cameras and more advanced hub. However, I’ve seen it discounted down to $270, which is much more reasonable compared to the alternatives, so I’d look for a deal on this kit if possible.

Sensor performance

Once set up, Eufy’s sensors acted reliably and quickly, with no noticeable latency and easy-to-customize app alerts. Unlike the sensors on kits such as Arlo’s security system, these devices don’t pull double or triple duty. They have one purpose and one small, replaceable battery to work with.

While the access sensors impressed me the most, the motion sensor proved more hesitant to work correctly. I improved its performance by pulling out my hub for a more direct line-of-sight connection, which is something to keep in mind when setting up a system like this. Performance improved with subsequent firmware updates too, although I still didn’t find the motion option as reliable as the access sensors.

App settings and configuration

Eufy’s app takes a little getting used to because there are many settings to experiment with, and they aren’t always where you’d expect. You’ll want to tinker a lot to get the security system exactly how you want it, more than with most DIY kits I’ve tried.

The home/away settings are a good example. Not only is there the custom mode to tinker with, but the app also has more complex scheduling and a new geofencing option to play with, which can arm the security system once your phone gets far enough away from it. You can individually customize alerts and chirps by sensor if you prefer, or head over to the Smart section and adjust everything from what sensors are armed, to setting alarm and leaving delays based on how many seconds you need.

These settings are all welcome, but their layout isn’t always intuitive and some options may be difficult to find for new users, especially with such a DIY-heavy focus.

Add a camera, and the system’s capabilities expand rapidly, adding another learning curve. Eufy cameras offer night vision, streaming quality adjustments, privacy zones to set, pre-recording options and even sound detection to try out. The model I tried, the C31, also has pan/tilt/zoom features, which offer another layer of customization like choosing whether to track people or sounds, and what view the camera should automatically return to.

Free facial recognition and more

Let’s talk about what you get for free, because Eufy is on the forefront of no-cast AI features and that benefit really shows with the latest cameras and security hubs. First, the basics: You can enable detection for people, animals, vehicles and more, something many security companies still charge for, but brands like Anker Eufy, Tapo and Nest currently offer for free.

The camera I tested, along with most of Eufy’s cams, also has a microSD card slot ready for cloud storage. The HomeBase 3 I used for advanced AI includes its own storage, so in this setup you don’t always need a microSD card unless you want to expand storage further. But either way, the local storage is permanent and free, which offers advantages compared to subscription cloud storage.

But the biggest feature by far is the face detection that my Eufy hub enabled. Almost all face detection features involve some kind of cloud processing and usually a hefty monthly fee, often around $20 from brands like Ring or Google Nest. Eufy is nearly the only company currently offering facial detection that’s processed locally on its hub, and for no added charge. That also helps reduce privacy concerns and the risk of privacy lawsuits related to the facial data.

Free local processing isn’t perfect for an advanced feature like this. I was able to create face profiles on my hub, but Eufy’s “is this a face you want to save?” tool was hit or miss, so I had to resort to manual face pics. The processing and recognition also takes a bit of time. The camera needs to activate and get a good look at your face for proper detection. I found if a person passes by rapidly, the camera will detect a human but won’t have enough time to recognize a face, especially if someone isn’t looking directly at the camera.

There’s also a bit of a delay between recognizing a face and properly updating the alerts and history with the person’s name, although I didn’t find this onerous. Considering its all for free, this one-of-a-kind feature impressed me, although your use may depend on how comfortable you are with the camera recognizing family and friends.

Note that you don’t need the full security system to get this kind of face recognition. You can stick with a HomeBase 3 and any number of recent Eufy cameras to recognize people if you don’t care about any of the sensors. I’ll again remind buyers that the Anker Eufy Essential kit includes a smaller hub that won’t support free face recognition unless you upgrade.

Final thoughts on the Eufy Essential Security Kit and Cameras

Some app navigation and control issues aside, Eufy’s latest security kit is a particularly strong DIY option for home security. It gets much better if you’re willing to add a camera, and is one of the only ways to currently get free face recognition if you’re willing to upgrade the hub, too.

If you’re tired of fees and subscriptions but still want to explore the latest security technology can offer your home, this Anker Eufy kit should be on your list, along with a paired camera. Since it’s a bit pricey, I’d also look for discounts before buying.

Tyler Lacoma

Senior Editor / Home Security and Smart Home

Tyler has worked on, lived with and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks and top recommendations. With degrees in business management, literature and technical writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to their limits and occasionally throw cameras off his roof, all to find the best devices to trust in your life. He always checks with the renters (and pets) in his life to see what smart products can work for everyone, in every living situation. Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon, gives Tyler plenty of opportunities to test the latest tech in every kind of weather and temperature. But when not at work, he can be found hiking the trails, trying out a new food recipe for his loved ones, keeping up on his favorite reading or gaming with good friends. See full bio

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