Eufy S3 Pro Solar Security Camera Review: Does it Deliver on Battery Life?
We always enjoy testing the latest solar tech to find out what works and what doesn't. From solar panels to power stations, we try our best to provide honest reviews, so you can make informed decisions, and, more importantly, avoid dropping your hard-earned cash on products that are pretty much just overhyped junk.
Today, we’re testing out something a little different—the Eufy S3 Pro Solar Security Camera Kit, which Eufy claims can last 130 days on a single charge. But that’s not all, they also say it can stay powered forever with just one hour of sunlight per day hitting each camera’s built-in solar panel.
These bold claims sound pretty incredible, right? But does this little security camera kit actually deliver, or will it flop like a set of cheap solar landscaping lights? Let’s find out!
What’s in the Box?
While you can buy the components from Eufy individually, for the purposes of this review, we tested out the Eufy S3 Pro Solar Security Camera Kit, which includes:
Two 4K solar-powered security cameras
The S380 Homebase S380 (the “brain” of the system)
One additional standalone solar panel
For context, Eufy is a sub-brand of Anker, which adds a bit of credibility to the name. I know when we first heard the name Eufy, our minds immediately went to cheap, junky Amazon brand, but learning that they were part of the Anker family was a huge relief.
Having some name-brand backing is even more important when you consider that at a regular price of $549, this kit isn’t exactly a cheap, impulse purchase. With that said, Eufy doesn’t follow a paid subscription model with their cameras, which is often the case with these types of products. So, with no monthly fees and the promise of reliable, self-sustaining power, if everything works as advertised, it might just be a really cost-effective alternative to the pricier options out there.
Our First Impressions of the Eufy Security Camera Gear
Before we dive into our testing and how this kit actually performs in real-world scenarios, let’s start by taking a look at the components the kit came with, starting with the system’s S380 Homebase.
The S380 Homebase:
This little hub may just look like an external hard drive or a Bluetooth speaker, but it’s the command center for the entire security camera system. It can store up to 16 terabytes of footage, which means it can hold onto months’ worth of visuals. It also uses what the brand labels a “bionic mind” to recognize faces, pets, cars, package deliveries, and more..
The app even lets you program visual profiles, so the camera can distinguish between familiar faces and strangers. Hear someone knocking, but you don’t want to get up if it’s just an annoying door-to-door salesman? The app will tell you whether it’s someone you know, or someone you can just ignore.
There are also different performance modes you can select in the app, so you can conserve the battery if the solar panels on the cameras do not have full sun exposure. Everything stays connected together via Wi-Fi, so you’ll have to connect the Homebase to your wireless router, but the wireless nature of the setup actually helps simplify installation.
The 4K Security Cameras:
Each of the two cameras we received is equipped with a 13,000mAh lithium-ion battery and a built-in, top-mounted 1.07W solar panel. The cameras are weatherproof, meaning they can withstand moisture exposure and temperatures as low as 14°F, they record in crisp 4K resolution, and they even include an automatic night mode feature. You can also define “activity zones” in the app to avoid recording irrelevant motions—like passing cars, a waving flag, or anything else that you don’t need the cameras to stay alert to.
The Additional Solar Panel:
While each security camera has its own Tiny Baby-style micro solar panel, the kit we received also came with an extra standalone solar panel. The extra panel is larger than the ones built into the cameras, so it’s a good option if you plan on setting the cameras up in low-sunlight areas.
This clever addition also allows you to place your cameras in fully or partially shaded spots, as they’ll still be able to pull in power from the external panel you have set up in a sunnier location. The cable is also long enough that you have plenty of flexibility where you can position this bonus solar panel.
Testing Out the Eufy S3 Pro Security Camera Kit
Now that we’ve taken you through the various components that come with the kit, let’s see how they actually perform.
Testing the Battery Life Without Sunlight:
For the first test, we wanted to put Eufy’s bold battery life claims to the test. To do so, we wanted to simulate less-than-ideal conditions for collecting solar power, so we taped over the solar panel on one camera and installed it in a shaded area that was pointed at our front door.
Over three weeks, the camera recorded 1,148 “events” (noteworthy movements that we had set to record for 20 second intervals). These were all recorded in crystal-clear 4K resolution.
In this three week timeframe, the built-in battery’s stored power dropped from 100% to 85%. That’s a small drop in power for 45 days under pretty much constant use—incredibly impressive considering the solar panel didn’t get a single ray of sunlight in that time!
On top of that, we ran this test in late October, with the shorter days, the camera had to run the battery-draining night mode for much longer than it would if we ran this test in the middle of the summer. This is really impressive stuff. In fact, even with it having to run the more demanding night mode for as long as it did, at this rate, it would still last 138 days on a single charge, which is even longer than Eufy advertised—crazy!
Testing the Cold Weather Performance:
We live in a cold climate that gets some pretty harsh winters, so cold weather performance is always an important issue for us. To test how it would hold up in cold temperatures, we popped one camera into our deep freezer, which runs well below the rated 14°F threshold. This allowed us to simulate extreme cold and see how the camera’s battery would hold up. Given plenty of the solar products we test simply shut off when we give them a full day in the freezer, this was a pretty intense test of the camera’s ability to withstand winter-like conditions.
After 24 hours in the deep freezer, the battery power dropped by just 1%, which actually happened almost the exact second we put it in the freezer. After that, the stored battery power remained steady. Even in these sub-zero temps for a full 24-hour cycle, the camera kept recording. Again, a huge win for the Eufy.
Testing the Solar Charging Efficiency:
Look, the solar panels on these cameras are so tiny they actually make us laugh, so you can imagine how skeptical we were when we read Eufy’s claim that they can power the cameras pretty much forever if they get an hour of sunlight a day.
Testing the claim that one hour of sunlight = one day of power was something we fully expected to be a complete exaggeration and failure. However, when we set a camera up outside in direct sunlight, the camera charged at 1% per hour—exactly as Eufy advertised.
With the additional solar panel also plugged into the camera, charging speeds more than doubled, adding 5% to the battery in just two hours. Both of these tests were carried out with the camera recording as it was charging. That’s incredibly solid performance for such tiny solar panels.
The Pros and Cons of the Eufy S3 Pro Solar Security Camera
Now that we’ve ran you through the results of our most important tests, let’s take a look at the things we liked about this solar security system, as well as the areas where we think Eufy could have done a little better.
The Pros
Here are just a few of the many things we liked about this solar security camera system.
Unreal Value and the Lack of Monthly Fees:
One of the best things this security camera system has going for it is the value it brings to the table. Unlike many of its competitors, there are no ongoing subscription costs. The cameras store footage locally on the Homebase, and once you own the system, it’s yours to use as long as you want—you don’t have to pay anything else.
At $549, you’re getting the entire setup for less than you’d pay for a year’s worth of monthly fees to use one of the more popular subscription-based security camera systems. The value is just plain outstanding.
On top of that, the cameras have plenty of unique modes if you play around with the app. The “Call Mode” allows you to use the camera almost like a doorbell cam, so if you don’t have one of those already, you’re getting even more value out of the Eufy system.
The Sleek Appearance:
Everything about this system looks great. The white cameras with rounded edges almost look like something Apple would release. It just looks like a really nice product, which isn’t actually surprising given that Anker is the parent company and that’s one of their strong suits.
Crystal Clear 4K Footage:
The video quality is really sharp, with vibrant colors, clear visuals, and great night mode performance. You don’t have to worry about blurry or grainy footage if you ever need to look into something. In fact, we even filmed a bit of the video version of this review using one of the cameras and the footage was totally usable.
Easy installation:
The app guides you through every step of the installation process, and it even communicates the instructions to you audibly if you want it to. Honestly, it’s practically idiot-proof.
Plus, fixing the cameras in place is a simple process that basically just requires drilling two screws and twisting a clamp. When we did it, it was super easy, and nothing sagged or wobbled—it just felt solid. Given that the system is pretty much wireless, it’s just a breeze to get it up and running.
Flexibility with the Extra Solar Panel:
The extra solar panel allowed us to test the cameras out with some creative placements. That bonus solar panel may have looked hilarious beside some of the full solar panel arrays we use outside of The Solar Lab, but it works. It supplies the power these hard-working cameras need, and it’s small enough that you can easily attach it to the side of your house, or basically anywhere you want, without it looking weird or out of place.
The Durability and Cold Weather Performance:
Even when we tested it with ice-cold temperatures, it kept working. We also tested these things out for weeks, and in that time, we really put the cameras and Homebase through their paces. Still, the cameras continued to deliver consistent performance. Basically, this isn’t some cheap, junky camera system from a made-for-Amazon company—it’s the real deal.
The Cons
While there was a lot to really love about this system, no product is going to be 100% perfect, so here are the few minor gripes we had.
The Homebase’s Dependency on AC Power:
It’s a small issue, but the Homebase needs to be plugged into a wall outlet to work. If you lose power, your cameras keep recording, but they can’t actually save any of that footage until the Homebase regains power. Plus, you’d need power for a Wi-Fi router in order to transfer that footage to the Homebase. Sure, a small portable power station plugged into the wall and both the Homebase and your router could solve this issue, but it’s an extra cost.
This is advertised as a solar security system, so you expect it to be able to run on 100% solar power. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. Still, you don’t have to worry about wiring the cameras to a power source, which makes things incredibly easy when setting it up.
The Cold Weather Limitations:
Look, we know we just praised these cameras for their performance in the deep freezer, but we can’t get around the fact it is listed with a minimum operating temperature of just 14°F. The truth is, the cameras may struggle in harsher climates and colder seasons, including the winters where we live. We’d love to see Eufy release a self-heating option for better cold-weather reliability, even if it was an upgrade you had to pay more for.
The Size of the Cameras:
While we genuinely like the appearance of the cameras, they’re not exactly inconspicuous. Sure, they’re sleek and modern looking, but they’re larger than some of the cameras on offer from non-solar competitors, meaning they’re going to stand out on most surfaces. However, they’re still really small when you consider the fact that they have built-in solar panels!
The Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Eufy S3 Pro Camera System?
Yes, and then some! The Eufy S3 Pro System delivers reliable performance, stellar video quality, and excellent battery life—all without those ongoing costs you get with a subscription-based camera system.
While there are some minor drawbacks, the overall package is impressive, especially for a self-sustaining solar system. Overall, we’d probably give it a 9 out of 10!
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your home security or cut ties with subscription-based systems, this kit is a solid investment and we feel very comfortable recommending it.
🛒 Shop the Eufy S3 Pro Solar Security Camera:
Buy on Eufy: https://eufyofficial.com/T88921W1PFG6
Buy on Amazon: https://eufyofficial.com/T88921W1PCoI
Explore more Eufy security cameras: https://eufyofficial.com/T88921W1g6Ex