Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera Review

Battery-powered outdoor security cameras are ideal for monitoring activity on and around your property, but they typically require a Wi-Fi connection to send alerts and stream real-time video to your phone. With the Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera ($249.99), you can keep tabs on your property without a power outlet or Wi-Fi. This rugged cam employs a cellular radio to keep you connected where Wi-Fi isn’t available or practical, plus it offers 2K video recordings, voice controls, color night vision, a built-in spotlight, and a siren. It’s a bit pricey and requires a monthly cellular data plan, unlike the Editors’ Choice-winning Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera ($199.99), but the Starlight Camera is a solid option if you need to keep an eye on a cabin, a trail, or any other remote location where power and Wi-Fi are unavailable.

A Rugged and Reliable Reporter

The 4G LTE Starlight Camera looks nearly identical to the original EufyCam but, at 2.4 by 2.4 by 4.5 inches (HWD), it’s a tad larger than its predecessor (2.2 by 2.2 by 4.2 inches). The white-and-gray enclosure has an IP67 weather-resistance rating that protects the camera from dust, rain, and extreme temperatures. Aside from the camera, in the box you get a mounting bracket, mounting screws, a charging cable, a weatherproof solar panel cable, and a setup guide. The optional solar panel is not included.

(Photo: John Delaney)

The camera lens, an LED indicator, a spotlight, a microphone, and a motion sensor sit inside the front housing. An embedded GPS radio ensures you can locate the device if someone steals it. A speaker on the bottom of the camera enables two-way audio, and a Sync button sits on top. Behind the rubber cover on the back you’ll find the charging port and a SIM card slot. The back of the camera also houses a screw-in hole for a mounting bracket.

Eufy says the camera’s internal battery should last up to three months between charges, depending on usage. If you require uninterrupted power, Eufy sells a bundle with a solar panel ($289.99).

The 4G LTE Starlight Camera does not have a Wi-Fi radio. Instead, it uses an LTE 4G cellular radio to connect to the mobile app, as well as to Alexa and Google Assistant devices. That means you must supply an AT&T or T-Mobile SIM card and subscribe to a data plan to use this camera. According to Eufy, the device uses around 128MB of cellular data to stream five minutes of live 2K video, so you can use that to calculate what type of data plan you need.

The Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera does not work with Apple’s HomeKit platform.

The security device records high-resolution 2K or 1080p video and saves those clips locally via 8GB of onboard space. This is good for about 24 minutes of recorded 2K video. The camera does not connect with nor store data in the cloud. You can configure it to record video when it detects any motion, or record just human motion. Additionally, the camera can use its spotlight at night for color night vision; otherwise, it uses an infrared LED for black-and-white night vision. 

As mentioned, you can integrate the camera with Alexa and Google Assistant devices, but it does not work with Apple’s HomeKit platform. If you need more connectivity options, consider the Arlo Pro 4, which supports Alexa, Google Assistant, HomeKit, and IFTTT.

App Options

The Starlight uses the same Eufy Security app (available for Android and iOS) as other Eufy security devices, including the Eufy Floodlight Camera. It appears in a dedicated panel on the app’s home screen with a still image of the last captured video. Press the play arrow to launch a live stream of the camera feed.

Below the video panel are buttons for enabling the spotlight, taking a snapshot, manually recording video, muting the speaker, and initiating two-way talk. You can also expand the selection to access buttons that let you view an Events screen with thumbnails of recorded video; enable color or black-and-white night vision; activate the siren; and access the Settings screen.

Here, you can also enable the Anti-Theft Detection option (it sets off the siren if someone tries to move or tamper with the camera); select a battery-life mode (optimal battery, optimal surveillance, or custom); toggle motion detection; configure motion and notification settings; adjust video and audio settings; and share camera access with other users.

The Starlight’s Quick to Set Up

Installing the Starlight camera is simple. We downloaded the Eufy mobile app, created an account, and tapped Add Device on the Devices screen. Then, we selected the 4G Starlight Camera and followed the instructions to install the SIM card and scan the QR code on the camera’s base. Next, we tapped Connect Directly and pressed the Sync button for two seconds until we heard a beep. We waited a few seconds for the camera to connect to the cellular network, tapped Next, and gave the device a name. Finally, we selected the camera working mode, updated the firmware, and charged the battery for eight hours before installing it on a backyard deck with the supplied mounting bracket.

(Photo: John Delaney)

The camera delivered high-quality video in our tests. Daytime video showed good color saturation and lots of detail, while black-and-white night vision recordings were also sharp, with sufficient contrast. Color night-vision recordings are brighter and more colorful than what we usually see with outdoor security cameras, but that’s because this cam uses the spotlight as a light source instead of relying on the ambient light.

Motion alerts arrived swiftly, with very few false alerts, and the human-detection feature worked accurately. The camera had no trouble responding to an Alexa voice command to display live video on an Amazon Echo Show, either. Two-way audio came through loud and clear.

A Self-Sufficient Cam for the Outdoors

The Eufy 4G LTE Starlight Camera is ideal for monitoring remote areas that lack power and Wi-Fi resources. This battery-powered device can run almost continuously (if you pair it with an optional solar panel), and it uses a cellular radio to connect to all your devices. It delivered sharp 2K video and accurate motion alerts in testing, plus it installed easily.

Its $249.99 price and monthly cellular fees may be off-putting, but if you need to keep an eye on a backwoods vacation home, a hunting trail, or even your backyard, it may be a worthwhile option. For more conventional setups, consider the aforementioned Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera or the affordable and Editors’ Choice-winning Wyze Cam V3 ($35.98).