With 4G connectivity along with the standard Wi-Fi, the IMOU AOV PT is the best safety digital camera for big properties

IMOU AOV PT: two-minute evaluate

Based in 2015 as a spin-off from the Chinese language surveillance big Dahua Know-how, Hangzhou-based IMOU has rapidly turn into a serious participant within the worth section of the sensible house market. A number of months in the past, I regarded on the IMOU Cell 3C, one other price range out of doors safety digital camera. I preferred the mannequin, however it was much more fundamental than this mannequin (and less expensive, too).

For starters, the AOV PT includes a separate, somewhat than the built-in photo voltaic panel discovered on the Cell 3C. For a lot of set-ups this is a crucial distinction as a result of typically one of the best place for a digital camera, resembling beneath an eve or in a porch, is the worst place for a photo voltaic panel. Having a separate panel means it may be positioned as much as 4 metres away in a sun-drenched spot utilizing the lengthy USB-C cable offered.

Whereas most battery cameras keep in a deep sleep till a PIR is triggered, this newest IMOU options the corporate’s At all times-On Video (AOV) know-how — therefore the AOV moniker. It’s like a type of low-power mode the place the digital camera data a body each two seconds repeatedly, making a low-frame charge timelapse of the whole day. Then, when the AI detects a human or automobile, it ramps as much as full-speed 3K (5MP) recording. Significantly intelligent is the sensible monitoring possibility which suggests as soon as the pan-and-tilt digital camera detects motion it’ll comply with the ‘goal’ because it strikes round. It’s all a bit Massive Brother-y possibly, however helpful if you wish to observe sure people or autos.

Often, the place safety cameras producers make their cash is in promoting you a month-to-month subscription to retailer your video footage within the cloud. Not solely is that this a possible cybersecurity threat, it will probably additionally get very costly (I’m you Ring). Even the common worth of a subscription is £5 (about $7 / AU$10) a month, which I believe is a bit extreme for mainly storing your video clips.

With the IMOU AOV PT not solely is a MicroSD card slot offered for storage, however IMOU has even thrown in a 32GB MicroSD card free of charge — it’s a very nice contact, particularly in the event you’re all the time scrabbling round for a card to file onto! In order for you extra storage, although, the machine can help as much as 512GB. Alternatively, it’s attainable to sign-up to considered one of IMOU’s subscription plans (see particulars under).

Usefully, along with a MicroSD card, the IMOU additionally comes with a 4G SIM. This allows you to management the digital camera by way of the IMOU Life app with out it having to be hooked as much as the house’s Wi-Fi. IMOU offers a modest 100Mb of information (with a trial provide for a 6GB plan). Nonetheless, for these monitoring properties the place Wi-Fi connectivity is both non-existent, or at finest patchy, it’s a possible sport changer.

On the draw back, although, the digital camera solely helps the two.4GHz Wi-Fi frequency somewhat than the upper 5GHz Wi-Fi frequency which is healthier for quicker knowledge switch.

Designed to be mounted completely open air, the IMOU boasts an IP-66 weatherproof score for heavy-duty waterproof safety. It additionally comes with two fairly highly effective spotlights, a built-in microphone and speaker for two-way communication and a siren for heading off intruders (although this isn’t the loudest). There’s additionally a intelligent sensible night time imaginative and prescient characteristic in order that when the digital camera detects an object, the highlight is mechanically activated, and recordings are displayed in coloration.

IMOU AOV PT: subscription choices

Primary Plan: Covers seven days of occasion historical past and fundamental AI detection, between £2.59-£3.50 ($4-$5 / AU$5-AU$7) per 30 days or roughly £30 ($40 / AU$70) a yr.

Plus Plan: Provides 30 days of occasion historical past, enhanced AI detection, and sharing with as much as 20 customers. Prices round £5.99 ($9 / AU$12) per 30 days or £60 ($80 / AU$110) per yr.

See https://www.imou.com/uk/imou-protect for extra particulars

IMOU AOV PT: worth and availability

How a lot does it value? IMOU AOV PT, $170 / £129 / AU$260

When is it out there? Since December 2025

The place is it out there? UK / US / Australia

Chinese language agency IMOU is understood for its competitively priced house safety merchandise. This one isn’t any exception. OK, it’s fairly a bit dearer than the IMOU Cell 3C we reviewed which additionally comes with a photo voltaic panel. However then the AOV PT presents a lot extra and continues to be beneath £150.

In truth, when you think about the package deal features a separate 5W photo voltaic panel, a pre-installed 32GB MicroSD card, and a 4G SIM card, the IMOU AOV PT is definitely actually excellent worth for cash. That’s to not point out different helpful options resembling 360-degree area of view because of the pan-and-tilt digital camera and sensible monitoring so you’ll be able to monitor the actions of intruders!

In comparison with 4G rivals from Arlo or Reolink, which regularly require separate purchases for photo voltaic panels or storage, the IMOU actually is an economical, all-in-one answer for these needing off-grid safety. Better of all is that you simply don’t must pay for a month-to-month subscription — though that possibility is accessible from round £3 a month in order for you it. As a substitute, you’ll be able to retailer video clips on the MicroSD card offered or improve to at least one holding 512GB (these at the moment are broadly out there for beneath £50/$50).

IMOU AOV PT: design

• Pan-and-tilt design
• Separate photo voltaic panel
• IP66 waterproofing

It’s truthful to say that the IMOU AOV PT received’t win any safety digital camera magnificence competitions. Constructed for utility somewhat than stealth, it includes a not significantly enticing black pan-and-tilt digital camera inside a big white plastic housing, plus a separate light-weight photo voltaic panel designed to tilt as much as 45 levels for max photo voltaic achieve.

Set up isn’t the best both. Due to its weight and the way in which it protrudes from the wall, it requires a really safe mount. It’s not a digital camera you’ll be able to casually stick up with a few small screws. As a substitute, you’ll want the complete four-screw bracket offered (plus wall plugs if drilling into brick) to forestall it from vibrating within the wind or feeling flimsy.

For added safety/safety the digital camera snaps firmly into the mount and may solely be launched by urgent a button beneath the unit. Right here additionally, you will discover a rubber flap masking the ability on and the USB-C enter for connecting to the photo voltaic panel and for recharging the digital camera (it comes with an built-in 1000mAh lithium-ion battery).

For our set-up we put in the digital camera on a picket summer season home/house workplace with the photo voltaic panel positioned close by and angled in direction of the solar (the app tells you when it’s receiving energy from the panel). Nonetheless, 4m of cable is offered if you might want to find the photo voltaic panel a bit additional away to seize the solar’s rays. Fortunately, the photo voltaic panel is way easier to put in than the digital camera however the two models collectively do take up various house, in comparison with different designs.

Lastly, one barely odd facet of the design is the panel for the MicroSD card and 4G SIM card slots. Situated in the back of the digital camera lens, this may solely be accessed with a Phillips screwdriver. Maybe it’s to discourage informal thieves from simply stealing the MicroSD/SIM playing cards, or possibly to offer additional safety from the weather?

IMOU AOV PT: efficiency

• 360-degree area of view
• 3K decision
• Colour night time imaginative and prescient

In relation to efficiency, the IMOU AV PT is likely one of the finest I’ve reviewed — particularly at this worth degree. In relation to performance, it’s troublesome to think about some other cameras matching it. Nonetheless, what’s spectacular is that it combines this performance with excellent efficiency too. For instance, the 3K picture high quality is crisp sufficient to establish faces at a distance, and the full-color night time imaginative and prescient is great, utilizing two shiny spotlights to light up intruders.

What I significantly like is the pan-and-tilt digital camera which successfully provides the digital camera a full 360-degree view, a lot wider than most cameras that are restricted to a most of round 150 levels. Both you’ll be able to transfer it round utilizing the left/proper, up/down keys on the app or you should utilize the ‘sensible monitoring’ possibility within the menus in order that it tracks motion mechanically.

Throughout testing it was nice enjoyable, choosing up neighbours on balconies, even members of the family strolling near the patio doorways contained in the kitchen. Nonetheless, I might see it could have a critical operate too if ever I used to be burgled, capturing the offender as they approached the home and shutting in on their bodily particulars.

Any criticisms? Nicely, a number of, however they’re minor. Firstly, it’s price taking into consideration that the ‘sensible monitoring’ possibility actually does drain the ten,000mAh battery. Throughout a day of heavy testing, it dropped 11% in simply 24 hours, even with some further solar energy from the panel. For long run use it’s most likely finest to modify it off fully or restrict using the digital camera to sure hours of the day.

Utilizing the app, recording instances may be set for every day (so the digital camera solely data footage at night time) or you’ll be able to rapidly put it into ‘privateness mode’ the place the lens turns round fully so you’ll be able to’t file. It’s additionally attainable to set areas the place you don’t need to file, resembling a neighbor’s backyard or a busy most important highway utilizing the ‘exercise zone’ possibility.

As with many safety cameras, one small bugbear is that the IMOU AV PT is a little bit too delicate, creating a number of false alarms. Not solely can this get a little bit bit annoying after some time (getting an alert each time a chicken flies previous), it will probably additional drain the battery. Lastly, whereas the siren works successfully sufficient, it’s actually not the loudest we’ve ever heard.

Do you have to purchase the IMOU AOV PT?

Purchase it if

Do not buy it if

IMOU AOV PT: additionally think about

For those who’re unsure whether or not the IMOU AOV PT is the fitting digital camera for you, this is the way it stacks up in opposition to two of its rivals.

How I examined the IMOU AOV PT

• I used the digital camera open air for seven days
• I set it up myself utilizing the fittings offered by the producer
• The safety digital camera and photo voltaic panel was put in on the surface of my summer season home/workplace

I’m without end climbing up and down step ladders altering over out of doors safety cameras on my summer season home, a lot in order that the neighbours should assume I’m paranoid about getting burgled. That is the most recent in a protracted line of photo voltaic panel cameras I’ve checked out lately and I believe top-of-the-line up to now.

I actually loved the sensible monitoring characteristic, watching the digital camera following the motion of members of the family and my canine Poppy, in addition to the occasional glimpse of neighbours standing on a balcony. If I had the machine for a very long time I might most likely swap this off as it’s a main drain on the battery in addition to being overly intrusive (though much less so than utilizing the pan-and-tilt digital camera in the home).

I may see the advantages of the 4G SIM. Whereas my Wi-Fi is usually OK within the backyard, because of a Wi-Fi repeater close to the again door, there are a lot of houses particularly in rural areas the place this selection may very well be a game-changer.

First reviewed Might 2026