Logitech Circle 2 is a versatile home internet surveillance camera for both inside and outside
Internet-based home surveillance cameras are gaining in popularity nowadays, thanks to decreasing cost and easier setup. These devices allow you to monitor your home using your smartphone for ultimate convenience.
Back in 2015, Logitech unveiled its first such product. Simply called "Circle," it was affordable and easy to use. The problem? It lacked versatility. It didn't offer much in the way of positioning and couldn't be used outside. With that said, the battery aspect allowed it to be moved about a residence. Today, the company unveils the successor -- Circle 2. This time the camera is far more useful, even offering the ability to be used outdoors. There are two models -- wired or wire-free, both of which work with Amazon Alexa.
"Circle 2 is an evolution of Logitech's original Circle camera and offers best-in-class features including unlimited 1080p HD streaming, night vision, 180 degree wide-angle lens, and two-way talk and listen. Every Circle 2 camera comes with 24-hours of free, secure bank-level encrypted cloud storage; and if you want more storage options, there are two Circle Safe plans available. Circle Safe Basic offers 14-days of storage and Circle Safe Premium offers 31-days of storage and additional features such as custom Motion Zones and Person Detection. Simply place Circle 2 in your desired location, connect to the Logi Circle web or mobile app, and let the camera do the rest," says Logitech.
The company also says, "Designed to fit your needs, Circle 2 has both Wired and Wire-Free options. The camera can be used on its own or paired with accessories customized to fit different use cases or locations. A selection of mounts such as the Window Mount lets you see more of what’s happening outside, from the inside, or choose the Plug Mount to watch over your home from any wall outlet, in the kitchen, garage, or even down low to see your pet."
The window mount is most exciting for me, as I have long wanted a solution like that. I have a window that faces my front porch, and this will allow me to monitor it without setting up an outdoor solution. True, you can use the wire-free Circle 2 outdoors with the battery option, but I'd prefer a wired solution, and I don't have an outdoor outlet. That's the beauty of Logitech's newest camera however -- it has so much versatility thanks to the optional accessories and two distinct models.
The window mount costs $40, while the plug mount (seen above) -- which mounts the camera directly to a power outlet -- is $30. If you want to use the Circle 2 outdoors, the special weatherproof AC adapter extension is $40. The outdoor battery will cost $50.
The big question, however, is how much does the actual camera cost? It is actually quite reasonable. The standard Circle 2 is $179, while the wire-free model is just $20 more. You can pre-order both variants here.