This IMOU Cell PRO is a perfect solution for those who hate those cloud subscription fees that they rip off you – oh boy, so common for Google Nest, Amazon’s Ring, and actually every self-respecting CCTV manufacturer.
We have in our office an IMOU Cell Pro Wireless Home Wi-fi Camera, and, except for the exact camera, we have in our studio an IMOU Solar Panel for the cam and a Base Station within the box, which is required for this cam to work. And actually, taking into account what this Base Station offers, it’s a good thing to have, because IMOU guys figured out how to reinvent a network recorder in the consumer segment.
Inside the Box, We Have:
- IMOU Cell Pro Camera
- Camera battery
- MicroUSB Power cable
- Camera bracket
- Base Station
- LAN-cable
- Base Station Power Adapter
- Mounting Screws
- Positioning Sticker
- Quick start guide
Though I don’t like the way IMOU composed the box insides, it may be hard and highly inconvenient to reach some parts, and overall, I can feel a “cheapness”, which is quite an awful feeling, independent of the device you are holding. The camera: microphone located in this micro-hole on the front panel upper, below it a main camera lens and the infrared sensor next to it, below them we got an LED, reporting with the device status, and below the LED we got a photosensor.
On the downside, there’s a speaker and a rubber clamp. In the back upper, the cover is slipping off the cover that contains a depression for a battery. Under it, you’ll find a sync button, needed for the initial device start-up, and a recess for a bracket. The Base Station, looking like a bag handle, is very light; it has an LED indicator on the internal sides around and all over this cutout. A single button, looking like an iPhone 4S, with this brand square inside, is the only button on the entire front.
Minimalism. And she is also surrounded by the LED. On the back you’ll find a speaker, RS dash four eighty five LAN-cable port, USB input, reset button, and power input.
IMOU Cell Pro Vs Ezviz C3A
Also, we got a Hikvision Ezviz C3A 2019 Home Wi-fi wireless camera, Dahua’s main competitor, for a comparison. Here you can find a full video dedicated to the Ezviz C3A review. But let us answer the question – what are the differences? What should you get – an Ezviz C3A or the IMOU Cell Pro? And so, they both are 2 MP, 1920x1080p FullHD recording resolution, so it’s not about camera quality here. That’s why let us talk about the differences, although the FPS parameter for Cell Pro is 20, Ezviz C3A supports 30 frames per second.
IMOU Cell Pro offers a 110° view angle, while Ezviz C3A offers a 126° view angle. Although Cell Pro superiors C3A in the video compression rate parameter, having H.265 codec implemented here, unlike Ezviz C3A’s H.264 smart codec. To us, to users, that means that our videos will take taking less storage space with no loss of video quality. And by the way, we think the storage is the most strong suit of an IMOU Cell Pro. The exact camera has no micro SD card input on the body, but we can connect an external hard drive to the Base Station, which supports a capacity up to 2TB! And your camera captures can be saved in there via Wi-Fi. Wow! However, Ezviz C3A got a 128 GB microSD support built-in camera, and that is a good number, although they don’t offer you 2TB, even in the form of an external hard drive.
Though Ezviz C3A is having even more than two times bigger battery, which is 5,500 mAh, while the Cell Pro battery is only 2,300 mAh. Well, that’s quite an advantage. And yet, one more thing where the Cell Pro beats an Ezviz C3A is a night vision distance, which is 10 meters, or 33 feet for Cell Pro, and 7.5 meters, or 25 feet for C3A, not much of a difference. Regarding the rest functions – everything is identical: IP65 standard for both cameras, two-way talk option, and infrared motion detection.
Characteristic |
IMOU Cell Pro |
Ezviz C3A |
| Recording Quality |
2 MP, 1080p |
2 MP, 1080p |
| Audio Communication |
Two-way Audio |
Two-way Audio |
| Recording Frame Rate |
20 fps |
25-30 fps |
| Motion Detection / Infrared |
Built-in Infrared Sensor |
Built-in Infrared Sensor |
| Power Type |
100% Wireless |
100% Wireless |
| View Angle |
110° |
126° |
| Night Vision View Distance |
10 m. / 33 ft. |
7.5 m. / 25 ft. |
| Protection Rate |
IP65 |
IP65 |
| Install Type |
Indoor / Outdoor |
Indoor / Outdoor |
| MicroSD Support / Capacity |
No |
Yes. up to 128GB |
| Battery Capacity |
2300 Lithium Battery |
5500 Lithium Battery |
| Bast Station / Support |
Yes, requires a Base Station to operate |
Yes, independent. Does not require a Base Station |
| Video Encoding |
H.265 |
Smart H.264 |
| Cloud Storage |
Yes, IMOU |
Yes, EZVIZ |
| Wired / Wireless Connection |
Yes, Both |
Only Wireless |
| Additional Features |
Supports External Hard Drives up to 2 terabytes in capacity |
– |
|
Extra Accessories |
Extra Accessories |
The Connection
Both cameras are Wi-fi enabled and have free software available on the shelves of an App Store and Google Play, so the first thing you do – download the Ezviz or the IMOU app to your phone. O left some links for you below. The activation of Ezviz C3A happens completely via the app and the QR code located on the camera, but the IMOU Cell Pro requires us to connect a LAN cable to the base station and activate our camera through the base station.
Wouldn’t say this complicates the process a lot, as this type of connection has its advantages, including up to 2TB storage and a kind of network recorder where the camera’s management process is way more comfortable. Of course, Ezviz offers a Base Station too, but Ezviz C3A is a completely independent camera.
Conclusion
Both cameras we got today are unique and offer different options. Hikvision and Dahua – China’s two biggest CCTV manufacturers-heavyweights. But as a matter of fact, when it comes to making a decision, we decide by considering features that matter to us only and exclusively.
We’ve been using both Ezviz and IMOU cameras in our everyday life, and we can tell – they both are worthy. Decide by the features that matter to you only and specifically.
