After testing the SwitchBot Outdoor Spotlight Cam for weeks, I’m impressed by its versatility but frustrated by a few app hiccups. The 1080p resolution delivers crisp daytime footage, and the color night vision (boosted by its spotlight) is leagues better than grainy IR-only cams. I caught a raccoon raid on my trash cans in full HD glory!

The AI detection works shockingly well—it ignored swaying trees but pinged my phone when a delivery driver approached. Battery life? Stellar. Even in -10°C winter nights, the 10,000mAh battery held up. The solar panel option (sold separately) is genius for perpetual power.

Now, the downsides: The app feels like beta software. Reconnecting to view live feed sometimes requires restarting the app entirely. Mounting is secure, but the plastic body doesn’t scream ‘tamper-proof’—I added a zip-tie for peace of mind. Also, no 24/7 recording unless wired.

Verdict? For $139 (often on sale), it’s a steal if you’re already in SwitchBot’s ecosystem. Just temper expectations for app polish and invest in that solar panel.