For anyone keeping an eye on home security tech—especially the kind that doesn’t cost a fortune—Xiaomi just dropped something worth noting. The new Outdoor Camera 4 quietly launched this week on the Xiaomi Youpin platform, and at just 249 yuan (around $35), it’s more than just another budget option. It’s a signal: Xiaomi thinks smart security should be simple, compact, and genuinely affordable.
Gone is the previous generation’s dual-camera layout. In its place? A single, streamlined unit that’s lighter, cleaner to mount, and—perhaps more importantly—cheaper. And if you act before July 21st at 23:59 (China time), you’ll also get a 64GB TF card included. Not a huge freebie, but a nice touch considering the price.
8MP Sensor Brings Clarity to the Budget Segment
At the core of the Outdoor Camera 4 is an 8-megapixel CMOS sensor with an F/1.6 aperture—wide enough to pull in more light during low-light conditions. Xiaomi says it’s using an enhanced HDR mode to handle tricky lighting situations, such as backlit entries or shadowy corners.
Is it going to rival a pro-grade Nest Cam or an Arlo Ultra? Probably not. But for something that costs less than dinner for two, the image quality is reportedly sharp enough for everyday residential use. That’s where most people live anyway—between utility and “good enough.”
Dual-Light Night Vision: More Light, Less Waste
One of the standout additions is the dual-light night vision system: two white LEDs paired with two IR illuminators. It’s motion-activated, which helps conserve energy and avoids blasting your yard—or your neighbors’ windows—with unnecessary light. When it detects human movement, it kicks on to reveal faces and details that would otherwise be hidden in shadow. I haven’t tested it myself, but some early user footage shared online showed surprisingly clear results at night, even in open spaces.
Smart Tracking, Smarter Recognition
Xiaomi has leaned heavily into AI features this time around, and the result is a system that can distinguish people from passing cars or pets. Once it locks onto a person, it automatically tracks their movement within the frame.
That kind of motion tracking isn’t new, but it’s still uncommon at this price point. Whether it’s as fast or accurate as Xiaomi claims—we’ll have to wait for real-world feedback. There’s also a built-in mic and speaker, so you can have two-way conversations directly through the camera. Need to tell a delivery driver to leave the package by the gate? Easy. Want to yell at strangers? Go ahead.
Security-wise, it has sound and light alarms, a strobe mode, and abnormal event detection that sends immediate alerts to your phone. Nothing revolutionary, but functional. Connectivity is handled via either Ethernet or Wi-Fi 6, which is a step up from many similarly priced models that still run on older wireless standards. And with an IP66 rating, the device should handle rain, dust, and general outdoor wear without complaint.
Final Thoughts
At $35, the Xiaomi Outdoor Camera 4 isn’t trying to win a specs war. What it is trying to do—quite successfully—is democratize smart security. Not everyone wants cloud subscriptions. Not everyone wants to wire their home like a fortress. Sometimes, people just want a device that works, doesn’t cost too much, and won’t fall apart after one storm. And this one? This might be it.
