One of the biggest revolutions in the tech industry is the move to smart appliances and while that may not make the most amount of sense for objects like microwaves and fridges, it is a gamechanger in the world of security cameras.

A constant internet connection and other smart capabilities obliterate the old misconceptions about security cameras for both the home and business applications, especially when compared to the “dumb” cameras of old, still recording in black and white to a tape in some dusty control room.

Instead the next generation is here, a generation we introduced you to recently in the form of the Xiaomi smart camera range.

Xiaomi’s options bring you smart cameras to both indoor and outdoor settings where you can enjoy a highly connected surveillance network that is so affordable and easy to install that anyone can do it.

This smart experience starts with the box as each camera comes with a user manual to get you started with all the functionality packed inside, such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa integration. While these smart home ecosystems were once a rarity in South Africa, they are as popular as ever with more and more software and hardware officially supported in the country, like the Xiaomi smart cameras.

You will really feel like you’re living in the future when you control your smart cameras through voice prompts. While you may see cameras as a purely visual product, Xiaomi has further leaned on the audio side of things because, on top of this Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa integration, you can also use the speakers on these smart cameras to make two-way calls.

While this has some obvious applications such as acting like an intercom, it can be used in some novel ways such as checking up on kids when you’re not at home, or employees when you step out of the office. Those who can’t make it through the work day without seeing their pets can even use their smart camera from the office to see what the animals are up to back at home.

While this is all active functionality that you are involved in, maybe the real party trick of Xiaomi smart cameras is what they’re doing on their own. The imaging software in these cameras makes use of deep learning and network optimisation to implement AI human detection to cut down on false alarms.

False alarms from other products can be very stressful and – again for those with pets – a constant annoyance which can defeat the purpose of such a system in the first place. By approaching this problem, and the entire idea of smart cameras, in a new way, Xiaomi has made a new kind of product that you can buy right now in South Africa.

Check out the C200, C300 and C400 Xiaomi smart cameras to best suit your needs and budget and, for outdoor use, don’t forget the AW200, all available right now from Takealot, Makro and Incredible Connection.