Eufy S4 Max test: Smart monitoring without cloud compulsion

With the eufy S4 Max, smart home manufacturer Eufy has a new, wired surveillance system in its range that is clearly aimed at demanding private users and small businesses. While many competitors rely on cloud subscriptions, eufy takes a different approach here: all data is stored locally on the NVR. What’s more, even the AI works directly on the device – even without a cloud connection. The promise sounds tempting: 4K resolution, intelligent motion tracking, flexible PTZ control and no data outflow to the cloud. In the eufy S4 Max test, I tested the system over several days indoors and outdoors to find out how well it works in practice.

Technical data

eufy PoE NVR Security System S4 Max, 4× 3-Linsen Bullet-PTZ-Kameras, 16MP,...

eufy PoE NVR Security System S4 Max, 4× 3-Linsen Bullet-PTZ-Kameras, 16MP,...

€ 1,299.00

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Scope of delivery

• 1× NVR unit with pre-installed 2 TB hard disk
• 4× PoE cameras (model: S4)
• Power supply unit for the NVR
• 4× Ethernet cables (each 18 m long)
• 1x short Ethernet cable
• Mounting brackets, screws, plugs and cable seals
• 1x mouse
• 1x HDMI cable
• Quick start guide and warranty card

Eufy S4 Max test: design and workmanship

Visually, the cameras look very solid, almost professional. The three-part lens system sits in a weatherproof, slightly futuristic housing. Thanks to IP66 certification, rain, dust and frost are no problem here – in the test, all components remained stable even in changeable weather.

The camera consists of two units – a fixed unit with LEDs in the upper area and a PTZ unit (pan-tilt-zoom) with LEDs in the lower area. The PTZ unit moves precisely and quietly. The image remains fluid even with fast rotational movements, which speaks for the smooth rotation of the element.

The black and white housing looks robust and sophisticated without being obtrusive. This makes it ideal for house facades or carports. The NVR is compact and unobtrusive. It takes up little space and works quite quietly. However, I wouldn’t place it in the living room, as you can definitely hear the noise of the HDD. It feels much more at home in the laundry room or a practical network cabinet.

Eufy S4 Max test: Setup

Installing the eufy S4 Max is not rocket science, but it is still more complex than a wireless system. Thanks to PoE, a single cable that transmits both power and data is sufficient for each camera. This saves on sockets and power supply units and increases operational reliability. Only the NVR requires an actual power supply via a power supply unit.

Here are the individual installation steps:

• Connect the NVR – via LAN cable to the router and via mains cable to the power supply.
• Optionally connect the NVR to the TV/monitor via HDMI.
• Connect cameras – connect each camera to the NVR via PoE cable.
• Start the app – the Eufy Security app automatically guides you through the setup.
• Install updates – firmware is loaded directly on first start.
• Attach cameras – screws and plugs included.
• Position cameras – adjust the orientation and panning range of the PTZ unit conveniently via the app.

If you want to install the system carefully and save yourself the trouble of fine-tuning it later, you should take a day to do this. This is at least the case if you want to screw the cameras to a house wall. If you use cable ties or other alternatives, the whole thing will of course be quicker.

However, another challenge that should not be underestimated is the laying of the PoE cables. At 18 meters, these may be a little too short for some users to be able to reach every camera. If this is not enough, you may have to buy longer cables yourself.

I think it’s a shame that the system can’t be operated with PoE switches already in the network. This would not only have solved the problem that the cables might be too short for some people. It would also make it easier for the user to lay the cables as “invisibly” as possible.

After all, very few people want to see gray cables indoors. This means that the eufy system is probably best suited to people who are currently building a house or carrying out extensive renovation work. Otherwise, there is probably no way around core drilling if you want to run the cables from the inside to the outside.

This means that the eufy S4 Max does present greater hurdles than a comparable wireless system such as the eufyCam S3 Pro (Review | € 129.90 *). Apart from that, however, eufy scores again here with a high level of operating convenience. This is not only due to the uncomplicated step-by-step instructions for installation.

I also noticed that the NVR automatically recognized all cameras during installation and that no manual IP configuration was necessary. At this point, you can already see the positive effects that a solution via Power over Ethernet (PoE) has on such systems. Unlike with WiFi cameras, with a wired solution there is much less need to worry about connection drops and you benefit from stability.

Eufy S4 Max test: The Eufy app

There are various ways to access the cameras. Firstly, the NVR can be connected to a monitor via HDMI. The menu can be controlled using the supplied mouse, which can be connected to the NVR. A keyboard would also have been nice. After all, there is a lot to type even when using the NVR directly. Alternatively, you can use the web interface and the eufy app. The latter offers many setting options and is therefore a central component of the system.

It provides access to all live images, recordings, notifications and device settings. Overall, the Eufy Security App presents itself as a clear and logically structured application that even beginners can quickly understand. The user interface is clearly structured and all important functions can be accessed without having to search for them. A particularly positive feature is that the live view is displayed almost in real time and you can switch smoothly between the individual cameras.

Stored recordings can also be played back directly via the NVR – without the need for a cloud connection. Another practical feature is the intelligent search function, which can be used to filter events according to people, vehicles or specific times. This saves a lot of time in everyday life if you want to quickly trace a specific incident. Push notifications appear with a small preview image so that you can immediately see what has happened without having to open the app first.

Just as convenient: firmware updates for cameras and NVRs are installed automatically, which makes system maintenance much easier. However, the app is designed for simple operation rather than in-depth professional settings. With many simultaneous notifications, there can also be short delays and those who want complex automations or shortcuts will quickly reach their limits.

Although such functions are available in principle, they can only be configured to a limited extent. Overall, the Eufy app offers a stable, user-friendly basis, but is aimed more at everyday users than professional users with high demands on automation and detailed control. Even when accessing the app while on the move, the connection remained fast and stable.

Eufy S4 Max test: Smart Home compatibility

The eufy S4 Max can be integrated into smart home systems – albeit with certain limitations. Alexa and Google Assistant support is available so that live images can be displayed on an Echo Show, for example. However, other services such as Apple HomeKit or IFTTT are not currently supported.

For most users, the existing integration is completely sufficient. However, those who operate a complex smart home ecosystem (e.g. with Home Assistant or HomeKit Secure Video) will reach their limits here. Eufy appears to be deliberately focusing on a closed, secure ecosystem – which benefits data protection and stability, but offers less flexibility.

Eufy S4 Max test: Strong image quality

The image quality of the Eufy S4 Max is impressive. If you take a look at the technical data, it becomes clear why. The four cameras in our set each consist of a fixed 4K wide-angle camera with a field of view of 122° and a 2K PTZ camera with a 360° swivel design.

There is a total of 8x zoom (3x optical + 5x digital). The dual camera delivers razor-sharp images with vibrant colors and a high level of detail. Faces, license plates and even small movements are clearly visible.

This makes the system ideal for driveways or entrance areas. Thanks to HDR, the system is also impressive in bright sunlight or in shaded areas. In the dark, the built-in spotlights ensure colorful night vision images.

The so-called “starlight system” makes this possible even without the integrated LEDs and uses the residual light from the surroundings to create a colorful image even in very low light. Sharp images are also possible in complete darkness. This is ensured by the pure infrared mode, which conjures up black and white images.

Eufy S4 Max test: AI motion detection and tracking

The system’s AI works locally on the NVR and precisely recognizes people, vehicles and animals – the performance of the built-in 6T/8-core processor makes this possible. The cooperation between the cameras is really exciting.

Thanks to cross-camera live tracking, several cameras track the same movement together. If one person leaves the field of view, the next camera automatically takes over. In practice, this works amazingly well and ensures seamless surveillance without any gaps.

The AI was convincing in this respect in our test for both people and animal movements. Faces can be registered in the system in order to distinguish between known and unknown persons. False alarms, for example due to shadows or wind movements, only occurred rarely. If there are still problems, the sensitivity can be fine-tuned in the app.

Only in complex scenes with several people at the same time did the tracking occasionally drop out slightly, but this was hardly a problem in everyday use.

Eufy S4 Max test: Local storage up to 16TB

The 2 TB hard disk should be sufficient for around two to three weeks of continuous recording with four cameras. If the storage space is full, older data is automatically overwritten so that no manual deletion is necessary. If you want more space, you can easily upgrade the hard disk. Similar to the eufy HomeBase S380 (Review | € 144.00 *), up to 16 TB are possible here.

We really like the concept of local storage. You don’t have the usual disadvantages of a cloud solution here. This not only means that your recordings are processed exclusively in the closed system of your local storage. You also save on follow-up costs. What we also really like is that the AI features of motion detection also work without the cloud thanks to Local AI.

Conclusion

The Eufy S4 Max impresses in the test as a powerful, privacy-friendly surveillance system for demanding private users and small businesses. The combination of 16-megapixel cameras, precise AI detection and local storage ensures razor-sharp images, reliable motion detection and full control over your own data – without any cloud or follow-up costs. Setup is straightforward thanks to the PoE connection, but can also take quite a long time depending on the location and individual requirements for largely wireless optics.

The Eufy Security app is a real highlight. It not only impresses with its intuitive operation and clear layout. You also get useful functions such as live view, event search and automatic updates. There are some minor weaknesses in the limited smart home integration and the limited automation options, but the strengths clearly outweigh the weaknesses in everyday use. In short: If you are looking for a robust, high-quality and completely local security system, the Eufy S4 Max is a highly recommended overall package.

eufy PoE NVR Security System S4 Max, 4× 3-Linsen Bullet-PTZ-Kameras, 16MP,...

eufy PoE NVR Security System S4 Max, 4× 3-Linsen Bullet-PTZ-Kameras, 16MP,...

€ 1,299.00

Auf Lager

Buy now* Amazon