HomeKit Weekly: Looking for a wired outdoor camera? Logitech Circle View check all the boxes for HomeKit

Cupertino, January 31, 2021

There are several types of HomeKit cameras and they all have their strengths and weaknesses. I have previously analyzed the Eufy outdoor cameras and while I love they have to be charged once a year or so. If the ability to connect a camera is available, this is a great option. For the past few weeks, I've been testing the Logitech Circle View to cover part of my side yard and it's a fantastic HomeKit camera. Let's dive into how it works with HomeKit.

Weekly HomeKit is a series focused on smart home accessories, automation tips and tricks and everything to do with the Apple smart home frame.


Logitech Circle View is a 1080p wired camera that works exclusively with HomeKit. When I say that it works exclusively with HomeKit, I mean that it only works in the Home application. There is no other way to interact with the camera. Even firmware updates take place in the background. I'm not sure how Logitech pushes updates, but it happens without any interaction with the end user. To install the camera, you need to scan the QR code using the Home application. For people who love HomeKit and want a wired camera, this product is a dream.

The major disadvantage of this product is that you will need to get energy. Depending on how your home is arranged, this may require the installation of an additional outlet or cables to be fished back into your home.

This camera comes with a ten-foot cable in a durable, weatherproof IP64 body. The cable is permanently attached, so if you need a longer cable, you will need an external extension cord. One thing to keep in mind is that the plug is not weatherproof, so you can't just plug it into an external outlet. Since I wanted to use an external socket, I bought a SOCKiTBOX to seal the place where the Circle View plug meets the external extension cord I used.

Within a few weeks of using the camera, it became one of my favorite HomeKit cameras. I like to know that I will never have to tax it. Even if it uses alternating current, it still uses a recording system based on motion detection (non-continuous video). However, I was very impressed with the quality of the motion detection. As you can see in the video below, he could catch someone walking away at night.

Registration options

Because this camera works with HomeKit and HomeKit Secure Video, it supports all the latest HomeKit features. HomeKit Secure Video is the only way to record from this camera, so you'll need at least 200 GB of iCloud storage and a HomeKit Hub to use it.

Inside the Home application, I managed to set a registration area and ignore the vehicle detection. My house is the first in the neighborhood, so we have a lot of cars running every day. If this room were to cover my path, I would probably want the vehicle detected, but since it covers my side yard, I don't want a steady stream of cars circulating near my house.

logitech circle view home app

Some of the other features of the camera that you should be aware of are a hard one-touch button to turn off the camera and also tilt down to quickly get some privacy. Because I use it outdoors, I will probably never use these features, but it is a great option for indoor use.

Included with the camera are light sensors and a motion sensor exposed in the HomeKit, so you can use it to trigger individual lights when it detects motion through HomeKit automation.

Finish on Logitech Circle View

If you want a wired outdoor camera for HomeKit, it will be hard to beat Logitech Circle View. It is a suitable option for indoor use, but at the upper end of the price scale. You could buy four of the eufy indoor cameras for the price of a Circle View and be just as happy as they both accept HomeKit and HomeKit Secure Video. But for outdoor use, I highly recommend Logitech Circle View.

FTC: We use automated revenue links. More.


Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:

Best selling & Top trending HomeKit product in our shop at this moment

HomeKit.Blog is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Inc. or Apple related subsidiaries.

All images, videos and logos are the copyright of the respective rights holders, and this website does not claim ownership or copyright of the aforementioned.

All information about products mentioned on this site has been collected in good faith. However, the information relating to them, may not be 100% accurate, as we only rely on the information we are able to gather from the companies themselves or the resellers who stock these products, and therefore cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies arising from the aforementioned sources, or any subsequent changes that are made that we have not been made aware of.

HomeKit.Blog Is A Participant In The Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An Affiliate Advertising Program Designed To Provide A Means For Sites To Earn Advertising Fees By Advertising And Linking To Amazon Store (Amazon.com, Or Endless.com, MYHABIT.com, SmallParts.com, Or AmazonWireless.com).

The opinions expressed on this website by our contributors do not necessarily represent the views of the website owners. 

Copyright © 2022 HomeKit Blog
. All rights reserved
United States