Before today, if anyone had asked me which HomeKit camera to buy, I would have said Logitech Circle 2 because of its flexible design, weather resistance, and support for HomeKit and HomeKit Secure Video. Circus 2 has been incredibly reliable over the years and has only gotten better through upgrades, but has stayed a little behind.

My recommendation changed recently, however, as Logitech unveiled a successor to the Circle 2, the Logitech Circle View, today. Circle View continues on the same path as its previous incarnation, offering support for both HomeKit and HomeKit Secure Video, but comes with a sleek and new design. Also new is the fact that it only works with Apple platforms and even goes so far as to give up its own application, which supports HomeKit Secure Video right out of the box.

I tested Circle View last week and thought it was a strong follow-up to an already great camera. A clean modern design, an easy to configure process and the controls for the Home application make View a camera that I have no problem recommending to anyone who is concerned about privacy or who is integrated into the HomeKit.

Video security

Logitech Circle View: features

As its name suggests, the Circle View room offers a circular design consisting of a mixture of metal and plastic. Unlike Circle 2, View has a darker appearance, with an all-black frame and is no longer modular. The camera and stand are included in a single piece that allows for easy placement and the entire assembly can be mounted on a wall by attaching to a single plastic plate with hardware that is included.

The camera has an LED indicator that can be turned on and off near the top that reports the status. There is a single button around the back, which is used to manually turn off the camera, and the stand allows you to tilt up and down, which can be used to darken the view for those moments when extra privacy is needed. The camera is powered by USB, either with the included brick, or with an available USB port, and the 10-foot power cord is not removable, probably for weather resistance, which is IP64.

Circle View captures and streams 1080p HD images with a 180-degree field of view through its glass lenses. For night viewing, the camera uses 2 infrared LEDs that are able to illuminate objects at 15 meters. The camera also supports two-way audio through a built-in microphone and speaker, allowing users to have conversations with those in vision.

As mentioned before, Circle View only works with iOS and the Home app this time. Camera setup and management takes place entirely in the Home application, which requires a HomeKit hub such as an Apple TV or HomePod to operate remotely. The camera connects directly to home networks via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, without an additional dedicated Logitech hub. Once connected, the camera can be viewed through the Home app on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Watch and even on Apple TV with third-party applications.

Recording goes through Apple's secure HomeKit video feature, which uses iCloud and requires a paid storage plan of at least 200 GB for 1 room for $ 2.99 per month and supports up to 5 rooms for 2TB for $ 9.99 per month. Recorded videos are stored for 10 days in a timeline format in the Home app, and videos can be saved and shared using the iOS distribution sheet. Despite the need for a paid iCloud storage plan, recorded records are not accounting for your data allocation.

Man, where's my app?

Logitech Circle View: What I like

Due to the lack of a separate application and the fact that it does not require an account, I absolutely like the fact that Circle View can be configured in less than 5 minutes. All it needs to do is turn off the camera, connect it, and scan the setup code with the Home app. Since the bracket and power cord are attached, there is no digging around the extra parts or assembly and even mounting it to a wall is easy with only two screws that have been provided.

The fact that everything goes through the Home app also gives me a much greater sense of privacy, so much so that I have no reservations about placing it inside the house. There's something special about not having to worry about potentially worsening eyes or my household chores being just a data breach, a dishonest employee, or a password guess far from being passed on to others.

The image quality of Circle View was also fantastic, with the camera offering a bright and detailed view both inside and out.

As with the Logitech Circle 2, the View was extremely reliable and responsive. During my testing week, I still didn't find any situations where I couldn't access the live feed of the camera or encountered any "No Answer" message. Uploading the live view is also fast, with most instances lasting only a second or two, which is amazing given that it is transmitted over a wireless connection.

The image quality of Circle View was also fantastic, with the camera offering a bright and detailed view both inside and out. The movement captured in the recordings and during the broadcast of a live viewing was just as impressive, with very little ambiguity or artifacts seen. The night vision of the camera gave a much brighter picture than I expected, although I found that it is a little too pixelated and not as good as some competitors, but it was certainly good enough for most scenarios.

Zero zero

Logitech Circle View: What I do not like

While HomeKit accessories, in general, sports have higher prices than options for other ecosystems, Circle View is still a little on the price side, at $ 160. Despite the pleasure of the elegant design with the metal support, I would have liked to have seen the camera priced close to the $ 100 range to make it more affordable. Circle View also only works with HomeKit and iOS, which, for the price, could demand a lot from those who are looking for the most money for their buck.

Speaking of the look of the room, there are aspects of its design that I consider only a little strange. Although it does not affect performance in any way, I believe that the decision to use a white power cord for a black camera makes the camera stand out from its surroundings. I also don't like how the latest Circle camera doesn't have accessories or a battery pack that makes it more flexible like the previous Circle 2 and its great mounting range.

Finally, as much as I enjoy Circle View's HomeKit Video Security integration and the lack of a separate app, the Apple Home app doesn't offer enough in terms of camera settings and features so far. Missing features include setting motion areas, adjusting bandwidth usage, adjusting image quality, and setting your preferred frame rate. Sure, the lack of options keeps things simple, but moving areas in particular are extremely necessary.

Complete circle

Logitech Circle View: Bottom line

4.5
of 5

Logitech's latest Circle camera is the HomeKit camera I've been waiting for and not just for my benefit. This camera gives Apple fans a simple experience, "just works" and keeps everything private, without the need for an additional application, cloud or account. This ease of use and lack of overwhelming options opens the door to the connected home for many, which is exactly what HomeKit needs to help consolidate its adoption.

That being said, Circle View is definitely not perfect. The lack of advanced controls, such as setting motion zones, will cause some frustration with notifications of sins, and the high price of its prices will limit the potential to achieve more. However, when all is said and done, Circle View is now the best HomeKit option you can buy today.