Why You Can Trust CNET Samsung SmartCam PT review: Samsung's pan-tilt security camera is missing something
Samsung's disappointing SmartCam PT indoor DIY security camera doesn't even work with any smart home platform, including the Samsung-owned SmartThings.
Editors' note: Researchers found a bug with SmartCam model SNH-1011 in January 2017 that temporarily made it more susceptible to hacks. Samsung has since issued a firmware update to address the problem. The Samsung SmartCam PT was not part of this reported security flaw.
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
Samsung's $229 (£185 and AU$300, converted) SmartCam PT is a decent DIY security camera. It offers cloud and local storage , solid motion zones and motion tracking via an integrated pan-tilt lens, as well as a privacy mode you can schedule based on your daily routine.
Its default motion- and audio-sensor settings were way too sensitive at the outset, but a quick adjustment in the app made them a little more reliable. The bigger problem is that I haven't seen any real advancement in the SmartCam line in three years. The smart-home security market has grown so much since I tested the Samsung SmartCam HD Pro in early 2014. But we're still stuck with the same outdated, annoying-to-navigate SmartCam app and no smart home integrations whatsoever.
Given that Samsung owns the SmartThings smart home platform, I'm stumped as to why the SmartCam PT doesn't work with more products from other manufacturers, or at least SmartThings' own connected accessories. The SmartCam PT's lack of integrations and relatively high price ultimately make it impossible to recommend.
All about the SmartCam PT
The SmartCam PT is surprisingly compact, particularly for a pan-tilt camera. Because pan-tilt models need to, well, pan and tilt, their hardware has to include mechanisms that allow for movement. As a result, they typically have clunkier, more utilitarian designs than their fixed-angle counterparts, like the Nest Cam Indoor.
If the audio- or motion-sensor alerts are too frequent, adjust their sensitivity in the app.
The SmartCam PT isn't any more stylish than Foscam's Plug and Play FI9826P or D-Link's Pan & Tilt Network Camera, but its small size does make it a more discreet addition to a home.
Here are the SmartCam PT's key features:
- 350-degree panning angle
- 155-degree tilting angle
- 96-degree field of view
- 1080p HD resolution
- Live streaming
- Motion tracking
- Motion-detection zones
- Automatic motion tracking
- Audio tracking
- Push notifications
- Two-way talk intercom
- Night vision
- MicroSD card slot (card not included, supports up to 128GB)
- Free cloud storage clips
- Privacy mode
Adding your SmartCam PT to the SmartCam Android or iPhone app is as simple as you'd expect. Create an account, and follow the instructions to get the camera online. This process took me about 10 minutes, mainly because one of the steps requires waiting up to three minutes for the camera's status LED to change from blue to green.
Inside the app, you can view the live feed, set your motion zones, opt-in to motion tracking and more. The problem is finding everything. Not only does the app look like it was designed in the early days of the internet, it also isn't organized in a particularly logical way. You'll get used to the layout over time, but the ideal scenario is an app that both looks nice and makes it easy for you to find the information you need. You won't find that here.
The SmartCam PT performed pretty well, delivering speedy alerts when the audio or motion sensors detected activity. The notifications arrived far too close together at first, picking up on the slightest sound and movement. Fortunately, you can adjust the audio and motion sensitivity in the app, and this helped to some extent.
The motion-tracking feature worked reliably most of the time, but it never noticed me when I was more than about 10 feet away from the camera. And, when motion tracking is enabled, regular audio- and motion-sensor detection and related alerts are automatically disabled. Still, motion tracking worked much better here than it did with the $80 Ezviz Mini 360 Plus.
You can easily view recorded activity clips in the app via cloud storage or local microSD card storage. Use a microSD card reader to download any clips you'd like to save.
The verdict
Even if you don't care about smart-home integrations, I wouldn't recommend the $229 Samsung SmartCam PT. The app is tricky to navigate, the audio and motion sensors are somewhat unreliable and it costs more than your average DIY home security camera. You can find it on Amazon for just $175, but I still think that's too high for what it offers.