Baseus N1: security camera kit that is cheap and good?

Baseus might not be the name you’d mention first when discussing the security camera market, but they deserve some attention. My interest was piqued by a Facebook ad showcasing an absurd price-to-value offer. Excellent battery life, a local hub, 2K resolution, and a ridiculously low price? Of course, I ordered it… let’s see what I got.

Baseus’s Transformation

Baseus is a brand better known for mobile peripherals like chargers, portable batteries, or even car vacuums. However, they’ve now entered the security tech market with an extremely affordable package and a few high-end solar-powered systems. The N1 camera system is priced at an average of $249, which is surprisingly low. During promotional periods, the price is almost halved. I paid in euros through their EU store and used a new customer discount code. Including shipping, which took only four days, the total came to €117.

When you hear such a low price, it’s natural to wonder if the quality is just as low. Surprisingly, the answer is no: the Baseus N1 system offers great value for money.

Key Features of the N1 System

The N1 camera system includes two cameras connected to a dedicated central hub. This hub provides local storage (16GB built-in and a 2.5″ SSD slot for up to 16TB), so there’s no need for a subscription, unlike many other systems.

The cameras offer 2K resolution, which is more than sufficient for most users. This resolution strikes a balance between sharp image quality and extended battery life.

The N1 cameras are equipped with 7,800 mAh batteries, enabling up to 210 days of operation. This depends on settings, but in my tests, they lost only about 10% battery life over 28 days (in cold conditions between 1–5°C, without direct sunlight).

The cameras have a 145-degree field of view, offering a good balance between wide coverage and detail. Excuse the mess in some of the test photos—renovations are underway!

For nighttime recording, the cameras use built-in infrared LEDs and a small spotlight, allowing both black-and-white and color modes. The black-and-white mode provides better image quality in dark environments since color recordings digitally enhance brightness, introducing some noise. Here are a few examples (without the spotlight):

Connectivity options are satisfactory. The hub connects to the internet via LAN and communicates with the cameras over 2.4GHz WiFi. The hub also has a USB port with the necessary power specifications to charge the cameras, so no extra adapter is needed—a USB cable is included in the package for this purpose.

Data Privacy and Artificial Intelligence

The system operates on motion detection, with no 24/7 recording option, and includes basic AI that can distinguish general motion from human activity. While not the most advanced on the market, this feature is helpful if you only want to detect human movement, not your pets running around.

A critical feature is the ability to set “private zones.” This allows you to black out sensitive areas in the camera’s view, such as neighbors’ properties or restricted zones.

Security and Storage

The hub features 16GB of internal storage, expandable up to 16TB via a 2.5″ SSD, enabling local data management that’s faster and more secure. The Baseus N1 system is EN 303645 certified, ensuring compliance with strict data security standards.

Notifications are partially customizable. You can specify whether you’re at home or away, adjusting the frequency of notifications accordingly. You can also choose between text-only notifications or those with snapshots attached.

What Could Be Improved?

While the N1 system offers excellent value for money, a few refinements could enhance the experience. One annoyance is switching the cameras to “away mode” when leaving home—it would be better to have a central button to activate all cameras simultaneously or group them.

AI improvements, such as animal detection, would also be useful.

A top wishlist item would be the realistic availability of additional cameras (the hub can theoretically support up to 8). I found add-ons on AliExpress, but it’s better to buy a complete set from the local warehouse for a better price.

*By the time I finished writing this review, some buying options had become more limited. However, I might still buy another set at a discounted price in the near future—at worst, I’ll have a spare hub gathering dust.

Conclusion

With its highly competitive price and impressive features, the N1 system stands out in this segment of the market. Subscription-free operation, ease of use, and robust data security are rare advantages at this price point. With this product, Baseus proves that affordability doesn’t have to come at the expense of quality.

If you’re interested, here’s where I bought it: LINK

💵 – Purchased with my own money, 100% my own opinion.