Zosi Security Camera Review and Pricing 2024

Zosi Home Security Pros and Cons

Zosi Security Camera System: From Box to App

One thing I liked about my Zosi 5MP Wi-Fi security cameras was the relatively empty box: two cameras and a base station. No motion sensors, no entryway sensors. Zosi was going back to basics.

On the other hand, the glut of power adapters and ethernet cables reminded me that these cameras were going to need to be plugged in permanently; not necessarily into my router, but into the wall. Compared to my recent experience testing Eufy’s 3rd-gen eufyCams, where batteries lasted 180 days, I have to say that this seemed like a clumsy way of keeping watch over my home.

Despite all those cords, my Zosi cameras looked hearty with sturdy metal frames and a solid IP66 weather rating. If you’re going to be using your Zosis outside, however, just remember that you’ll need an electricity socket nearby.

Setting Up My Zosi Security System

Pairing

As with all the top wireless security systems we’ve tested in these pages, I had to get my Zosi equipment online before I could use it. This meant downloading the Zosi Smart app.

One thing I’ll point out is that Zosi did ask me to share my location during setup. But because this wasn’t a monitored security system, where that information would have actually helped first responders get to me quicker in an emergency, I denied Zosi access.

Pairing my base station and two cameras took under three minutes. I started with the base station, then found my cameras on the app menu, scanned the QR codes, held them next to the station, and boom — I was connected.

Mounting

My Zosi cameras were easy enough to mount. Three screws (apiece) and a 6mm drill bit was all I needed. But the viewing range wasn’t great — 70 to 75 degrees max. So I was basically monitoring the street in front of my house. If someone snuck up from the side, I’d be blind.

Considering that, if this was a permanent solution for my home, I’d also invest in a quality video doorbell, where the field of vision is a lot better. Ring doorbell cams clock in at 160 degrees, for example, while Lorex video doorbells give you up to 164.

I didn’t have any issues with Wi-Fi range because my cameras were pretty close to my router, but if you’re covering more property — say a garage, shed, or fence — Zosi’s cameras use HaLow™ Wi-Fi technology, so you’d be covered.

Zosi’s Packages and Pricing

Here are Zosi’s three top-selling camera systems side by side. The advantage of the 3MP Wireless Security Camera System (center) is you don’t need electricity or ethernet, only batteries. But the trade-off is poorer video quality. I’ll have more to say about Zosi’s video quality down below when we get into using Zosi cameras on the day to day.

Zosi’s Security Packages

One thing I liked about Zosi is that each of their top camera systems comes with the same goodies: a two-way audio, spotlights, and an alarm. Kudos to Zosi for not crippling any of their hardware to bump me up into a more expensive price bracket.

Otherwise, if you’re on the fence between Zosi’s 4K PoE and 5MP systems, you’re probably not going to notice too much of a difference in image quality. The big difference is that the 4K PoE system requires ethernet for power. So again, if you’re mounting your Zosi cameras outside, this may be a job for Bob Villa.

In terms of pricing, Zosi’s cameras are firmly mid-range at about $40 to $50 a pop    (including the cost of the NVR). You can dip lower with certain Lorex models, but Ring security cameras start at $59.99, and SimpliSafe’s ever-popular SimpiCams run $99 a piece. So Zosi’s pricing isn’t prohibitive.

Also don’t forget that by the time you get done building your SimpliSafe security system, you’ll likely have added on a few other gadgets, like motion, entryway, and CO sensors, driving up your bill. Check out our hands-on SimpliSafe review to see what those packages look like in action.

On balance, to my mind, the question with Zosi wasn’t so much price, as:

• Do I need four cameras?
• Can I make do with only cameras and no smart ecosystem?
• Am I willing to put up with a clunky NVR and possibly some tricky wiring?

Zosi on the Day to Day

My Zosi cameras didn’t disappoint. Daytime images were quite crisp, as you’d expect from 5MP cameras. Like most AI-enhanced security cameras, however, Zosi is still figuring out how to detect humans. The C308AHs could identify people pretty accurately, but facial recognition wasn’t an option yet. Practically speaking, that meant I couldn’t tag the kiddos and get alerts when they were at the front door. If you’re looking for advanced AI face recognition, check out Vivint security systems.

Setting the Alarm

Zosi’s alarms are built right into their cameras. I could toggle mine on and off via the app. The Zosi alarm clocked in at 85 dBA, the bare minimum. From a distance, it sounded almost like a very loud version of a battery-powered fighter jet I bought my boy. The thing would go into “attack mode” in the middle of the night from within his toy box, and you’d cover your ears with a pillow until it stopped.

Using Zosi at Night

Zosi’s night vision had two modes: black and white, and color. Neither worked well for me. The actual picture quality wasn’t bad, but when the camera tried to track human movement, objects literally wavered like phantasms. The overall effect was kind of eerie, and not the kind of thing I’d want to be dealing with in the middle of the night when I was trying to identify a potential prowler on my property.

Zosi Customer Service

Zosi takes a beating on Trustpilot, earning a mere 2.9 out of 5 stars. Generally, I take these scores with a grain of salt, especially with brands like Zosi, whose cameras aren’t all a walk in the park to set up. When installations go south, tempers usually go with them.

Personally, I breezed through my installation this time around. But I am aware that when dealing with non-U.S.-based manufacturers, customer support can be an issue, whether the culprit is time zones, language barriers, or just lackluster help.

I also know that when it comes to security cameras, a call with customer support is usually in the cards at some point. So if you want to play it safe, there’s no harm in sticking with a security company that gets stellar reviews like SimpliSafe or Cove. Cove security systems score a solid 4.6 on Trustpilot. They’re also a cinch to install. Check out my full Cove review, and read about a surprise emergency response in action!

Final Thoughts On Zosi

Zosi’s 5MP Wi-Fi security cameras (C308AHs) are probably not going to be ideal for anything but the most basic front or backyard surveillance. In fact, I’d be tempted to only use these cameras indoors because they need power, and nighttime image quality wasn’t great.

On the other hand, I hesitate to recommend Zosi’s wired equipment because setting it up is going to stretch most of our DIY skills to the breaking point. Zosi equipment requires quasi-pro installations.

Considering all of that, if I was choosing for my home, I’d go with Zosi’s battery-operated cameras. The plus here is that solar charging is an option. Zosi’s solar panels only cost $24.99 a piece, FYI. The downside is that instead of a simple base station, Zosi’s completely wire-free cameras come with a network video recorder (NVR), so you’ll be graduating to a 7-Eleven-type CCTV set-up.

Sound like a headache? Then you may be better off with one of these five-star DIY home security systems.

Zosi Home Security FAQs