SECURITY Signal 38
Shelly launches $49.99 1080p security camera with local recording and no mandatory subscription
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Shelly announced a wired 1080p security camera priced at $49.99 that supports livestreaming, local microSD recording, and Shelly smart home automations without a subscription, with an optional paid plan adding cloud recording and smart object detection.
For engineers building or maintaining smart home setups, this camera offers a subscription-free path to local event recording and automation triggers through the Shelly ecosystem. The trade-offs are notable: 1080p only, no battery, and smart object detection locked behind a paid plan, which limits its utility for filtered alerting out of the box.
Written by elseif from the cluster below · every claim links back to a sourceThe three things worth knowing
The Shelly Camera costs $49.99, records locally to microSD, and livestreams over Wi-Fi without a subscription.
It is limited to 1080p with a 110-degree horizontal field of view and requires a wired USB-C power connection.
An optional paid subscription adds cloud recording and smart object detection distinguishing people, pets, and vehicles.
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Shelly's entry into the security camera market is priced at $49.99 and distinguishes itself by not requiring a subscription for core functionality. Without paying anything beyond the hardware cost, users can livestream video over Wi-Fi, record events locally to a microSD card, and trigger automations through other Shelly devices. This positions the camera as a viable option for smart home integrators who want local-first storage and event-driven automation without recurring fees.
The hardware specifications are modest compared to competitors. The camera captures 1080p video with a 110-degree horizontal and 70-degree vertical field of view and includes night vision. The Verge notes that Wyze has already released 2K security cameras at $40, meaning Shelly's offering is both lower resolution and slightly more expensive. Additionally, the camera lacks a battery, so installation requires routing a USB-C cable for power, which constrains placement options.
The subscription tier, while optional, unlocks features that materially change how the camera can be used in automated workflows. Paid plans add cloud recording and smart object detection capable of distinguishing between people, pets, and vehicles. This detection enables more granular alerting and automation rules, such as triggering different responses depending on what triggered the motion sensor. Without the subscription, automations are limited to generic motion detection, which is less useful in environments with frequent non-human movement.
Only one feed is carrying this story, so corroboration is limited. The announcement was made at IFA 2026, and the camera will be available soon from Shelly's online store and other resellers in black or white. Given the single-source coverage and the lack of independent testing data, performance characteristics such as latency, reliability of motion detection, and integration depth with the broader Shelly ecosystem remain unverified.
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