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Xiaomi's New AI Camera: Smarter Than Ever, But There's a Catch

Xiaomi has officially launched its Smart Camera 4 Max AI Zoom Edition, a device that promises to do more than just watch over your home. After four months of crowdfunding and anticipation, the camera is now available for 799 yuan, with a promotional price of 739 yuan on JD.com. But the real story isn't the hardware—it's the brain inside.

A Camera That Thinks

Traditional smart cameras have a simple job: they detect motion and send you an alert. "Someone moved in the living room," they say, and that's about it. The 4 Max, however, takes a giant leap forward. It's powered by Xiaomi's first AI care model, running on a 3T flagship 4-core chip that delivers three times the computing power of its predecessor. This isn't just a camera; it's a tiny guardian that tries to understand what's happening.

Care That Goes Beyond Motion Detection

The AI model breaks down "care" into granular behaviors and semantic understanding. For parents, it can analyze whether a child is studying, count screen time, and send a gentle reminder when limits are exceeded. For those caring for elderly relatives, it offers fall detection, alerts if a person hasn't appeared in certain areas for too long, and warns about dangerous behaviors. Pet owners aren't left out either—the camera can identify eating, toileting, sleeping, and activity levels, and even nudge you if your furry friend hasn't eaten in a while.

One of the most impressive features is the video text search. Instead of scrubbing through hours of footage, you can type a natural language query like "son studying" or "grandma falling," and the camera jumps to the relevant segment. It even generates a daily care report summarizing your family's activities. Person identification accuracy has improved by 20%, and the system can now recognize side profiles and even back views.

The Fine Print: Subscription Required

Here's where things get interesting. The AI features aren't free forever. When you buy the camera, you get a three-month free trial. After that, you'll need to subscribe for 32.8 yuan per month or 349 yuan per year. That's a recurring cost that might make you pause. Is the convenience worth it? For some, absolutely. For others, it might feel like a money pit.

Hardware That Impresses

Beyond the AI, the camera itself is a beast. It sports a dual-lens setup: a 12MP telephoto lens and an 8MP wide-angle lens, both with f/1.6 apertures and 6P lenses. It supports 4K monitoring and ultra-low-light full-color night vision. The telephoto lens has an 8mm focal length and a resolution of 4096x3072, with auto-focus to capture fine details. The wide-angle lens offers a 127° field of view, covering the entire room. Together, they enable 3x lossless zoom and 12x hybrid zoom. There's even a photography mode, so you can use the camera to snap family moments, not just for security.

The pan-tilt motor is 30% faster than the previous C700 model, offering a full 360° horizontal and 180° vertical range. Combined with person and pet tracking, it can follow moving subjects seamlessly, leaving no blind spots.

Should You Buy It?

The Xiaomi Smart Camera 4 Max AI Zoom Edition is a significant step forward in home monitoring. It's not just a camera; it's a smart assistant that cares for your loved ones. But the subscription model might be a dealbreaker for some. If you're willing to pay for the AI features, this camera is a top contender. If not, you might be better off with a simpler, cheaper model.

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Key Points

  • Price: 799 yuan (739 yuan on JD.com)
  • AI Features: Child care, elderly care, pet care, video text search, daily care reports
  • Hardware: Dual 4K lenses, 3x lossless zoom, 12x hybrid zoom, 360° pan-tilt
  • Subscription: 3-month free trial, then 32.8 yuan/month or 349 yuan/year
  • Availability: On sale now