Where to buy Imou Ranger 2 and value

Imou Ranger 2 set up

Setting up the Ranger 2 was a cinch. Install the app and register, then power up the camera. Once the camera was fully booted, I then simply followed the simple wizard to jump it on to my wireless network. And that’s that. Either sign up for cloud storage or add an SD card and off you go. One thing to note is the ease with which you can reset the camera: this is not always the case and makes set up a stress free process.

Imou Ranger 2 features and in use

The feature set is where you really feel the value. A 1080p camera with built-in siren and two-way talk, the Imou to this point simply keeps up with its rivals. The Micro SD cart slot is an excellent additon, and there is a network port for those that wish to have their connectivity wired. But to this mix it adds features that are really useful when you have them.

Human detection, smart tracking, and 360-degree coverages are the kind of claims manufacturers love to make, but in the Ranger 2 they are genuine features that add value. When my daughter was ill we were able to pop the Ranger 2 in her room as she slept, getting alerts only when she moved during times she should have been asleep. Over protective parenting? Perhaps. But proof that the Ranger 2 works very well.

Most of the time the Ranger 2 lives in my office, a wooden outbuilding in the back garden. It is remarkably adept at picking up movement and tracking people, day or night. If I walk past the glass doors of the office building the camera picks me up and films me throughout. Footage is clear and sharp, and the night vision is about the best we have seen. Alerts are sent only when Combine these factors with the abnormal sound alarm and the Ranger 2 would make an excellent baby monitor for those who like to see as well as hear.

We’ve viewed the Ranger 2 from multiple networks including 4G and 5G cellular, with no problems viewing live and cloud-recorded video.

Imou Ranger 2 design and build

Not everyone will love the way the Ranger 2 looks, but we are fans. A smooth, ovoid white device it has a definite Star Wars vibe that fits in to any modern home. It’s solid in construction, and access to all the ports and cables is simple and straightforward.

And then there’s the cover. A cute silicon hat that sits atop the Ranger 2 and bestrides the camera aperture. It has little antlers, and comes in orange and black colours. I like it and if you are using the Ranger 2 as a child monitor it may be a good purchase, but at £12 a purchase it is.

Imou Ranger 2 verdict

This well-built and inexpensive in-house camera is easy to use and has an excellent feature set. It works well and produces high-quality video, and the cloud solution is excellent value. The only knock on the Ranger 2 is that it isn’t powered by battery, a fact reflected in the discount price.

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Matt Egan is Global Editorial Director of IDG, publisher of Tech Advisor, and a passionate technology fan who writes on subjects as diverse as smartphones, internet security, social media and Windows.