Xiaomi launches new Smart 4G Camera 3 with built-in SIMs and free 4G data

Xiaomi has launched the Smart 4G Camera 3, a home security camera that connects through built-in cellular SIM cards instead of Wi-Fi. The camera is listed on Xiaomi Mall and Xiaomi Youpin in China, where crowdfunding opens on November 4. It costs ¥199 (about $29) during crowdfunding, against a suggested retail price of ¥269 (about $40).

Two SIM cards, from China Telecom and China Unicom, come pre-installed, and the camera switches between them to stay on whichever network has the stronger signal. Xiaomi bundles free 4G data with no speed limit, no volume cap, and no top-up fees. The data works only within the Mijia app and cannot be transferred to another device. Xiaomi has not specified how long the free data offer runs.

The camera records at 2880×1620, which Xiaomi markets as 3K, through a 5MP lens with an f/1.6 aperture. A high-sensitivity image sensor supports full-color imaging in very low light, while several 940nm infrared lights take over for night recording without giving off a visible red glow.

A dual-motor gimbal turns the lens through 360° horizontally and 109° vertically. Five AI detection modes cover home, child, and pet monitoring, and the camera sends push alerts to the owner’s phone when it picks up activity. Xiaomi has not listed the five modes individually. Two-way audio lets users speak to people or pets in view.

Xiaomi’s AOR recording system keeps footage running all day but handles moving and static scenes differently, discarding idle clips to save space on the microSD card. The camera also supports time-lapse capture. Live feeds can be viewed on phones, tablets, and Xiaomi TVs, family members can share access, and the camera links with other Mijia devices through Xiaomi HyperConnect.

The Smart 4G Camera 3 is a different product from the Xiaomi Smart Camera 3 3K, which launched in China in January. That earlier model relies on dual-band Wi-Fi over 2.4GHz and 5GHz, records at a slightly higher 2960×1668. It, however, shares the newer camera’s 360° rotation and 109° tilt and offers human detection, microSD and network storage, and optional cloud backup.