eufyCam S4: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-17

Summary

A triple-lens outdoor camera (fixed 4K bullet plus a 2K+2K panning and zooming head) that runs wire-free on a 10,000 mAh battery with an integrated 5.5 W solar panel and 32 GB of local storage. Owners report setup friction — Wi-Fi dropouts, battery drain and PTZ heads that will not move — and the smartest features (Stranger Alert, cross-camera tracking) plus 24/7 recording need a HomeBase S380 and wired power. Standalone local storage carries no subscription, so yearly cost is close to zero outside an occasional battery replacement.

Common problems and fixes

Wi-Fi connectivity problems — the manual FAQ lists this first among setup issues; the fix is to confirm the router is on, the camera is in range and the Wi-Fi credentials are correct. [4][5]
Battery draining too quickly — usually tied to frequent motion triggers; the manual suggests lowering sensitivity and updating firmware. [4][5]
Video quality issues — caused by insufficient network speed; move the camera closer to the router or add a Wi-Fi extender. [4][5]
Events not recording — motion detection disabled, storage full or firmware outdated are the documented causes. [4][5]
PTZ head will not move — one owner on the manual’s Q&A reports “pan will not pan, camera will not move” and cannot set up presets. [4]
Camera cannot be reinstalled after removal from an NVR — another Q&A report; the reset procedure is holding the sync button for 10 seconds until the red LED. [4][5]
Solar panel placement — a user asks whether the panel can sit on the roof while the camera hides under the eaves; the manual recommends charging to 100% and giving the panel real sunlight. [4][5]

Parts and consumables

Replacement battery (10,000 mAh, replaceable) — 69.99 EUR on eufy’s EU store, checked 2026-10-11; owners replace it to extend service life. [2]
microSD card (up to 256 GB) — not included; only needed if the 32 GB built-in storage is not enough. [2]
5V/2A or better power adapter — required for 24/7 recording; eufy recommends the Anker A2637 (5.0VDC 3.0A 20W). [5]
4.2 m cable kit (1.2 m charging plus 3 m extension) — included, and needed together with the adapter for 24/7 recording. [2]
HomeBase S380 (optional) — unlocks Stranger Alert, cross-camera tracking and face recognition; other HomeBase models are not compatible. [2]

Yearly running cost

Not enough data to state a typical yearly figure. Standalone local storage carries no subscription, so the recurring cost is about 0; the only routine spend is a replacement battery at 69.99 EUR on eufy’s EU store when the 10,000 mAh pack wears out, plus an optional microSD card and the 5V/2A adapter if 24/7 recording is wanted. No electricity or cloud figures were reported.

When it is a good buy

At the $300 announcement price reported by Engadget (2025-09-04) the feature set is competitive on paper; eufy’s EU store lists 349.00 EUR (about $380 at the 2026-10-11 check), the UK store lists 299 GBP, and Anker’s Canada store showed CA$439.99. No named alternative was compared in the research for this model. If the wire-free solar design and no-subscription local storage are the priority, it is a plausible pick — go in knowing there is no independent instrumented review yet. [2][3][6][7]