Xiaomi globally introduced the C500 Neo camera. Only one difference separates it from the model we have in the Czech Republic

Xiaomi is expanding its range of home cameras with the Smart Camera C500 Neo model. In terms of image and smart features, it is practically a twin of the C500 camera, which arrived in our country last year – with the new version, the manufacturer has seemingly removed essentially only one thing.

What does the Smart Camera C500 Neo offer?

According to Xiaomi, the heart of the camera is a 6MP sensor with a size of 1/2.45 inches and an aperture of f/1.6. It records in 3.5K resolution (3200 × 1800 pixels), so the footage has significantly more detail than standard Full HD cameras. Furthermore, the lens sits on a dual-motor gimbal that rotates 360 degrees horizontally and 116 degrees vertically – allowing the camera to cover the entire room and track motion.

It sees in the dark and recognizes pets

Recognition is handled by a local AI chip with 1 TOPS performance, i.e., a trillion operations per second. According to the manufacturer, it distinguishes humans from pets (dogs or cats) and sends notifications to the phone directly from the device, without sending them to the cloud. In the dark, the scene is illuminated by eight 940nm infrared illuminators, which, according to Xiaomi, do not emit visible red light, so you won’t spot the camera after dark. Privacy is ensured by a physical shutter – the lens mechanically folds into the camera body, so it physically cannot see into the room. Two-way talk via speaker and microphone, dual-band Wi-Fi 6, and connectivity with Google and Amazon Alexa assistants are also included.

How does it differ from the C500 model?

When you place the specifications of both cameras side by side, they differ in only one point – storage. The C500 model can save recordings in three ways: to a microSD memory card, to the cloud, and additionally to NAS network storage. The new C500 Neo only supports the first two options, omitting NAS. In practice, this is a difference mainly for more demanding users – NAS is a separate data storage connected to a home network, where people store movies, backups, or camera footage. Those who don’t have one at home won’t miss anything; the rest of the equipment, including the sensor, AI functions, and night vision, remains exactly the same.

Xiaomi globally introduced the C500 Neo camera. Only one difference separates it from the model we have in the Czech Republic Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

Price and availability

For now, we have to shrug – Xiaomi has not yet announced the price of the new C500 Neo or the date of its Czech sale. For now, it is only certain that you can purchase its older sibling immediately: the C500 model can be bought on Alza for 1,099 CZK. Since the Neo differs from it only by the omitted NAS, it can be expected that the new version will aim for a similar price level, although it will probably be slightly cheaper – but we will only have certainty with the official announcement.

Would you opt for the new C500 Neo, or is the proven C500 for a thousand crowns enough for you?

Sources: Xiaom