CONCLUSION

   DIY smart security alarm systems may not be as popular as standalone systems (which usually include an external siren paired with window/door and motion sensors) but they are getting there and judging by the vast selection of add-ons Home8 has it shouldn’t be too long until people realize that there’s not much they can’t automate in their homes. As mentioned early we would had liked a better resolution camera but Home8 does have better ones with some of their other systems so for people who video quality is a must we do recommend taking a look at one of their other ones. As for setting up the system as you all saw it’s something that shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes from start to finish and although sometimes you may have to register one or more of the components manually again that’s very easy to do thanks to the 2D barcodes available on every device. What did end up confusing us a bit are the two different hubs/shuttles available for the EU and USA markets and although version 3.0 may look better (and you can save some space due to its internal siren) version 2.0 actually seems more versatile since it allows you to place the siren far from the hub/shuttle.

   At the time of this review the Video-Verified Security Alarm System by Home8 retails for USD229.99 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 299Euros inside the EU (Amazon.de) a price which is quite balanced for what you’re getting. As mentioned earlier Home8 has several ready kits but if video quality is very important for you then their only valid ones are those featuring exterior Full HD cameras (twist cameras may offer better video quality but these are also HD models). This is also the only slight issue we have with this particular alarm system by Home8 (and of course their other HD ones). Granted the majority of consumers may not care much about video quality as long as they can detect intruders but we all feel that it’s an important part of any video enabled smart alarm system. That being said you really can’t go wrong with the Video-Verified Security Alarm System by Home8, setting it up is just a matter of minutes, should be enough for most small homes and offices (if not you can add numerous extra sensors and cameras) and it’s very easy to use from the android / iOS app so it’s no surprise really that it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Size Of Components
- Fast Installation
- Loud Siren
- Available Sensors And Components
- Mini Cube HD Camera With Two Way Audio And Night Vision
- Easy To Use Smart App
- Bundle
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Only 2 Window/Door Sensors In The Bundle 
- Camera Image/Video Quality
- Some Sensors May Require Manual Registration With The App