In a world where home security is more accessible than ever, I’m glad that brands like MERCUSYS exist. As a brand that provides budget-friendly smart home security devices, it has a new product that I’m trying out: the MERCUSYS MC500 smart outdoor home camera. It has many of the features we expect from an outdoor camera, such as: 360° coverage with Smart Motion Tracking, recording 1080p video at 30 fps with 9x digital zoom, and IP65 dust and water resistance. The best part? It is priced at P1,199!
Here is my unboxing and first impressions of the MERCUSYS MC500.
What’s Inside The Box?
Unlike smartphones where we don’t get basic stuff like chargers and cables, smart home devices like the MERCUSYS MC500 still have everything you need inside the box. From the mounting hardware to the wall mount guide, you are sure to have it set up easily.
First Impressions
The main thing that impressed me when using the MC500 for the first time was its setup. It also helps that the setup starts by downloading the MERCUSYS app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. It would be nice though if they can make this app officially available on HUAWEI’s AppGallery.
App Setup
While I do wish I could add a device without needing an account, I understand the need to have access to the same smart home devices when moving to new phones. The whole process of adding the MERCUSYS MC500 is fairly simple. It only requires your phone (with the app) to connect to the camera itself for it to connect to your Wi-Fi network.
Initial Mounting Experience
For this first impressions, I didn’t have to properly mount the camera on a wall. Good thing I had a makeshift pole to and some cable ties to simulate pole mounting. I had to be careful as I didn’t use any of the screws just yet. We’re planning to put this at a more permanent spot outside the house. Despite its makeshift nature, it was relatively easy to do!
MERCUSYS App Control
I’ve personally used the MERCUSYS app before with the Wi-Fi 7 router, and it’s just as easy to use with the MC500 outdoor camera. Since I had previous experience with a different (yet somehow similar-looking) smart home camera, navigating the app was fairly easy.
You could control the camera manually, or tinker in the settings for automatic motion and person detection. There’s even a setting where you can control how often the camera records video for playback later.
If you’re looking for an outdoor camera without breaking the bank, then the MERCUSYS MC500 is a good budget-friendly option for you! You can get one for P1,199 and is available in authorized retailers, as well as through Lazada and Shopee.