Xiaomi is blurring the line between home security cameras and dedicated video calling devices with the Smart Camera Video Call Version 2, a new model that combines 4K recording, a built-in display and two-way calling in a single tabletop device.
The camera is initially heading to Xiaomi’s Youpin crowdfunding platform in China, where the campaign is scheduled to begin on August 26. It will be offered for 429 yuan, roughly $60. There is currently no confirmed information about availability outside China.
Rather than simply upgrading image quality, Xiaomi has made the integrated screen central to the second-generation model. The device has a 3.97-inch laminated colour display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, accompanied by larger physical controls. That makes it closer to a compact smart display than the typical app-dependent indoor security camera.
Video calls can take place between the camera and a smartphone or directly between two compatible cameras. Xiaomi provides several ways to initiate a call, including a physical button and a hand gesture, alongside an automatic connection option. Two microphones, a larger speaker and noise reduction handle the audio side of conversations.
The concept could make particular sense for households where not everyone is comfortable navigating smartphone apps. A permanently positioned screen and dedicated calling controls potentially provide a simpler way for children or older relatives to contact family members while retaining the monitoring functions expected from a smart camera.
Imaging hardware has also received an upgrade. An 8-megapixel sensor can capture video at up to 3840 x 2160, giving the camera 4K recording capability. A redesigned horizontal pan-and-tilt mechanism provides 360-degree rotation, while vertical positioning can be manually adjusted between zero and 30 degrees.
Inside is a 1.5T processor that Xiaomi claims provides 50 percent more computing performance than the previous generation. The additional processing capacity is intended to support larger AI models used for recognising scenes and activity. As usual with manufacturer performance figures, the practical improvement will depend on how accurately and quickly those detection features work in everyday conditions.
The Smart Camera Video Call Version 2 also connects with Xiaomi’s broader HyperConnect ecosystem, allowing it to interact with other compatible smart home hardware. Family members can be given shared camera access, while users can view the live camera feed on the integrated screen during calls.
Adding a display is a relatively simple change, but it gives Xiaomi’s smart camera a more distinct role in an increasingly crowded home security market. Cameras from numerous manufacturers already offer high-resolution recording, motion detection and app-based communication, so hardware alone provides limited differentiation.
Xiaomi’s approach instead turns the camera into a shared household communication device as well as a monitoring tool. At 429 yuan, that combination looks competitively positioned in China, although its wider relevance will depend heavily on whether Xiaomi eventually brings the product — and its associated smart home services — to international markets.
