Canary Flex Review 2022 | This Canary Camera Sure is Flexible

I can’t lie: I’m excited to endeavor the Canary Flex Camera. Subsequently the Canary All-In-One more than surpassed my expectations, I have high hopes for the Flex. Best instance scenario, it’southward the
Frasier
to the All-In-One’south
Cheers, just worst-case scenario? The
Joey
to the All-In-1’due south
Friends. But, as usual, I remain cautiously optimistic.

The Canary Flex Camera is an indoor/ outdoor camera that promises a magnetic 360-caste swivel base of operations, night vision in HD, clear sound, and more. This camera isn’t a fair-atmospheric condition friend- Canary claims that the camera works in temperatures ranging from four to one hundred and 13 degrees Fahrenheit. Every bit most cameras crave that yous buy an extra slice to catechumen an indoor camera into an outdoor camera, I’thousand impressed by the Flex’due south range. Let’s run into if the Flex, similar the box says, is indeed “the world’s about versatile HD security camera.” This Canary camera review starts now!

Canary Flex AI features

Video Review

What It Promises

They say that yous shouldn’t judge a book by its comprehend, only reading the Flex’southward box is already getting me riled upward.

The box promises a number of things, including:

• 1080p HD videofor cute footage
• Clear audio,whether it is indoor or outdoor
• Wifi setup
  with no hubs required
• Weatherproofed
  for outdoor utilise, and able to withstand snow, rain, heat, or cold
• Magnetic 360-caste swivel base
  for more viewing flexibility
• HD night vision, for super clear video even in the dark
• Smart alerts
  then you lot’ll know when someone enters your home

This all sounds pretty smashing to me- simply let’s take it out of the box and see for ourselves.

Start Impressions

At starting time glance, I’thousand liking the expect of the Flex. With its sheathing shape, information technology resembles a large pill, and it comes in both black and white. I love that the base of operations is magnetic, as it makes secure mounting foolproof. The face up of the camera is glossy, while the residuum is matte, with a matte bankroll.

At less than 5 inches tall, this photographic camera blends in perfectly with most homes and is definitely not an eyesore. If aesthetics are important to you, this camera might be a good option. Whether you want to put it in a formal living room or out by your pool, the Flex won’t be an eyesore. It besides weighs slightly over half a pound, which I like considering I can easily motion it when I want to. Allow’s leave the weight-lifting at the gym, shall we?

The speaker is at the top of the camera, while the charging port and Canary insignia are below. The camera has a battery in it and also a charging port. That’south a good thing because the camera can work either wire-free through a charger or plugged in. A single charge allows the photographic camera to become wire-free due to its extended life rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The Canary Flex Camera typically has a battery life of 2 to 3 months under normal utilise.

The cord-gratis option is nice for anyone concerned with interior design, while the string-option works for the Utilitarian more concerned with the Canary Flex Camera’south battery life. Anyone who reads my reviews knows that I dearest flexibility as much every bit the next person who does not actually practice, simply loves the idea of being a yoga person, so the more options, the better.

One thing that is a bit annoying nigh this camera is that the bombardment does not take a micro USB cord- you need the canary adapter. Of class, the Canary Flex comes with the adapter, merely if I lose it, I’d have to special social club a new one. Poor me, right?

Despite this, I like the blueprint overall and am set to run across how it works.

Necessary Features

Where would we be as a society without some objective standards to adhere by? That’s why I put all of my products through our Necessary Features exam, and the Canary Flex is no exception. Let’s see how it stacks upward.

Canary Flex Camera Video

At the take a chance of being called a Negative Nancy, I will say that the video on the Flex is lacking. While it claims that it has 1080p HD for optimal viewing, the camera defaults to 720p, based on the user’south streaming capabilities, and there is no style to change the quality within the Canary Flex app. As 1080p HD is the manufacture standard, I’g not thrilled with the Canary Flex’due south video quality.

Similarly, the field of vision disappoints. At 116 degrees, the Flex has a field of vision 30 degrees narrower than its sister the All-In-One. While information technology’s non the narrowest field of vision I’ve ever seen (95 degrees, if you lot’re wondering), information technology nonetheless does non seem wide plenty, particularly for outdoor use.

Notwithstanding, the photographic camera does come up with digital zoom, so overall I will give the Flex full marks for video.

Canary Flex Camera Two-Way Sound

The audio on the Flex is crystal-clear, which I honey. You’d exist surprised how many intruders upwards and leave the scene when a disembodied vocalization shouts at them!

Unfortunately, the audio can only be used if yous pay for a Canary membership, which clocks in at either $9.99 a month or $99 a year. Given that the audio works well, despite the actress cost, I give the Flex full marks on this category.

Canary Flex Camera Night Vision

I was super impressed by the night vision on this camera. When I tested information technology out, I could see the scene perfectly, despite the fact that the Flex has fewer infrared LED lights than the All-In-1.

Additionally, the dark vision is automated, which saves you lot the trouble of having to manually switch information technology on and off twice a day. Every bit good outdoor dark vision is hard to come by, I’m definitely giving the Flex full marks for night vision.

Canary Flex Camera Storage

Like the All-In-One, the Flex has no local storage options. This is a trouble for someone that wants to be in consummate control of their footage. What I do capeesh, yet, is that the camera offers 24 hours of clip storage and unlimited live streaming. If yous pay for the membership that I mentioned before, you unlock an unlimited saving of clips plus 30 days of cloud storage.

This is a pretty good deal, considering some camera companies accuse up to $xxx a month for xxx days of cloud storage. Plus, the data is encrypted through the cloud, making information technology secure. Cloud storage is nice because it is way more than secure than local storage- footage tin can’t be stolen physically or digitally, even if a thief steals the camera itself.

Notwithstanding, similar I’ve said earlier, I’one thousand a man of flexibility. Every bit in that location is no local storage option, I have to give the Flex half marks on this category.

Canary Flex Photographic camera Smart Platform Integration

I believe it was James Madison who in one case said “A device is merely as good equally its smart platform integration,” (a joke, for those of you who lack a finely-tuned sense of humor). For this category, the Flex kills it.

I love that the Canary Flex Camera is integrated with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant considering it gives the user the flexibility to choose their preferred platform. Wondering how much battery life you have left? Just ask Google for the Canary’s battery life. Did you remember to plug the camera in before you left the house? Inquire Google if your Canary is plugged in. The Internet of Things, in general, makes it super easy to monitor devices, correct from the palm of your hand.

The Flex isn’t integrated with Apple tree Domicile, merely then again, most cameras aren’t either. For smart platform integration, I give the Flex full marks.

Canary Flex Camera Artificial Intelligence

I endeavour not to believe everything I hear, but I’ve heard reports that the Flex does non learn fast enough, making me skeptical of its bogus intelligence capabilities. Withal, in my experience, I was impressed by the incremental strides that the device takes over time. It’s not immediate, of form, simply over fourth dimension the device learns to discover people and packages precisely to forestall false alarms. I like that the Flex takes the time to acquire my habits and adjusts appropriately.

In terms of artificial intelligence, the Canary Flex boasts both person and package detection. While person detection has become a standard for most security cameras of this caliber, parcel detection is a rarity. I love the idea that my packages are accounted for even if I’g non home when they’re delivered.

It’south as well of import to annotation the difference betwixt person detection and facial recognition. Person detection can only tell when a person is in the camera’s line of vision, while facial recognition learns exactly who the person is. This becomes super helpful in identifying who are your friends and family, and who is an intruder. Facial recognition is not super common on comparable security cameras, but if information technology’s important to you lot, and then the Flex is not for you. Overall, I requite the Canary Flex full marks for artificial intelligence.

Canary Flex Photographic camera Value

At $169, this camera is on the expensive side, and that’south non even including the optional membership. No i wants to spend money, of course, merely I empathise the value in the Canary Flex.

A nice feature that Canary is currently offering is cheaper bundles when you purchase the membership. 1 membership tin can be applied to up to 5 devices at 1 location. While the camera alone is currently priced at $169 on the Canary website, the camera and a i-yr membership, costs $139, a savings of $60. Purchase the camera and a 2-year membership for simply $99. Just make sure you exercise it through the Canary website, as these deals are web exclusives. In that location’s fifty-fifty gratuitous shipping on orders over $50.

The camera comes with a 1-yr express warranty (purchased past Canary and its authorized retailers, of course). I am not super impressed with this warranty, equally most people would wait a security camera to last them way more than a year. Ultimately, still, I practice believe in the quality of the photographic camera, making the warranty almost a moot point. In improver to that, the warranty doubles to 2 years when y’all purchase the Canary membership, which tin can be applied to your outset five devices.

Because the photographic camera does accept such impressive indoor/ outdoor capabilities, and almost all of the features of the All-In-One camera, I call back it’s worth the price. Full marks for value!

Canary Flex Camera Convenience

Not to brag, but for me, the setup of the Canary Flex Camera took ten minutes. Confession: it wasn’t due to my stellar technical abilities. This camera is just super like shooting fish in a barrel to ready, peculiarly if you already have the All-In-One. The bulk of the gear up-up occurs through the Canary Flex app, discussed below.

All you take to do to set up upwards the photographic camera itself is stick information technology on a flat service and twist it to cover any field of vision you would like. Overall, I give the Flex full marks for its convenience.

Canary Flex Camera Mobile App

The mobile app is super user-friendly and has a lot of cracking features. Where do I begin?

From the Canary Flex app, you tin can control the siren to scare intruders (or whoever you experience like scaring, although nosotros don’t recommend scaring your loved ones).

You tin can also arm or disarm the camera, and schedule everything right through your smartphone. The photographic camera has 2 modes to choose from: away, which will brand the camera tape when you’re out of the business firm, and night, which will make the camera record when you’re sleeping. I like that the camera doesn’t tape when you’re home and awake, as it gives the user some much-needed privacy.

The app is where you’ll be able to access the ii-way audio, where you can live-stream the footage your photographic camera collects, and where you tin alert the proper authorities if you see whatever crimes. A safety button automatically dispatches your message to authorities, a much meliorate alternative to manually calling 911. Tin you imagine if a burglar discovered you as you were telling the dispatcher yous were being robbed? Talk about speak of the devil. Again, the two-way audio and the safety button are only bachelor with the Canary membership.

The app also includes a timeline, which basically summarizes what happened during the photographic camera’s recording. This feature would definitely come in handy if, god forestall, y’all needed to put together a timeline for the police force. Y’all can besides access easily access Incident Support through the app, a squad trained to help you later an incident with your security.

Comparisons

So sure, the Flex is a great camera. Only how does it compare to competitors? Equally these cameras all have similar features, I’m stacking the Flex upwardly confronting its sis, the Canary All-In-Ane, too as the Arlo Pro 2 and the Blink Indoor Camera. As they’re all effective security cameras, your selection might have to come down to the nitty-gritty. Let’s swoop in.

Canary All-In-One

What better photographic camera to compare the Canary Flex to than the Canary All-In-Ane? The principal difference between the two cameras is that the All-In-One is only indoor, while the Flex is both indoor and outdoor. Like the Flex, the All-In-One has smashing video and audio quality, night vision, smart platform integration, and artificial intelligence. It also comes with a feature that the Flex does not have- HomeHealth technology. HomeHealth technology is a climate monitoring system measuring things like temperature, humidity, and air quality. If that’s important to you lot, and then the All-In-One might be a better choice than the Flex.

Both cameras lose points for storage, with no local storage options and 24 hours of free storage. For 30 days of storage, you lot have to pay $9.99 a month for a membership. Again, memberships include 2-manner audio, activeness zones, and the Safety button to contact law enforcement. The good news is that multiple cameras can be nether the same membership. Overall, both products have dandy value and convenience, just if you lot’re looking for a camera with indoor and outdoor capabilities, then the All-In-One isn’t for y’all.

For more than info, check out our full review of the Canary All-In-One.

Arlo Pro 2

Like the Canary Flex, the Arlo Pro ii is another great indoor/ outdoor camera. The Arlo Pro 2 has slightly better video quality than the Flex, with a field view of 130 degrees, xiv more than the Flex. Similarly, while the Flex claims it has 1080p HD while defaulting to 720p, the Arlo Pro 2 consistently uses 1080p HD. The Arlo Pro 2 does lose points, however, on its dark vision. If nighttime vision is a priority for you, and so the Arlo Pro 2 is probably not for yous.

Storage-wise, the Arlo Pro two wins, with both cloud and local storage options. This photographic camera even provides storage for upward to 7 days for free, while the Flex only provides you with storage for 24 hours before having to pay for a membership. Both options have 2-way sound but once more, this only comes with a membership for the Canary Flex.

The 2 cameras are integrated with Amazon and Alexa and Google Assistant, but the Arlo Pro 2 is likewise integrated with Apple HomeKit, IFTTT & Stringify. If either of these are essential to you, then the Arlo Pro two is the style to go. Another divergence is the artificial intelligence. While the Flex boasts person and package detection, the Arlo Pro 2 does non take any person or facial recognition software. Both cameras are worth their prices and piece of cake to prepare. Overall, I would recommend the Canary Flex over the Arlo Pro ii due to its excellent night vision, which I believe is an essential quality to any great security photographic camera.

To larn more, cheque out our review of the Arlo Pro 2.

Blink Indoor

The final camera I’ll exist comparing the Canary Flex to is the Blink Indoor, which, like its name suggests, is solely an indoor camera. When information technology comes to video, audio, and dark vision, the Canary Flex wins hands downwardly. The Blink Indoor only has a video quality of 720p Hd, less than the industry standard. In addition to that, the Blink Indoor does not have 2-way sound. Anyone who reads my reviews knows what I feel nigh 2-way audio- it’s an awesome way to stop a crime from happening in real-time.

The Blink Indoor does accept the Canary Flex crush, however, when information technology comes to storage. Blink provides costless local and cloud storage, while the Flex does not have a local storage option. As Amazon owns Blink, the indoor camera is merely integrated with Amazon Alexa, while the Canary Flex integrates with both Alexa and Google Assistant. If you’re looking for bogus intelligence, the Blink Indoor is definitely non right for you- information technology has no person detection or facial recognition features. Unless you’re extremely passionate about having a local storage selection, I would definitely recommend the Canary Flex over the Glimmer Indoor camera.

Desire more data? Read our review of the Blink Indoor camera.

If you lot want to larn more, read our review of the best home security cameras.

Recap

Overall, the Canary Flex is a great camera, but it’southward not for everyone.

If you crave constantly 1080p HD streaming or a field of vision wider than 116 degrees, and then congratulations, this is non the camera for you. If you are a local storage fiend, I will say the aforementioned thing- pass on the Flex.

Still, if yous demand a trustworthy indoor/ outdoor camera, the Flex fits the bill. I especially recommend the camera to people who already own the All-In-One, as these products supplement each other nicely. I love the piece of cake prepare-up of the photographic camera, plus its integration with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

I think information technology’southward definitely worth it to invest the $9.99 a calendar month of $99 a twelvemonth in the Canary membership. That volition get you the thirty days of deject storage, 2-way audio, activity zones, person and package detection, also as the power to contact a beginning-person responder through the app. In sum, the Canary Flex is a trustworthy photographic camera that allows yous to easily monitor what is going on in or out of your firm.