A 4K Indoor Camera Built for Reviewing Footage, Not Just Live View
The Xiaomi Smart Camera C701 is positioned as a higher-end indoor security camera, offering 4K resolution, AI detection features, and deep integration into the Xiaomi Home ecosystem. On paper, it promises a significant upgrade over older models like the Xiaomi C301.
After two months of real-world indoor use in a condo, with the primary goal of recording and reviewing footage later, the C701 proves to be an excellent camera in terms of image quality — while also revealing several practical limitations that only show up with long-term use.
This review is based on daily usage, not short-term testing.
Xiaomi Smart Camera C701 Key Specifications
- Resolution: 4K (3840 × 2160)
- Sensor: 8 MP
- Video compression: H.265
- Night vision: Infrared + color night video with ambient light
- Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz (Wi-Fi 6 support)
- Bluetooth: Yes
- Storage: microSD card (up to 256 GB)
- App: Xiaomi Home (Android & iOS)
- Intended use: Indoor
Setup and First Use Experience
Fast and Familiar Installation
Initial setup is simple and intuitive, especially if you’ve used Xiaomi cameras before.
- Pairing via the Xiaomi Home app is smooth
- Wi-Fi works out of the box
- Total setup time: around 10 minutes
If you already own another Xiaomi camera (such as the C301), the process feels familiar. Multiple cameras can coexist inside the same Xiaomi Home app without any issues.
First impression: fast, predictable, and user-friendly.
Video Quality Review
Daytime Video Quality
This is where the Xiaomi Smart Camera C701 immediately stands out.
- Excellent sharpness
- Natural and accurate colors
- Noticeably higher brightness
- Fine details visible without zooming
Compared to the Xiaomi C301, the improvement is obvious immediately. You don’t need to zoom in or compare screenshots — the difference in clarity and brightness is visible at first glance.
Night Vision Performance
Night performance is one of the strongest aspects of the C701.
- In total darkness, black-and-white footage remains sharp and detailed
- Night vision range reaches several meters with no visible quality drop
- With even minimal ambient light, the camera switches to color night video
For indoor use, night footage is reliable, clear, and consistently usable.
Field of View
The C701 offers a slightly wider field of view than the C301, allowing better room coverage without repositioning the camera.
Overall verdict on video quality: the 4K upgrade is real and meaningful, not just a marketing number.
Reliability and Wi-Fi Dependency
Behavior When Wi-Fi Drops
This is one of the most important real-world findings.
- The camera blinks
- Goes offline
- Stops recording, even with a microSD card installed
The Xiaomi Smart Camera C701 does not continue recording without Wi-Fi, which can be a serious limitation if you expect uninterrupted local recording during internet outages.
Reconnection After Outages
- In most cases, the camera reconnects automatically
- Occasionally, a manual power unplug is required
With a stable network, this isn’t a frequent problem — but it’s something users should be aware of.
Reviewing Recorded Footage in Xiaomi Home App
Timeline View
- Timeline navigation is reasonably fast
- Motion and human detection markers are clearly visible
- Jumping to events is intuitive
For quick checks, the timeline works well.
File Management and Clip Handling
This is where the experience becomes frustrating.
- Recordings are saved as 1-minute clips
- That results in 60 video files per hour
- File-based browsing is slow:
- Thumbnails load slowly
- Long lists are cumbersome to scroll
Exporting and Downloading Videos
- There is no true export feature, only “save”
- Maximum 50 videos can be selected at once
- Downloads are slow
- The app must stay open and in the foreground
- Instead of one long clip, you end up with dozens of short files
Thumbnail browsing is faster than on the older C301, but the underlying limitations remain.
Motion and Human Detection
Motion and human detection appear generally accurate in everyday indoor use, with clear labeling inside the timeline.
These features were not deeply stress-tested with extreme scenarios (shadows, moving curtains, rapid lighting changes), but for normal usage they work as expected.
Audio Features
Audio recording and two-way communication were not actively tested during daily use. If audio monitoring is important, this is something potential buyers should evaluate themselves.
Privacy and Daily Living Experience
Status LED and Privacy Controls
- Status LED can be completely turned off
- No distracting lights at night
- Privacy cover and sleep modes exist but weren’t used
With the LED disabled, the camera blends into the room and feels unobtrusive.
Comfort Level
The camera feels comfortable to keep running long-term in a living space, especially once visual indicators are disabled.
Final Verdict: Is the Xiaomi Smart Camera C701 Worth It?
Buy the Xiaomi Smart Camera C701 if:
- You want excellent 4K indoor video quality
- Night vision performance is important
- You already use the Xiaomi Home ecosystem
- Your Wi-Fi connection is stable
- You mostly review footage via the timeline
Think twice if:
- You need recording to continue without Wi-Fi
- You often export long video segments
- You want clean, continuous recordings instead of many small clips
Xiaomi Smart Camera C701 Rating
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Overall score: 4 out of 5
The Xiaomi Smart Camera C701 delivers outstanding image quality and is a clear upgrade over older Xiaomi models like the C301. However, its strict reliance on Wi-Fi and awkward file handling prevent it from being a perfect indoor security camera. For stable home networks, it’s an excellent choice. For demanding recording workflows, its limitations become apparent over time.
