Watch my full EUFY C120 video review here.
Welcome to Mark’s Tech Blogs. In this post, I’m reviewing the EUFY C120, a budget-friendly indoor smart camera that works with Apple Home. The EUFY C120 has been around for a couple of years but flew under my radar until I needed a cheap camera to monitor my smart litter tray — and I discovered these HomeKit-compatible cameras from EUFY are only £25, which is incredible value.
I’ve used EUFY products for a while, including the Homebase 2 and outdoor camera for over three years. EUFY is a solid brand with no subscription fees when you use a Homebase and generally good design. However, EUFY’s camera lineup can be confusing, especially for Apple users.
EUFY C120 HomeKit Compatibility
Not all EUFY cameras support HomeKit, which is frustrating if, like me, you run an Apple smart home. EUFY has a page on their website listing which cameras work with HomeKit. The EUFY C120 is one of the few that doesn’t need a EUFY hub or Homebase, so for £25 you get everything you need — except a MicroSD card if you want local storage. If you prefer cloud storage, the EUFY C120 works with EUFY’s own cloud service or Apple Home.
EUFY C120 Specs & Features
The EUFY C120 can record in up to 2K resolution, but within Apple Home it’s limited to 1080p due to Apple’s own restrictions. It has a 125-degree horizontal field of view and a 67-degree vertical view. For low light, it uses infrared black and white night vision.
Local storage is handled with a built-in MicroSD slot, or you can store footage on the cloud. EUFY’s cloud plan costs £2.99 per month for one camera, but if you use iCloud and HomeKit, you can store footage through Apple instead. There’s also an option for NAS storage, although that isn’t available when using Apple Home.
The EUFY C120 connects via WiFi and is powered with a Micro USB A cable, which comes included along with a plug. It has built-in AI detection features like sound detection — which notifies you of general sounds or crying — but this feature isn’t available in Apple Home.
For motion, you can set activity zones and choose to detect humans, pets, or all motion in the EUFY app. However, these advanced settings aren’t adjustable when using the EUFY C120 with Apple Home, although you can still tweak sensitivity. A pet command feature lets you play a recorded voice clip when a pet is detected, but this also doesn’t work with Apple Home.
The EUFY C120 has a built-in speaker and alarm which work in the EUFY app but aren’t exposed to Apple Home. So, while the EUFY C120 is packed with features, many are restricted when using Apple Home — unlike competitors like Aqara which keep their advanced features available.
EUFY C120 Design
The EUFY C120 is compact and lightweight. The front is black while the rest is white and rounded — a simple, clean design that looks good in any room. On the back, there’s a reset button and a Micro USB port. The camera stand is very flexible, making it easy to adjust for the perfect angle. This flexibility made it perfect for mounting on a shelf to monitor the cat litter tray.
EUFY C120 Setup
Setting up the EUFY C120 is straightforward. Start by pairing it in the EUFY app: create an account if you don’t have one, tap the plus icon, find the EUFY C120, put it in pairing mode, connect it to your WiFi, and choose how you want to mount it.
Mounting the EUFY C120 is simple too. Use the included mounting plate and screws, or leave it freestanding. If you’re mounting it at an unusual angle like I did, 3M tape works perfectly.
To add the EUFY C120 to Apple Home, go to the camera’s settings in the EUFY app and enable HomeKit in the HomeKit Portal. This is the only reliable way to add the EUFY C120 to Apple Home — the QR code on the base doesn’t work. The EUFY C120 will also appear as a local device in Apple Home under “More Options.” The process is quick and painless.
EUFY C120 Everyday Use
I’ve mainly used the EUFY C120 within Apple Home but also tested local recording with a memory card through the EUFY app. Day-to-day, Apple Home is the easiest way to use the EUFY C120 because it integrates nicely with other cameras in your smart home and makes scrolling through recordings simple.
Apple Home lets you choose what happens when you’re home or away — you can set the EUFY C120 to stream and record, just stream, detect activity for automations without recording, or turn it off entirely. This is useful since the EUFY C120 doesn’t have a built-in privacy mode.
You can customise whether the EUFY C120 records or sends notifications for any motion or specific motion like humans, animals, vehicles, or packages. There’s also an option to record audio.
The main reasons you might still use the EUFY app are to use the two-way speaker, trigger the alarm, or adjust settings not exposed to Apple Home — though these features are not must-haves for everyone.
Video quality is good in both daylight and night vision mode. The EUFY C120 responds quickly and reliably captures the footage you want, although night-time detection is less accurate for specific object recognition.
EUFY C120 Verdict
All things considered, the EUFY C120 is an unusual camera. It shows where EUFY sits compared to brands like Aqara for Apple Home users. Apple Home clearly feels like an afterthought here — when you use the EUFY C120 with Apple Home, you lose access to many advanced features in the EUFY app, and you’re limited to 1080p resolution.
If this camera wasn’t so affordable and if I wasn’t just using it for monitoring the cats, I probably would have returned it. If you’re looking for a better indoor camera with full feature access and Apple Home support, something like the Aqara G3 — while about £50 more — is worth considering. It can rotate, works seamlessly with Apple Home, and keeps advanced features in its own app. It’s even an IR blaster.
But if you want an ultra-budget Apple Home compatible camera, the EUFY C120 delivers exactly that. It’s not a purchase you’ll regret — just be prepared for some quirks along the way.
If you’d like to check out the EUFY C120 or see the latest price, you can find it through my recommended links.
