A9 Mini WiFi Camera Review

This seems to be the new popular mini camera, so I took a look at it. As always questions or comments are accepted, and I'll try my best to answer them.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro + Unboxing
00:42 Camera Overview
01:30 Charging and Constantly On
02:02 Using the Camera
02:37 The App
03:49 Sample Video
04:12 Sample Clip 2
04:42 Comparison to Another Bad Camera
05:04 Video at Night
05:20 Comparison to Video from a Phone
05:34 Camera Teardown + Internals
06:38 Summary and Other Issues (there’s a lot)
07:45 Conclusion + Outro
Music:
Land of Fire - "Empty"
Land of Fire - "Light"
Ason ID - "Good Times"

[@Hazardteam]

It's a IP(!!!!) camera bro! NOT a dashcam or mobile camera... Do you know what the F'... the "IP" means?

[@doodlejkreviews]

While it may be an IP Camera (the listing I bought this from made no mention of that fact, nor did the poorly translated app or instructions help), that does not take away from the fact that: The image quality is terrible, the battery lasts 30 minutes, the video format is incompatible with most video players, the mode button does not seem to do anything, and that there is no consistent method of recording videos (you know, instead of creating a whole bunch of temporary files).

[@Hazardteam]

​@@doodlejkreviews Ok. it's a garbage, but if you type the name of it to the google (or any) seaches shows it's definetely an "IP" camera (so it should be in fixed position) But anyways:The funny thing is that even from that, it can be suspected that this thing is industrial waste, daring to pass itself off as an 'IP' camera. Because with IP cameras, the most important thing is that their sensor is prepared to accurately track movements/events, sacrificing the 'eye candy' factor. That's why most IP camera footage looks like garbage, as you can often see in the news on TV. For them, the ability to track motion is crucial and critical especially in fast-paced actions, as sometimes the outcome of a legal judgment can depend on small details. So the point is, you won't get a real IP camera anywhere for the amount of money this piece of junk is being sold for, despite its false advertising. So its 'reliability' as a company is already suspicious. In reality, it's a toy, nothing more, nothing less. It's like a placebo, where instead of doing what needs to be done properly, you buy such a piece of junk and ease your conscience. It's not only cheap crap, but also harmful. It wouldn't be if they advertised it for what it really is. Maybe you use it to watch your cat at home and such. So that's the bigger issue with this gadget, the other things you mentioned are just extras during its 'use.' But it's also true that even if it were a true IP camera, it wouldn't be worth using it the way you did in the video, as the comparison to the expected performance of a 'normal' camera would be misleading

[@doodlejkreviews]

In my experience, the IP Cameras I own all have passable video quality (that can see decently well during the day and night) and use PIR for motion detection. Unfortunately, this thing's video quality is so poor that I am not sure it has enough resolution to record faces, so even as an IP Camera, it would be bad. I do not remember if I mentioned this in the video, but the companion app for this thing needs practically all of your phone's permissions to function, which is something I have also never experienced with any IP Camera. I do admit that my review for this thing is not proper (why I pinned your comment), but in my opinion, the most important part of any camera (regardless of form) is the image quality, so this thing is still practically E-Waste.

[@Hazardteam]

​@@doodlejkreviews _"This thing is still practically E-Waste"_ It is. We have a saying in my country for that: "cheap meat has thin broth" (it means that cheap soup has thin broth) Sorry for my bad english.

[@michaelg6364]

@@Hazardteam these were cheap to manufacture not cheap to purchase, they are mlm crap designed to strip the coin from your pocket. an internet protocol cam should be very good picture with minimal expense as most of the working components aren't built into the cam

[@shakeesangwenya4927]

Thank you for the very helpful review. You've helped me save some time and money.

[@TheDeadbone1961]

Thank you for the in-depth review: I was looking to purchase but luckily checked your vid first :)

[@jacobsteel]

very helpful. not ordering the thing now. thank you for saving me time and money! :)

[@icutoo2699]

I like videos where you open stuff up. Good review

[@jean-marcouellette3579]

Yes very helpful I thank you very much

[@jamesbond1428]

very good details

[@mindsetmovement7243]

Thank you. I should have watched this before buying

[@janX9]

Great review! 👍

[@doodlejkreviews]

6:44 If this was not perfectly clear: this camera DOES NOT WORK by itself more than half of the time. While it is set to record when turned on, most of the time, it just creates dummy/temporary files instead of actually recording. If you manually record with the app, the videos are pretty much screen captures of the camera stream, which creates a very low quality video.

[@DesignwithCracka]

I just got this camera and everything you said here is true, absolute waste of money.

[@robinsuarez8710]

Thank you

[@asiamillion2001]

Just bought mine two days ago and now I'm sending it back

[@ldsaleker]

Can you do that...how...need to send mine back

[@NomaddUK]

Luckily mine was on £3.50 from Amazon. I'm just going to bin it. It won't connect to a 5 GHz wifi point. Junk!

[@mrtraveller2024]

I was to order it.Thanks for saving my money

[@vcs1956]

This is the worst camera for installation and it doesn't work. Wasted money and time. I am doing return refund process but i found only exchange option. Mistake i did not check the reviews before i placed order. I feel amazon should delist the item before anyone makes the same mistake.

[@Tom-ld9hp]

I bought a couple on eBay they're only $4 each weren't worth it very hard to connect inconsistent now I bought one this cost me $9 on temu they all look the same but I'm sure there's a ton different manufacturers put this out so I'm hoping this one's better

[@vickyalbelasinger]

Thanks v nice camera

[@Herbie11]

In 1823, this camera would be amazing!

[@samelkojje3202]

I was thinking exactly the same thing🤔

[@user-mg1jq8li3v]

The on off button is flashing red - have tried new cables. Can connect tot camera but the camera doesn’t come on, it’s just a grey box?? Any ideas please

[@DouglasSkelly]

Wish that I had seen this review before purchasing this piece of crap, it is so badly configured that it would take a genius to get it to work, I have around 35 other different cameras on my model boats etc, that are sometimes very complicated to setup but they all work perfectly, I am not one of these geniuses’ obviously, as I spent hours trying to get it working, I could not even get it to register/login to my network or record anything on the micro SD card. There was plenty of room in the dustbin for it though. Keep up the good work Doodlejk

[@arejaz21111]

Please help. This type of cam doesn't support ONVIF and I can't use PC or Blueiris to get video from this cam. atleast i don't know how. Is there a way to connect this cam on blueiris?

[@bobfalkon9304]

I wish I had seen this video before I wasted my money. The camera is rubbish and I can't even get it to connect. The link for the app took me to a scam site and I got ripped off. So all I can say is buyers beware.

[@randyfackler5799]

Same thing happened to me their scam didn't work my card blocked them. However I still lost a lot buying this piece of shit setup I could not get them to work either. Save your money don't buy this garbage.

[@hoosiermama72]

Same 😑

[@juliusmungure1805]

Same here

[@malkia86]

Is there a sound on your video while automatic recording?

[@doodlejkreviews]

Yes, videos recorded while the camera is set to auto have sound.

[@tevanianaidoo2486]

Would you say this is okay to use as a pet camera to watch my dog from work?

[@CT3TheRapbully]

Almost looked like a 1980 movie 😂😂

[@LB041272]

I like the 80’s though

[@nomohakon6257]

If only i found this video a week ago... well, it will be spare parts now.

[@brickhousetrucking]

Me too

[@jackmorgan5424]

Salve la carica quanto dura? Se resta in carica funziona o si scarica cmq la batteria ? E anche ad infrarossi per vedere di notte ? Deve avere per forza la SIM all'interno per salvare i video o basta scaricare l'app? Deve collegarsi per forza in wi fi per vederlo sul cellulare ? Grazie .

[@doodlejkreviews]

Battery lasts for 20 minutes, you can use it indefinitely while charging, there is no infrared, you need a sd card, not a sim card, and yes you need to connect to wifi to view.

[@monicaglaser]

what kind of an SD card does it use?

[@BeachVibingChik]

What app goes with the camera? I purchased one six months ago or longer, and it didn’t include any instructions.

[@doodlejkreviews]

HD IOT Camera on Android or V99 Cam on iOS.

[@user-yb2pr1po4e]

I tried to read the instructions they were that small I had to use magnifying glass and believe me I still couldn't read them.

[@TheEtsgp1]

hey what is the app called to use this

[@robeveritt]

I gave up when they asked for my debit card details!

[@jhaymateo255]

Have you tried how long it will work after removing from the charge?

[@doodlejkreviews]

At best, It lasted around 20 minutes in my experience.

[@Tom-ld9hp]

A spy camera that has to be connected to a power source to work proper. What a joke.

[@Teabone3]

I think I put my micro SD card in upside down now it is completely stuck. Is there any way to get it out?

[@doodlejkreviews]

You could open the camera up, it only takes a Philips head screwdriver.

[@doodlejkreviews]

You could open the camera up, it only takes a Philips head screwdriver.

[@Teabone3]

Good news I was able to get it out by just opening up the camera yep

[@alanpmasters]

Thanks for your instructive review. In view of all the permissions it requires to make it work, can I be sure that 3rd parties cannot hack via my home router into everything? If so how could I prevent this?

[@doodlejkreviews]

Honestly, there is no guarantee that they are not doing anything nefarious, which is why I do not use this product. If android tv boxes can be full of malware, I assume that this product can be as well.

[@jocelynordanza8108]

why it is still in tiktok?😢😢 how i wish ive seen this video before buying😢

[@SMmylove-tr4lq]

how many hours battery backup???

[@Ben-rj7xs]

Does anyone else have problems with this cam charging mine will not charge if the micro SD card is in its really strange as soon as I remove the SD card it starts charging.

[@teeanderson5058]

I have the same cameras but when I got a new Phn nothing transferred over so where can I get a new QR code from?

[@doodlejkreviews]

I am not sure what you mean, the QR code featured on the user guide is just a link to the camera app, which is HD IOT Camera on Android and V99 Cam on iOS.

[@ugbesiaomoye65]

Wat app did u use in your phone for the camera

[@doodlejkreviews]

On Android, the app is called HD IOT Camera. On IOS it is the V99 Cam Smart Camera.

[@danmama_ingawa]

Please How can I shop it

[@ChidiebereOkorie-vw4sb]

What's the name of the app

[@retrojimmyx]

Thanks for the review. Looks like a cool device - you should put a link in the description so people can buy one. Is it 4K HDR or just 1080p?

[@doodlejkreviews]

I am not sure why I would add a link to a product that I do not recommend, but to answer your question: mine was only "1080p." I use quotations since the true quality is around 240p which was stretched to read as 1080p. You can judge the quality for yourself with the clips I provided.

[@retrojimmyx]

@@doodlejkreviews Hi, thanks for your reply. Do you know of the camera has AI face detection?

[@doodlejkreviews]

No. This is a very basic camera that barely works.

[@retrojimmyx]

@@doodlejkreviews I suppose it is good thatvthe manufacturer focussed on core functionality rather than just loads of features. I don't suppose you know if it is capable of thermal imaging (not just passove infrared)? Thanks again.

[@doodlejkreviews]

This camera is not a thermal camera, and from what I can remember, it wasn't very sensitive to infrared light (what some cameras call "night vision").

[@PoohInTiggerDisguise]

Do you have any recommendations of s camera like this that works better? What about a camera like this from Temu.

[@salma0000]

I bought the same camera from temu

[@doodlejkreviews]

Hello, I cannot really recommend any cameras since I do not know the specifics of what you want to use your camera for, but my only tip is to look at user reviews with actual pictures from the camera. The seller's claims are often unreliable, and you can only trust user reviews.

[@messiklauf928]

what is the default ip of the camera on local network ?

[@NomaddUK]

It will only connect to a 2.4GHz wifi network and will get a DHCP address. You will need to look on your router if you actually manage to get it to connect. I couldn't as I have a 5GHz wifi network so the camera is useless to me.

[@messiklauf928]

@@NomaddUK i managed to get it connected, but lag and the quality is so shite that its useless anyhow

[@NomaddUK]

@@messiklauf928 I have just got it to connect but, yes, it is rubbish. Focal distance is about 1 metre. Junk.

[@iseetheglory4593]

What is the best camera to purchase That is best quality and motion on and off and not battery operated and for indoor outdoor use, that's not going to break the bank to purchase . Thank you

[@doodlejkreviews]

It seems like you are looking for cctv security cameras. Unfortunately, that is not something I know much about (I mainly look at mini battery-operated cameras). Maybe try searching on a reputable site like amazon.

[@johnkiragu4084]

Mine just shows a green light..pressing mode does not reset..what could be the problem

[@doodlejkreviews]

I've never heard of a green light before, but is it working? For example, is it emitting the WiFi signal/recording to the sd card? If all else fails, you can always try holding onto the power button and mode button for 10 seconds to try to force a reset.

[@johnRedfern]

How do you format the SD card? I can't find that anywhere

[@doodlejkreviews]

You can format your SD card with an external device, such as a phone or a computer with an SD card slot. I can't remember if this device's app has a format button, but most camera apps do have that as well.

[@JosephRobert82]

This was perfect home recording quality in the 80s 😂😂

[@BrYaNz14]

Not is 1080p quality, it's 1980's quality. 😂

[@user-oj9ne4jv6l]

Why do they ask for a debit saying no charge? Charge and then try to take money out and decline. Because I didn't have a nerve. If you can tell me how much they tar. I appreciate it thank you

[@Jee_Lo]

Once fully charged, how much time it works?

[@doodlejkreviews]

10-20 minutes.

[@EloineViveros]

Some hours trying to set it, and I agree: It doesn't work...

[@aryabhattarai]

Can i mount this on a telescope and try to take pictures with it? Not so expensive anyway,

[@doodlejkreviews]

You can certainly try, but I think that taking a picture with your phone would have better quality.

[@Jimmie567]

Excellent review, it answers many confusing and very frustrating impasses I could just not resolve or figure out, but now with this review this a horrendous product,, I could not tell how much power was left or even indicated as no blue light came on,,how long must i charge it , why does the red light switch off or even flash on its own,,,do not purchase this crappy camera,,

[@Tom-ld9hp]

Im confused with these lights too.

[@richardcalver6686]

Doesnt show app for phone that is plug n play

[@zeevdzialoshinsky8717]

What is the maximum size of memory that I van insert to the camera

[@doodlejkreviews]

I am not sure, but generally, there is no limit, as long as it is formatted to FAT32 and Class 10, it should work.

[@GardenWorm]

I got 2. They work great. You charge it. Hook it up to wifi in the house. Not 5g. It works wonderful fornthe price.

[@doodlejkreviews]

I may not have liked this camera, but to each his own, I guess.

[@khurramahmad7753]

Does mode button work ?

[@doodlejkreviews]

Not to my understanding, no.

[@AmCanTech]

does it work with tuya?

[@doodlejkreviews]

No, mine does not work with Tuya. Your experience may be different, though. I assume that there are different manufacturers for these.

[@samwong1349]

How long can the battery last for 1 full charge?

[@doodlejkreviews]

10-20 minutes.

[@wendygilliam4947]

The device will not connect to my Android. What do I need to do?

[@faycalsamar9240]

Does this camera support movement detection ?

[@doodlejkreviews]

I don't remember mine being able to.

[@CAMDUCK]

do you review like spy camera?

[@doodlejkreviews]

I am not sure what you mean. I have looked at mini cameras a few times on this channel, but I use my cameras for R/C Vehicles. I guess you can use these for other purposes.

[@user-fo2uv8rf9q]

@@doodlejkreviewsWhat good cameras for RC vehicles would you recommend?

[@user-cw6nx3mi9m]

how long do they stay charged?

[@doodlejkreviews]

20 to 30 minutes of usage.

[@danielaksel7620]

Nothing about WHICH app he is using or specifically how to configure connect the app to the camera. I purchased one and downloaded a from the QR code on the instruction pamphlet. They are not the same. I used the camera’s WiFi network but the app can’t find it. The review says the camera stinks so I’ll just return it.

[@robertdelraso2614]

Gee looks like a Camtrix Security Camera?

[@BlueFJ60]

I just bought a dozen of these for Christmas presents for people I absolutely hate. Merry Christmas losers!!!

[@angelarose6968]

June 2024 , just bought this worthless pc. of crap they call a "cam" ! Battery life is poor, cannot keep it connected to home wi-fi. Thanks for the review , it was on point exactly as the product came ! Disgusted and returning it .

[@slobodankovacevic9047]

What is the battery's life without charging?

[@doodlejkreviews]

I found that the battery lasted around 10 to 20 minutes.

[@chadmarkanzano8314]

How to review the recorded video? I cannot skip the video wtf 😒 if I record 3 hrs then I'll also spend 3 hrs of time to review the recording :(

[@doodlejkreviews]

Sorry if this is a late reply, but if the video file is on the SD card, you can just insert that into your phone or computer, and then playback the video.

[@chadmarkanzano8314]

@@doodlejkreviews it's okay man! I appreciate that.

[@rudolphbondefangerer5513]

But hey, you got a magnetic stand and a micro USB cable!! Not to bad.

[@doodlejkreviews]

Definitely, but one of the lowest quality magnetic stands and micro usb cables for the price.

[@rudolphbondefangerer5513]

@@doodlejkreviews I know, I bought it to. But I knew it was shit, I bought it because I wanted a cheap camera to monitor the stairs, so I can see if a cat wants to come in without having to get up from the stool. It does the job. Barely. :D

[@marvenHaigh-iw5zr]

I doesn't see at night

[@masalasekobo2895]

Mine just shows blue light for two seconds and turn off

[@doodlejkreviews]

I'm not sure what the problem could be, maybe the battery isn't holding a charge, so try having the camera plugged in.

[@zagi988zap]

Is that an ESP32 in there?

[@doodlejkreviews]

I don't think so, but there aren't any identification markings on the board itself, so I can't be fully sure.

[@ajhflatline2011]

Mine just blinks blue rapidly and thats it. The App is useless as well. Just sits on the "Searching for nearby Bluetooth devices" screen and thats it. Doesnt move or change the color or pop up with anything. Just a waste of time and money I suppose.

[@doodlejkreviews]

I have never had any connection issues with my camera. The general steps are: 1) Connect to the camera's Wi-Fi (should have the first 3 letters BAT and need no password) 2) Open the app In my experience, it has worked with every device that I have, but sometimes you might want to disable other networks (like cell service) for the connection to be better. I think this product is complete garbage, but you should judge it for yourself.

[@mashmike]

Can't open the qr code to get the app

[@user-yb2pr1po4e]

Me also, scanned the code and it said id invalid

[@Pets_over_people]

Can you mention the name of the app

[@doodlejkreviews]

V99 Cam or HD IOT Camera

[@Pfirsisch01]

Man I wish I had seen your video before I wasted my money. What a scam!

[@revit4909]

Got one on ali express for 99 cents, ima use it on my room lol

[@manaboutlondontown968]

I bought this because I saw their ad on KZbin and foolishly thought KZbin would weed out untrustworthy advertisers. But no. When it arrived it was obviously poor quality. Installation was complicated, but I managed it, but then I tried charging it up. It takes 30 minutes to charge and the battery literally lasts only minutes. By the time you've put it up and looked on the app to see the picture, it will have run out of power. Given that it's sold as a wireless security camera, it's useless. After weeks of wrangling with customer service I did secure a full refund, though, on the grounds that it was not fit for its advertised purpose. I refused to pay return costs on the grounds that under British law, if the goods are not as stated then that's their responsibility. Eventually they accepted that. Their business model seems to be to make wildly excessive claims about a really crappy product which they must have bought for pennies, and charge top dollar in the hope that few customers will go to the bother of securing a refund. Whatever, DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT.

[@isabelleshalese]

I searced out this review so that I could warn anyone considering purchasing this RUBBISH not to do so. I unfortunately purchased 2 of these and it is the worse purchase I have ever made. It does not work. If you don't want to take my word for it, I would advise you to do research online and read the comments of people who have had the misfortune of falling for this con. You will see all the 1 star reviews (you don't have the option of giving zero stars) Do NOT wast your money.

[@tonka27]

If only I had seen this review earlier. I bought 6 cameras and now they are on their return journey for a refund total rubbish .

[@JoshTabbot]

I just bought 3 to keep a watch on my 5 nephews, it’s a cheap ass device, but it does the job

[@chamoussette]

Quelle est le nom de l'application. MERCI

[@doodlejkreviews]

V99 Cam iOS or HD IOT Camera Android

[@ZIGGIEPRODUCTIONS1]

I got 1 and no sd card, gt one too small, 😮i wat card do i need, the magnet is shit id hv to glue a gud1 on if it even works 😮😢😢😢😢

[@unfunny_asian_guy4042]

Can this connect to your phone long distance?

[@doodlejkreviews]

No, from what I've tested, the camera can use a direct wifi connection (5 foot) or it must be connected to your local network.

[@C3LERITY]

My camera wouldn’t even turn on

[@LocalPlushWorldAventure1238]

Did you try charging it

[@paulio39]

Mine don’t charge don’t know why …plugged it into the plug socket to charge but nothing could it be it’s to much juice coming into it …anyone know what is the right voltage and amps for this

[@amealnet2495]

I still don’t know how to connect to wify

[@doodlejkreviews]

I am not sure what you mean. If you are trying to connect to the camera, then the camera's WiFi should be unsecured (no password needed) and have the first 3 letters BAT, followed by a bunch of random numbers and letters. It will connect like any other WiFi network. If you are trying to connect the camera to your WiFi, then there is a section in the app for you to connect to your network.

[@ZIGGIEPRODUCTIONS1]

Wat sd card??

[@doodlejkreviews]

I am not sure I understand, pretty much any micro sd card should work.

[@stormy2095]

Where do you find the wifi password

[@kute-N-sweet]

I wanna know the same thing too

[@doodlejkreviews]

There was no wifi password, it was just an open network for me.@@kute-N-sweet

[@yellowdeer7163]

Ordered from China and it's a Major POS. Mini Cam. 42.00.2 wks to get here.

[@simpleguh7835]

My phone will not let me download the app?? Yes, using home wifi Thank you, in advance, for any help

[@doodlejkreviews]

I'm not sure what to tell you since that can be caused by many different things. If you are on android, you can try sideloading the app I guess.

[@user-ni1yy6gj9u]

I don't have the qr code

[@doodlejkreviews]

Hello, I'm not sure what you mean. The only QR code that came with my camera was just a link to download the complimentary app.

[@EmporioRizzi]

I tried V99 app for the same Cam A9, and can't connect. Could be used an good App to connect this cam, without QR code, like ask V99 app too ???

[@doodlejkreviews]

I don't know any other apps that work with this camera, but you are supposed to connect to the camera's WiFi (starts with the BAT as the first 3 letters, has no password) then open the app. I never got a QR code with this camera, so I am not sure what you mean.

[@mickavellian]

I have bought about 6 of these things and there is NO way they will pair to Pixel 7 pro. Either as WIFI or Bluetooth. I have been told by a few people they had the same problem AND that the cameras are just KAKA

[@doodlejkreviews]

That's definitely a bit strange, I had no issues connecting to my iPhone SE or my Pixel 3a (the ones shown in the video), but even if you could connect, this camera is not good at all.

[@typhoontim125]

"A9" ...That famous trusted brand! LOL.....#Junk

[@Mrdonphotos]

I guess i will join yhe crowd, we need to get those guys who did the commercial. They are full of shit. Making it look like the deal of a life ti 7:59 me. Smh

[@tashbry4763]

Mannn I can’t even get this thing to connect

[@tashbry4763]

To wifi

[@ianwiseuk]

Do not buy via the link it takes you to a supplier based in Lithuania who charges you £50 and takes over two weeks for it to arrive from China. Same cheap piece of rubbish available from Amazon with next day delivery only £8. Do not waste your money it is awful only fit for the bin

[@jujunachokheli]

I think you got bad version from bad compnay

[@SaraKing-dj1zj]

Absolutely a waste of money

[@wahabuabdu5826]

Where is it storing it's poor photage

[@doodlejkreviews]

The camera records to the sd card, unless you use the app to manually record, if you use the app, the images are saved to your phone.

[@user-yb2pr1po4e]

Your right on utter rubbish