The new Abode security camera can recognize faces and has a range of 1.5 miles

Your average security camera can easily capture footage of porch pirates — but what if it could trace them turning the corner in their getaway car? Abode has released a new outdoor security camera that can do just that. The Abode Edge Camera has a range of up to 1.5 miles and is designed to be placed in your backyard, garden, or some other outdoor vantage point.

The system works through Wi-Fi HaLow, a low-power version of Wi-Fi that can reach longer distances (but at a much lower bit rate) and is meant for IoT devices. Each security camera comes with a base station that goes inside your home; the camera connects to the base station over HaLow, then the base station connects to your at-home router using traditional Wi-Fi. HaLow was first announced in 2016, but it’s seen very little use in the time since. That might now be changing with Morse Micro’s — the company behind the Abode Edge’s Wi-Fi HaLow chip — partnership with other vendors to debut IP indoor and outdoor security cameras at CES this year that take advantage of the standard.

But why Wi-Fi HaLow? Given that it uses very little power and can transmit long distances, companies are exploring the use of Wi-Fi HaLow for remote areas and agricultural purposes, such as monitoring cattle. Abode’s Edge Camera comes with a 6,000mAh battery, which Abode says can last for up to a year. The camera includes an integrated infrared motion sensor that will automatically record critical events — but also reverts to a deep sleep mode when nothing much is going on. 

The Abode Edge Camera is also integrated with AI software from the Australian AI vendor Xalient, giving it the ability to perform facial recognition, object detection, and anomaly recognition (such as car accidents or bad weather). The facial recognition feature can distinguish the faces of familiar visitors from unknown visitors and alert homeowners of any new arrivals in the vicinity. Abode users can access and download up to 10 days of video history — which is substantially less storage than the 60 or even 180 days seen in other popular security systems.

In order to view live video footage, download clips, and access AI features, Abode users must subscribe to a monthly plan. The single-camera subscription comes to $3.99 per month, while an unlimited number of cameras will set you back $6.99 per month. The Abode Edge Camera is expected to launch later in the first quarter of 2024 and is priced at $199.99.