In today’s episode of unboxing viral products, we bring you our honest review of MiniPix, a home security camera. Sold on getminipix.com & minipixcam.com, this camera which is aggressively marketed online is touted as a quality security cam.
It claims to have high resolution footage, night vision, noise reducing recording, and AF autofocus. However, when we bought this product and put it to test, it failed to live up to its hype.
This article provides evidence that proves the MiniPix camera is a falsely advertised product.
Unboxing & Testing MiniPix Camera
We placed an order for the MiniPix on getminipix.com opting for the 2 Minipix at a discount rate of $37.75 each. The website claims it was a good bargain, quoting a 60% saved.
Our order arrived in 3 weeks all the way from China, though we were promised a 7 days delivery. The set up process was pretty much simple. You just need to reset the camera by holding the on/off button and then holding the mode button until a blue light starts blinking.
It indeed works with a WIFI and an app connected to a phone.
What it actually does;
- Takes photos and record videos
- Displays video captured on a phone
- Uses motion detection to focus on a spot
What It doesn’t do
- The MiniPix camera doesn’t record sound
- Doesn’t capture fast movements clearly – the images are rather blurry
- Lacks night vision – the images captured in the dark are shown as shadows
Cons
- The instructions on the manual is hard to follow (were translated poorly from Chinese to English)
- Only works with 2.4 G
- The App has lots of Ads in it
- Battery lasts less than an hour
Exposing The Deceptive Marketing
Firstly, the MiniPix is sold with claims that it is equipped with a 1080P-HD high-quality lens, however this is false. Our footage wasn’t perfect or clear cut as promised, it was just average. There’s also the issue of images being blurred when someone walks pass the camera so fast.
Secondly, the array of endorsement listed on getminipix.com are not real. MiniPix hasn’t been reviewed or mentioned on Forbes, Wired, TechCrunch, TheVerge, Techradar, etc. The ‘As Seen On’ claims are fake and shouldn’t be taken serious.
Using the search button on Wired.com, we searched for ‘MiniPix’ and the search result said ‘No Results found for your search’. See Image below for proof.
When we searched on Forbes.com, we also had similar result. This time around, the search result said ”We couldn’t find an answer to your question. This might be because it’s a bit outside our usual topics or it’s something we haven’t covered yet”
This is also the same for the other reputable online magazines mentioned.
Debunking the Discount offer
One of the reasons why MiniPix is making waves online is for its alleged 50% discount. Getminipix.com claims the security camera is worth $79.99 but is sold for a discount price of $39.99. There are also other discounts when you buy more than one.
However, what is funny is that this exact mini security camera is actually sold for $3 – $8 on Aliexpress (see image below). This proves the discount sale is just a marketing gimmick.
Is Minipix Camera a Scam?
The Minipix security camera is not a scam perse, but it’s not a quality camera. It doesn’t capture clear images when someone is in motion, has no sound recording, has poor battery life, no night vision, and lacks a HD quality lens.
Meanwhile, it is sold for very high price. Instead of paying $39 for one on getminipix.com, you can get it for $8 on Aliexpress or $11 on ebay if you want it delivered faster.
The cheap camera was formerly sold under the name ‘CamTrix’ and before then it was called ‘SpyFocus’. The marketers keep rebranding each time there are a lot of reviews revealing the marketing sham.
Does Getminipix.com grant refund?
It’s unlikely that you’ll get a successful refund from getminipix.com. They might keep delaying the refund process till it clocks 30 days since your delivery, then they’d claim the 30 days guarantee has elapsed. It’s best to file a complain with your bank or PayPal (if you used PayPal)
See my latest alert – Walks LLC charge on credit card explained