We’ve reached a point where most indoor security cameras offer the same basic mix of features—HD video, motion alerts, and cloud storage—wrapped in a similar-looking plastic shell. The Imilab C30 Dual sets itself apart with a different approach. It’s an indoor camera with a (literal) twist: two separate 3K (3072 × 1728 pixels) lenses that let you monitor two areas at once, in high detail, from a single device. One lens is fixed for wide-angle coverage, while the other pans and tilts to cover the entire room.

But it’s not just about the hardware. The C30 Dual adds a layer of on-device artificial intelligence that can detect people, pets, loud noises, and even a crying baby—all without any requirement to pay for a cloud subscription. That’s still a rarity in this category, where advanced detection features are usually locked behind a paywall. And with support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, plus local storage up to 256GB, it offers a surprising amount of flexibility without asking for monthly payments.

Design and features

The Imilab C30 Dual’s most compelling feature is right there in the name. One lens provides a fixed wide-angle view, giving you a consistent overview of the room. The other is motorized to pan 355 degrees and tilts 60 degrees, and it offers up to 6x digital zoom, letting you zero in on specific spots when needed. You get two perspectives at once, with no blind spots and no need to toggle between angles.

Another feature you don’t often see at this price is a “virtual fence” that lets you draw activity zones within the camera’s view and receive alerts only when something crosses that boundary. Another setting, called Family Guard, sends a notification if no motion is detected during scheduled periods—useful if you’re keeping tabs on an elderly relative or latchkey kid. Fire detection–currently in beta, is an unusual feature that can send an alert if the camera sees flames or smoke, although you’d be wise to treat it as reinforcement to dedicated safety devices such as smoke detectors.

You have two options for storing the camera’s recordings: You can provide your own microSD card—up to 256GB in capacity—for local storage (follow our advice for choosing the best microSD card for security cameras), or if you prefer the convenience of the cloud, you can use the Xiaomi Home app to sign up for a paid plan from Xiaomi (Imilab is part of the Xiaomi ecosystem). Two plans are available: Basic costs $4.99 per month and gives you 7 days of event video history and up to 50GB of storage, while the Pro plan bumps that to 30 days of rolling storage with unlimited space for $24.99 per month. A 90-day trial is available to test the service, but all core camera functions work fine without it.

Setup and performance

Getting the Imilab C30 Dual up and running is a simple process. The USB-C-powered camera can connect to either your 2.4- or 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, and it also supports Wi-Fi 6. This enables it to handle high-resolution streams without bogging down your network. You can place it on a tabletop or mount it to the ceiling using the included bracket, depending on your space and what angles you want to cover. Physical installation takes just a minutes.

Once it’s powered on, setup continues in the Xiaomi Home app, which walks you through connecting the camera to your network. The Xiaomi Home app is clean and well-organized, with quick access to live feeds from both of the camera’s lenses and all its settings. From there, you can adjust motion-detection zones, review event clips, and receive alerts when something’s happening in the camera’s field of view.

The camera performed well in my day-to-day testing. Both lenses deliver sharp, detailed video with minimal delay. The motorized lens moves smoothly and can be steered using the app’s pan and tilt controls to follow subjects as they move across the room. AI detection is generally accurate; people and pets were flagged correctly, and notifications arrived in real time without a flood of false alarms.

The C30 Dual also performed well after dark. In low-light conditions, the it uses enhanced color night vision to capture full-color footage. When the room goes completely dark, it switches to infrared mode, using 10 built-in IR LEDs to deliver clear black-and-white video.

That visual clarity is matched by solid audio performance. Two-way audio is clear enough to talk with someone at home or to get your pet’s attention when needed. The mic picks up sound well, and the speaker’s message gets across without distortion.

The C30 Dual offers a couple of ways to protect your privacy. You can enable a built-in privacy mode to shut off the camera feed when you’re home. Imilab also says all video data is encrypted, which adds a layer of protection for anyone concerned about digital snooping.

This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of he best home security cameras.

Should you buy the Imilab C30 Dual?

The Imilab C30 Dual isn’t just a novelty, it expands your coverage without the need for a second device. And it’s rare to find key features like local storage and smart detection without needing to pay for a subscription.

For everyday indoor monitoring—kids, pets, or general peace of mind—it’s an easy recommendation. The C30 Dual delivers more than you’d expect at this price, without nickel-and-diming you to be useful.

Author: Michael Ansaldo, Contributor, TechHive