Logitech has upgraded its well-regard Circle Wi-Fi security camera, but the upgrade is more than a minor cosmetic change—it's a complete re-thinking of what a Wi-Fi security came is and what it should do.

Instead of a sphere, the shape of the current Circle, Circle 2 is more disc-like and it's weatherproof (IP65) so it can be mounted indoors or out with the appropriate mount. It's also modular, designed to fit into either an AC- or rechargeable battery-powered enclosure, sold in two different packages ($179.99 for the wired version, $199.99 for the battery), each with a bundled wall mount kit that doubles as a desktop base, starting the first week of July.

Logitech's entire Circle 2 product line goes on sale in July.

It's not known if the original Circle will continue to be sold or at the same, current $199.99 price.

There also will be a small but growing line of Circle 2 accessories available, including a spare battery, a suction-cup window pane mount for pointing the Circle 2 outward, a weatherproof extension cable for connecting to an outdoor AC jack, and an AC mount for plugging the camera directly into an indoor power outlet.

Operationally, Logitech has taken a tip from Blink, and a giant leap beyond the original Circle's battery capability. Circle 1's battery lasted a mere two hours, 12 hours in power-saving mode; the Circle 2's battery is designed to last up to three months. Instead of being "always on," power is used only when movement or a face is detected, elongating battery life. App controls also help to lower power consumption.

You'll be able to control Circle 2 via the Logitech app.

Spec-wise, the big improvement is Circle 2's new nearly warp-free 180-degree lens, which gives users the widest possible view of a room regardless of placement; by comparison, Circle 1 provided "only" a 135-degree view. Like the original, Circle 2 provides 15 feet of night vision coverage, but includes an improved mic/speaker for clearer two-way communication.

Circle 2 also will be both Amazon Echo/Alexa and Apple HomeKit compatible; both implementations include manual recording capability not yet available directly from the Logitech Circle app. Circle 2 also can be controlled with Logitech's own POP Smart Buttons.

Logitech's Circle 2 has an AC mount so you can plug directly into an indoor outlet.

Additional app upgrades will include a new premium option that allows the Circle 2's motion and "eye" sensors to differentiate between people and pets, limiting the number of motion-detected false alarm notifications. However, Logitech has not included actual face detection/ID, believing the technology has yet to be effectively harnessed in security cameras.

Like the Circle 1, Circle 2 records 1080p video. You'll get 24 hours free encrypted cloud storage of AES 256-bit encrypted footage, including a searchable time lapse mode, as well as Logitech's existing premium cloud storage plans.

Logitech Circle Wireless 1080p Video Battery Powered Security Camera with Person Detection, Motion Zones and Custom Alerts (White), Works with Amazon Alexa

List Price: $199.99

New From: $129.00in Stock

Used From: $134.99in Stock