Xiaomi Yi Home: Difference between revisions

==Incidents==

Advertisements were introduced into the Xiaomi Yi Home mobile application, which had originally operated without in-app advertising at the time many users purchased the camera hardware.<ref>Apple App Store. "YI Smart App – Subscriptions". Available at: https://apps.apple.com/app/yi-smart/id6473766241. Accessed: 2026-01-22.</ref> Because access to live video feeds depends on the official application, users criticized the inclusion of ads as an inappropriate monetization of a paid security device. User reports indicate that the frequency of advertisements increased over time, with some users encountering more than ten advertisements before being able to access the live camera stream.<ref>Reddit. "Subscription pressure and SD card playback issues". r/SecurityCamera user discussion. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/SecurityCamera/comments/1l350zy/. Accessed: 2026-01-22.</ref> Critics argue that inserting advertising delays into a security camera application undermines the primary purpose of the device, as delayed access to live video may reduce effectiveness in situations requiring urgent monitoring.

Another controversy concerns the introduction of cloud-based subscription plans that restrict access to certain features within the Xiaomi Yi Home ecosystem. Advanced functions such as human detection, vehicle detection, activity zones, and intelligent alerts are promoted as part of paid cloud services, despite the camera hardware being technically capable of performing such processing locally.<ref>Yi Technology. "Premium Cloud Features". Available at: https://yiiot.app/premium-cloud/. Accessed: 2026-01-22.</ref><ref>Yi Technology. "YI Cloud Subscription Plans". Available at: https://api.yitechnology.com/yi-720p-home-cloud. Accessed: 2026-01-22.</ref> Critics argue that shifting these features behind recurring subscription fees after the sale of the hardware represents a post-purchase limitation of functionality. Consumer advocates have raised concerns that this practice increases long-term ownership costs and may conflict with reasonable consumer expectations when such capabilities were advertised as device features.

A further controversy involves changes to how users can access video footage stored locally on microSD cards inserted into Xiaomi Yi Home cameras. According to user reports and independent reviews, software updates and application changes made it increasingly difficult to browse, retrieve, or play locally stored recordings, even though the footage resides on user-owned storage media.<ref>SafeWise. "Why You Shouldn’t Buy YI or Kami Cameras in 2025". Available at: https://www.safewise.com/news/why-you-shouldnt-buy-yi-or-kami-cameras-in-2025/. Accessed: 2026-01-22.</ref><ref>Reddit. "Subscription pressure and SD card playback issues". r/SecurityCamera user discussion. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/SecurityCamera/comments/1l350zy/. Accessed: 2026-01-22.</ref> Critics argue that these changes appear to prioritize cloud-based services over local access. Later updates reportedly imposed limits on the duration of locally stored video that could be viewed, regardless of the SD card’s capacity, further reducing user control over local recordings.

A more recent controversy involves the introduction of time limits on the live video preview within the Xiaomi Yi Home application. Users have reported that live viewing sessions are restricted to approximately three minutes, after which the stream is automatically terminated and the user is prompted to purchase a cloud subscription to continue viewing.<ref>Reddit. "YI Home no longer allows live view for more than ~90 seconds". r/SecurityCamera user discussion. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/SecurityCamera/comments/1ps7dcb/. Accessed: 2026-01-22.</ref> Xiaomi has stated that such limitations are intended to balance server load and maintain service stability under its service terms.<ref>Yi Technology. "Yi Home Terms of Service". Available at: https://yihome.app/terms-of-service/. Accessed: 2026-01-22.</ref> However, according to user accounts, the restriction applies even when both the camera and the viewing device are connected to the same local network and after advertisements have already been displayed.<ref>Reddit. "YI Home no longer allows live view for more than ~90 seconds". r/SecurityCamera user discussion. Available at: https://www.reddit.com/r/SecurityCamera/comments/1ps7dcb/. Accessed: 2026-01-22.</ref> Critics argue that limiting live view duration significantly impairs the core function of a security camera, as immediate and continuous access to live video is essential for effective security monitoring.