Review
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Updated:
Intro
The Moultrie Mobile EDGE Pro represents an updated iteration of the Moultrie Mobile EDGE trail camera.
While this newer version addresses certain known issues and limitations, most of the drawbacks persist.
First of all, the price has increased from $99.99 to a whopping $179.99!
In terms of technical details, the PRO version has increased photo resolution from 33MP to 36MP, and it now supports 1080p video recording, up from 720p.
Notably, the illumination has shifted from low-glow to no-glow, reducing the likelihood of alarming camera-shy animals but resulting in notably darker nighttime images.
Despite the addition of False Trigger Elimination Technology, our experience suggests a significant rise in false trigger incidents compared to the old EDGE version.
Integrated memory remains limited to only 32GB, with no provision for external memory cards.
Regarding pricing, the lowest mobile plan remains unchanged at $10, providing only ten videos. For $16.99, users can access 50 videos.
It's worth noting that Moultrie does not presently offer an unlimited video subscription, and additional downloads incur extra charges.
Importantly, this camera is unique in that it does not permit direct access or downloading of your files.
Essentially, the manufacturer retains control over your files and restricts access until payment is made.
This means even testing the camera at home requires an upfront payment.
Furthermore, the camera relies on an active subscription and is non-functional in areas without cellular connectivity.
It includes a six-foot mounting strap and a quick-start guide pamphlet, although the user manual is not included as required by law.
The EDGE Pro is covered by a 2-year limited warranty.
Pros
- No-Glow Flash
- Detection Range
- Easy Setup
Cons
- Expensive
- Unreliable
- Bulky & Heavy
- No Direct Access to Memory & Files
- Poor Battery Life
- Excessive False Triggers
- Limited Memory Storage
- Will Not Operate Without a Subscription
- Videos are Limited to Only 15 seconds
- Big Delay Between Triggers
- Poor Customer Service
Camera Ratings
Detection Range: 12/20
Speed: 3/10
The original EDGE version suffered from an exceedingly slow video trigger, causing animals to frequently exit partially or entirely from the camera's field of view. It appears that, in an attempt to address this concern, Moultrie opted to widen the sensor angle and trigger the camera when an animal is in close proximity but not yet within the visible frame. Although this approach did mitigate the problem to some extent, it remains a persistent issue, often resulting in the camera commencing recording when the animal is already in the midst of departing the frame or is no longer in the picture altogether. Another notable concern lies in the 15-second interval between triggers. Unless one intends to deploy the camera for monitoring feeders, it proves impractical for capturing images of wildlife in motion. In essence, its usability as a "trail" camera is severely limited due to this extended delay.
Accuracy: 4/10
In contrast to its predecessor, the EDGE Pro trail camera left us astonished with a notable surge in false triggers. This outcome was unforeseen, given the manufacturer's promotion of their new technology, known as False Trigger Elimination Technology, designed to eradicate false triggers. We suspect that the false triggers may be partially attributed to the camera's 60-degree motion sensor, which exceeds the camera's field of view equipped with a 50-degree lens. In simpler terms, animals that walk outside the camera's field of view can still trigger it, even though they are beyond the camera's actual view.
Battery Life: 2/10
Considering the EDGE Pro's capacity to house 16 AA batteries, it exhibits considerable bulkiness, ranking as one of the largest trail cameras currently available in the market. In our testing, these 16 AA batteries provided a mere 25 days of operational life. While we acknowledge that no-glow and cellular cameras tend to be more power-demanding, what adds to our disappointment is that we managed to download only two videos during this timeframe. We have requested more video downloads, but regrettably, the batteries depleted before that.
Daylight Images: 4/10
Given the Moultrie Mobile EDGE Pro trail camera's inability to facilitate direct file transfers, it comes as no astonishment that the manufacturer opted to employ a strategy of extensive over-compression. Their intention was evident: they aimed to decrease the sizes of photo and video files. This objective was driven by the recognition that transferring numerous large files over a mobile network is both slow and costly. However, this approach has led to a discernible decline in the quality of all captured pictures and videos, resulting in an overall degradation of image and video quality.
Lowlight Images: 2/10
Low-light images captured by our Edge PRO trail camera reveal the same problems of over-compression and pixelation that were evident in both daytime and nighttime images. Regrettably, the absence of adequate illumination during low-light periods such as dusk and dawn exacerbates these issues, resulting in image quality that is nearly unusable and rendering any captured wildlife almost unrecognizable.
Night Images: 3/10
In the PRO version, Moultrie made the choice to implement no-glow illumination. It's important to note that no-glow infrared flash emits less illumination compared to low-glow variants. Consequently, it's not unexpected that images captured by the PRO version appear even darker than those from the standard EDGE version.
While no-glow illumination remains invisible to both the human eye and the eyes of most animals, it's crucial to recognize that for an animal to be discernible in the image, it must be in very close proximity to the camera. Similarly, akin to the daytime images, the videos exhibit an extreme level of over-compression, resulting in increased pixelation and a further reduction in overall image quality.
Design: 2/20
The Moultrie Edge Pro trail camera exhibits several design issues that challenge its usability and reliability for wildlife photography enthusiasts.
First and foremost, its cost is notably high, raising questions about its value proposition. Additionally, its bulky and heavy build can be cumbersome for users who require portability and stealth in their setups.
A critical limitation is the absence of direct access to memory and files, meaning users must rely on a subscription-based model to access their data.
Coupled with a disappointingly poor battery life, this design choice creates significant operational constraints. Furthermore, excessive false triggers disrupt the camera's functionality, while poor image quality, limited memory storage, and a mere 15-second video limit compromise the quality of captured content.
To add to the frustrations, the camera's operation is contingent on an ongoing subscription, and it introduces substantial delays between triggers, hindering its effectiveness in capturing fleeting wildlife moments.
Verdict: 32/100
Our encounter with this camera has been nothing short of a colossal headache and relentless frustration.
Right from the outset, misfortune seemed to be our constant companion.
Following our initial deployment, we received some pictures, but this flow suddenly ceased. While the camera's design suggests daily test picture transmissions, in reality, we were fortunate to receive them once every three days.
Given the camera's placement in a relatively busy location, our suspicions grew stronger, signaling that something was amiss.
The camera purported a healthy status, a robust mobile connection, and the occasional test image would sporadically materialize on our screens.
With the majority of our cameras scattered across different locations, miles apart, there existed no straightforward method to ascertain the root of the issue.
Then, out of the blue, nearly three exasperating weeks later, an inundation of hundreds of images flooded our screens.
In our attempts to address this alarming issue with Moultrie's support, they dismissively brushed it aside, offering a feeble excuse, claiming they had encountered "some technical issues."
When questioned about their failure to disclose these matters on their website, their response lacked any plausible explanation.
The issue of non-disclosure extends further.
The fact that this trail camera mandates an active subscription for operation is conspicuously absent from both the product website and the retail packaging.
Likewise, the camera's obfuscation of image access and download capabilities is a severe and non-disclosed limitation.
To our knowledge, this camera stands alone in the market by denying users any access to their files without exorbitant fees.
When we sought clarification, the customer service response mumbled something about their unique integrated memory, which is a spurious assertion, as other cameras with integrated memory allow access via USB-C cable or WiFi and Bluetooth.
The most disheartening aspect of this ordeal is the lack of transparency surrounding these critical facets.
While some may opt to categorize it as "questionable business practices," our research into this matter led us to internet posts where users unambiguously labeled it as an outright scam.
In all honesty, the act of concealing essential information transcends the boundaries of a mere bait-and-switch tactic; it unquestionably qualifies as a scam.
Therefore, it comes as no surprise that some users have chosen such strong language to describe their experience.
It is abundantly clear that the manufacturer is fully cognizant of these limitations, and we have strong suspicions that locking files behind paywalls was a carefully orchestrated scheme.
We firmly believe that this camera was engineered to extract money from unsuspecting users, and the absence of disclosures only bolsters this conviction.
To make matters worse, the device arrives without a comprehensive user manual containing essential specifications, a legal requirement.
Instead, it is accompanied only by a "Quick-Start Guide" pamphlet devoid of any pertinent specs or information.
To provide an alternate perspective, envisage purchasing a new iPhone, only to discover that Apple neglects to inform you that viewing, downloading, or sharing images is off the table.
Instead, your files are inaccessible and uploaded to the cloud. You are then mandated to cough up payment just to view your own photos and videos from your device.
In sum, opting for any other trail camera from a reputable brand proves to be a significantly wiser choice, sparing users from the ceaseless headaches and unending frustrations that this particular camera imposes.
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Specs
Official specs from the manufacturer.- Name:
- Moultrie Mobile EDGE Pro
- Manufacturer:
- Moultrie
- Model:
- EDGE Pro
- Model Year:
- 2023
- Series:
- EDGE
- Flash Type:
- No-Glow IR
- Max Pixels:
- 36
- Max Video:
- 1080p
- No. of Sensors:
- 1
- Detection Range:
- 100 ft
- Flash Range:
- 100 ft
- Field of View:
- 50 degrees
- Trigger Speed:
- 0.50 second
- Min Delay:
- 15 seconds
- Max Delay:
- 30 minutes
- Max Card Size:
- 32 GB
- Cellular/Mobile:
- Yes
- WiFi:
- No
- Bluetooth:
- No
- Live View:
- No
- MSRP:
- $179.99
- Warranty:
- 24 months
- Country of Origin:
- China