Which phone works as a Guardian

Velia doesn't sell cameras: it turns an Android phone into one. Detection runs inside the device, so what matters isn't the brand or the year — it's having a camera, staying plugged in, and running Android 8 or newer. Below are the exact requirements, and also what you need besides the phone, which is the part nobody mentions.

Guardian phone requirements

System

Android 8.0 (2017) or newer

Camera

Any rear or front camera. No wide angle or night vision needed

Memory

2 GB of RAM is enough. 3 GB or more runs more comfortably

Processor

Anything from 2019 on runs detection with room to spare. Older works too, at fewer frames per second

Screen

It can be cracked or burned in: the Guardian watches with the screen off

Battery

It can be worn out — the Guardian lives plugged in

SIM card

Not needed. WiFi only

Google services

Yes, for notifications. A phone without Play Services won't get alerts when the app is closed

Phones we already use

• ·Samsung Galaxy S20+ (2020) — the field one, watching every night.
• ·Samsung Galaxy S24 (2024).
• ·Any refurbished mid-range from 2020 on: Redmi, Motorola G, Galaxy A.

What you need besides the phone

This is what usually goes missing from a budget, which is why it's here and not in the meeting:

• ·A stand or shelf with a view of where the person walks and sleeps.
• ·A power outlet near that spot. The Guardian lives plugged in, not on battery.
• ·WiFi that reaches that room. For many rooms, one access point per twenty phones.
• ·One charger per room. The phone's own charger is fine.

Phones wear out

A phone charging around the clock degrades: batteries swell over the years and OLED screens burn in. We've seen it on ours. Count the fleet as something you renew every two or three years, not a one-time purchase — still far cheaper than dedicated hardware, but not free forever.