The Most Advanced Home Device I’ve Tested This Year Is in My Garage
- Advanced smart controls with built-in security camera
- Bright 2,000-lumen LED lights can replace old overhead lighting
- Keypad, wall controller and remotes included
- Tons of setting options to control remotely via app, set timers, set automatic garage closing rules, or create schedules
- Advanced, adjustable camera with AI detection and motion zone control
- 1.4 HP power and new railing improved garage sound and performance, too
- Not everyone wants a garage security cam, and its advanced features require a subscription
- Not suitable for side-mounted garage motors
After months of testing home artificial intelligence, new types of security cameras, the new era of sensors and flashlights of the future, the most high-tech product of all ended up transforming my entire garage – and it could do the same for yours, if you’re willing to pay for an overhaul to your garage door and home security at the same time.
Chamberlain’s latest Premier Smart Garage Door Opener with MyQ technology ($379, with Chamberlain offering several similar models) isn’t just a smart garage, although I came away impressed with those features. It’s also a security camera equipped with the very latest in AI recognition and camera technologies to watch both your car and the garage door or side door, as well as a super-bright LED light that can take the place of any other overhead garage lighting.
While so much surveillance may be overkill for some (you can, fortunately, turn off or adjust camera features as needed), the total capabilities add up to a particularly potent home upgrade.
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If you’re worried about protecting your car, making sure the garage door is closed or watching especially vulnerable garage entry points, you’ll want to see what I found during my time with this all-in-one Chamberlain device.
A professional installation for a major upgrade
I wouldn’t recommend a DIY installation of a smart garage, although technically it’s possible. The garage door itself remains unchanged, so you can keep your current look. But the motor, at least some of the railing, the aligned sensor, and the wired-in controller all need to be replaced, so it’s a good idea to contact a professional.
In my case, it was a very good idea. Chamberlain linked me up with a local garage installer who noted that the railing included in my kit was a bit too short for my garage, and swapped it out for compatible railing that succesfully fit. Installation after that was quick and smooth.
In fact, it was literally smooth. The new motor and rail combination made my garage door movement far quieter and more fluid than it had ever been through years of repairs. This was an unexpected bonus of upgrading to a new setup with a 1 and ¼ HP motor.
Operation and smart controllers
How do you want to control your garage door? With this system, you can choose any option you please. I found I could control in manually with a tap of the new inside garage controller mounted to the wall, or using one of the remote garage controllers, or using the outside keypad installed beside my garage. But those are only the low-tech options.
With the MyQ app, garage management expanded in all-new directions. The app let me control the garage door remotely from anywhere and receive alerts about it opening and closing. I could also set timers so the garage closes after a certain period, from a few minutes to an hour or two, so I could open the garage for quick tasks and didn’t have to worry about it getting closed. Most of the features extend to other smart home platforms like Google and Alexa, too.
It’s even possible to set schedules so the garage always opens and closes at a certain time. Maybe that could save users a little time in the morning when getting ready for work, or otherwise match unique schedules and daily needs.
MyQ connectivity also lets users set one-time access options for Amazon Key-In deliveries so delivery people can store shipments in the garage for safekeeping, a helpful option to prevent porch pirates in the holiday season. I didn’t get any Amazon deliveries during my testing, but I’ll try this feature out and let you know how it goes when I can.
LED lights dazzle my garage space
Chamberlain’s Premier smart garage has several model options, including versions with one LED light and those with two. My test model had two LED lights, and I was grateful because they proved sufficient to light up the entire garage by themselves.
These lights are rated at 2,000 lumens, which equals very bright in a space as small as a garage — bright enough that it’s tough to take a picture of them with normal camera settings. If you’re looking for a smart garage that can also take the place of all your old overhead garage lighting, this is the model for you.
The light, like the door, comes with multiple settings. I had the option to turn motion detection on or off, depending on if I wanted the light to pop on every time someone when into the garage. I could also set how long the light stayed on after, up to several minutes, before it automatically shut off again.
If you prefer manual light controls, there’s a separate button on the wall controller to turn on the light separately. It will also automatically turn on whenever you open or close the garage door. There are no brightness settings to dim this light, so you’ll need to get used to the new radiant lighting and hopefully it won’t reveal too many dirty garage corners.
A Secure View AI camera for a garage security boost
The smart garage and its lighting are only part of the story. This installation also includes a built-in security camera that folds down from the motor to monitor your garage, or at least part of it.
I’ve tested dozens of security cameras, and this model is high-quality. While I couldn’t narrow down an exact resolution, the field of view is 130 degrees and the camera can pick up plenty of detail no matter which angle you point it.
The camera also includes motion detection and a night vision mode with settings to choose if and when it’s activated. You can livestream footage on the app or set detection features to get alerts.
I have mixed feelings about a security camera in the garage. On one hand, it was handy to have eyes on both my car and the garage door, and receive notifications if anything was unexpectedly disturbing them. If you’re worried about garage security – and it’s one of the places that burglars check first for easy entry – a cam like this can bring peace of mind. You can also select AI detection features to specifically notice humans, animals, packages and vehicles when they appear. My tests of these features found them all to be accurate.
However, garages get used very frequently, and I’m a little uneasy about having a camera constantly watching and updating on every little thing. It’s not great for home privacy, especially when it comes to the face detection option, a feature that’s led to multiple 2026 lawsuits against video doorbell companies using facial recognition on strangers.
Chamberlain has several settings to mitigate these concerns, and I found them particularly useful. You can angle the camera so it focuses on the garage door and leaves the front portion of the garage unwatched, which is helpful if people are always coming and going. You can also set motion zones so the camera only picks up activity in specific spots.
The camera does have the capability to record events, but you can choose to record all events or only those related to the garage door, or not record at all. Likewise, you can turn the different types of AI recognition on or off, or shut down the camera altogether if you don’t want to use it. Flexibility like this made me much more comfortable with the cam.
A final caveat: More advanced features, such as AI detection, motion alerts and cloud video recording/storage, will require a MyQ subscription, which start at $50 per year, around $4 per month. Access alerts are hard to give up, but otherwise I don’t think users need a subscription. However, if you intend to use the smart garage as a cornerstone of your home security, I suggest at least the basic subscription to enhance the camera. There is a free trial, so you can try out the extended capabilities before you decide.
Final thoughts on the Chamberlain Premier Smart Garage Door Opener with Camera
Chamberlain’s smart garage is one of the most complete smart home devices I’ve tried, packing smart access control, scheduling, and camera monitoring with AI detection into one product. It all works very well, too, although you’ll need a subscription for more advanced features.
Being able to automate your garage, manage access codes and control it from afar brings plenty peace of mind, and if you’re worried about garage break-ins and vehicle theft, the camera is a valuable add-on. The bright LEDs can also take the place of most garage lighting.
I also appreciated the many settings in the MyQ app which allowed me to adjust timers and sensors, or turn off features I didn’t want to use, making the entire experience very customizable.
Smart garages this advanced aren’t cheap, and you’ll have to pay several hundred dollars to reinvent your garage. I also highly recommend arranging a professional installation to take care of the setup details. The result is a garage dragged happily into the modern age, equipped with better, smoother controls that I appreciated more every day of my testing.
Senior Editor / Home Security and Smart Home
Tyler has worked on, lived with and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks and top recommendations. With degrees in business management, literature and technical writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to their limits and occasionally throw cameras off his roof, all to find the best devices to trust in your life. He always checks with the renters (and pets) in his life to see what smart products can work for everyone, in every living situation. Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon, gives Tyler plenty of opportunities to test the latest tech in every kind of weather and temperature. But when not at work, he can be found hiking the trails, trying out a new food recipe for his loved ones, keeping up on his favorite reading or gaming with good friends. See full bio
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