A complete security system is expensive, but installing several security cameras outside your home has become very affordable and easy.Cover the outside and you’ll know when there’s an intruder.Outdoor security cameras can deter burglaries, burglaries, and porch pirates; they’re also great for keeping tabs on the comings and goings of your family and pets.
The potential security benefits are attractive, but there’s a trade-off to privacy, and you can expect some ongoing costs and maintenance.After months of rigorous testing, we’ve determined the best outdoor security cameras.We’ve also highlighted the top considerations and installation options you should consider when purchasing a connected device.Just want to monitor the interior of your home?Our guides to the best indoor security cameras and best pet cameras can help.
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Security cameras can be very useful, but you have to choose carefully.You might not be as concerned about potential hacking as with an indoor security camera, but no one wants strangers in their backyard.Follow these tips to get the peace of mind you crave without invading anyone’s privacy.
Choose your brand carefully: There are countless outdoor security cameras on the market at very low prices.But unknown brands represent a real privacy risk.Some top security camera makers, including Ring, Wyze and Eufy, have been breached, but it is public scrutiny that has forced them to make improvements.Any system can be hacked, but lesser-known brands are less likely to be called out and often disappear or change names.
Consider security: Strong passwords are fine, but biometric support is more convenient and secure.We prefer a security camera with a mobile app that supports fingerprint or face unlock.Two-factor authentication (2FA) ensures that someone who knows your username and password cannot log into your camera.Often, it requires code from SMS, email, or authenticator applications, adding an extra layer of security.It’s becoming an industry standard, but still requires you to activate manually.We don’t recommend any camera that at least doesn’t offer a 2FA option.
Stay updated: It’s important to regularly check for software updates, not just for your security cameras and apps, but also for your routers and other internet-connected devices.Ideally, the security camera you choose has an automatic update option.
Sharp images day or night, fast-loading live feeds, and a smart notification system make the Arlo Pro 4 our favorite outdoor security camera.It connects directly to Wi-Fi, has a wide 160-degree field of view, and records at up to 2K resolution via HDR.(When there’s a light source in the frame, your frame won’t look blown out.) There’s also a choice of color night vision or spotlights, which use integrated lights to illuminate the scene.Two-way audio is clear and relatively lag-free, and there’s a built-in siren.After months of testing, it has proven to be a consistent and reliable actuator.Arlo claims up to six months of battery life, but that all depends on how busy it is; under three months, mine needed a charge.
It has an easy-to-use app, and the camera filters motion alerts by people, animals, vehicles, and packages.The notification system is fast and accurate, offering animated previews and screenshots with highlighted themes that are easy to read even on smartwatch screens.capture?You’ll need the Arlo Secure plan ($3 per month for a single camera) to take advantage of these features and also get 30 days of cloud video history.
If you don’t want a monthly fee, choose this EufyCam system, which includes two cameras.It wirelessly records video to a HomeBase hub with 16 GB of storage.The hub connects to your router via an ethernet cable or Wi-Fi and doubles as a Wi-Fi repeater, which is handy if you want to mount the camera further away from your router.Video footage is mostly sharp, with resolutions up to 2K and a fairly wide 140-degree field of view.You also get two-way audio and a siren to deter theft.Long battery life is one of the selling points here, and Eufy claims the camera can last a full year between charges.(Two months later, mine were 88% and 87%.)
Eufy’s mobile app is straightforward, with features like body detection included in the purchase price.It also has solid encryption, 2FA and fingerprint unlocking like Arlo.The live feed loads quickly, like a video you record while you’re at home, but outside, it takes a lot longer to load.I don’t like that notifications don’t tell you what triggered the motion sensor.Other drawbacks include limited smart home functionality (you can only call up live feeds), no HDR, and the tendency for night vision in bright areas.The active area (the specific area you highlight in the camera frame to detect motion) is limited to a single rectangle; Arlo Pro 4 lets you draw multiple areas and customize the shape.
Bargains are a big part of the Wyze brand, and the Wyze Cam Outdoor is no exception.It records Full HD video with a 110-degree field of view and comes with a base station that plugs into a router for setup, but then connects wirelessly.This base station requires a MicroSD card (not included) for local video recording, which I highly recommend.Otherwise, if you store everything in the cloud (14 days of access), there is a 12-second limit on video clips and a 5-minute cooldown between motion events.If you prefer the cloud, you can pay $24 a year for unlimited video length and no cooldown, as well as other perks like people detection.The stated battery life is between three and six months, but mine needed a charge to get to three months.
I like that you can schedule recordings and customize the camera’s detection area.Since you can also add a MicroSD card to the camera’s dock, you can take the camera with you in a nifty travel mode without needing to be connected to a base station or Wi-Fi — great if you want to monitor your hotel room on the go .Unfortunately, the overall video quality doesn’t match the more expensive cameras.Low frame rates give footage a choppy feel, and without HDR, night vision just passes.There’s two-way audio, but the delay can make conversation awkward.Live feeds and recorded videos are also slow to load.
The Nest Outdoor Camera is best for anyone running a show at home with the Google Assistant.It’s battery powered and easy for renters to install, with a simple mounting plate and a proprietary magnetic mount for easy custom angles.The 130-degree field of view is nice and covers my driveway, front door, and most of my front yard; it captures crisp 1080p video with HDR and night vision; it has a clear speaker and microphone; alerts are seamless , the motion detector is accurate and sensitive enough to tell that the slight flick of a passing ponytail is a person.
You need a Google Account and the Google Home app to use it.You don’t need a $6 per month subscription to Nest Aware, but most people who buy a Google device probably aren’t afraid to store their data in the cloud or on machine learning.Having features like the camera learning faces and 60-day event history is worth it, even more so if you bundle it with the Nest Doorbell.The battery needs to be charged after more than a month.
This Logitech security camera has some important caveats.First, it has a permanently attached 10-foot power cord that isn’t weatherproof, so you need to be careful when connecting it to an indoor outlet.It also requires a HomeKit hub, such as a HomePod Mini, Apple TV, or iPad, and while you can log 10 days of video events to your iCloud account, it’s only worth it if you’re coughing up an iCloud storage plan.There’s also zero compatibility with Android, so it’s probably useless to anyone in the family without an Apple gadget.
If none of that pleases you, it’s a solid outdoor camera for the privacy-conscious.It doesn’t have its own separate app.Instead, you can add it directly to Apple’s Home app by scanning a QR code.It captures full HD video and has an extremely wide 180-degree field of view, though there’s a bit of a fisheye effect here.(The lack of HDR also means areas are sometimes too dark or blown up.) With motion detection, two-way audio, and decent night vision, you can ask Siri to show a live feed, and it loads quickly.Cameras can distinguish between people, animals or vehicles, and rich notifications let you play video clips directly from your iPhone’s lock screen.
You may need multiple security cameras to properly cover an area, but the Ezviz C8C offers another solution, as it can pan 352 degrees horizontally and tilt 95 degrees vertically.It’s IP65 rated so it can handle the elements, but it’s wired; you have to connect the cable to a power outlet.It’s a spectacular spherical camera with two antennas that make it look like a Star Wars droid.Connect it via Wi-Fi or Ethernet, and the versatile L-shaped bracket lets you attach it to a roof overhang or wall.The panel on the back screw opens to reveal the MicroSD card slot (sold separately).
You control it from a simple app that loads your feed quickly.Video resolution tops out at 1080p, but captures a lot of detail, and built-in people detection is consistent.There’s a microphone to record sound, but no speakers; the C8C’s black-and-white night vision is clear, but it switches to color when it detects motion.Sadly, there’s no HDR and, unsurprisingly, struggles with mixed lighting.There’s optional cloud storage, but it’s very expensive, starting at $6 a month for a single camera for just 7 days of video.When you’re done panning, you’ll also need to remember to fix the camera view back to the main area you want to monitor.
We’ve tested several other outdoor security cameras.These are our favorites, just missed a spot above.
Canary Flex: I love the Canary Flex’s curved, diamond-shaped design, but it’s by far the least reliable security camera we’ve tested.It often misses people who have completely walked by or starts recording when they are almost out of frame.Night vision and low-light video quality was poor, and apps were slow to load.
Ring Stick Up Cam: Due to the Ring’s suburban surveillance, high-profile hacking, and data sharing with law enforcement, we don’t recommend its camera.But I did test this and found the low frame rate, slow loading, and bulky design objectionable.
There are many factors to consider when you are shopping for an outdoor security camera.Determining which features you need can be difficult, so here are some important questions to address.
Wired or battery: Wired cameras usually require some drilling to install, must be within range of a power outlet, and will turn off if there is a power source, but they never need to be charged.Installation is easier if you buy a battery powered security camera and you can choose where you want it.They usually run for months before needing a charge, and will warn you when the battery is low, but it does mean you have to remove the battery, and sometimes the entire camera, to charge it, which often takes hours .It’s worth noting that you can now buy solar panels to power some battery-powered cameras, which gives you the best of both worlds.
Video quality: You might be tempted to use the highest resolution video you can get, but that’s not always the best idea.You can see more detail in 4K video, but it requires more streaming bandwidth and more storage space to record than Full HD or 2K resolution.People with limited Wi-Fi should be cautious.You usually want a wide field of view so the camera can shoot more, but this can lead to a curved fisheye effect in the corners, and some cameras are better at correcting distortion than others.HDR support is an important feature, especially when your camera is facing mixed lighting locations with some shadows and direct sunlight (or street lights), it prevents bright areas from being blown out or dark areas losing detail.
Connectivity: Most security cameras will connect to a Wi-Fi router in the 2.4-GHz band.Depending on where you plan to install them, you might like the support for the 5-GHz band, which allows streams to load faster.Some systems, like the EufyCam 2 Pro, come with a hub that acts as a Wi-Fi range extender.Remember, you shouldn’t install security cameras in locations that don’t have a strong Wi-Fi signal.
Subscription model: Most security camera manufacturers offer subscription services that provide cloud storage for video recordings.It’s not always as optional as it seems.Some manufacturers bundle smart features like people detection or activity zones, so subscriptions are essential to getting the most out of their cameras.Always consider subscription costs and make sure you’re clear about what’s included before purchasing.
Local or cloud storage: If you don’t want to sign up for a subscription service and upload video clips to the cloud, make sure the camera of your choice offers local storage.Some security cameras have MicroSD card slots, while others record video to a hub device in your home.Some manufacturers offer limited cloud storage for free, but you can usually expect to pay around $3 to $6 per month for 30 days of storage for a single camera.For multiple cameras, longer recording times, or continuous recording, you’re looking at paying $10 to $15 per month.There is usually a discount if you pay annually.
Placement matters: Remember, visible security cameras are a powerful deterrent.You don’t want to hide your camera.Also, make sure the view isn’t peeking into your neighbor’s window.Most cameras offer customizable areas to filter out areas of the camera’s frame for recording or motion detection.If you buy a battery powered camera, remember that you have to charge it regularly, so it has to be easy to use.The ideal location for the security camera is about 7 feet off the ground and at a slight downward slope.
False alarms: Unless you want your phone to signal every time your cat wanders on your porch or your neighbor’s dog crosses your garden, consider a security camera that can detect people and filter alerts.
Night vision and spotlights: Outdoor security cameras generally have infrared night vision, but low-light performance varies widely.When the light is low, you always lose some detail.Most night vision modes produce a monochrome picture.Some manufacturers offer color night vision goggles, although it’s usually tinted by software and looks odd.We prefer spotlights because they allow the camera to capture better quality footage, and the light further deters any intruders.But they’re not suitable for all situations, and they’ll drain the battery faster if left unconnected.
Camera Stolen: Worried about camera theft?Choose a camera without onboard storage.You may also want to consider using a protective cage and screw mounts instead of magnetic mounts.Some manufacturers have replacement policies for camera theft, especially if you have a subscription, but they usually require you to file a police report and get ruled out.Check the policy thoroughly before buying.
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Post time: Apr-06-2022
