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Our favorite cameras allow you to check in from anywhere, such as from your phone or via a web browser. One of the biggest benefits of a smart home is being able to know what's going on when you're not there. Whether you want to check in on your kids, pets, or an exotic jewel collection, a home security camera is an effective tool for monitoring everything from afar. I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news.
Other indoor security cams we've tested
If you're planning to install a security camera indoors, then a wired camera is probably the better option, as there should usually be an outlet near where you want to place it. A built-in spotlight also enables color recording at night, and it has dual microphones for better audio, as well as a built-in alarm loud enough to startle anyone nearby. While the EufyCam 3 has a high upfront cost — $549 for two cameras and the base station — you can make it up on the back end, as you don't need to sign up for a subscription to store video.
How much should you spend on home security cameras?
3D motion detection uses radar to detect the distance of an object for improved accuracy and fewer false alerts compared with the standard camera. This technology also powers a bird’s eye aerial view feature, which lets you see where visitors to your home have traveled while on your property. Although it isn't cheap, the Arlo Go 2 earns our Editors’ Choice award for its easy wire-free installation, excellent 1080p video quality, and ability to connect from just about anywhere using either a cellular or Wi-Fi radio. A premium price means premium features including support for voice commands, lots of third-party integrations, intelligent alerts, a built-in spotlight, and color night vision.
PROS
The engineers and experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab test all types of surveillance electronics and smart home devices. We also considered extra features such as smart home compatibility, video storage, subscription plan options, alert sensitivity and water-resistance claims for outdoor cameras. In addition to in-Lab evaluations, we sent security cameras home with our consumer testers to share firsthand feedback on factors such as ease of setup, how well they work in day-to-day life, battery life and more.
Many people are uncomfortable trusting companies with their home video footage, especially when data breaches keep cropping up. The brands on our list do fairly well at security, but if you’re looking for an alternative, Lorex is made for you. Their cameras, like this model, come with a 32GB (potentially upgrade-able) microSD card to save videos locally instead of on the cloud. In addition to its mobility, Ring’s Stick Up camera offers motion detection with alerts, two-way audio and the ability to customize motion or privacy zones to focus the camera on important areas. A home/away feature lets you quickly switch between modes to help save on battery life when you’re home, and if you ever find the perfect spot, the cam also comes with a wall mount.
Google Nest Doorbell (Battery)
Homeowner witnesses thieves ransack Southern California home on security camera - Yahoo! Voices
Homeowner witnesses thieves ransack Southern California home on security camera.
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No fees are involved, but you will have to clear out the storage when it fills. If you don’t mind paying more for a higher-end version, we also really liked the Arlo Go 2 in our head-to-head. A GH Institute expert favorite for both indoor and outdoor monitoring, Arlo cameras have consistently stood out in Lab tests for exceptional performance.
The app itself is a breeze to use with plenty of on-screen information while being intuitive enough for even the most novice user. PCMag supports Group Black and its mission to increase greater diversity in media voices and media ownerships. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.
Best for 4K Resolution
When we endorse, rank, or review products and services, we’re making independent judgments that you can trust. We’re here to show our readers how to get the most secure home possible for the best possible price. A number of cameras we have tested were plagued by false alerts, including the Tapo C310 Smart Outdoor Home Security WiFi 2K Camera and the Tapo C320WS Smart Outdoor Home Security WiFi 2K QHD 4MP Camera. We have paused all testing and recommendations of Wyze smart-home devices due to security concerns. Any outdoor camera worth its salt must be able to withstand exposure to the elements and should carry an Ingress Protection (IP) rating. IP ratings contain two digits that tell you just how well the camera holds up under most weather conditions.
We’ll work to keep you up to date on the latest privacy issues and what you should know when purchasing security devices like these. Matter (the smart home standard) compatibility is also important, and you can read more about that in our guides, but it currently doesn’t apply to security cams because the protocol hasn’t expanded to video footage yet. However, if you do already have a home security system from a brand like Abode, ADT or Frontpoint, you should look for an indoor cam that’s compatible with that app or control panel. Those PTZ features are particularly helpful when paired with AI tracking, which automatically follows pets and people around the room when it detects movement.
This security camera fires paintballs and tear gas - Fox News
This security camera fires paintballs and tear gas.
Posted: Thu, 25 Apr 2024 19:41:50 GMT [source]
We partner only with companies that meet our strict standards for quality, and we never allow our partners to dictate the content in our trusted reviews and rankings. Our goal is to deliver comprehensive, accurate, and up-to-date home security information to our readers, and everything that we do is in service of that goal. Our editorial decisions are ours alone, and our recommendations are based solely on our expertise, experience, and opinions.
In simplest terms, your camera won't be effective if the only footage being recorded is grainy and unreadable. CNET has tested tons of home security cameras over the years, and can help you find the right one for your needs. Such evaluations can take less than a day, but we monitor the camera over the course of a week for a more complete look at the camera's performance day and night. This Lorex cam offers both high-resolution and privacy-friendly local storage. Home security cams get recruited for all kinds of tasks, and you may have a spot in mind that’s well away from Wi-Fi. Even the exterior of larger homes can be beyond Wi-Fi’s reach, not to mention outdoor garages and granny pods, weekend camping sites or construction sites.
The motion detection, honed by Arlo’s years of experience, can identify objects like people or packages and activate the built-in spotlight during dark conditions. And with an operating temp range down to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit, you won’t have to worry too much about weather, either. The GH Home Reno Award winner is weather-resistant and packs excellent video quality at 1080p, as well as two-way audio so you can speak to your guests or delivery service from anywhere.
For a look at what's going on outside, check out our picks for the best outdoor home security cameras, the best floodlight cameras, and the best video doorbells. The majority of security cameras will work to some degree with Alexa or Google Assistant. This means you can connect them with other smart home devices, so that the camera will turn off automatically when you're home, or start recording if a motion detector senses something. If you do not want your video shared without your consent, you have several options. Cameras that use Apple's iCloud to store video and Eufy's cameras store user footage through end-to-end encryption, so they cannot even provide user footage to law enforcement even if they wanted to. Additionally, you can set up end-to-end encryption on some Ring devices, though by enabling this feature, you will disable a number of other Ring camera features.
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