Markey, which criticized Ring for giving police emergency access to user videos without user permission, Consumer Reports published an article claiming that several other major camera companies have the same policy in place, including Google Nest, SimpliSafe, Eufy, D-Link, and TP-Link. Several of the models we tested need to be hardwired into outdoor lights.įollowing the release of a July 2022 report from Senator Edward J. Many outdoor Wi-Fi cameras still require AC power, limiting placement to within reach of an outlet. Also, rechargeable batteries have a finite lifespan, so you may need to replace them (or the entire camera, if they’re not replaceable). Power: Battery-powered cameras offer flexible placement, but they need to be recharged-which can be inconvenient if you have the camera mounted in a high place, like a tree.Those will allow you to view cameras on smart displays or trigger devices (such as smart lights) when the camera detects motion. Smart-home integration: Most outdoor cameras offer some type of smart-home integration, such as support for Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT (If This Then That), Samsung SmartThings, and more.Most also feature a speaker for two-way communication, allowing you to talk to whoever is in front of the camera. Audio: A good outdoor Wi-Fi camera should have a built-in microphone so you can hear chirps and chatter.Some cameras store recordings locally on a microSD card or a connected hard drive, but it isn’t of much help if someone steals the camera or you lose power. Storage: Cloud storage (with video saved over the internet to a remote server operated by the manufacturer, instead of at your house) is the norm these days.We also looked for cameras that could distinguish between different causes of motion, such as a person, a vehicle, or an animal. Faster alerts are better, but their speed often depends more on the network you’re connected to than on the camera itself. Alerts: A good outdoor security camera alerts your smartphone or tablet whenever it detects motion.The night-vision range can be a factor, depending on where you plan to place the camera. Some even offer color night vision, which may add a bit of detail missed by cameras that capture only black-and-white video at night. Night vision: All outdoor Wi-Fi cameras should have night-vision capability.Also, streaming video chews up internet bandwidth, so be sure your home network is fast enough to support it and doesn’t have data caps. However, even at that resolution, details may not be as sharp as what you’d get with a typical smartphone camera, especially for subjects that are far from the camera. Image resolution: Most outdoor cameras stream and record 1080p or 2K video.With all this going for the Eufy, unfortunately it looks like a drone-sized spaceship perched on your home. It’s also the only floodlight camera we’ve tested that offers the option of storing video locally on 8 gigabytes’ worth of internal storage or in the cloud (starting at $1 per month) the cloud option will downgrade the recordings to 1080p, though. The Eufy is also the only floodlight we’ve reviewed that allows for color-temperature adjustments, from 3,000 to 5,700 Kelvin, so you can choose between cool and warm whites. Three integrated LED panels can blast 3,000 lumens of brightness that can be turned on and off and tweaked via the Eufy app or voice control. The camera can pan and tilt 360 degrees horizontally and 130 degrees vertically, capturing stellar 2K images day and night-both with and without color night vision. It delivers the best image and lighting options of any floodlight camera we tested. The Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro offers two levels of security by including a bright outdoor light and a surveillance camera in one device. Because of that, Arlo cameras need to connect to the Base Station, which in turn communicates with your home’s Wi-Fi network.Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant This is because the cameras use Z-Wave to communicate wirelessly, rather than Wi-Fi like most other consumer-based security cameras (such as the Nest Cam). Most other Wi-Fi cams need to be connected to some kind of power source, even though they connect via Wi-Fi to transmit the data.Īrlo Pro also uses its own central hub (called the Base Station), to which all of your Arlo cameras connect. One thing that separates the Arlo Pro from other Wi-Fi cameras is that it’s battery-powered, meaning you don’t need to plug it into an outlet to stream and record video. Wi-Fi cameras have their issues-at least when compared to wired cameras-but they certainly offer easier installation. Here’s how to set it up and begin keeping tabs on your home while you’re away. If you like the idea of a security camera that’s completely wireless in every way, Netgear’s Arlo Pro system is one to consider.
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