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The companies listed above specifically note in their company policies that they may opt to share footage in those limited circumstances. Device owners who prefer to prevent their videos from being shared without prior permission have a few options. When possible, they can enable end-to-end encryption in their device settings menu—devices that use HomeKit automatically have it enabled. They can also opt to store videos locally if their camera has a built-in hard drive or, like many Wyze and Eufy devices, has a slot for mini SD cards.
Sometimes there are hiccups hitting a notification to see the clip in the app and it goes to the devices list instead of the video in the library tab. I wish there were a way to turn if notifications for individual devices in the app. It’s weather resistant design, 8-foot magnetic power cable, and adjustable mount. The Arlo Pro 2 cams offer 1080p HD live streaming, which improves on the already solid Arlo and Arlo Pro models that delivered lower-resolution 720p HD video. Multi-function sensors and 24/7 professional monitoring for complete protection.
The best corded outdoor Wi-Fi camera
Rachel Cericola is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter who has been covering smart-home technology since the days of X10. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, Men’s Health, USA Today, and others. She hopes her neighbors read this bio because it would explain why she always has four video doorbells running simultaneously outside her home. Many readers are concerned about how the manufacturing, shipping, and normal use of the products we recommend impact the world we live in.
Our reviews dig into privacy and security so you can feel better about our recommendations. We mounted our test group of outdoor Wi-Fi cameras outside the house so we could point them at the same spot and expose them all to the same lighting conditions and New England weather. The exceptions were cameras that were integrated into outdoor lighting fixtures, which I had installed on the porch by a licensed electrician . Originally, we connected all of the cameras to the same Verizon Fios network via a Wi-Fi router indoors ; we have since replaced that with our upgrade-pick mesh-networking kit, the Asus ZenWiFi AX . Visit our support page for answers from simple setup to security optimization. Search for something specific or select a product or category for helpful articles and videos.
The Best Home Security System
The Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In can be set to record clips between 50 and 120 seconds, but you will get that set amount of time every time there is action. In other words, if you have the camera set to create 60-second recordings but the motion lasts for only 10 seconds, it will still make a 60-second recording. If you use this camera with a battery, recordings can be set between 15 and 120 seconds, and toggling Advanced Motion Detection can stop recording when motion stops. We understand how the latter settings can preserve battery life, but we wish these features were consistent across both models, since we think that would result in tighter, more accurate alerts. Unlike many older Arlo devices, the Arlo Pro 4 does not require the Arlo SmartHub. If you add one of those to your system, you can set alerts to trigger the base station’s internal 100-decibel siren, link the Arlo to Apple HomeKit, connect external local storage, or enroll in Arlo’s 24/7 recording option.
The Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro offers two levels of security by including a bright outdoor light and a surveillance camera in one device. It delivers the best image and lighting options of any floodlight camera we tested. 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. 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 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.
Arlo VMS4230P-100NAS Pro 2 (VMS4230P-100NAS)
We prefer the Arlo Pro 4to the Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera and the Arlo Pro 3, both of which deliver 1080p images. Plus, the Essential doesn’t have a removable battery and the Arlo Pro 3 requires a base station. And the pricey Arlo Ultra delivered awful night-vision performance, poor battery life, and missed far too many motion triggers in our testing.
When integrated into Routines with a platform like Alexa, the light can also trigger other actions, such as turning on additional smart lights when it senses motion. This is a nice departure from a blinding floodlight, which can be great for scaring raccoons away from your garbage cans, but less so when it comes you’re sitting on the porch or having a BBQ. Outdoor Wi-Fi cameras are great for keeping tabs on who is coming into your yard and around your property. But these devices are not always great for keeping tabs on street activity and even the far edges of your own property . We asked all of the companies behind our picks what owners should realistically expect in terms of video quality, and we found that users should be able to detect movement 30 to 40 feet away.
The Best Security Cameras for Your Home
It will let you know instantly whether that rustling in the bushes comes from a friend, foe, or furry creature. However, after reviewing dozens of cameras over the past five years, we’ve yet to find a perfect model. Some are hard to place, some need to be charged regularly, and others require a subscription fee to be most effective. If you want a completely cord-free option, we recommend the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera. If you want something a little cheaper and have an outdoor outlet nearby, we recommend the Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In. And if you want one that can light up the night , we suggest the Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro.
However, we don’t recommend using a SmartHub because then you can’t use Arlo Secure—a service that makes this a much better camera. The Arlo Security System features 5 HD cameras that are wire-free and weatherproof. With a 110° field of view, night vision up to 25 feet and motion alerts, you can keep an eye on what is always happening at your home. We started testing the Wyze Cam v3 Pro, which has a built-in spotlight and records 2K resolution video that is slightly better quality than our Budget pick, the Wyze Cam v3. Since the AI processing is handled in the camera , we’ve found smartphone alerts arrive faster, and the app is able to load video quicker, too.
The camera features a wide, 160-degree viewing angle and two-way audio that was easy to understand on both ends. Users can set recording length to create clips from 10 to 120 seconds long, but we prefer the “record until activity stops” option, which records up to five minutes of continuous motion. If action goes beyond that, a new clip will be recorded after a 1- or 2-second reset period. According to Arlo, this reset is to keep the camera from creating lengthy clips where nothing happens and to conserve battery life. Like many of the cameras on our list, the Ring Stick Up Cam requires a subscription to store any video, and uses Ring Protect.
But the audio and images are clear, and you can zoom in on live and recorded video for a closer view. When general motion and a human are present on the same screen, the Ring will identify the first thing detected . We’ve added our initial testing notes on the Wyze Cam v3 Pro to What to look forward to, as well as six tested models to the Competition and Other good outdoor security cameras sections.
More potentially serious is that an additional post claims it is possible to view live, unencrypted video streams of Eufy cameras without needing to authenticate with a password first. We are waiting on a response from Eufy and will update this guide when we have more information. We’ve been covering outdoor cameras for more than five years, so we’ve kept tabs on new and existing models, as well as on what features to expect. The Wyze Cam v3 delivers impressive 1080p video, bright color night vision, and several video-storage options—at about a sixth of the price of the Arlo.
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