On this article:
Protecting your own home and family members protected has by no means been simpler with out of doors safety cameras. Simply the mere presence of 1 is usually sufficient to deter any potential burglars. So whether or not you are trying to put collectively your personal reasonably priced house safety system, or add to the one you have already got, there are many selections for the most effective out of doors safety cameras. The picks on this checklist vary from the basic dome digital camera to high-tech choices with top-notch, 1080p HD video.
Over the previous few years, the video high quality has steadily improved with safety cameras. Many even include some helpful new choices. Commonplace options embody evening imaginative and prescient and a movement sensor, whereas some fashions additionally embody two-way audio, free cloud storage, IR LEDs, floodlights, spotlights, Wi-Fi and facial recognition. You may get a doorbell digital camera or a sensible safety digital camera that connects to your current sensible house setup, which you’ll be able to monitor together with your cellphone. You are just a few cameras away from a full-blown safety system that maximizes security.
However technological capabilities are solely half the battle. In contrast to an indoor digital camera, the most effective out of doors safety cameras should deal with rain, wind, snow and all types of different climate and nonetheless report watchable footage.
Are you able to construct your personal out of doors safety digital camera system? Whether or not you want one out of doors digital camera or a number of cameras to cowl your complete property, the most effective house safety cameras will help grant you peace of thoughts. We have examined a variety of weather-resistant fashions to reach at this quick checklist of surveillance digital camera favorites that will help you discover the most effective out of doors safety cameras to your house and finances.
Greatest out of doors house safety cameras
David Priest/CNET
Setup
Moveable, outdoor/indoor
Resolution
2560 x 1440 (2K)
Storage
Cloud storage
Google/Alexa Compatibility
Both
Field of View
160 degrees
Arlo’s latest Pro series camera is a fantastic device with features to spare. It boasts 2K HDR resolution, a 160-degree field of view, two-way talk, full-color night vision, a built-in siren and spotlight, compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit — the list goes on.
This powerhouse of a camera costs only $200 — pricier than super-affordable options like Wyze Cam V3, but easily worth the premium. For $3 per month, you can also get smart alerts, motion zones, 30 days of event history and a few other cool features. This wireless outdoor security camera has a local storage option to secure your videos directly from your home security system to your Arlo Base Station. In short, the Arlo Pro 4 is a fantastic home security camera for most people.
Read our Arlo Pro 4 review.
You’re receiving price alerts for Arlo Pro 4 (White, 1 Camera)
Wyze
Setup
Moveable, outdoor/indoor
Resolution
1080p
Storage
Cloud, local storage
Google/Alexa Compatibility
Both
Field of View
130 degrees
Wyze makes a variety of solid, affordable smart home devices — and the Wyze Cam is no exception.
In addition to standard features, which include HD live streaming and motion detection alerts, this affordable wired camera comes with free two-week event-based cloud video storage and a built-in micro SD card slot for local video storage. It has a customizable motion-detection zone, updated two-way audio and night vision, and an improved field of view over the last-gen Wyze Cam. The battery life of this outdoor cam can last up to 3-6 months between each charge.
Read our Wyze Cam review.
You’re receiving price alerts for Wyze Cam v3 (2020)
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
Setup
Hardwired, outdoor/indoor
Resolution
1536 x 1536 (2K)
Storage
Cloud storage
Google/Alexa Compatibility
Both
Field of View
180 degrees
The Arlo Video Doorbell performs well as a security camera, has a long list of features and competitive cloud storage fees. The optional cloud storage subscription gives you access to advanced person, animal, vehicle and package alerts.
This smart buzzer is easy to install, too, and features two-way audio, motion detection zones, arm/disarm modes and a built-in siren. Arlo Video Doorbell is battery powered and the cam battery lasts up to six months between charges.
Read our Arlo Video Doorbell review.
You’re receiving price alerts for Arlo Video Doorbell
Ry Crist/CNET
Setup
Moveable, outdoor/indoor
Resolution
1080p
Storage
Local storage
Google/Alexa Compatibility
Both
Field of View
130 degrees
If you need a camera to keep watch over a place where Wi-Fi won’t suffice, then your best bet is to shop for a smart security camera that can stay connected over cellular data instead. Your top two options are the Arlo Go 2 and the Eufy 4G Starlight Cam, each of which includes a SIM card slot for cellular connectivity along with similar features, including night vision and customizable motion alerts. They each cost about $250, too, though the Eufy 4G Starlight Cam is the slightly less expensive of the two.
Both performed well when we tested them out, and there are good reasons to go with either one. Still, I lean toward the Go 2 here mainly due to the fact that it includes a MicroSD card slot for expandable local storage. Eufy’s LTE camera doesn’t have a MicroSD card slot at all: Instead, you get 8GB of built-in local storage. That’s a nice value if you don’t want to buy a MicroSD card, but it also means your local storage is capped, and you’ll need to pay a monthly fee if you want to store additional footage on Eufy’s servers.
Another key difference: The Arlo Go 2 can connect over both LTE and Wi-Fi, while the Eufy 4G Starlight Cam doesn’t support Wi-Fi. That makes the Go 2 the more flexible of the two cameras and can potentially leverage your home’s Wi-Fi signal to reduce the LTE data usage.
Read more about the Arlo Go 2 LTE security camera.
Other products we’ve tested
We’ve tested too many outdoor security camera systems to list here, but we’ve reviewed dozens of the most popular cameras from the biggest brands, including Google Nest, Amazon Blink, Amazon Ring, Wyze, Arlo, Eufy, Canary and many more. While many of these devices offer similar features, including 2-way talk, live streaming, app notifications and more, finding the right device for the right price can be a challenge. The above picks are the best options we’ve found so far.
How we test home security cameras
Hands-on testing is core to our evaluations of any home security products. In short, when it comes to security cameras, we pay special attention to resolution, night vision and latency, extra features, general performance and overall value. We evaluate all of these elements in a real home environment over the course of a week. If you want to read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security cameras and video doorbells.
Outdoor home security cameras compared
| Arlo Pro 4 | Wyze Cam (2020) | Arlo Video Doorbell | Arlo Go 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $159 | $36 | $112 | $250 |
| Resolution | 2K | 1080p | 1,536×1,536 | 1080p |
| Field of view | 160-degrees | 130-degrees | 180-degrees | 130-degrees |
| Setup | Wireless, indoor/outdoor | Moveable, indoor/outdoor | Wired, outdoor only | Wireless, indoor/outdoor |
| Extra features | Live streaming, two-way talk, night vision, weather resistance | Live streaming, motion detection, night vision, weather resistance, integration with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant | Live streaming, arm/disarm modes, two-way talk, motion zones, night vision and an integrated siren | Live streaming, arm/disarm modes, two-way talk, motion zones, night vision, 4G/LTE support and an integrated siren |
| Review score | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | n/a |
Outdoor home security camera FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most common questions about outdoor home security cameras. If you have any others, feel free to reach out on Twitter or you may e-mail me from my writer web page (simply click on the little orange envelope).
What sort of outside safety digital camera is greatest?
Outside safety cameras can be utilized for all types of functions, and your specific wants will decide which one is greatest. In the event you’re in search of minimal repairs, a digital camera with an influence twine could be the most effective wager, whereas monitoring areas removed from an influence outlet may make a battery-powered gadget a greater choice. Generally, cameras with at the least 1080p decision, a large area of view, evening imaginative and prescient and deterrence options like a highlight or alarm will serve you properly.
What are the privateness and safety issues for out of doors cameras?
In the event you’re privateness acutely aware, then your greatest wager is to buy safety cameras that allow you to retailer the footage domestically, often on a MicroSD card or another technique of storage on the gadget itself. When you begin importing your video for storage on an organization’s servers, then that footage is topic to no matter that firm’s insurance policies are relating to storing it and sharing it.
On the safety entrance, one of the best ways to maintain your footage protected from unauthorized entry or hacks is to just be sure you’re utilizing two-factor authentication, which drastically reduces the chances that anybody will be capable of entry your account with out your data. In the event you’re importing footage to an organization’s servers, you will wish to be sure that the footage is encrypted alongside the best way.
Probably the most safe strategy is end-to-end encryption, or E2EE, which implies that no one can entry your footage with no distinctive decryption key related together with your gadget. With E2EE, even the corporate you are storing the footage with should not be capable of entry your clips. “Encryption in transit” and “encryption at relaxation” are good requirements as properly, however they would not essentially forestall the corporate you are storing footage with from with the ability to entry your clips.
Yet another factor: It ought to go with out saying, however these cameras are supposed to regulate your personal house and property. Set one up someplace the place you do not have permission or the place folks have an affordable expectation of privateness, and you can run afoul of the legislation.
What’s the greatest safety digital camera for chilly climate?
Whether or not you are anxious about excessive chilly, rain or some other inclement climate, you will wish to remember to test your digital camera’s IP ranking and lowest working temperature. IP scores of 65 or 66 are stable — which means you will not get mud into the digital camera or water, until it’s very submerged.
Typically, you will additionally wish to examine your regional winter temperatures to your digital camera’s lowest working temperature. Battery-operated cameras often want hotter temperatures. Arlo’s lowest temperature, for example, is 14 levels Fahrenheit, whereas the Wyze Cam v3 can perform at -4 F.
