Table of Contents
Our Experts Have Tested
39
Products in the Home Security Cameras Category in the past year
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buy decisions. ( See how we test. ) 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 bejewel solicitation, a home security camera is an effective tool for monitoring everything from afar.
Although capabilities vary between devices, all indoor security cameras allow you to monitor the inside of your home through know or recorded video. Some of the features that differentiate them are alarms, the ability to send notifications when they detect activity, and two-way audio. early cams are suitable for monitoring your child or even double as full-on dwelling automation hub. We ‘ve tested lots of home surveillance cameras over the death few years, so we know what ‘s important to consider. First and foremost, you should choose a camera that ‘s bare to set up and use. Another authoritative timbre is an attractive—yet discreet—design. It ‘s important that the camera is unobtrusive to your design tastes and, depending on your needs, you may not want it to stand out besides much either. Device patronize is critical arsenic well. Our favorite cameras allow you to check in from anywhere, such as from your earphone or via a web browser. No two cameras are identical, then make sure to check out our in-depth reviews of each one to find out what differentiates them. besides, keep in take care that the cameras here are designed to help you keep tabs on the inside of your theater. For a count 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 .
Which Security Camera Has the Best Picture?
even though 1080p is generally the standard solution for the television camera we test, higher-resolution models ( the ones here top out at 2K ) offer some benefits ; the higher the resolution, the more you can zoom in and calm see things distinctly. A few home security cameras have optical rapid climb lenses, but the rest trust on digital soar ; the latter type crop and enlarge whatever the television camera is recording. Besides resolution, besides consider the field of opinion. All security cameras have fisheye lenses, but some are wider than others Depending on the lens ‘ airfield of scene, these devices can cover between 105 and 360 degrees ; that ‘s a big range. If you want to watch a big area, look for a television camera with the widest field of view. The ability to mechanically pan and tilt the television camera is another utilitarian feature as well .
Google Nest Cam ( Outdoor or Indoor, Battery )
How Do Security Cameras Connect?
Most security cameras use Wi-Fi, but not all trust on it entirely. Some add Bluetooth for local control condition and easier apparatus through your smartphone, while others incorporate discriminate dwelling automation network standards, such as Zigbee or Z-Wave, to interact with other devices. For most cameras, all you need to do is follow instructions from an app to connect them to your network. once you connect your television camera, you can access a live opinion and any recordings via your smartphone or tablet. The huge majority of home security cameras copulate with a companion app that handles all the controls and settings. Some cameras offer access via a world wide web portal besides, which adds extra tractability. many fresh cameras support voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. With Alexa, for example, you can ask your camera to pull up a live video feed on your Echo Show. several cameras confirm IFTTT a well, which lets you build integrations with other third-party devices and platforms. For exemplify, you can configure a smart easy bulb to turn on whenever the camera detects motion .
Do You Need Cloud Storage?
Your television camera probably relies on cloud services for storage and to provide distant access to recordings. That said, some models have a microSD tease slot that allows you to save recordings locally. If you are worry about on-line security and do n’t want to pay a subscription fee to store your videos, the latter is a better option. not all mottle service subscriptions work the like way ; the count of days ‘ deserving of recordings they keep and the numeral of cameras you can monitor with a one subscription frequently varies. Some companies offer spare swarm storage but overwrite recordings typically after about a workweek .
Ring Indoor Cam
What Is Face Detection?
Most security cameras merely send you a presentment when they detect any type of activity. Others can identify who—or what—caused the whirl. Google Nest Cam models even offer face-recognition technology that helps eliminate unnecessary alerts. They automatically zoom in on people who enter the field of view and can send alerts both when they recognize a face and when they do n’t .
How Much Should You Spend on a Security Camera?
many of our top-tested dwelling security cameras cost roughly around $ 200 and some even require an extra subscription. We break down any extra fees you need to consider in our reviews. The dependable news is that many low-cost options are now available for much less than $ 100. Because you ca n’t put a price on peace of mind, however, carefully consider what features you want to forgo before picking a lower-cost option. Check out our Readers ‘ Choice Awards to see which security cameras and brands other PCMag readers trust most. And once you find the right exemplar, check out our tips for setting it up. If a individual television camera wo n’t cut it, besides explore our picks for the best smart home security systems .
