Our homes are now brimming with connected appliances and devices. This includes smart locks, smart lightning, smart security cameras etc thanks to the growth of smart secure home technology. When you are not at home, having the best security camera for your home offers you peace of mind. These cameras work day and night. And when they detect something or someone, they send you a notification on your smartphone. That’s not all, when a security camera detects motion, it begins recording video to provide you with a complete record of the incident. However, there are numerous options available, including indoor, outdoor, wireless, and DIY. As a result, finding the ideal match for the camera system you want to buy can be difficult. But fear not. In today’s article, we’ll talk about how to choose the best home security camera and the best overall smart security camera in the market.
How to Select the Best Smart Security Camera?
It can be difficult to get your head around smart home technology if you’re not familiar with it. As a result, we’ve put together a list of considerations for some of today’s smart security camera options. So, here are 10 things you should know about smart security cameras before you buy one, as well as how to find the best one for your needs.
1. Indoor or outdoor
The type of camera you’ll need is determined by the location of the camera. So the first thing to consider when looking for a smart security camera is whether you want to mount it indoors or outdoors. Keep in mind that only weatherproof cameras are suitable for the outside of your home.
2. Wired or battery-powered
You must decide whether you want a battery-operated or a plugged-in model for both indoor and outdoor cameras. The former is simpler to set up, but their batteries will need recharging or replacing every few months. The second option may necessitate the installation of an outlet or the drilling of holes in your wall.
3. Storage type
You should consider how much video storage your smart home security camera provides. Most will allow you to store videos in the cloud. But many will charge you a monthly fee to do so. Some cameras have memory card slots, allowing you to save video locally; however, in this case if the camera is stolen, your recordings are lost as well.
4. Resolution of the video
Remember to look for a smart security camera with a resolution of at least 1080p. Some cameras can now record in 4K. This not only means better quality but also allows you to zoom in and see details clearly.
5. Advanced detection
If you don’t want to be taken by surprise awake in the middle of the night because a cat wandered into your yard, look for a smart camera with advanced detection features such as animal detection, face detection, noise detection, and more. So that you won’t have to open your camera’s app every time it detects something. Some cameras even have features that detect smoke and gas.
6. Zoom, pan, and tilt
A camera’s ability to pan, tilt, and zoom is also absolutely essential. Especially if you want it to be more responsive and cover more ground outside the home. Or, at the very least, include features such as motion tracking. Users can also use the app to control the camera and keep an eye on their surroundings. It’s an important feature, but it’s not mandatory.
7. Night vision with color
If you’re looking for a smart security camera, and if it doesn’t have night vision, it’s almost useless. Standard Night Vision is available on most cameras, while coloured Night Vision is available on some more expensive models and surprisingly on some cheaper ones (read more to find out!) as well.
8. Options for spot or floodlighting
Some outdoor smart security cameras include built-in spotlights or floodlights. These features not only help the camera see what it’s looking for, but also allow you to see in the middle of the night outside your home.
9. App that you can rely on
While modern smart security cameras depend on online platforms and connectivity, the app plays a crucial role. It has all of the essential features that the camera needs to function properly. As a result, check to see if the security camera you’re considering has a committed and secure app.
10. Think about your privacy
Although smart security cameras provide peace of mind, it’s important to remember that in order to do so, they need to be able to see into your home and connect to the internet. If you can monitor your home from your phone, it’s possible that someone else can as well. The video may also be accessible to the manufacturer. However, these security concerns don’t rule out the purchase of a home security camera, but if privacy is a concern, it’s better to keep these devices out of bedrooms and washrooms.
If you’re not sure where to start looking for a smart security camera for your home, we’ll point you in the right direction with the best overall smart security camera on the market in the next section.
Wyze Cam v3 Smart Security Camera
The Wyze Cam v3 is the third-generation version of Wyze’s entry-level security camera. It is one of the best home security cameras for those on a budget.
Design of Wyze Cam v3 Smart Security Camera
This smart security camera is a simple white cube measuring about 2 inches on all sides, similar to previous models of Wyze, though this version comes with round edges. Furthermore, it has a black front and a telescoping mount on the bottom that allows you to easily adjust the camera to the desired orientation. You can fix the mount into a wall or ceiling using screws, but if you don’t want to permanently attach it, the company also includes a magnetic disk and double-sided tape. After all, the new Wyze Cam is powered by a weather-resistant adapter that comes with it.
The Wyze Cam v3 has a tad distinctive configuration than the Wyze Cam v2 model due to its water resistancy. To begin, this model has a power cord that is hard-wired into the camera’s back, which connects to a 6-foot microUSB cable (included) and a USB adapter plug. This offers more mounting options outside, though not as much as the Wyze Cam Outdoor, which is completely wireless.
The camera’s speaker include an 80-decibel siren, and the microSD card slot and setup button with a cover to protect them from the components. The attached stand is similar to the previous one in that it allows you to raise, lower, and angle your camera as needed, but it can also be removed for tripod or screw mounting.
Features of Wyze Cam v3 Smart Security Camera
Though Wyze Cam v3 is the same size as the earlier indoor-only Wyze Cam and has the same white plastic finish, Wyze improved the design and features (which we’ll discuss here).
1. Amazing color night vision
It includes a brand-new Starlight sensor that captures nighttime video in full, vibrant color. The Starlight sensor can capture full color in surroundings that are up to 25 times darker than traditional video cameras, and the new f/1.6 aperture captures 2 times more light than traditional video cameras. As a result, the Wyze Cam v3’s color night vision is particularly impressive. This color night vision comes close to being as accurate as daylight vision. According to Mike Prospero, he could clearly see his front porch’s blue pots, orange pants, and the house across the street. The camera’s motion sensitivity was high enough that it was able to track him from a distance of about 40 feet away, even at a low setting of 39 percent.
2. For both inside and outside
The Wyze Cam v3 is a wired video camera with an IP65 rating, allowing you to install it outside in the rain or inside your living room or even in the kids’ room with confidence. However, for outdoor use, you’ll need the Wyze Outdoor Power Adapter, which is sold separately.
3. Convenient
The attached stand increases the camera’s field of view from 110 to 130 degrees, improves the camera’s performance in low-light conditions (more on this in a bit too) and lets you simply press the “Speak” button to use two-way talk from the Wyze app, rather than having to hold the button down to speak.
4. Low storage fees
The Wyze Cam’s video records are limited to 12 seconds in length, with a 5-minute cooldown period in between. However, starting at $2 per month, the new Cam Plus subscription service gives you access to personal alerts and longer stored video clips. That is a low-cost option that is also effective. It does, however, have a microSD card slot for continuous recording and time-lapse video creation. So if you don’t want to pay for a subscription, you can use a 32GB microSD card to record continuous video and time-lapse videos.
App of Wyze Cam v3 Smart Security Camera
The Wyze app is easy to use. However, Wyze Cam v3 requires Android 5.0 or higher and iOS 9.0 or higher to run.
Every time motion or sound is detected, Wyze Cam records video and sends an alert to your phone. The main screen displays a thumbnail of what the camera is seeing, as well as all of your Wyze devices. When you choose a camera, you’ll see a larger thumbnail with sound, recording, and settings controls.
You can configure motion detection zones, event recording schedules, alarm settings, and more from this screen. With Motion Detection Zones and custom settings, you can adjust the detection’s sensitivity or turn it off totally. However, the Motion detection zones are fairly basic, as you can only draw a single rectangle.
The Wyze Cam v3 can be viewed on Alexa-enabled smart displays, as with previous Wyze Cams. So this home security camera supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, and can listen for and alert you to specific frequencies such as smoke alarms. So if it hears something, it will send you an alert as we mentioned at the beginning.
Conclusion
You can choose a security system that allows you to monitor your home based on your specific requirements. If you don’t want to commit to a full security system, there are plenty of standalone devices such as smart doorbells, smart locks, motion sensors, and smart security cameras that allow you to monitor your home from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet. While motion sensors can detect movement and alert you when doors or windows are opened or closed, you can’t see what’s going on at home without cameras.
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