Quick Links
The smart home revolution has brought features to the masses that were previously too expensive for most people to access. For example, a multi-room audio system used to involve a lot of money and a whole heap of wiring. Today, you can set up amulti-room audio systemjust by placing a fewEcho Dotsaround your home andasking Alexato play music everywhere.
Google Nest Cam (Outdoor or Indoor, Battery)
Arlo Essential Indoor Camera
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery
Logitech Circle View
Blink Outdoor 4
Best smart home hub: One device to rule them all
These smart home hubs make home automation even simpler.
The same applies to home security. There are plenty of low-cost products that can help you protect your home. A monitored alarm system used to be a serious investment, but now you may get the same features by installing a low-costRing Alarm system. And if you want to set up security cameras both inside and outside of your home, it’s never been more affordable to do so, with a wide range of models at different price points available. We take a look at some of the best smart security cameras that you can buy right now.
Best smart security camera overall
A great battery-powered smart security camera for indoors or out.
The Google Nest (Outdoor or Indoor, Battery) may have a ridiculous name, but it does describe the product accurately. Being powered by battery means you can place it almost anywhere, and it’s suitable for use either inside or outside your home.
If you want to add security cameras both inside and outside your home, then it’s preferable if you’re able to use the same brand. It’s even more preferable if you can use the same cameras. TheGoogle Nest Cam Outdoor or Indoor, Batteryis a great fit for monitoring the interior of your home. Thanks to the battery power and clever magnetic mount, it’s also a great choice for monitoring the outside of your home, too. Because you don’t have to worry about wires, you can place it almost anywhere you want.
Google Nest Cam (Outdoor or Indoor, Battery): A great flexible security camera
The 2021 Nest Cam is battery-powered and works both outside or inside - the choice is yours. But is it a step forward in quality or a step back?
The camera records in 1080p and has a 130-degree field of view which is wide enough for most needs, and if you do decide you need continuous power, you can use a weatherproof power cable (sold separately) to keep your smart security camera powered up. With aNest Aware subscription, you get up to 60 days of event video history, 24/7 continuous video history if you’re using it with the optional power cable, as well as vehicle, animal, and person detection. Unsurprisingly, the Google Nest Cam integrates seamlessly with Google Assistant and Google Nest Hub smart displays, but you can also see the video feed on Echo devices such as the Echo Show 8, which is a nice plus.
Best indoor smart security camera
A smart indoor camera with a built-in privacy shield.
The Arlo Essential Indoor Camera is a wired smart security camera specifically for use indoors. Unlike some Arlo’s other cameras, it connects over Wi-Fi with no need for an additional hub. The built-in privacy shield ensures its only filming when you want it to be.
If you’re only looking for a camera to use indoors, then you can’t go wrong with theArlo Essential Indoor Camera. It’s a wired smart security camera that can reach up to two meters from your power socket. Additionally, the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera can connect directly over Wi-Fi, so there’s no need for an additional hub. You can set up motion alerts within the app, and there’s also a two-way talk feature, so you can use the camera as an intercom.
Arlo Essential Indoor Camera: Keeping an eye on indoors
Arlo boosts internal monitoring with privacy in mind.
The Essential Indoor Camera features a 130-degree field of view to ensure a good view of the room you place it inside. It also records 1080p HD video, with infrared night vision. One of the best features of this indoor camera is that it has a built-in privacy shield so that you can be certain that the camera isn’t recording your home when you don’t want it to be. You don’t need to worry about forgetting to open the privacy shield either, as you can open it remotely from the app. You’ll need a subscription to take advantage of 30 days of cloud storage.
Best indoor/outdoor smart security camera
A smart security camera that’s easy to install indoors or out.
The Ring Stick Up Cam Battery is a great option for indoor or outdoor use. As it’s battery-powered, you may place it almost anywhere, and it’s quick and easy to install. You can see the feed from your Ring Stick Up Cam on an Echo Show just by asking Alexa.
Another great option if you’re looking for a smart security camera that you may install both indoors and out is the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery. The built-in battery means there aren’t any cables, so you’re not limited to where you can place the camera. If you need continuous power, you can connect it to a power adapter, or use an additional Ring solar panel to power it with sunlight.
The camera records in 1080p HD and has a 130-degree field of view to give you a good view of the inside or outside of your home. It has motion detection and night vision, as well as two-way talk, just likeRing video doorbells. As you’d expect from a company owned by Amazon, the camera works seamlessly with your Echo devices, allowing you to view your video feed on smart displays such as theEcho Show 10. You’ll need a Ring Protect plan to view up to 180 days of your video history.
Best HomeKit smart security camera
A great HomeKit-compatible camera for Apple users.
If you’re an Apple user, the Logitech Circle View is a great HomeKit-enabled camera. You can take advantage of HomeKit Secure Video to store video from your Circle View in iCloud without any additional subscription. It’s not compatible with Alexa or Google Assistant.
If you’re an Apple user, then you may prefer a smart security camera that works with HomeKit. TheLogitech Circle Viewis not only HomeKit-compatible, but it can also take advantage of Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video. It’s a feature that allows you to store video on iCloud and view the content from theHome appon your iPhone. All the video is end-to-end encrypted, and it won’t count against your iCloud storage quotas, although you’ll need a compatible HomePod or Apple TV to act as your HomeKit hub. The camera also won’t work with Alexa or Google Assistant.
Logitech Circle 2: The best home security camera?
The camera itself records in 1080p HD, has night vision and two-way talk, and features a wide 180-degree field of view. you may also maintain your privacy by pressing a switch on the back of the camera to turn it off, or by simply tilting it so that it’s facing straight down. It can be used both indoors and out, although you’ll need to factor in connecting the power supply when mounting outdoors. You can use Logitech’s cloud storage with a subscription, but as mentioned, if you’re usingHomeKit Secure Video, a subscription isn’t required to access your recordings from iCloud.
Best value outdoor security camera
A smart security camera with two built-in spotlights and a siren.
Blink updated itsOutdoorbattery-powered security camera last August. The fourth-generation model offers even more features at the same great price. There’s a camera with a wider 143-degree field of view, as well as improved low-light performance for better images at night or when it’s overcast. Another useful feature is the addition of software that can generate alerts if a person is spotted within the camera’s field of view. This feature isn’t available with the third-generation Blink Outdoor.
Blink Outdoor 4 vs Blink Outdoor 3: What’s the difference?
Blink’s latest Outdoor 4 camera has some handy new features, but is it worth getting over the Blink Outdoor 3? We take a closer look.
Best smart security camera: The bottom line
If you’re looking for a smart security camera for your home, you may’t go far wrong with the Google Nest Cam (Outdoor or Indoor, Battery). It’s suitable for use both indoors and out, and the fact that it’s battery-powered means that you can install it almost anywhere you want. The clever magnetic mount makes it easy to get your Google Nest Cam pointing exactly where you want it, and you can see your live feed on both Google Nest Hub andAmazon Echo smart displays. If you’re after a more affordable option, the Blink Outdoor 4 has some decent features at a price that’s hard to beat.
How I chose the best smart security camera
When selecting the best smart security cameras, there were a few considerations to make. I wanted to ensure there was a mix of both indoor and outdoor cameras, as well as those that are suitable for both uses. I also wanted to ensure that the smart security cameras on this list provided options that were compatible with the major smart home ecosystems. I also chose a range of price points, as well as trying to include different types of smart security cameras, from basic cameras, to floodlight cams.
Q: How to choose the best smart security cameras
When you’re choosing a smart security camera, there are a few questions you that you should keep in mind.
Is my smart security camera suitable for use outdoors?
Some of the cameras on this list are suitable for use both indoors and out, but this isn’t the case with all smart security cameras. Many are designed for indoor use, meaning that they’re not weatherproof, and may also require plugging into a power socket with a plug that also isn’t intended for outdoor use. If you’re looking for a smart security camera for outside, you’ll need to make sure it’s safe to use outdoors.
Where am I planning to place my smart security camera?
The location where you want your smart security camera may impact your choice. If you want to put the camera outside your home, the spot you want may be quite far from any accessible power points. If this is the case, you may need to opt for a battery-powered camera. If you want continuous coverage, however, then you may have to place your camera somewhere where it is within reach of power.
If you’re placing your camera indoors, you’ll need to consider how far away from power sockets you want to place it if you’re choosing a camera that requires plugging in.
What type of smart security camera do I need?
There are multiple different types of smart security cameras, including standard cameras, spotlight cameras, and floodlight cameras. You should consider exactly what you want from your camera and where it will be placed. In some cases, a floodlight camera may be overkill, whereas in others, a spotlight camera may not offer enough illumination for your needs.
What smart home systems is my smart security camera compatible with?
If you have other smart home tech, you’ll want to choose a smart security camera that works with your smart home ecosystem of choice. If you’re an Apple user and useHomeKit smart home devices, then you’ll need to be sure that you choose a HomeKit-compatible smart security camera, as there are fewer that support HomeKit. Most cameras will support Google Assistant and Alexa, however.
