We’ve collected some of the best security camera deals at a variety of budgets and needs, so come check out what’s on offer.
One of the best ways to protect and monitor your home, whether you’re there or away, is with a smart home security camera. Wireless surveillance has come a long way, especially from the days when you had to pull wires all across your property to power and receive video to a DVD writer or storage device. Of course, almost everything is wireless nowadays, and with that comes a need to connect to the cloud and get a subscription service, at least if you want to store things online. There are a variety of wireless security cameras to pick from as well as wired models. We’ve collected the best security camera deals you’re going to find on the internet today so that you don’t have to go dredging through dozens of postings. Prices change often, so if you don’t see a deal that works for you, check back often.
Why buy
Nest is a pretty big lineup of cameras, just as the Ring is, and if you’re already integrated into the Google ecosystem, you may be more interested in going with something like this Nest Cam, which is rated for both indoor and outdoor use. That being said, there is a bit of a caveat for outdoor use, as it’s only weather-resistant rather than weatherproof, so you might still want to mount it somewhere that’s relatively covered and not completely out in the elements. Also, the wall mount it comes with is magnetic, which is pretty sturdy, but you can also get a $30 stand if you prefer that.
In terms of image, it’s about what you’d expect for a product coming from Google, as it has 1080p and HDR, so you’re going to be able to see everything that goes on in its 130-degree field of view. It also has two-way audio, which is a nice deterrent feature and a generally nice feature to have if you want to use it indoors with pets or whatnot. Smart alerts are free and well done, and you’ll be happy to note that even if the Wi-Fi goes down, the Nest Cam can record for up to an hour for you to view later.
Speaking of recording video and audio, it’s important to note that you only get the three-hours worth of recording for free. If you want more, you can get the $6/month, which gives you 30 days of recording, or the Nest Aware Plus subscription for $12/month, which gives you 60 days of recording. Regardless of your subscription, you get Google’s facial recognition, which helps cut down on needless alerts as it learns who should and shouldn’t be around your home.
Why buy
Security cameras with floodlights are pretty great, and this one from Ring is one of the better ones, especially given the clear daylight images that come with HDR, meaning you’re likely to see even minute details with full color. At night, the floodlights illuminate with a power of 2,000 lumens, a substantial amount, and are triggered by the infrared motion sensor with a 270-degree angle. The downside is that the camera only has a 110-degree field of view, so if the floodlights are triggered on the edges, there’s a chance you might not see anything on the video, which is a bit of a let-down, although not necessarily a deal breaker.
As for night footage, the quality is still good, and the Ring camera has an infrared LED to illuminate the area at night, so you’ll still be able to see what’s going on. The detection range in front of the camera is about 40 feet, which is substantial, and you can change the detection range so that you’re not constantly getting alerts for things you don’t need to.
