Best wired outdoor home security camera system consumer reports

An outdoor security camera can be a powerful deterrent to mischief makers. It will let you know instantly whether that bump in the night comes from a friend, foe, or furry creature. However, after reviewing dozens of cameras over the past five years, we’ve yet to find a perfect model. Some are hard to place, some need to be charged regularly, and others require a subscription fee to be most effective. If you want a completely cord-free option, we recommend the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera. If you want something a little cheaper and have an outdoor outlet nearby, we recommend the Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In. And if you want one that can light up the night (or at least your porch), we suggest the Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro.

Our pick

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (with a compatible base station), Google Assistant, IFTTT (If This Then That), Samsung SmartThings

The Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera delivers the best image and most specialized alerts of any cordless camera we tested. Like the Ring camera, the Arlo Pro 4 requires a subscription—Arlo Secure—to record clips and distinguish between people, pets, packages, and vehicles. This cordless camera delivers clear images day and night, thanks to its 2K resolution and color night vision. It can record up to five minutes of continuous motion, but this drains the battery (which needs to be charged about once a month, depending on use). The Arlo Pro 4 also offers a 24/7 recording option, but you’ll pay more per month, lose Arlo Secure features, and need to spend an extra $200 for equipment.

Our pick

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Works With Ring

The Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In Wi-Fi camera comes with a lengthy, weather-resistant power cord, but it can also be powered by battery (sold separately). It delivers crisp, 1080p video with an expansive 130-degree view and clear two-way audio. By signing up for Ring Protect Basic, you can store recordings for up to 60 days, and it also enables features like person alerts, the option to save videos, and thumbnail-enhanced smartphone notifications. (It was $3 per month/$30 per year, but it recently increased to $4 per month/$40 per year and 180 days of storage.) Also, despite some previous issues, Ring now provides more privacy and security measures than any other camera manufacturer we tested.

Our pick

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

The Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro offers two levels of security by including a bright outdoor light and a surveillance camera in one device. It delivers the best image and lighting options of any floodlight camera we tested. The camera can pan and tilt 360 degrees horizontally and 130 degrees vertically, capturing stellar 2K images day and night—both with and without color night vision. Three integrated LED panels can blast 3,000 lumens of brightness that can be turned on and off and tweaked via the Eufy app or voice control. The Eufy is also the only floodlight we’ve reviewed that allows for color-temperature adjustments, from 3,000 to 5,700 Kelvin, so you can choose between cool and warm whites. It’s also the only floodlight camera we’ve tested that offers the option of storing video locally on 8 gigabytes’ worth of internal storage or in the cloud (starting at $3 per month); the cloud option will downgrade the recordings to 1080p, though. With all this going for the Eufy, unfortunately it looks like a drone-sized spaceship perched on your home.

Also great

EufyCam 2 Pro

Set it and forget it (for a while)

Eufy’s cordless outdoor camera can’t identify action as well as our top two picks. But it does deliver strong battery life, a great image, HomeKit support, and three options for storing footage.

Buying Options

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant

Although it’s not quite as smart as the Arlo Pro 4, the EufyCam 2 Pro has the best rechargeable battery we’ve seen on a cordless outdoor security camera. (The company claims the battery can last one year; we experienced usage between four to 12 months, so it will depend on where the cameras are placed and how often they’re triggered.) Free perks include the ability to record 2K video to the included base station, as well as the ability to differentiate between humans and other moving things. To have your video sent to the cloud, you can opt for a paid subscription to either Eufy Cloud Storage ($3/month) or Apple HomeKit Secure Video (free with iCloud, which starts at $3/month); note that both services reduce video resolution from the original 2K to 1080p quality.

Budget pick

Wyze Cam v3

An affordable alternative

The Wyze Cam v3 delivers impressive 1080p video, bright color night vision, and several video-storage options—at about a sixth of the price of the Arlo.

Buying Options

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT

The Wyze Cam v3 is cheaper than any camera on our list. It’s also compact and easy to mount, and it offers free local storage that can be set to record only motion-triggered events, or always on and recording 24/7. Add in a Cam Plus subscription for $2 per month per camera (or $15 per year), and you’ll get cloud storage and alerts that can distinguish between motion, people, vehicles, pets, and packages. However, those alerts aren’t always accurate—we regularly saw animals labeled as people and people tagged as general motion. The v3 also doesn’t have the Ring’s solid construction and power cable.

The research

• Why you should trust me
• Who this is for
• How we picked
• How we tested
• Security, privacy, and outdoor security cameras
• Our pick: Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera
• Our pick: Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In
• Our pick: Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro
• Also great: EufyCam 2 Pro
• Budget pick: Wyze Cam v3
• Sustainability and outdoor security cameras
• Other good outdoor security cameras
• What to look forward to
• The competition
• Privacy and security: How our picks compare
• Sources

Who this is for

Having problems with someone stealing packages off of your steps or with trash pandas in your garbage cans? A Wi-Fi surveillance camera on your front porch, over your garage, or attached to your back deck can give you a peek at what’s really going on outdoors. A camera not only alerts you to dangers and guests but also creates a record of the events that happen outside your home, so you won’t miss a minute of action. (Just know that some uses of surveillance cameras can wade into ethically questionable waters.)

Outdoor Wi-Fi cameras are great for keeping tabs on who is coming into your yard and around your property. But these devices are not always great for keeping tabs on street activity and even the far edges of your own property (depending on camera placement, of course). We asked all of the companies behind our picks what owners should realistically expect in terms of video quality, and we found that users should be able to detect movement 30 to 40 feet away. But faces and license plates may start to get fuzzy around 30 feet away—and that number could drop substantially depending on lighting conditions.

If that’s not enough peace of mind, and you want to step it up to 24/7, all-bases-covered security, you should go with something that’s connected to a monitoring service. For more information on what’s out there, see our guide to the best home security system.

How we picked

We’ve been covering outdoor cameras for more than five years, so we’ve kept tabs on new and existing models, as well as on what features to expect.

• Image resolution: Most outdoor cameras stream and record 1080p or 2K video. However, even at that resolution, details may not be as sharp as what you’d get with a typical smartphone camera, especially for subjects that are far from the camera. Also, streaming video chews up internet bandwidth, so be sure your home network is fast enough to support it and doesn’t have data caps.
• Night vision: All outdoor Wi-Fi cameras should have night-vision capability. Some even offer color night vision, which may add a bit of detail missed by cameras that capture only black-and-white video at night. The night-vision range can be a factor, depending on where you plan to place the camera.
• Alerts: A good outdoor security camera alerts your smartphone or tablet whenever it detects motion. Faster alerts are better, but their speed often depends more on the network you’re connected to than on the camera itself. We also looked for cameras that could distinguish between different causes of motion, such as a person, a vehicle, or an animal.
• Storage: Cloud storage (with video saved over the internet to a remote server operated by the manufacturer, instead of at your house) is the norm these days. Some cameras store recordings locally on a microSD card or a connected hard drive, but it isn’t of much help if someone steals the camera or you lose power.
• Audio: A good outdoor Wi-Fi camera should have a built-in microphone so you can hear chirps and chatter. Most also feature a speaker for two-way communication, allowing you to talk to whoever is in front of the camera.
• Smart-home integration: Most outdoor cameras offer some type of smart-home integration, such as support for Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, IFTTT (If This Then That), Samsung SmartThings, and more. Those will allow you to view cameras on smart displays or trigger devices (such as smart lights) when the camera detects motion.
• Power: Battery-powered cameras offer flexible placement, but they need to be recharged—which can be inconvenient if you have the camera mounted in a high place, like a tree. Also, rechargeable batteries have a finite lifespan, so you may need to replace them (or the entire camera, if they’re not replaceable). Many outdoor Wi-Fi cameras still require AC power, limiting placement to within reach of an outlet. Several of the models on our list need to be hardwired into outdoor lights.

How we tested

We mounted our test group of outdoor Wi-Fi cameras to a board outside the house so we could point them at the same spot and expose them all to the same lighting conditions and New England weather. The exceptions were cameras that were integrated into outdoor lighting fixtures, which I had installed on the porch by a licensed electrician (who happens to be my husband). Originally, we connected all of the cameras to the same Verizon Fios network via a Wi-Fi router indoors (approximately 40 feet from the cameras); we have since replaced that with our upgrade-pick mesh-networking kit, the Asus ZenWiFi AX (XT8).

With the exception of hardwired lighting models and some battery-operated cameras that required separate indoor hubs, all of the cameras installed almost exactly the same way. If you’re looking to put a camera in a spot that doesn’t get a good Wi-Fi signal, consider upgrading your router or adding an extender, a repeater, or a mesh network. (Check out our guides to the best Wi-Fi routers, the best Wi-Fi extenders, and the best Wi-Fi mesh networking kits for suggestions.)

We downloaded each camera’s app to an iPhone SE, an iPad, and a Samsung Galaxy J7 running Android Oreo, when possible. The cameras spent weeks guarding our front door, alerting us to family members, friends, delivery people, and even our milkman. Once we got a good enough look at those friendly faces, we tilted the entire collection outward for another two weeks to see the results we’d get when the cameras faced a busy street (approximately 50 feet away).

Security, privacy, and outdoor security cameras

Wirecutter takes security and privacy issues seriously and investigates as much as possible how the companies whose products we recommend deal with customer data. As part of our vetting process for outdoor cameras, we looked at all of the security and data-privacy practices behind our picks.

Each of these devices comes with a privacy policy that, as you may have experienced, is difficult for the layperson to parse. During our testing, we read each of the privacy policies for our picks, specifically looking for sections that strayed from what we consider to be standard in the category. However, there are some common points everyone should understand. For instance, most camera companies say that in certain circumstances they will cooperate with police and may turn over your camera footage with or without your permission.

We also reached out to the companies that produced our top picks and had them answer an extensive questionnaire to confirm information that we thought should be of primary concern for any potential buyer (see Privacy and security: How our picks compare for a complete look at their answers).

Since outdoor cameras can readily capture private moments and conversations, you should only consider models sold by companies that provide robust security and privacy protections. All of our top picks offer two-factor authentication (2FA), a system that does a good job of ensuring that access to your video camera and recordings is restricted. Arlo and Ring are the only ones to require it, and we strongly recommend enabling 2FA for both the Eufy and Wyze products as well. Ring is also currently the only company offering Privacy Zones, allowing you to block out areas you don’t want recorded, such as the street or a neighbor’s lawn. These can be created in the Ring app, under Device Settings, and then clicking Privacy Settings.

A bigger concern is whether a camera can be hacked by outsiders or whether your video is adequately secured against misuse by the camera manufacturer. Three of the four companies that sell our recommended picks told us they do not share user data with third-party companies; Ring said it will share data with analytics services—but that is something users can opt out of.

Following the release of a July 2022 report from Senator Edward J. Markey, which criticized Ring for giving police emergency access to user videos without user permission, Consumer Reports published an article claiming that several other major camera companies have the same policy in place, including Google Nest, SimpliSafe, Eufy, D-Link, and TP-Link. The article notes that the federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) is a law that allows (but doesn’t mandate) that companies can disclose user data such as video or audio in emergency situations, such as when injury or death might occur, without obtaining user permission or a court order, if timeliness is a factor. The companies listed above specifically note in their company policies that they may opt to share footage in those limited circumstances. Device owners who prefer to prevent their videos from being shared without prior permission have a few options. When possible, they can enable end-to-end encryption in their device settings menu—devices that use HomeKit automatically have it enabled. They can also opt to store videos locally if their camera has a built-in hard drive or, like many Eufy devices, has a slot for mini SD cards.

Wirecutter long-term tests all of its picks. This includes keeping track of app, firmware, and policy updates, as well as hardware and software incidents. Should any privacy or security issues be found with any of the models we’ve selected, we’ll report that here and, if needed, update or alter our recommendations.

In March 2022, a Bitdefender study (PDF) was released detailing specific security vulnerabilities that affected all three models of Wyze Cams. We confirmed with Bitdefender that all of the vulnerabilities were theoretical (we don’t know of any users who were actually affected) and have been resolved by a security update for the v2 and v3 models of cameras. Wyze has released details about the incident, noting that the Wyze Cam v1 was not fixable and so should no longer be used. (Wyze stopped selling that model in 2018.) Wyze notes that it has a formal bug reporting program. But in response to criticism of its years-long delay in fixing the issue and failure to alert customers to the vulnerability, the company says it is bolstering its policies, “including hiring a team of dedicated security engineers to work exclusively on responses to security events and strengthening protection for our users.”

Our pick: Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera

Our pick

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (with a compatible base station), Google Assistant, IFTTT (If This Then That), Samsung SmartThings

Not everyone has an outside outlet where they need it. The battery-powered Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera allows you to place the camera anywhere within reach of your Wi-Fi signal. It produces clear 2K images and has a rechargeable battery, which the company says can last up to six months (though our testing suggests it’s more like one to two months per charge, depending on usage). The Arlo Pro 4 also includes features such as color night vision and Auto Zoom and Tracking (which can digitally zoom in on moving objects and follow them while in view). Like the Ring, the Arlo Pro 4 doesn’t provide free video storage, so you will need to figure in the cost of a subscription to Arlo Secure, the company’s cloud-storage service. In addition to keeping video for up to 30 days, Arlo Secure enables the camera to distinguish between people, pets, packages, and vehicles.

The Arlo Pro 4 captured the best-quality video of any cordless camera we tested. The camera features a wide, 160-degree viewing angle and two-way audio that was easy to understand on both ends. In our tests, smartphone alerts came within 7 seconds. Users can set recording length to create clips from 10 to 120 seconds long, but we prefer the “record until activity stops” option, which records up to five minutes of continuous motion. If action goes beyond that, a new clip will be recorded after a 1- or 2-second reset period. According to Arlo, this reset is to keep the camera from creating lengthy clips where nothing happens and to conserve battery life.

The Arlo Pro 4 records 2K video, except when the Auto Zoom and Tracking feature is enabled. Video: Rachel Cericola

When the Auto Zoom and Tracking feature is turned on, the Arlo Pro 4 will focus in on the main subject in its view and keep it centered; enabling this feature causes video resolution to drop to 720p. Video: Rachel Cericola

Aside from image and the abundance of alert types, the main draw of the Arlo Pro 4 is the battery. But temper your expectations. Arlo claims the camera can deliver six months on a full charge, but that’s based on 4,000 seconds of use per month, 30 seconds per stream, and day/night events split 2:1. In other words, to get that sort of battery life, you’d need to point it at an area that doesn’t get a ton of action. Based on our testing, those numbers seem to be accurate. But if you’re planning to put the camera in a high-traffic area or in super-cold temperatures, you may want to buy an extra battery or the Arlo Solar Panel Charger (which we have not tested). As with all battery-operated cameras, the Arlo Pro 4’s battery life can be significantly affected by these conditions. (The Arlo does have an operating temperature of -4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit, but really cold surroundings can kill the battery on any outdoor camera.) You can also opt to hardwire it with the Arlo 25-ft. Outdoor Magnetic Charging Cable.

Arlo Secure is a subscription plan, starting at $3 per month for a single camera. In our tests, it was very reliable, tagging almost all alerts correctly as a person, an animal, a vehicle, or a package delivery. That fee also enables Activity Zones and storage for up to 30 days. Users can configure audio or motion, although not specific types of motion. In other words, you can’t have the Arlo record just people or animals and skip trees swaying in the wind or trash trucks rolling by. You can configure the system to send alerts only for specific types of activities, but it does record everything. When the Arlo Pro 4 detects motion (or sound), it can send smartphone notifications or emails, record video clips, or do nothing. Adjusting the alert sensitivity cuts down on nuisance notifications, and using your mobile device, you can also set up alerts based on a schedule or geofencing.

The Arlo Pro 4 also includes a few interesting security perks that set it apart from our other camera picks. The first is a bright, motion-activated spotlight. When enabled, it delivers color night vision, making images slightly more vivid than using the two infrared LEDs for black-and-white night vision. This spotlight is also bright enough to scare off bunnies and to guide you past garbage cans (but at the expense of draining the battery quickly). There’s also an Auto Zoom and Tracking feature, which digitally zooms in on a moving object in the camera’s field of view and follows it around. This is an interesting and sometimes useful feature, though we wish it were slightly more fluid. Also, enabling this feature shortens battery life and reduces recordings to lower than 720p resolution. The Arlo Pro 4 also includes an integrated siren that fluctuates between 82 and 95 decibels (based on our measurements); it can be triggered from the app or set to trigger whenever there’s motion. Just note that enabling it will scare not only raccoons but possibly also guests, delivery people, and nearby neighbors (who may be moved to call in law enforcement).

Unlike many Arlo devices, the Arlo Pro 4 does not require the Arlo SmartHub. If you add one of those to your system, you can set alerts to trigger the base station’s internal 100-decibel siren, link the Arlo to Apple HomeKit, connect external local storage, or enroll in Arlo’s 24/7 recording option. The latter requires that you hardwire the camera. However, we don’t recommend using a SmartHub because then you can’t use Arlo Secure—a service that makes this a much better camera.

The Arlo app looks and functions the same on both Android and iOS devices. The home screen provides a view of each connected camera, along with Wi-Fi strength, battery life, and alarm status. A menu at the bottom of the screen features one-touch access to recordings and settings. The camera currently works with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (when used with the aforementioned Arlo SmartHub), Google Assistant, IFTTT, and SmartThings. This allows you to do things like pull up live feeds on TVs connected to compatible devices and set up automations so that your camera’s motion sensor can trigger lights and other devices. For instance, we created an Alexa Routine so that every time the Arlo Pro 4 detected motion, it would turn on a light connected to the Wyze Plug in our living room.

How the Arlo Pro 4 has held up

Senior staff writer Lauren Dragan said that while testing the Arlo Pro, she found the low-battery alert tended to trigger when there was still about 20% left—which translates to a few weeks left of battery life. And she came up with a good solution to alleviate the hassle of waiting around for the battery to recharge: “We bought a backup battery and so swap it with the old one when we get a low battery alert, which works well.”

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Arlo app requires a bit of a learning curve. Though it’s easy to figure out how to view cameras and access recorded clips, some of the settings could be streamlined to make them simpler to use. Most of the device settings can be found by clicking the cog symbol next to your camera from the app’s home page. But other crucial settings—such as setting recording length and motion sensitivity—are instead found under the Mode tab at the bottom of the app. We find it unnecessarily confusing and a problem, since that’s the way you tell the camera how to respond. (To edit each of those settings, you have to click on a little pencil next to the setting. This app is not as user-friendly as some others, but once you know, you know.)

Although the Arlo Pro 4 can distinguish between people, pets, packages, and cars, the camera can tag recordings with only one label at a time. For instance, if a car goes by, it will tag that clip as “vehicle detected.” If a person walks in front of your camera 10 seconds after the car passes, the Arlo Pro 4 will still tag that clip as a vehicle. If you have your system set to deliver alerts for only certain types of motion, such as people, you could potentially miss a visitor. Our budget pick, the Wyze Cam v3, is the only one of our picks that can tag multiple types of motion in each clip.

We would love the camera’s battery life to be closer to Arlo’s claims, but you can lengthen the time in between charges by making a few tweaks or turning off the spotlight.

Our pick: Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In

Our pick

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Works With Ring

The Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In can run off an outlet or from a battery. It comes with a thick AC cord for indoor use and a weather-resistant adapter for outside. If you don’t want to get tangled up with a cord, you can add a rechargeable battery, or just buy the battery-powered version of the camera (though we did find this model to be more reliable when plugged in). The Stick Up Cam delivers reliable notifications that can distinguish between people and general motion, as well as clear audio and 1080p video. And although some people don’t appreciate Ring’s partnerships with law enforcement agencies, Ring has made that program optional for users and implemented several other noteworthy privacy and security protocols.

Ring sells three versions of the Stick Up Cam: a corded model, a battery-operated model, and one that comes with a solar panel (which we did not test). But you can mix and match by adding a battery or the solar panel to the corded version. It’s nice to have options, but we found the corded model to be a better, more reliable camera. Because it’s tethered to power, the corded version can record longer clips without worries about draining the battery, and we noticed during testing that the corded camera would catch events that the battery-operated model missed. Also, we had issues with the battery-operated model developing condensation on the lens in humid weather; it’s possible it was an isolated issue with our test unit (it wasn’t an issue with the plug-in model we tested). If you do opt to use the battery, we recommend repositioning the camera or applying an anti-fog coating. The corded camera comes with an 8-foot cord for indoor use and a 14½-foot extender for outdoor use that’s IPX5-rated (so it can withstand a low-pressure water-jet spray from any direction). When combined, the entire package is very sturdy, especially when compared with other corded cameras. Most outdoor cameras we tested have cords that are either too short, not very weather resistant, or both.

Like many of the cameras on our list, the Ring Stick Up Cam requires a subscription to store any video, and uses Ring Protect. Previously $3 per month (or $30 per year), the Ring Protect Basic plan stored video for 60 days, and it added person detection and Rich Notifications, to show you a preview of event video. Beginning July 1, 2022, the plan is now $4 per month (or $40 per year), and the storage has increased to 180 days. Ring Protect Plus ($10 per month or $100 per year) includes storage for unlimited cameras and adds an extended equipment warranty (as long as you’re within the original warranty when you first sign up) and a discount on future Ring purchases. Without a paid plan, you can get live viewing and smartphone notifications when action happens (though by the time you get to your phone and open the app, you may end up missing the moment). Having cloud storage makes this a better camera, with the ability to distinguish between general motion and people. We would love to see Ring add the ability to tag animals and vehicles, like the Arlo. But we were pleased to see that the camera properly identified our cat as general motion versus labeling him a person (although he may not agree).

In our testing, the Ring Stick Up Cam typically sent smartphone notifications within 3 seconds of action. The image isn’t as sharp, and the 130-degree field of view isn’t as wide as what’s offered on the Arlo. But the audio and images are clear, and you can zoom in on live and recorded video for a closer view. When general motion and a human are present on the same screen, the Ring will identify the first thing detected (see Flaws but not dealbreakers). However, this is similar to how the Arlo and Eufy operate.

Another way the Ring Stick Up Cam is versatile is with mounting. The included stand makes it easy to set this camera on your front porch, on a table, or in a tree. The stand can also be used to mount the camera to the side of your house. And Ring sells a separate, $20 ceiling mount, which adds a bit more flexibility.

Both the iOS and Android apps are easy to use, offering a snapshot of connected cameras and settings from the homepage. Clicking on a corded camera from the homepage will bring up a live view (from the home page, the battery-operated model requires an additional click) and the ability to sound the internal siren (which we measured at 85 decibels from 1 foot away, or about the same noise level as a window air conditioner). Once you stop live viewing, you can access a history of events or just jump into that by tapping the History icon on the home page. Tapping Settings brings up the ability to toggle motion detection and motion alerts on and off, link other Ring devices and chimes, snooze notifications, tweak motion sensitivity, and more.

The Ring Stick Up Cam can distinguish between people and general motion. Video: Rachel Cericola

The app also includes one-touch access to Neighbors, a sort of neighborhood-watch social network that allows users to report and monitor suspicious activity in a zone, which you can customize from about 500 feet up to a 5-mile radius. Neighbors is part of the Ring app when you sign up for an account; you can post comments and videos, view those from others in your surrounding area, or turn off notifications to ignore it. Neighbors and a few user incidents have generated a lot of negative publicity for Ring over the past two years or so. However, the company has since implemented a few privacy and security measures that set this camera apart from others on our list.

First, Ring has made Neighbors optional. While you are automatically a part of Neighbors when you sign up for a Ring account, you can now go into the Control Center section of the app to opt out. That same section also allows you to opt out of law enforcement requests, enable end-to-end video encryption, manage users, and deauthorize connected phones, tablets, and computers. Ring also includes mandatory two-factor authentication to keep your account secure, and it allows you to choose whether you want to receive text messages or use a third-party authenticator app.

And finally, under Device Settings, you can set Privacy Zones, which completely block your neighbor’s property from view. This setting allows you to create a black box around your neighbor’s property so that they will never be filmed or even caught off-guard in a live view.

How the Ring Stick Up Cam has held up

I’ve had the Ring Stick Up Cam installed on our home since 2021. Even though I’m an atypical user—I like to move my cameras around way more than the average person—the camera has held up well. Though I recommend plugging the camera into a power outlet to get better, more accurate recordings, I have found being able to use a battery pack especially useful and convenient. I like that I can just throw in a battery and place it somewhere new for a few days to capture critters in my backyard.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Ring cameras don’t offer alerts beyond people and general motion, as the Arlo and Wyze cameras do. However, we found them to be pretty accurate overall. Similar to Arlo cameras, Ring cameras cannot tag several types of motion in one clip. That means if a car and person appear in the same clip, the Ring will tag whichever comes first—and you may miss out on a visitor. You can opt to get alerts for motion and people, but that could yield several unwanted clips. We suggest using Activity Zones to cut down on false alerts. Otherwise, you can set the device to record shorter clips.

The Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In can be set to record clips between 50 and 120 seconds, but you will get that set amount of time every time there is action. In other words, if you have the camera set to create 60-second recordings but the motion lasts for only 10 seconds, it will still make a 60-second recording. If you use this camera with a battery, recordings can be set between 15 and 120 seconds, and toggling Advanced Motion Detection can stop recording when motion stops. We understand how the latter settings can preserve battery life, but we wish these features were consistent across both models, since we think that would result in tighter, more accurate alerts.

Our pick: Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro

Our pick

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

If you want to shine a bright light on your yard or driveway while also providing video surveillance, we recommend the Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro. It combines a 2K pan-and-tilt camera with a 3,000-lumen floodlight that replaces your existing outdoor lights—which means it needs to be hardwired rather than plugged into an outlet. Although it doesn’t offer versatile placement, like our other picks, that pan-and-tilt feature allows you to scan your property from the comfort of your couch, office, and pretty much anywhere else. Also, we found the Eufy Floodlight to be reliable with alerts, offered the best lighting of any floodlight we tested, and has options for both local and cloud storage (though the Eufy will downgrade video to 1080p when storing it in the cloud). Unlike the EufyCam 2 Pro, this model doesn’t work with HomeKit and HomeKit Secure Video.

The Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro includes the option to adjust brightness and color-temperature levels. Video: Rachel Cericola

The Eufy Floodlight’s camera produced excellent images during the day and at night with black-and-white night vision, ambient lighting from our house, and especially the integrated floodlight. Packing 3,000 lumens, the Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro has the brightest lights of any hardwired floodlight we tested. (The Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera can also produce 3,000 lumens but not via existing wiring; instead, it needs the Outdoor Magnetic Charging Cable, which is a separate purchase that requires an outlet.) In the Eufy app, lights can be turned on by pushing the three little dots in the corner of the camera entry and then clicking on the light bulb icon.

The floodlight can be operated like a regular outdoor smart light. You can set it to automatically turn on and off on schedule or by motion activation. When integrated into Routines with a platform like Alexa, the light can also trigger other actions, such as turning on additional smart lights when it senses motion. Aside from the brightness, which can be dimmed (under Light Settings) if you find it to be too much, Eufy’s floodlight is the only one we tested that includes the option to adjust color temperature (3,000 to 5,700 K), so you can adjust between varying cool white light tones to warm white light tones. This is a nice departure from a blinding floodlight, which can be great for scaring raccoons away from your garbage cans, but less so when it comes you’re sitting on the porch or having a BBQ.

Installing the Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro is more difficult than with any of our other picks. Installation requires a hardwired power connection (110 to 240 volts), which is great if you have an existing outdoor lighting fixture you are willing to swap out. If not, you may have to call in an electrician or opt for a battery-operated model, such as the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera. You may want help either way, since the camera weighs 4.9 pounds; this may not sound like a lot, but it feels a little cumbersome when you are trying to mount it. (For reference, the Arlo floodlight weighs about 1.4 pounds with the battery and the Google Nest floodlight is about 2.6 pounds.) The Eufy Floodlight does come with a set of hooks and straps to help hold it up, in case you are flying solo. (And please make sure to cut the power to your existing light fixture before starting this project.)

Out of the four camera/floodlight combos we tested, the Eufy was the only one to include a pan-and-tilt camera, which means it has the ability to scan 360 degrees horizontally and 130 degrees vertically. This didn’t always work great when following unexpected movement (see Flaws but not dealbreakers), but we liked being able to manually scan the area through the app to look around. Also, this feature makes adjusting the camera angle really easy, instead of doing it by hand (which may even require a ladder), as with all of the other floodlights we tested.

When it’s fixed on one spot, the Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro provides a nice 130-degree view, with sharp images. Color during the day was perfect. Color night vision will be as bold or nonexistent as you want it to be by adjusting that color temperature.

In our tests, smartphone alerts came within 3 to 4 seconds. Video recordings max out at 2 minutes but will end early if action stops—and will start a new clip immediately, if motion continues. Those clips can be captured for free to the floodlight’s 8 GB internal hard drive, which a Eufy rep says can store 45 separate 30-second videos for 30 days. You can also opt for Eufy’s cloud storage plan, which is $3 per month or $30 per year for one camera (or $10 per month/$100 per year for up to 10 cameras) for 30 days of rolling storage. However, if you opt for cloud storage, the image is downgraded to 1080p during processing (but we still found the images to be great).

The Eufy Security app provides one-touch access to a live view through the camera, as well as a peek at Wi-Fi strength and the number of recent recorded events. You can access those events by clicking on that number or the Events tab at the bottom of the screen. Clicking on the three dots in the bottom right-hand corner brings up three icons: The little moon will snooze alerts for anywhere between 30 minutes and 12 hours, the light bulb will turn the floodlight on and off, and the cog brings up a variety of settings. Click on Settings to adjust Motion Detection, which includes Activity Zones and a choice between tracking all motion and just people. The Light Settings section is where you can customize Ambient Light and Motion-Activated Light by tweaking color temperature and brightness, scheduling ambient light, and setting how quickly you want the lights to come on and for how long (from 30 seconds to 15 minutes). Other settings include the option to use color night vision, choose recording length (30 to 120 seconds), enable audio, and choose whether you want smartphone notifications to arrive quickly or with a thumbnail of the action.

Unlike the other Eufy camera on our list, the Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro does not work with HomeKit. It does support Alexa and Google Assistant, which means you can pair it with other devices, call up camera feeds on a smart speaker, and even use voice commands to dim the floodlight or turn it on/off. The floodlights we reviewed from Arlo and Ring didn’t not allow for light operation through voice commands, and the Google Nest is limited to Google Assistant.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

None of the floodlights we tested were great beauties, but the Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro is especially ugly. It looks like you attached a small spaceship to the side of your house. Our family did get used to its appearance, though, and the features outweigh the look. However, if aesthetics is a big concern, you may want to look at one of the other floodlights we like.

Although the pan-and-tilt features are a nice perk, we’ve found those features to also be problematic—on all cameras. In our testing, we didn’t find that the Eufy Floodlight missed the start of an event, but it was often too slow while following subjects onscreen. We recommend playing around with settings while having this feature both on and off. Otherwise, you can turn the pan-and-tilt features off and just use the Eufy as a regular floodlight camera. Even without using that feature to track motion as it happens, the camera delivers a nice 130-degree image. Also, it allows you to scan your property from the app, as well as adjust views and create set points you can save and access with one touch. All of the other floodlight cameras we tested require manual adjustments, which may not be fun if you are installing the cameras up high.

Also great: EufyCam 2 Pro

Also great

EufyCam 2 Pro

Set it and forget it (for a while)

Eufy’s cordless outdoor camera can’t identify action as well as our top two picks. But it does deliver strong battery life, a great image, HomeKit support, and three options for storing footage.

Buying Options

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant

Like the Arlo Pro 4, the EufyCam 2 Pro captures 2K images, and since the cameras have rechargeable batteries, they can be placed anywhere that’s convenient. These batteries are the best of any batteries for rechargeable cameras we tested. The EufyCam 2 Pro also offers more recording options than our other picks, including free local storage, as well as paid cloud subscriptions via Eufy’s cloud plan or Apple HomeKit Secure Video. However, this system is the only one of our picks that requires a base station. We also found that the system downgrades video resolution to 1080p when you opt to use cloud storage. And in testing, alerts weren’t as accurate, often tagging people as general motion or a tire as a person. We also don’t like that the camera batteries aren’t removable or replaceable.

The EufyCamp 2 Pro delivered smartphone alerts on par with those of our top cordless pick, often within 3 seconds of motion—which is a few seconds faster than alerts from the Arlo Pro 4. Users can set clips to record in 20- or 60-second increments, or customize them for any length up to two minutes. (We preferred 60 seconds, since the system often left gaps in between clips of around 10 seconds.) Recordings can be further customized by choosing what triggers it: any motion at all, or just people. (When the Human Only setting is enabled, the EufyCam 2 Pro will send alerts, and it records all motion during nighttime hours anyway—presumably as a hedge against missing something in dim lighting.)

The EufyCam 2 Pro will record 2K footage to the included base station or 1080p when you use cloud storage. Video: Rachel Cericola

Eufy offers three options for video storage, each with advantages and disadvantages. The most attractive is local storage because the system can record to the included base station in full 2K resolution for free. The base station has 16 GB of built-in storage, which Eufy says should hold about two to three months of 2K footage (or four to five months of 1080p video). But if you lose power or your Wi-Fi connection, you won’t be able to access any of your recordings.

If you want to upgrade to cloud storage, the Eufy cloud plan can store up to 30 days’ worth of recordings for $3 per month per camera (or $10 per month or $100 per year for up to 10 cameras). Apple iCloud users can instead opt to use HomeKit Secure Video, a free video-storage service that comes with iCloud plans. However, when you opt to use either cloud-storage plan, the EufyCam 2 Pro will then record video at only 1080p resolution. It shouldn’t be very noticeable; we found the video to be clear and vibrant, and it was sharper than what we saw on Eufy’s 1080p EufyCam 2. According to Eufy, the downgrade is due to a video-conversion process.

Although HomeKit Secure Video users gain longer clips and the ability to detect people, pets, and vehicles, we found that HomeKit Secure Video drained the battery far more quickly. And it frequently lost connection to the camera and/or didn’t record, even when the Eufy app captured everything just fine. You’ll also have to sacrifice a few of the camera’s features, such as motion-sensitivity settings.

Although the Eufy doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as the Arlo Pro 4, it does have better battery life. Eufy claims the camera can deliver 365 days of power on a full charge, which is true under perfect conditions. In our original testing, we estimated you’d get anywhere between four to six months, which is still exceptional. But during long-term testing, we found the cameras went the full 12 months, which shows battery life really depends on camera placement and the amount of activity in its view. Although the Eufy does have better battery life than the Arlo, it doesn’t have a removable battery. That means you have to charge the whole camera—or trash it when the internal battery eventually dies.

Eufy currently offers a one-year warranty on this system, but there’s no repair program. The company said this could be a possibility in the future. But even with charging the batteries multiple times a year, service life should be anywhere between five and 10 years (depending on the environment, surrounding temperature, and usage).

The EufyCam 2 Pro is the only one of our picks that’s sold as a set, with two cameras and one base station. You can buy individual add-on cameras (up to 16 per base station), but you need to start with a minimum of two. Finally, both the cameras and the base station have a built-in siren. It can be set to trigger if the camera is moved, or you can set it off in an emergency using the app and have it sound on either device or both simultaneously. Using a sound meter, we measured 84 dB from the camera and 89 dB from the base station from about a foot away. That’s about the same level as from heavy traffic or a lawnmower, which is to say, it’s jarring.

How the EufyCam 2 Pro has held up

Video: Joel Santo Domingo

Senior staff writer Joel Santo Domingo has been using the EufyCam 2 Pro since 2021 and has no complaints. He did say he initially had to tweak the sensitivity of the motion sensor to limit getting triggers from the sunrise and swaying trees. But since then, Joel said the battery life “has been phenomenal.”

Budget pick: Wyze Cam v3

Budget pick

Wyze Cam v3

An affordable alternative

The Wyze Cam v3 delivers impressive 1080p video, bright color night vision, and several video-storage options—at about a sixth of the price of the Arlo.

Buying Options

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT (If This Then That)

The Wyze Cam v3 is billed as “weather resistant,” which includes not only the ability to withstand low and high temps but also water resistance. In our testing, it stood up well to rain and moisture when installed with the base on a flat or vertical surface like a wall. But when we installed the v3 upside down under an overhang, the weather seals failed and the camera was flooded. That shouldn’t happen; in the settings, you’re able to flip the image, which means the v3 is meant to be installed upside down—but we’d caution against doing so. (Luckily, Wyze customer service was quick to provide a replacement, in less than a week.)

Even so, we had a difficult time not making the v3 our top pick. The third-generation version of the camera delivers a better image than its predecessor, but it’s still compact and easy to use. (The Wyze Cam v3 is designed to go both indoors and outdoors.) Despite the weather-resistant packaging, the camera has a slot for a microSD card, which lets you store video recordings without having to pay a subscription fee for cloud storage. But the v3 also adds in color night vision and a security siren that, per our measurements, blares at 85 dB. And compared with our other picks, this cam is plain inexpensive—about the cost of two large pizzas. Still, the video quality and audio quality aren’t as good as those of our other picks, and you really need a Cam Plus subscription ($2 per month or $15 per year per camera) to make it a better, more reliable camera.

The Wyze Cam v3 can capture 1080p video at 20 frames per second with a 130-degree viewing angle. The v3 even has color night vision, which delivers color images when there is just the slightest bit of light present (such as from a street lamp). Although this is not quite as vibrant as what you’d see during the day, it’s really good. Owners can turn off that option or set night vision to Auto, so the system will flip to black-and-white night vision when it gets too dark out. (Dusk and Dawn settings allow you to customize how low surrounding light can go before the camera makes the switch. Or you can add the Wyze Cam v3 Spotlight Kit, which will keep the color night vision going despite surrounding light conditions.)

The Wyze Cam v3 can record to a microSD card inside the camera or cloud storage via a subscription plan. Video: Rachel Cericola

As you’d expect of an outdoor camera, the v3 is weather resistant and therefore able to withstand temperatures between -4 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit. Although the v3 has a slightly better range than our top corded pick, its cord is just 6 feet long (compared with the Ring’s 22½ feet), so it needs to be placed close to an outdoor outlet. And considering that many outlets are typically just a little more than a foot off the ground, this could seriously limit where you put the camera (unless you purchase the 12½-foot Wyze Outdoor Power Adapter).

As with all Wyze cameras, the v3 will capture motion and send it to the cloud, but the free account is limited to just 12-second clips with a maximum frequency of every five minutes. That means the camera will wait five minutes between recordings, so you may miss out on something important. Adding a Cam Plus subscription for $2 per month per camera (or $15 per year) enables recording up to five minutes, with no reset period if motion continues beyond that time limit. Cam Plus also makes alerts more accurate, adding person, package, animal, and vehicle detection (though we didn’t find those to be as accurate as with our top two picks).

Even though it may not be as advanced as some of our other picks, the Wyze Cam v3 is affordable and easy to use, and it provides impressive overall performance, especially considering the price. It also supports Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT, so you can view camera feeds on smart screens or tie the device into other smart-home devices, such as lights and doorbells.

How the Wyze Cam v3 has held up

For just over a year, senior editor Grant Clauser has had the Wyze Cam v3 installed in his backyard. And he said he’s found the app easy to use and that overall the camera captured good-quality video. “I’m impressed with how well the magnetic mount has held the camera in place through heavy wind, ice, and snow,” Grant said. One foible he has noticed: The camera attracts moths at night, which triggers the motion detector and so generates a lot of unnecessary alerts. “Moths look like monsters to the camera.”

Sustainability and outdoor security cameras

Many readers are concerned about how the manufacturing, shipping, and normal use of the products we recommend impact the world we live in. Wirecutter takes that seriously too, which is why we’ve asked the manufacturers of all our picks to answer some basic questions about the materials they use, the life cycle of their products, and related questions about their overall sustainability. Although our product recommendations are based completely on the criteria outlined in How we picked and How we tested, we offer this information to supplement the decision of any reader who uses environmental impact as a deciding factor in their purchases. We also recognize that this may not paint a complete picture of a product’s supply chain and overall environmental impact.

Outdoor security cameras are not fundamentally designed as sustainable products, but all of the manufacturers of our picks said they use recyclable packaging materials and offer refurbished models—either directly, through select third-party retailers, or via limited events during the year.

Plug-in security cameras may be more environmentally friendly than those that use a rechargeable battery. And models with a removable battery are better than those with an internal battery that can’t be replaced, since the product will last longer. We have examples of each of these types of cameras in our picks, so we asked manufacturers about the lifespan of the camera and about the lifespan of the battery (when applicable). We also asked companies about recycling suggestions and whether or not they have a recycling or trade-in program.

Among our picks, the EufyCam 2 Pro is the only model with a battery that can’t be replaced. And although the company told us the battery could “theoretically” last up to 10 years, it claims only a lifespan of “more than 3 years” on the actual camera. Wyze says its cameras last about five years and suggests taking them to local e-waste recycling centers. Both Ring and Arlo didn’t comment on the lifespan of their products, but suggested taking cameras to Best Buy to be recycled. Arlo did say its camera batteries should last four to five years under normal conditions; it also recommends that owners turn in dead batteries to Call2Recycle, the company’s recycling partner. And although Amazon (the owner of Ring cameras) also provides recycling and trade-in information, the most recent Ring was not on its list, possibly due to its being a recent release.

Other good outdoor security cameras

We tested a number of outdoor security cameras that we didn’t prefer as much as our current top picks but that are still good choices. Note that we do not long-term test these models (which we do with our top picks).

If you want free cloud storage: Our previous longtime pick, the Arlo Pro 2, is still a good buy, if you can find it. Stock seems to be limited on the web, and it’s mysteriously missing from the Arlo website. We’re pretty sure this model will be going away at some point, although we can’t get the company to confirm that. Once this model is retired, we wonder if Arlo will continue to offer seven days of free cloud storage—another thing it won’t comment on.

If you don’t have an existing outdoor light: The Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera is our favorite battery-operated floodlight camera combo. It uses a removable, rechargeable battery to blast a bright 2,000 lumens (3,000 if you want to hardwire it), and in our tests its daytime 2K video was very good. Nighttime images weren’t as good, unless the subject was standing directly in front of the camera (which is fine since this model is best for focusing on a specific area, like a front porch or near trash cans). After months of testing it, we expect the battery to last about three months, depending on usage.

For 24/7 cloud recording: We like the Google Nest Cam (battery) when it’s plugged into an outlet—and if you plan to do that, we recommend springing for the optional weatherproof cable or getting the Google Nest Cam with Floodlight. The floodlight has a more modern design than our pick, but it isn’t as bright (2,400 lumens with a 4,000K color temperature). And it has only a 1080p resolution—which is fine, but it could be better considering the price of the camera. If you opt for just the camera, the included cord isn’t weatherproof and is a short 3 feet, which may limit where you can install it. When it’s corded or installed with the floodlight, you can record 24/7 (with a Nest Aware plan), and we thought the camera delivered better, more-reliable alerts overall when plugged in. When it was relying on a battery, the Nest camera missed a few events, responded slower in the Google Home app, and left massive gaps (like four minutes) in between shorter recordings. Of course, you can set recording length up to three minutes, but that will kill the battery quicker.

What to look forward to

We have just started testing the Eve Outdoor Cam, a hardwired floodlight model that works exclusively with Apple HomeKit Secure Video. It records 1080p resolution video, has a 157-degree field of view, and provides two-way communication.

Cync (previously C by GE) offers wired and battery versions of its Cync Outdoor Smart Camera. A solar panel can also be added to the battery model. Both cameras support 2K video and night vision, have a digital swivel head, work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and have options for cloud and local SD storage.

The Eufy Edge Security System is a $550 package that combines the new Eufy HomeBase 3 Hub and two EufyCam 3 4K solar-powered cameras. You can purchase extra cameras for $220 each, but Eufy also plans to enable compatibility between the HomeBase 3 and older Eufy cameras in coming months. The hub features AI technology that enables facial recognition, and the ability to distinguish between people, pets, vehicles, and general motion from leaves and trees. The system can be used with the Eufy cloud plan, but the hub includes 6TB of built-in storage, enough space to hold about 3 months of recordings, and that can be expanded even more with an external hard drive.

Roku’s suite of smart home products includes three outdoor cameras: the $50 Outdoor Wired Camera SE, the $74 battery-powered Outdoor Camera SE, and the $100 Floodlight Camera SE. All three cameras are made in partnership with Wyze and have identical features to existing Wyze cameras—the Wyze Cam v3, Wyze Cam v2 Outdoor, and Wyze Cam Floodlight, respectively—including a 1080p resolution, color night vision, two-way audio, and weather resistance. Unlike the Wyze models, however, all three Roku cameras have the ability to stream the camera’s feed to a Roku TV or Player. We plan to test all three when they’re available.

The competition

The Logitech Circle View works with Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video, a service that has a lot to offer but which in our testing misses a lot of action—sometimes for even hours or days at a time. As such we don't recommend it as this time.

The Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro records in clear 1080p, but a lot of the colors appeared really oversaturated during our tests, making for an unnatural image. And although alerts were pretty accurate, we constantly found the floodlights on at night—when we didn't want them to be. We are going to continue testing this model and will report back with any changes.

The Wyze Cam Outdoor v2 is an upgrade over the previous model, thanks to a starlight sensor and better field of view (130 degrees). We like the option for flexible placement, and the battery life was on par with that of the Arlo Pro 4. However, if you step out of focus and the camera starts recording, there is a substantial reset period that, although adjustable, starts at 1 minute—which means you may miss some action. Also, smartphone alerts often took 30-plus seconds to come through, and the audio wasn’t sufficient enough for security or even just casually talking to guests and family members (especially furry ones).

Like the Arlo Pro 4, the Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera doesn’t require a base station. However, it does only 1080p video. And we prefer the Arlo Pro 4’s removable battery, which can be swapped or replaced as needed (and this will probably be necessary, since we found battery life to be down to 17% after just two weeks of use).

We prefer the Arlo Pro 4 to the Arlo Pro 3, which delivers 1080p images and requires a base station. And the pricey Arlo Ultra delivered awful night-vision performance and poor battery life, and it had a tendency to miss far too many motion triggers in our testing.

The Netatmo Presence includes Alexa, IFTTT (If This Then That), Google, and HomeKit support, and it can differentiate between people, animals, and cars. It also offers a lot of free storage possibilities via the included 8 GB microSD card, a free Dropbox account, or any personal FTP server. But grainy night vision, difficult installation, and a hefty price tag took it out of the running for a top spot.

Everything we love about the EufyCam 2 Pro isn’t part of the Eufy SoloCam E40. It stores footage on the actual camera (versus the EufyCam 2 Pro’s included hub), but doesn’t have support for Apple HomeKit and has a shorter battery life—and not the promised 120 days. In fact, our camera died within two weeks. It may be because it was triggered often—even when there was no actual action. We also experienced missed events with the Eufy SoloCam S40, but we just received a new test model and will report back on any updated results soon.

The Nooie Pro Cam can only record clips up to 20 seconds, which in our tests resulted in a lot of missed action. In fact, it missed a few events completely, has poor range, and has a slow and sometimes confusing user interface. We also noticed that after just two days of use, the internal battery was already down to 60%.

We understand why people love Blink cameras: They’re affordable and use two AA batteries for anywhere from one to two years of power. But in our testing, the Blink Outdoor routinely took over a minute to send smartphone alerts, almost always cut off action as it was happening (or missed it entirely), and left gaps of over 30 seconds in between clips.

We dismissed the EZVIZ C3X because it has a narrow viewing angle, tinny audio, and an expensive cloud plan. We also think it has one of the worst-made power cords we’ve seen on an outdoor camera. (Spoiler alert: It’s not rated for outdoor use.)

The Kami Wire-Free Outdoor Camera left huge gaps in between clips, had audio issues (on two different units), lacked motion-sensitivity controls, and has an operating temperature of 14 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Unless you have the Abode Smart Security Kit, you can skip the Abode Cam 2. It looks a lot like the Wyze Cam v3 (and has a similar price tag), but it lacks motion-sensitivity settings and has no free storage. Plus, storage for cloud recordings (which require a subscription plan) are limited to just 30-second clips and leave huge, inconsistent gaps in between them. Subscribing to a 24/7 plan solves that problem, but we found the timeline still missed events, which means in practice you’ll be scanning the entire day to make sure you didn’t miss anything. We think there are better options, even at this low price.

We love the 2K image and the price of the X-Sense S21. We also love that it has an option to hardwire your web connection. However, we can’t recommend this low-priced camera, because even on the lowest sensitivity setting and with activity zones, we received an unbearable amount of notifications—to the point where we needed to disable them. And when those notifications came at night, it often triggered the bright integrated LED.

The D-Link DCS-8302LH missed action anytime we set motion sensitivity below 100%—then it picked up too many motion events to be useful. When it did perform well, it regularly captured four or more clips of the same event, all of which had the same action.

We’ve tested two Reolink cameras. None of them are rated to operate in temperatures of less than 14 degrees Fahrenheit, which means they aren’t useful to a large swath of the country. We dismissed the Reolink Argus 3 Pro because the storage-card compartment rusted after a few months (even though it was covered), and every action yielded too many clips—all were very short and the length was inconsistent. Also, battery life was down to 64% after one day. The Reolink Argus 3 had range issues, as well as poor recording quality (it looks like stop-motion film).

Privacy and security: How our picks compare

Is two-factor authentication available and/or required?

• Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In: Yes/Yes
• Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera: Yes/Yes
• Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro: Yes/No
• EufyCam 2 Pro: Yes/No
• Wyze Cam v3: Yes/No

Is user data encrypted in the cloud?

• Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In: By default, Ring encrypts all customer video footage stored in Ring's cloud at rest and in transit. Customer information is stored on secure cloud servers.
• Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera: Yes
• Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro: Yes
• EufyCam 2 Pro: Yes
• Wyze Cam v3: Yes

Is video encrypted in transit and at rest?

• Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In: By default, Ring encrypts all customer video footage stored in Ring's cloud at rest and in transit. Video End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) is an opt-in feature; with that, only customers’ enrolled mobile devices have the special key needed to unlock their videos.
• Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera: Yes and yes; only a highly select few at Arlo have access to encryption keys and a strict process is followed for their usage.
• Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro: Yes, an encryption key will be given to each device and Eufy app, and the key is dynamic. So there are no other means to access the key.
• EufyCam 2 Pro: Yes. An encryption key will be given to each device and Eufy app, and the key is dynamic. So there are no other means to access the key.
• Wyze Cam v3: By default, all user videos are transmitted via an encrypted channel (in transit), and again when stored (at rest). Wyze does not currently provide additional, advanced encryption options, such as the provisioning of custom user keys.

Can video or audio be accessed without permission by anyone besides the owner?

• Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In: Ring says they have strict codes of conduct in place for all Ring team members and any third-party contractors. A small number of video recordings are viewed by Ring’s research and development team to improve Ring’s products, services and technology. These video recordings are either from users who have made them publicly available (by posting them on Neighbors or otherwise on the Internet), or from users, team members, and their friends and family who have given us explicit permission to use them for this purpose (which they may revoke at any time).
• Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera: Only if required by law in a criminal case under a legally enforceable search warrant or other equivalent court order that is supported by probable cause.
• Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro: No; law enforcement must contact owners directly.
• EufyCam 2 Pro: No; law enforcement must contact owners directly.
• Wyze Cam v3: No, except when required by law, such as via a valid subpoena or court order, and then only by limited personnel with a need to access in order to respond to the legal requirement.

Do you share data with third parties?

• Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In: Ring will share customer data with third-party web and app analytics services, both of which customers can opt-out of. When customers purchase professional monitoring through their Ring Protect Subscription plan, the company will share data with the professional monitoring service.
• Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera: No
• Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro: No
• EufyCam 2 Pro: No
• Wyze Cam v3: No

Does this device offer tamper alerts in case of theft or power outage?

• Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In: No
• Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera: No
• Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro: No
• EufyCam 2 Pro: Yes, the camera and base station have a built-in siren, and the system will send a smartphone notification if the camera is moved when Anti-Theft Detection is enabled.
• Wyze Cam v3: No

Is location data recorded or shared?

• Ring Stick Up Cam Plug-In: Users are required to provide an accurate address during setup. If users opt into professional monitoring, location data is shared with the monitoring center.
• Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera: No
• Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro: No
• EufyCam 2 Pro: No
• Wyze Cam v3: No

This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.

Sources

1. John R. Delaney, The Best Outdoor Home Security Cameras for 2022, PCMag, May 20, 2022

2. Rebecca Edwards, Best Home Security Cameras for 2022, SafeWise, May 26, 2022

3. David Priest and Megan Wollerton, Best Outdoor Home Security Cameras of 2022, CNET, May 27, 2022