Latest news with #Lorex
The Verge
7 days ago
- Business
- The Verge
Wyze's latest smart bulb is also a camera
Wyze's new security camera is attached to a lightbulb. The smart home company has devised a genius, if janky-looking, solution to illuminating your porch or patio with light while also keeping an eye on potential prowlers. The Wyze Bulb Cam ($49.98) is a motion-activated smart light and security camera that doesn't require any power cables or batteries and is powered by a light fixture. According to Wyze, the specially designed camera can be installed directly into a compatible E26 light fixture, eliminating the need to find power outlets nearby or mess with solar panels or recharging batteries to keep your security system up and running. The company is also selling compatible Wyze Accessory Bulbs ($16.98). These dimmable, 800-lumen, 3000-kelvin lightbulbs are IP20 rated and can pair with the Bulb Cam via Bluetooth to create a motion-activated smart lighting system. Both products are available now at Wyze's online store. The Wyze Bulb Cam has the same lighting specs, and its camera is motion-activated. It features a 160-degree field of view, 2K resolution with wide dynamic range, and color night vision. It also has two-way audio, works over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, and offers local storage via an onboard microSD card (sold separately, up to 256GB). The device works with Wyze's app, and the company offers cloud recording starting at $3 a month, which adds smart alerts for things like people, packages, and pets. Wyze says the camera is also compatible with Wyze's new AI-powered features, including descriptive alerts that summarize motion events and its 'NBD' Filter that aims to cut down on notifications — but you'll need to pay for Wyze's $20 a month Cam Unlimited Pro subscription. The camera and lights are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and IFTTT. This isn't Wyze's first attempt at leveraging existing outdoor lighting fixtures to power cameras. The company sells a lamp socket solution for $17 that can power a Wyze Cam v3 or v4 and turns any connected bulb into a smart bulb. The Bulb Cam is slightly more elegant as it does away with the wires. While there are several no-name bulb / camera combos available on Amazon, very few established security camera companies offer this solution. Lorex recently released a 2K Wi-Fi Smart Lightbulb Camera, with the camera embedded in the bulb, which looks a little less odd, but also makes for a huge lightbulb. The Lorex can automatically rotate 360 degrees, whereas the Wyze cam can only be manually adjusted. Lorex's bulb camera does cost more, at $70, and doesn't have the option of local recording. The downside of connecting a security camera to an existing light fixture is that light is probably controlled by a switch, so you'll face the same problem smart bulbs inside the house have: when someone turns off the switch, the power to the camera will be cut, as well. However, Wyze's smart bulbs can be activated by motion via the camera or set on timers and to a schedule, so you shouldn't need to operate them with the switch. Another issue you might run into is that a lot of exterior lighting today uses embedded LEDs and not a screw-in socket, so check yours before considering a product like this.
CNET
02-06-2025
- General
- CNET
Should You Get a New Home Security System? Here's My Advice
Your home security system is like many other big investments in your home: Eventually, it reaches a point where it's too old or outdated to function well and needs to be replaced. I saw this many years ago when old wired-in security systems were replaced en masse by smart wireless hubs. Security systems continued to advance quickly, too: If your system is 10 to 15 years old or lacks critical features, it's time to look at what new kits can do. The good news is that updating a security system is far more affordable than, say, buying a new fridge or heat pump. Cheap systems with the latest features start at only $200 to $300. I've tested all the latest -- here's when I think owners should think about buying a significant upgrade. 1. Your system can't recognize people, packages or animals Nest's cam comes with free AI alerts and recognition. Chris Monroe/CNET A little AI in home security devices does wonders, especially cameras. Today, most major brands include algorithms that can identify people versus animals, and more advanced versions can recognize vehicles and packages, too. Settings allow you to only get notifications about the objects you care about (usually people and packages). That's a huge quality of life improvement, even if the object recognition is sometimes locked behind paywalls -- Google Nest, Eufy and Lorex are some of the brands that offer it for free. If your video doorbell or outdoor cameras (or devices like pet cams) are missing this technology, it's probably time for an upgrade. 2. You don't have any video storage Nest's free cloud storage is nice, but few cameras have it. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Years ago, security cameras were primarily live-view unless you wanted to invest in an expensive DVR setup. Video storage came slowly but surely, allowing you to automatically save footage when security cameras are triggered, then view it or share it with others. Today, you have options to upload video straight to the cloud -- usually via a monthly subscription -- or find a camera that offers local storage with a USB-compatible hub or a microSD card slot. If you don't have any video storage options at all, or you don't like your current video storage choices, think about changing to a camera that supports storage you like. You can find local storage without subscriptions, or jump to cloud storage for greater convenience as well. Video storage is very useful when you can't get to alerts right away or want to share footage with neighbors or police. And speaking of alerts… 3. You don't get smart alerts on your phone Tapo's app showing the ability to enable or disable notifications. Tyler Lacoma/CNET Today's home security systems are smartphone-friendly. That means you can arm or disarm them with an app from wherever you are, or remotely give people smart lock access on demand. You can also get immediate object detection alerts so you can switch to live-view while using two-way audio to check up on things at home. Some security companies require a subscription to unlock even smarter alerts, but they all have this basic phone functionality. If you can't control devices from your phone and get alerts, your security devices are several steps behind at least. It's time to find newer, smart models that can give you the updates you want. And don't worry, it's easy to customize these alerts so you only get the ones that are really important. A smart video doorbell that can send customized alerts is a major upgrade for any security system. Arlo/Amazon 4. Your wireless devices have frequent battery problems Battery packs are convenient, but watch out if they start struggling with battery life. Arlo Wireless security devices like cams or sensors should last at least a few months before needing a recharge. Some can even last for years with the right batteries. But if your batteries are only lasting a few weeks at the most, then something is wrong. Your settings may be leading to rapid triggers that burn down battery life, but in many cases the batteries are just getting old. That's especially true if they're starting to intermittently cut out power altogether. Hot and freezing temperatures can make these problems worse, too. Problems like these mean it may be time to pick out a new wireless model. 5. Your security system doesn't work with any other smart devices Simplisafe, Abode and many other brands offer easy add-ons for expansion. Simplisafe/CNET Many modern home security systems can support a plethora of third-party devices, working with smart locks from other brands, showing live views on Alexa-powered Echo Shows and many other tricks. Some even work with Google Home or Apple Home apps. Brands like ADT integrate well with Google Nest devices, while Abode and Vivint offer excellent third-party support for dozens of brands. With so many choices, you deserve a security system that works with the smart home devices you already have and the voice assistants or app platforms that you prefer to use. If you're juggling multiple apps to manage different parts of your smart home, look for a home security system that integrates with what you already have. 6. You can't expand on your current system Abode's starter kit is super affordable and works with many third-party products. Abode Most home security kits start you off slow, with a hub and a couple of sensors. But they leave plenty of room for future upgrades and purchasing individual new devices when you want more add-ons. The best security systems offer multiple types of access sensors, motion sensors, glass break sensors, leak detectors, security cams, smart bulbs, air monitoring -- it's a long list! But if you can't expand your security system with the add-ons you want or any third-party integrations, it's time to find a system that offers the products you need all under one hub. Take a look at the best DIY systems to learn more. Bonus future prep: Watch for Matter compatibility Matter and the related Thread protocols represent the most advanced standard in smart home tech, combining security and broad compatibility with platforms from Apple, Google, Amazon and plenty more. There's just one caveat: It's rolling out very slowly, and not all smart home devices work with it yet. That includes almost all home security cameras (video protocols are in progress but will take time to release) and similar devices. As Matter support keeps growing in home security, the lack of Matter is going to start becoming a warning bell for old security systems. We aren't quite there yet, but it's rapidly approaching. We'll keep you updated on the most Matter-friendly devices. For more on finding the latest home security devices, check out the best outdoor cams, the top video doorbells and review the worst places to put video cameras.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
Best 4K Home Security Cameras for 2025
Knowing that you can check in on your home when needed with home security cameras gives you unparalleled peace of mind. Whether you're going on vacation, at work or wanting to keep an eye on nighttime activity, a 4K camera captures it all in the clearest view with great video quality. The best security cameras also offer more features like motion detection, remote access and two-way audio for communication when you're away. However, with countless home security cameras on the market -- each offering different features and capabilities -- picking the right one can be tough. After hours of testing dozens of top models, our experts have narrowed down the best ones with high video resolution options. The Lorex 4K Spotlight cam is our favorite, taking the spot as the best overall 4K camera thanks to its wireless design -- making it usable outdoors and indoors -- and it offers free object recognition and local storage without a subscription fee. Other recommendations include a 4K camera set from Arlo (which works with Apple), a more affordable indoor 4K cam from Eufy and other picks for your pixels that you won't want to miss out on. Plus, we'll explain what factors matter most when picking a security camera. And if you want even more options, check our other picks for outdoor cams and cameras with lights. Lorex excels at higher-resolution security cameras that don't require a subscription. Like many others, this 4K cam offers free onboard storage and free objection recognition for people, animals and more. The wireless design is easy to mount indoors or outdoors with IP65 weather resistance, and the spotlight backs up the night vision for reactive lighting. There are also important features like two-way audio and compatibility with Alexa or Google Assistant. We also like that this is a fairly affordable standalone 4K camera. It can be difficult to find a 4K resolution on a single-device solution like this, but Lorex has some of the best options available. See at Lorex Arlo takes some of the top spots on our best camera lists thanks to its high-quality camera design and plethora of features, including two-way audio and color night vision. It also has the best smart home support on this list, one of the few 4K cameras that works with Apple HomeKit and Samsung SmartThings as well as Alexa and Google Home. The cams also have an incredible 180-degree field of view, so it's easy to capture a large space. These 4K cams are usually available in a pack (think about putting one at the front door and one in the backyard or balcony), but that does have an advantage. The included hub allows you to use local storage if you prefer to stay off the cloud. However, an Arlo subscription (starting at $8 per month) also adds object recognition and other features, so we typically recommend it with cams like these. You can add more Ultra 2 cams to the hub if you want, or buy the hub and a cam separately to save money. See at Arlo Eufy's two-cam pack can support cloud storage with a subscription, but the set also has expandable storage from 1TB to 16TB, so you can avoid subscription fees if you'd prefer. But our favorite part is Eufy's built-in solar panels. Place these battery cams where they'll catch a bit of sunlight, and they'll recharge their batteries over time, greatly cutting down on battery management. Eufy also offers object recognition including human, vehicles and pets. The hub also allows for more advanced facial recognition (differentiating between family members and strangers), a relatively new AI feature we're seeing from brands like Nest and SimpliSafe as well. See at Amazon Most 4K security cams are outdoor models, which is where 4K shines the most (especially with a bright light). But we want to include an indoor model as well, because 4K has its role here as well. The higher resolution also benefits large open floor plans and users who want all the details they can get about what their kids are doing, what a pet has in its mouth and more. Eufy's dual cam 4K/2K solution also includes a 3x zoom to focus on specific details, and tracking for the pan/tilt cam so it can follow recognized objects anywhere. We found it compact, accurate and very quiet, an ideal indoor monitoring cam. Plus, it has Eufy specialties like an onboard local storage option and free Alexa/Google Home support. See at Amazon The Argus 3 Ultra offers a standalone design with a 4K resolution and a wireless design that works well with an optional Reolink solar panel. It's one of the more affordable 4K options (we've seen it discounted to below $100) and offers color night vision for better night viewing. The waterproof cam also provides free object recognition and supports both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can enjoy two-way audio for some real-time conversations with your visitors as well and right now, this model has a $35 coupon on Amazon. See at Reolink Best Nanny Cams for 2025 See at CNET Reolink RCL-810A 4K PoE Camera: This Reolink model is an excellent option for a Power over Ethernet camera that's located well away from Wi-Fi. Overall, we prefer the Argus line for more general home use, which is why this more specialized model didn't quite make it on our list. Lorex H13: This Lorex cam is a bit more suited for commercial uses than residential properties, although it's still an option 4K pick. A 4K resolution doesn't do much good unless the camera can alert and record when something is happening. The best motion detection includes object recognition for humans, animals and cars. We like to see object recognition for free, but more and more brands are charging for it. We also like to see motion activity zones and privacy zones to help improve accuracy and block out areas you don't want the camera looking. 4K video can take up a lot of space, so video storage options are especially important to capture detail. Local storage is subscription free and keeps your video out of the cloud, but you'll need to invest in a larger microSD card to make management easier. Cloud storage is an option but it usually requires a $5 to $8 monthly subscription to enable. Many of our 4K picks are battery models, which allow for much easier placement and let you know when you need to recharge them. But wired cams, or wireless cams with a cable option, allow you to set up the cameras and leave them without ever worrying about battery life, which some users prefer. 4K details work best with a light source lighting up the area. These cameras pair well with spotlights. However, if you have nearby lighting already like porchlights or floodlights, you may be able to skip this feature. Field of view refers to how wide the angle the camera lens covers. It's an important give-and-take with a 4K resolution. The wider the field of view, the more pixels it may take up, which means you may sacrifice a bit of image clarity. However, we generally prefer that compromise since the 4K resolution still adds plenty of detail and a wide field of view is especially useful outdoors. Night vision is a pleasant addition to any outdoor 4K camera that will be working in the dark. It doesn't directly affect resolution, but night vision tends to show better results with a better camera. Color night vision is a major quality boost for this feature. Look for a camera that works with your existing smart home setup, including voice assistants like Alexa and platforms like Google Home or Apple Home. If possible, check our reviews on a cam before you buy: Platform compatibility can take different forms and sometimes there's a clear winner. Put those pixels to work by giving a 4K camera plenty to see. Place it in an area with no nearby awnings, branches or potential blockages. Choose a central location. Higher is generally better for capturing a wide area, but it's not absolutely required with the right angles. We have a guide on a few of the best spots to choose here. Above garage, patios and porches is a common decision for many homes. Best Home Security Cameras Without a Subscription for 2025 See at CNET
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Yahoo
Best Nanny Cams for 2025
If you thought the newborn stage was hard, just wait till you have a toddler on your hands! Once they start walking, toddlers can really move fast, and they're impossible to keep an eye on every second of the day. Thankfully, a nanny cam is helpful for keeping an eye on what your toddler is up to, no matter where you are in the house. But nanny cams aren't just for little kids either. They're also great for keeping an eye on pets or even older relatives who might need the extra security of you keeping an eye on them. The Arlo Essential Indoor Cam (2nd-gen), the latest model of the camera, is our top choice when looking at cameras like this. After dedicating over 100 hours to the evaluation of nanny cameras, we found this option was just what families are looking for when it comes to cameras. Not only is it an affordable option, but it includes a healthy 2K resolution and offers two-way audio that so many buyers look for in nanny cams. It even has night-vision capabilities so you can check up on your kid when they're asleep. That said, if the Arlo cam isn't speaking to you -- after all, you may not want to have to pay for a plan and the device -- then there are several other options for you to consider. We've found cams for every budget and need. You can choose from an affordable model by TP-Link, a local storage option from Lorex or a portable version from Ring. Take a look at the whole list, and stop by our guides on the best indoor cameras, the best cheap security cameras and the best outdoor security cameras for even more fully researched, ready-to-buy picks. Arlo's top-end Pro 5S cam has hit the top of other home camera lists, but for this focus, we're choosing the Essential Indoor Cam's latest model. It's much more affordable and is focused on indoor monitoring with several key benefits for nanny cam purposes. The 2K resolution and zooming functions are excellent for capturing details, especially if you're watching over a large space like a living room/dining room area. We found the night vision on this camera to be high quality and had no problems communicating over the two-way audio. Plus, we like Arlo's direct smart home support, which includes Alexa, Google Assistant and Samsung SmartThings. Arlo typically benefits a lot from a subscription plan (starting at $8 per month) to store video in the cloud, detect alarm sounds and a few other extras. We're not rating video storage as a must-have for these picks because nanny cams benefit more from live viewing and communication, so you can consider this cam a subscription-free option if you want to save. See at Amazon We love the C210 for its incredible affordability combined with nearly every feature an indoor security camera needs, including night vision, two-way audio and built-in audio detection (useful for hearing babies cry, dogs bark, etc.) along with motion detection, at no extra charge. Also, pan/tilt features are excellent for following movement around a large room and making sure you don't miss any happenings. This cam also provides a choice between signing up for a subscription plan to get video storage or buying a microSD card for local storage. Again, storage isn't quite as important on nanny cams where live views are a focus, but it's excellent to see the choice. Note that if you don't want or need a pan/tilt cam, there's also the Tapo C120, which costs a bit more but swaps pan/tilt features for a much better 2K resolution and better objection detection, a worthwhile trade for some homes. See at Amazon Lorex brings several quality features to the table with an ideal nanny cam option for those who want a bit more than our pan/tilt Tapo option. The 2K resolution remains an excellent choice for better detail, while the night vision reaches far enough for the average living or bedroom. Plus, the pan/tilt features combine well with the person detection so you always have a good idea of what's going on. Two-way audio and Alexa/Google Assistant support also round off this cam nicely. One of our favorite things about Lorex cams is that they're strictly subscription-free and don't rely on cloud storage (which can raise privacy concerns for some parents). A 16GB microSD card is included with the purchase, but you can upgrade that as you see fit. There's also a privacy feature that covers the cam lens entirely, which some nanny cam users may prefer to guarantee privacy. See at Lorex Your kids don't stay in the same place (or sometimes even the same dimension), but you have the option to spend more and get a high-end battery camera that you can position anywhere. The Ring Stick Up Cam Pro is one of our favorite picks for this job, with a reliable battery and shelf-mounting design that lets you take it from a child's bedroom to the living or gaming room to the patio -- and anywhere else they may go. It's weather resistant enough to spend a night in the rain too, so you don't have to worry about forgetting it outside, and if you ever find a permanent spot then you can also mount the cam. That versatility is backed up by great color night vision, two-way audio and an especially broad 155-degree field of view for capturing every detail. The 'bird's eye' option allows you to see visual tracking for movement over time, while the two-way audio is some of the best around with its noise cancellation. We do wish that the resolution was higher than HD, and you are limited to Alexa (part of being an Amazon brand), but this is an excellent higher-end option for keeping an eye on loved ones no matter where they're spending their time. Just keep an eye on battery life notifications so you know when to recharge. See at Amazon Two-way audio is a practical feature for any nanny cam, but if you prefer more interaction with kids (or pets, or grandmas), then you should consider a smart display alternative instead. This Echo Show 5 allows you to video chat at a moment's notice and drop in quickly to say goodnight, wave goodbye, or check on a temper tantrum. You can use the Alexa app from your phone or another Echo device to make contact at any time, and if you have a compatible security camera you can look at live views from the Echo Show whenever you want. The downside is that the video chat cam is very limited compared to a home security camera. In return, you have a full screen that you can use to watch shows or clips, speakers that can connect to your favorite music services and a touchscreen that enables anything from games to finding a perfect recipe video. Alexa is there to ask for help on homework or other details (with some built-in mutes and privacy shutters, too). The kid's version comes with a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+ with its library of kid-friendly content and parental controls, usually $5 a month. See at Amazon Eufy Dual Camera S350: Eufy's dual-cam option is a powerful indoor security câmera and we particularly liked the powerful zoom features. That being said, it's slightly expensive for many family budgets, considering there are other pan, tilt and zoom options available for less. Wyze Indoor Cam v3: Wyze's indoor cam is affordable and good at what it does, but Wyze has had some problems with security flaws the last few years and we're still hesitant to recommend its cameras for the time being. Blink Mini: The Blink Mini is cheap and includes plenty of affordable features, plus you can put it anywhere -- in fact, it's a little too small to be an ideal nanny cam, which we prefer to be more noticeable for the sake of others' privacy. Buying an additional pan/tilt mount does solve this problem, but bumps up the cost. Google Nest Indoor/Outdoor Cam: Google's Nest cam does many things well, but it's a little pricey for what you get and the mounting option isn't nearly as useful as a shelf-positioned camera watching the kiddos. A good nanny cam needs to view an entire room easily. Look for a wider field of view, something approaching 130 degrees or more if possible. Or you can choose a pan/tilt camera, which can rotate on command to view a much larger space. Motion detection sends you alerts when the sensors recognize significant motion in the field of view. That's important if you want to spot restless kids or toddlers who really shouldn't be up and about at certain times. Object recognition helps recognize humans and avoid triggering for pets and other potential triggers. We leaned toward more affordable cameras for these picks. While security cams over $100 can be packed with features and a high resolution, families are often looking for something simpler and more affordable for a nanny cam. For those with higher budgets, we also have some higher-end picks that offer more versatile or extra capabilities. Whether you want to talk to a babysitter, check up on grandma or remind a child to stay in bed, two-way audio is a very important feature for nanny cams. All of our picks have it. Without video storage, you're stuck with only a live view. That's a viable choice for nanny cams, especially if you want to avoid subscription fees, but many parents want the ability to store videos for later viewing, sharing or downloading. If you like that feature, look for a camera that offers a subscription within your budget for cloud storage, or a local storage option where you can keep video on a hard drive. Hands-on testing is core to our evaluations of any home security products. In short, when it comes to security cameras, we pay special attention to resolution, night vision and latency, extra features, general performance and overall value. We evaluate all of these elements in a real home environment over a week. If you want to read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security cameras and video doorbells.
Yahoo
16-02-2025
- Yahoo
Best Home Security Cameras With Floodlights in 2025
Need to add an extra layer of protection for your home? A security camera is a good way to go about it. While many of the latest outdoor security cameras for homes have advanced night vision to help you get a clearer view after dark, you can take things a step further with a security cam combined with a full LED floodlight. We recommend using a floodlight because it can brighten up your space to give you a much clearer picture of what's going on outside. After over 120 hours of testing smart cameras with lights, we've chosen the top floodlight models for your home security, starting with the Eufy S330 Floodlight Camera. Read more: Best Smart Home Gifts Eufy's model offers a high-resolution pan-tilt camera, three bright panels and AI detection. With adjustable brightness and color temperature, as well as smart home syncing, it's designed to be more neighbor-friendly, reducing the likelihood of neighborhood complaints. But don't forget to the check out our other picks, too. Our list includes floodlight cameras for no-cloud, local storage users, a wireless Arlo pick for versatile placement and a Blink model for those who want a cheaper (but still quality) option. Take a look at them all, our advice on placement -- applicable to most floodlight cameras -- and more, then visit our guide on the best security cam lights overall and the best outdoor home security cams, so you know what's right for you. For maximum LED brightness, Eufy's S330 comes in swinging with not two but three LED panels added up to 3,000 lumens. The IP65-rated cam also has a 2K resolution panning cam that can view a full property from multiple angles, complemented by its completely free human detection and tracking capabilities to follow what's happening. The panels have customizable brightness options and many modes from night-only operation to turning on when a human is detected. Eufy's internal 8GB of storage isn't especially large, but it means you don't have to rely on cloud video storage subscriptions (although that's also available). Alexa and Google Assistant capabilities are also welcome. However, the camera does skip some common smart features like two-way audio, focusing more on illumination and excellent video. See at Amazon While Eufy took our top spot, it's a very close call with this Lorex cam, which can reach up to 2,400 lumens and has a 2K resolution for detail. It's another cam that offers free object recognition, spotting people, animals and vehicles, and acting accordingly to cut down on false alerts (and corresponding flares of lights). It also comes with expected smart home additions like two-way audio and night vision that the Eufy S330 skips, making it an excellent pick for those who want the complete package. Note you can adjust the angle of these panels to focus on the areas you want to guard most. Lorex is another company that offers free onboard storage with no subscriptions required, everything is added in the upfront price. That includes support for both Alexa and Google Assistant. See at B&H Photo-Video While not every wireless design is a good fit for bright floodlights, which may drain battery life faster, Arlo makes it work with this compact camera that can reach 2,000 lumens on battery power. The wireless design makes it a lot easier to place in that one spot to really light up the dark corners. It also brings a hefty 2K resolution. Arlo's object recognition, activity zones and intelligent alerts work very well, but you will need an Arlo subscription (starting at $8 per month) to activate many of these advanced features. And if you want to boost the brightness even more, you can purchase an outdoor cable to bump the LEDs up to 3,000 lumens. Finally, add in an Arlo hub and the cam is compatible with Apple HomeKit -- although all these extra costs may start to weigh the camera down for some buyers. See at Amazon Floodlight cams are expensive, there's no way around it. But if you'd like to save how much cash you drop on a model, this Blink Outdoor 4 option is one of the most affordable we've examined. At under $100, it still brings plenty of lumens with its two LEDs, along with smart extras like two-way audio and a siren. We're also huge fans of the Blink app, which is one of the easiest to use and doesn't seem to run into the bugs that can sometimes plague other smart home apps. Blink cameras also have the option to add a Sync Module hub, which enables free local storage with a USB drive. Or you could pay around $3 per month for a Blink subscription, which adds both cloud storage and person recognition. See at Amazon Google's Nest Cam comes in a variety of forms, including this version with 2,400-lumen LED floodlights. Nest remains one of the best options for Google's AI-powered object recognition. It's incredibly accurate at identifying people versus animals or vehicles, so you can choose exactly how you want the floodlight to respond. Plus, it's entirely free to use these detection features. The camera functions with Alexa and Google Home, but you'll get extra usability out of it if you're a Google user. Object recognition isn't the only thing that's free either -- the cam offers 3 hours of cloud video storage when it records an event, giving you a window to view and download it. Otherwise, the Nest Aware plan at $8 per month adds more cloud storage and familiar face recognition. See at Amazon Best Home Security Cameras for Apple HomeKit and Siri in 2025 See at CNET Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro: Ring's floodlight camera model includes Ring's excellent privacy zones and Ring extras like Bird's Eye view. However, we liked the design of our final picks a little more, and paying $5 or more per month for object recognition can be a tough sell when some of our other picks offer it for free. Eufy Floodlight Camera E340: This Eufy cam has an extra-high resolution for those who want even more detail. But overall we preferred the three-panel version, which adds extra light that's hard to find in these home models. Blink Outdoor 3 Floodlight Mount: We love the idea of a floodlight mount and this Blink model is an excellent choice for budget lighting when you want to save money, especially if you already have an existing camera. But it's bested by the greater power and features of the Blink wired model if you don't mind paying a little more. Best Wireless Home Security Cameras of 2024 See at CNET At CNET, we use careful testing to review all the features of home security cameras, including clarity of the image, app usability, how well motion detection works and how easy the cams are to install. We walk test the audio communication features, how effective the motion zones are and how easily object detection can tell when a person leaves a package behind…or picks one up before they leave. For more information, see our full list on how we test cameras. Those bright lights works best when paired with a camera with a high resolution that can capture a lot of detail. A 1080p will get the job done, but for the best clarity for these (often high-mounted) cameras, we prefer 2K resolutions, like a couple of our top picks. Lumens is a great indicator of visible brightness (don't try to compare it to watts, especially with LEDS), and a few thousand lumens is a guarantee of bright lights that can fully light up a larger area. But we also like to see customization options for brightness, shade of light and scheduling. That helps keep lights from waking you up at night or angering the neighbors, allowing you to make adjustments as you need. Smart home support with existing platforms is always nice to have, especially when setting routines with other smart lights or cams. We look for support for both Google Home and Amazon Alexa. Apple support is much harder to find for security cameras at this time, although as the Matter standard continues to progress we hope that will change. While careful use of batteries can lead to good power management for wireless floodlight cams, those floodlights do tend to take up some extra juice. They are also often mounted in high locations where getting them down for battery recharging can be a pain. Consider carefully if you prefer wireless placement or the no-charge wired option, which may take extra installation work. Please keep in mind that wired floodlight cams often need to be connected to a junction box. Motion detection and object recognition are especially important for floodlight cams, because they help the floodlights to turn on only when there's a reasonable cause like a detected human figure. We favored a couple of cameras that offer object recognition for free on this list, but you may have to pay a subscription fee for advanced features. Night vision isn't quite as important with broad floodlights, but it can help improve clarity at the edges of the image when things are dark out. For the best clarity, consider looking for a camera that has color night vision too. Audio options can be very important if you want to question a stranger (or shout out to a friend) or sound a siren to scare off trespassers. They aren't quite as valuable on floodlight cameras as they are on video doorbells, for example, but it's still an important feature. Fortunately, most floodlight cameras now have these audio options. Placing security cameras is always important, but doubly so for floodlight cameras, which need careful positioning to make use of their bright lighting. For floodlight cameras, consider mounting them in a higher, central location, such as above a garage or patio. But also work to make sure they won't be beaming their LED panels over a fence right into a neighbor's windows. We have a full guide on some of the best spots for security cams here. Best Home Security Cameras Without a Subscription for 2024 See at CNET
