Battery Powered Security Camera Review
Keep your home and family safe with a battery powered security camera. These wireless cameras can connect to your smartphone or nearby desktop computer via wifi and allow you to view live footage and receive alerts.
Look for a battery-operated security camera that provides local or cloud storage options to reduce your chances of data loss. Also, check if the system offers night vision capabilities and motion detection features that are effective against unwanted intruders.
Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera
Like the other Arlo cameras we’ve looked at, this model is a lozenge-shaped device encased in glossy white plastic. It has a 130-degree field of vision so should be able to detect any movement in the vicinity. It also captures footage in 1080p, which is decent enough for monitoring purposes. Its motion detection is quick to pick up any major movements and there’s a choice of power management settings to prioritize battery life or video quality.
Arlo claims that this camera can last six months on a charge, but that estimate will be highly dependent on your usage and configuration. Unlike most of the other Arlo models that require a SmartHub, this one connects directly to your home Wi-Fi and works with smart assistants such as Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit. It’s also compatible with IFTTT and Samsung SmartThings.
The Essential Spotlight Camera isn’t the cheapest option, but it still offers excellent value for money. You can buy it with three months of Arlo Smart included, which adds cloud storage and activity zones to cut down on notifications from things such as passing traffic or your neighbour’s dogs. It’s wire-free, easy to battery powered security camera install and has a built-in spotlight with colour night vision that deters intruders. It’s also weather resistant and can be used indoors or outdoors.
eufyCam S221
The eufyCam S221, which is sometimes referred to as the Solocam, is an impressively well-built and straightforward smart home security camera that’s easy to install. It features 2K resolution, an f/1.6 aperture and effective night vision, along with a 135-degree field of view and built-in AI that can recognise humans and reduce false alerts. It’s also IP67 waterproof, which we weren’t able to test during the recent heatwave, but Eufy claims it can withstand up to three months of sunshine.
The kit includes two weatherproof cameras and a base station that provides 16GB of local storage for footage captured by the cameras, which is enough for around three months (based on 20 events with 30 seconds each per day). Unlike some other cameras in this price range, it doesn’t require a monthly subscription or cloud storage.
The eufyCam is ideal for homeowners who prioritize simplicity and affordability, while offering reliable monitoring capabilities and long battery life. It’s especially useful for families with young children, pet owners or anyone worried about package theft on their doorstep. It can also double up as a visual deterrent and communicate with delivery drivers via two-way audio, which can be activated by pressing the buttons on the base station. It’s not quite as maintenance-free as some of the competition, though, and will likely need wiping down periodically to remove dust.
Lorex Smart Home Security Cameras
Lorex offers a large selection of cameras and security systems, with features including 2K or 4K video resolution, excellent night vision, and smart deterrence capabilities like a remote-triggered siren and motion-activated LED light. Some cameras even come with a 256GB microSD card for continuous recording. They also have Google Home and Amazon Alexa compatibility for voice commands. Their complete security systems typically have an NVR that connects the cameras via ethernet cable, though they do have wireless options for some components.
The company’s DVR and NVR-based systems offer on-location video storage, reducing the risk of hacking and saving you money on monthly cloud subscriptions. They also have built-in video analytics, which help to detect movement and send you notifications if needed. Their smart surveillance camera lineup includes indoor and outdoor models, as well as doorbell and floodlight cameras. They also have wired analog systems for those looking for more comprehensive coverage, using a DVR and analog MPX cameras connected via coaxial cable.
The company’s wire-free and Wi-Fi cameras use batteries instead of plugging into a power outlet, but they still connect to your router Solar Dual Lens WiFi Camera using Wi-Fi. They’re easy to install, requiring only a few minutes for the app to find them and their settings. They also have a wide range of customizable settings that make it easy to get the setup just right.
eufyCam S210
The eufyCam S210 is an affordable security camera that offers many features that competing cameras do not. Its night vision is very good, and the resolution is high enough to identify faces, so you can always be sure of what you are seeing. It is a plug-and-play device, which means that it can be connected to a wireless network without the need for a hub or other hardware. It also has the option to store event-triggered video locally via a microSD card, or to use a cloud storage plan with a fairly low subscription fee.
The camera is also able to tilt up to an angle of 120 degrees, so you can see what’s above in a room. Its video quality is excellent, with only a slight fisheye distortion from the lens, and it has a wide field of view. It does not record continuously, but it does offer a lot of flexibility in recording lengths in the app.
It supports HomeKit, so you can control it with Siri and the Apple Home app. It has a number of useful features that you can enable and configure, including motion zones, pet mode, and more. The eufyCam S210 also comes with ball and socket wall mounts, which are simple to adjust once they’re on the wall. Its weatherproof design makes it suitable for outdoor use, and a solar panel is available as an add-on.
