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Aug 06, 2023

The 5 Best Outdoor Security Cameras of 2023

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We’ve added details about Ring's recent legal settlement with the FTC to our privacy section. Also, we've added the Wyze floodlight to What to look forward to.

An outdoor security camera can be a powerful deterrent to mischief makers. It will let you know instantly whether that rustling in the bushes 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.

Although being able to store video in the camera is a nice option, we prefer cameras that save it to the cloud, which is more secure.

Wi-Fi cameras can catch action close to your house, but faces and license plates may start to get fuzzy around 30 feet away.

Plug-in cameras require an outdoor outlet and a lengthy, weatherproof cord. If an outlet isn't available, you can opt for battery power.

All cameras respond to movement, but some can distinguish between people, pets, cars, and packages.

This battery-operated outdoor Wi-Fi camera provides clear 2K images. With the storage plan, it can also distinguish between people, animals, vehicles, packages, and general motion.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $154.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (with a compatible base station), Google Assistant, IFTTT, 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.

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The Ring Stick Up Cam can be powered using an included weather-resistant cord or an add-on battery. It delivers 1080p video and can distinguish between people and other moving objects.

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 ($4 per month or $40 per year), 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. Also, despite some previous issues, Ring now provides more privacy and security measures than any other camera manufacturer we tested.

This hardwired floodlight camera records in a 2K resolution, has bright, adjustable lighting, and can store video locally for free or to the cloud (for a fee).

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 $1 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.

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.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $330.

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.

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.

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 $20 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.

This battery-operated outdoor Wi-Fi camera provides clear 2K images. With the storage plan, it can also distinguish between people, animals, vehicles, packages, and general motion.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $154.

The Ring Stick Up Cam can be powered using an included weather-resistant cord or an add-on battery. It delivers 1080p video and can distinguish between people and other moving objects.

This hardwired floodlight camera records in a 2K resolution, has bright, adjustable lighting, and can store video locally for free or to the cloud (for a fee).

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.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $330.

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.

I first started testing smart-home devices more than 20 years ago, when the only smart-home devices were X10. I’ve been covering smart-home gear for Wirecutter since 2016, and I’ve had my hands on everything from in-wall light switches, LED bulbs, and water-leak detectors to video doorbells, indoor security cameras, and security systems. I’ve also written tech articles for The New York Times, Wired, and Men's Health, among others.

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.

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.

A home security system is all about peace of mind. It can alert you to an open door or window, frighten away prowlers, and call for help should you need it.

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.

We mounted our test group of outdoor Wi-Fi cameras 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 floodlight 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 12, an iPad, and a Google Pixel 7 Pro, when possible. The cameras spent weeks guarding our front door, alerting us to family members, friends, package deliveries, 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).

Mesh networks can give your home's Wi-Fi a much needed boost—but can sometimes create problems for some smart-home devices, too.

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. 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.

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. (As of October 2022, 2FA is enabled by default in the Wyze app, although you aren't required to use it.) 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 Wyze and Eufy devices, has a slot for mini SD cards.

On May 31, 2023, the Federal Trade Commissions announced a $5.8 million settlement with Ring addressing privacy violations dating back to 2017. The FTC had accused Ring of failing to properly protect customers from hacking incidents, noting that some employees and contractors had repeatedly accessed customer videos without permission. The report stems from incidents prior to Amazon's acquisition of Ring in 2018, but the order requires Ring to delete all algorithms and data collected from unlawfully viewed videos. The company must also create a new privacy and security program that will include "safeguards on human review of videos," unless required by law.

In March 2022, a Bitdefender study (PDF) was released detailing specific security vulnerabilities that affected 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."

In November 2022, a series of potential security vulnerabilities with Eufy cameras surfaced, which we are continuing to follow. Information security consultant Paul Moore posted a series of Tweets stating that Eufy's local storage solution was pushing thumbnail images as well as user-specific data to a cloud server whenever his Eufy doorbell camera was triggered by a motion event—meaning that content was viewable in the user's web portal and not being kept completely local, as advertised (notably, login credentials are required to access them unless the owner chooses to share those images). We have repeatedly attempted to replicate Moore's results without success. A Eufy spokesperson confirmed that the company does use an AWS-based cloud server to deliver push notifications with a thumbnail preview image, claiming they are temporarily stored in the cloud. The spokesperson also confirmed Eufy will alter the language in marketing materials to be more clear that opting to enable thumbnail notifications requires passing data to the cloud. Thumbnail-enhanced smartphone alerts are an option that can be turned off by going into your camera's Settings, clicking Notification, and choosing an option for how you want to receive those notifications.

More potentially serious is that an additional post claims it is possible to view live, unencrypted video streams of Eufy cameras without needing to authenticate with a password first. This exploit is not currently in the wild, is technically complicated, apparently requires that users’ login credentials are used, and is restricted to video that is motion triggered—meaning someone wouldn't be able to turn on a camera remotely at will. We are waiting on a response from Eufy and will update this guide when we have more information.

Worry that your smart-home devices may be acting sneaky? So do we. Our reviews dig into privacy and security so you can feel better about our recommendations.

This battery-operated outdoor Wi-Fi camera provides clear 2K images. With the storage plan, it can also distinguish between people, animals, vehicles, packages, and general motion.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $154.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit (with a compatible base station), Google Assistant, IFTTT, 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.

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 $5 per month for a single camera as of February 2023. 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 older 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.

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."

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.

The Ring Stick Up Cam can be powered using an included weather-resistant cord or an add-on battery. It delivers 1080p video and can distinguish between people and other moving objects.

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. For $4 per month (or $40 per year), the Ring Protect Basic plan adds person detection, Rich Notifications to show you a preview of event video, and video storage for 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 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.

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.

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.

This hardwired floodlight camera records in a 2K resolution, has bright, adjustable lighting, and can store video locally for free or to the cloud (for a fee).

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'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 all of the 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 glimpse 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 smart 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.

I’ve had the Eufy floodlight installed on my back deck since early 2022. I never expect a ton of activity from there, so it's nice to know when someone is coming up the back steps. The light is really nice to have too, since I am always grilling and the lighting is dim otherwise—I like being able to adjust not only the color temperature of the light, but levels too, so guests aren't blinded.

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.

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.

*At the time of publishing, the price was $330.

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 EufyCam 2 Pro delivered smartphone alerts 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 the latter, 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 record all motion during nighttime hours anyway—presumably as a hedge against missing something in dim lighting.)

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 16GB 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 (which start at $0.99 per month). 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.

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."

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.

Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT

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 nice image, it's compact, and it's 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 $20 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.)

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 22.5 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 12.5-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 still images that are tagged as a Person, Sound, or general Motion. If you opt for local storage with a microSD card, it will capture video in 1-minute increments. Subscribing to Cam Plus Lite, which has a "Name Your Price" model, will add 12-second clips to the cloud, 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 $20 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 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.

For 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."

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.

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 don't have great Wi-Fi: The Arlo Go 2 has a lot of the same features as our top cord-free pick, but works with both Wi-Fi and add-on 4G LTE plans—although those will cost more and are only available via T-Mobile, US Cellular, and Verizon only). This model adds in the option to record free to a microSD card, but you will lose Arlo Secure features, which are really what makes Arlo cameras worth buying. Also, this camera only records in 1080p, has a smaller viewing angle (130 versus 160), and costs about $50 more than our pick.

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.

We started testing the Wyze Cam v3 Pro, which has a built-in spotlight and records 2K resolution video that is slightly better quality than our Budget pick, the Wyze Cam v3. Since the AI processing is handled in the camera (versus in the cloud), we’ve found smartphone alerts arrive faster, and the app is able to load video quicker, too. However, in early testing we had a few incidents where Activity Zones didn't trigger as they should have, or the camera just missed motion all together. As a result, we want to spend a little more time testing this camera before making a full assessment.

We’ve started testing three new cameras from Wyze. The $34 Wyze Cam Pan v3 has a IP65 rating for water and dust protection, has color night vision, and can pan a full 360 degrees and tilt 180 degrees. It also has a Privacy Mode, for which tilts the camera straight down to eliminate the field of view.

The $24 Wyze Cam OG and the $34 Wyze Cam OG Telephoto are indoor/outdoor 1080p cameras with color night vision and Picture in Picture Live View. The regular OG includes an integrated spotlight, while the Telephoto version has a 3x telephoto lens for zooming in. We plan to look at the $150 Wyze Cam Floodlight Pro, which combines adjustable 3,000 lumen LED lights with a 2.5K QHD camera that has a 180-degree viewing angle. It also includes AI-powered light, which means you can customize motion triggers so that it lights only when you want it to, such as when people or vehicles are present.

We also experienced problems with two different samples of the Eufy SoloCam S40—only to discover there was an issue with the waterproof sealing around the front of the camera. The company has updated the camera to address that issue, and so we plan to test the new version. We don't recommend purchasing a refurbished model. Because of that experience, we are holding off on releasing our full review of the Eufy Edge Security System, a $550 package that combines the new Eufy HomeBase 3 Hub and two EufyCam 3 4K solar-powered cameras.

We plan to review the TP-Link Tapo C420S2 Smart Wire-Free Security Camera System, a system that comes with two wire-free 2K cameras and the Tapo H200 Hub. Both cameras have color night vision, should last 180 days using removable batteries, and have the ability to identify people, pets, and cars. Users can save camera footage to a microSD card or Tapo Care cloud storage (starting at $3.50 per month).

The TP-Link Tapo C325WB is a new corded outdoor camera with ultra–low light color vision. The Tapo C425 Outdoor Security WiFi Camera features a large-capacity battery and magnetic mount for placement anywhere. Pricing and availability are still unannounced.

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 soon.

The Arlo Pro 5S 2K Security Camera has a lot of similar features as the Arlo Pro 4, but with a better battery life and support for dual-band Wi-Fi. It can be paired with the Arlo Home Security System using Arlo's SecureLink technology, which promises even better battery life and connectivity during web/power outages (an Arlo Professional Monitoring Plan is also required).

The Logitech Circle View and Eve Outdoor Cam both work 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.

Since they are able to send more specialized alerts, we recommend our corded picks over the Tapo C310 Smart Outdoor Home Security WiFi 2K Camera or the Tapo C320WS Smart Outdoor Home Security WiFi 2K QHD 4MP Camera. In our testing both cameras suffered from frequent false alerts. And both models have plugs that are too bulky to fit into many standard weatherproof in-use outlet covers.

We dismissed the Wyze Cam Outdoor v2 because it produces choppy audio and video—opt for our pick instead.

We prefer the Arlo Pro 4 to the Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera and the Arlo Pro 3, both of which deliver 1080p images. Plus, the Essential doesn't have a removable battery and the Arlo Pro 3 requires a base station.

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.

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

We can't recommend the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Battery because, despite several interesting features (including 5GHz Wi-Fi support), it missed several motion events during testing, doesn't have advanced AI like our picks, and its recordings max out at just 30 seconds—and even then it often left massive gaps in between clips.

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.

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 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.)

Unless you have the Abode Smart Security Kit, you can skip the Abode Cam 2. It lacks motion-sensitivity settings and 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 dismissed the Cync Outdoor Wired Smart Camera because it leaves gaps in between clips, has poor audio, and we found the app was constantly buffering, making it hard to actually view recordings.

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 dismissed Swann's Wireless 1080p Security Camera for cutting off action and wonky app performance. We also dismissed the Reolink Argus 3 Pro because it's not rated to operate in temperatures of less than 14 degrees Fahrenheit, which means it isn't useful to a large swath of the country. We also cut the Canary Flex due to its poor battery power and connection issues.

This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser.

John R. Delaney, The Best Outdoor Home Security Cameras for 2022, PCMag, October 4, 2022

Rebecca Edwards, Best Home Security Cameras for 2022, SafeWise, November 11, 2022

Ry Crist and and David Priest, Best Outdoor Home Security Cameras of 2022, CNET, November 4, 2022

Rachel Cericola

Rachel Cericola is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter who has been covering smart-home technology since the days of X10. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, Men's Health, USA Today, and others. She hopes her neighbors read this bio because it would explain why she always has four video doorbells running simultaneously outside her home.

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