How To Pick A Smart Security Camera? [Buying Guide]

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Gained early experience with automation technology in the private and industrial sector, can turn his living room into a movie theater with one voice command and is the owner of this website. He is happy to share his accumulated experience with every new article.

Security Camera Type

There are different types of smart security cameras. The smallest among them are the mini cameras, which are used together with the camouflage cameras for hidden surveillance. Such camouflage cameras for surveillance can have different forms so as not to attract attention.

For home use, however, IP cameras (IP = Internet Protocol) are currently the most common, as they have a very good price-performance ratio and can communicate over a network. And these smart cameras, which can be accessed from anywhere in the world, provide the security you need for your smart home, so you always know what’s going on at home, even when you’re on vacation.

Video & Audio Quality

Resolution

Most smart security cameras today already film in 1080p, some even in 4K. In any case, a normal HD resolution is enough to see details and faces well.

Ultra HD or 4K sounds very tempting, but is mostly too much for normal use. The disadvantage of such a high resolution is the enormous amount of data.

One of the many great things about a smart security camera is that you can view the live stream anywhere in the world on your smartphone or laptop. With a huge resolution, however, this becomes difficult and/or expensive.

Depending on where the camera is positioned and what the purpose is, you should adjust the resolution and frame rate accordingly. Even though the default settings of 1080p HD are suitable for almost everyone, everyone has to find the balancing between resolution and data volume for themselves.

Recording and Memory Type

Everyone knows them – the huge security cameras from the films with the connected monitors and the bored security staff sitting in front of them.

With smart security cameras it has fortunately become a little more modern. The data, i.e. the video and audio recordings, are stored either on an integrated SD card or via a cloud service on the Internet. So you can watch the recordings not only live but also afterwards.

When your security camera writes its files to an SD card, you may need to lower the quality of the video you capture so you have enough space for your desired recording duration. Once the disk space is full, the beginning of the recording will be overwritten so that you can only see the last few hours of the recording. Another disadvantage of storing the footage on an SD card that is located directly in the camera is that the camera can be stolen with the footage inside. This means that not only the camera but also the evidence is gone.

You don’t have this problem with cloud storage. If the camera is gone, the footage stays in the cloud. But even here there is a disadvantage that you should know.

There are providers of smart security cameras with cloud storage where you have to buy this storage space or pay recurring via a regular subscription. With our favorite, the Netgear Arlo Q security camera*, the storage space in the cloud is included in the price. The recordings are stored there for seven days in the cloud before being deleted.

Field of View

The requirements for the field of view are of course determined by the area you want to monitor. Our favourite, the Netgear Arlo Q* has a viewing angle of 130 degrees, which gives a large area to monitor.

With such a large viewing angle you can keep a watch on entire rooms or larger outdoor areas such as a driveway including front door.

If you only want to monitor your front door or other small areas, 45-60 degrees are perfectly sufficient.

Audio

The recording of sound is not absolutely necessary for pure surveillance. But you can also use your smart security camera in other ways than just for security, thanks to the built-in microphones and speakers.

For example, I have set up my security camera so that I get a message on my smartphone when something moves in front of my front door. With the built-in intercom I can also talk to the person standing in front of the door.

If I have ordered something and am not at home, I can still tell the delivery guy where he can best put the package. Another benefit would of course be the monitoring of a pet if you want to check in between if everything is good at home. Who knows – maybe you’ll catch your dog eating his bone on the couch! Then you can correct his behavior directly via the camera. Probably a bit creepy for the dog but all the more effective…

Motion Detector

If you just want to see the live images from your security camera, you don’t need a motion sensor. However, a motion sensor is very useful if you want to use the camera to notify you when something is moving in front of your camera. This could be for example the delivery guy at the door or a thief who wants to get access to your house while you are on vacation.

There are two types of motion detectors. Some cameras detect a movement with image comparison, which is evaluated by internal software. However, it is better if the motion detector detects the movement with infrared sensors.

Image comparison unfortunately still often comes to errors and you constantly get false alarms and after some time you no longer check your camera because you think it is again a false alarm.

So if you want to have an smart security camera with motion detector, make sure it is an infrared sensor or that you can connect an external infrared sensor.

No matter what kind of motion detector you have, adjust its sensitivity if possible so that it only triggers on interesting events and not on moving leaves.

Night Vision Mode

A night vision mode can be very useful for a security camera. For example, in outdoor areas you want to keep your security camera running especially at night.

For this, either the area you want to monitor must be illuminated with a light or you have a security camera with a good night vision mode through infrared.

If you are missing a light anyway where you want to position your security camera, there are also excellent combination devices with built-in lights.

When you choose a security camera with an infrared night vision mode, look up how many infrared LEDs are installed and what range they have.

App and Smart Home Integration

Most smart home security cameras connect to your smart home via WLAN. Of course they have to be within the range of your router.

Others have a base station to which they have to connect. In my opinion, these systems are best suited because they can connect multiple cameras to a single base. An extension of the system is therefore easy to realize.

The app with which you can operate the camera is also an important quality criteria. Almost all smart security cameras can be accessed and controlled via your Android or iOS device. After you have configured the app and created an account, you can set how and when you want to alert most security cameras and set other features.

Some cameras also give you the opportunity to talk to a potential intruder or your cat attacking your sofa with a small loudspeaker and microphone.

Weatherproof Smart Security Cameras

Depending on where you live, your outdoor security camera has to withstand different environmental conditions. If it is not hanging under a roof, it should definitely be completely waterproof. And in winter it has to withstand extreme sub-zero temperatures and continue to send good pictures.

Weather resistance is a property that many seem to ignore. I have often heard that many have lost their camera in winter because it simply froze.

The best smart outdoor security camera at the moment is the Netgear Arlo Pro 3*. I own this security camera to monitor my front door and the driveway. So far it has survived extreme heat waves, heavy rain showers and very cold winters.

Battery or Cable

Most smart cameras can be powered with a cable or optional with batteries.

The problem with a cable power supply is that you have to choose the positioning so that you can also lay a cable. The problem with battery operation is of course that the batteries will eventually run out and you have to replace them. Especially during longer absences you have to remember to replace them first because otherwise in the middle of your vacation suddenly no surveillance is guaranteed anymore.

Additional Features

Face Recognition & Face Detection

There is a difference between the recognition and detection of faces. In face detection, the camera only knows that what it sees is a face; in face recognition, it knows to which person that face belongs.

If a camera supports the face recognition feature, you only need to show familiar faces as a user of the security camera and associate them with a name.

Of course, face recognition is superior to face detection, but the benefits of face recognition are questionable. In my opinion, the main benefit of these two features is that they minimize the number of false alarms. The camera only gives an alarm if the movement was triggered by a human being. And face detection is good enough for that.

Event Programming

With many smart security cameras you can also program certain events and get even more out of a Smart Home. For example, you could pair the camera’s motion sensor with a light or open the front door when the camera detects your face.

WLAN or LAN?

If you’ve opted for an smart security camera without internal storage space but a cloud storage, the next question is how the camera transmits the data: via WLAN or via cable, so normal LAN?

Here it is important where you want to install the camera and what the conditions are. Is the location still within WLAN range or is there a connection for a LAN cable right next to it?

The advantages of a WLAN camera are the flexibility regarding the location and the fast installation because you don’t have to lay any cables. A disadvantage here, however, is that a data stream via WLAN is always more vulnerable than via a cable. In the private sector, the probability of someone hacking into the camera is practically zero. However, if you were looking for a security camera for a bank vault, I would leave WLAN security cameras alone.

I can recommend that you make the decision whether to connect the camera via WLAN or LAN dependent on its location. First choose the ideal location and then if by chance there is an easy way to connect a LAN cable, do it.

If your WLAN is not strong enough at the corner of your house, for example, there are also repeaters that can amplify the WLAN signal so that you have enough signal strength at your security camera to ensure a continuous signal.

What does ONVIF Compatibility mean?

ONVIF is an industry forum and was founded in 2008 by various manufacturers of safety and surveillance equipment. The goal is to create a uniform protocol for surveillance devices so that devices from different manufacturers can communicate with each other.

You can upgrade your system bit by bit, but you don’t have to buy devices from the same manufacturer.

Correct Positioning

Before you buy a security camera, you should be clear where you want to install it. You can just put most security cameras in a bookshelf or on a table. But if you want to hang them up, you have to install them in the right place so that you can properly capture the area to be monitored with your camera.

Make sure that you still have enough WLAN signal at this position, as most modern security cameras connect via WLAN.

When positioning, make sure that you do not have the neighbor’s property in view. This is either forbidden or can quickly lead to a dispute with the neighbour.

Many security cameras come with a standard mounting kit which fits most situations. However, you should definitely check this beforehand and otherwise obtain the appropriate suspension or adjust the situation at your house to this standard.

You also have to ask yourself whether you should see the camera immediately or not. People behave differently when they know they’re being watched. So you can use the camera not only for monitoring but also as a deterrent by positioning it correctly.

Our favorite, the Netgear Arlo Q*, comes with a practical stand that can be easily attached anywhere.

Webcam VS. Security Camera

When I first thought about digital security cameras or smart security cameras, I first thought that they only had to be weatherproof webcams. However, there are a few big differences between webcams and proper security cameras.

Sure, there are webcams that still have a few security features but they do not come close to the functionality and quality of a security camera.

With a webcam you can of course also monitor a certain area live, but a real security camera will let you know if something happens (e.g. via a motion sensor). Beside the video quality this feature is the most important in my opinion with a reasonable security camera. I don’t just want to look back and see what happened at a certain time, I also want to be alerted when something happens so I can react.

On the other hand, webcams are also great if you just want to check out what your pet or child is doing at home.

The Best smart Security Cameras

The Best Indoor Security Camera: Netgear Arlo Q

Check Price:

AMAZON*

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Netgear Arlo Q* is at the forefront of the best smart security cameras. This IP-security camera offers high resolution, night vision, microphone and speaker for two-way audio transmission and cloud storage included in the price. Here are the main quality features of the Netgear Arlo Q:

Good video quality

4 Megapixel image sensor
1080p HD at 30 fps
130 degree field of view
8x digital zoom
Night vision function

Easy to Install

This smart IP camera can be positioned in various ways. It comes with a foot to stand on, but you can also mount it magnetically or with a wall mount.

Here are the steps for installing the Netgear Arlo Q:

Connect the base station to your router.
Power the base station.
Insert batteries into the camera.
Press the Synchronize button on the camera and base station to connect the devices to each other.
Download the app and set up an account.

Free Cloud Space

Included in the purchase price is a cloud storage space that lasts for seven days of video and audio recording. Many other providers rent out the cloud storage or sell it as an upgrade.

You can watch the recorded videos or live pictures via your browser on the Internet or on your smartphone with your own app.

Smart Alarm Functions

By the adjustable sensitivity of different alarm criteria like light or movement, you can avoid false alarms. You can define individual alarm criteria that can be triggered by the following trigger options:

Geofencing: Through geofencing the camera knows where a paired smartphone is located. So it can detect if you are coming or going and you can set it to automatically start monitoring when you leave your house and stop when you return.
Motion detection and activity zones: You can adjust this smart camera to certain areas where the motion detector triggers. For example, if there is a sidewalk in the monitored area, you can set the activity zones so that the sidewalk is not included. This avoids false alarms.
Audio triggered alarm: The camera can also trigger an alarm or simply notify you when an audio signal is detected. For example, it could notify you when the doorbell rings.

The Best Outdoor Security Camera: Netgear Arlo Pro 3

Check Price:

AMAZON*

If you’re looking for an indestructible smart security camera with HD resolution and Alexa compatibility, the Netgear Arlo Pro 3* is for you.

This rugged outdoor security camera is completely waterproof and survives even a cold winter. It can also be equipped with a solar panel so that it can continue to operate even in the event of a power failure. The compatibility with Alexa and FireTV is a bonus.

Video Quality

With a security camera, video quality is an important quality feature, because you can see more details with a high resolution. More details means better identification.

The Netgear Arlo Pro 3 also records in 1080p HD, so that details can also be seen when zooming.

With the large field of view of 130 degrees you can also cover larger areas such as the entire front yard with the front door or a big living room.

Alexa Control

To integrate the camera into your Smart Home, you can now also use Alexa. This allows you to control your security camera by voice command and have the live broadcast shown to you on an Amazon Echo Show*, for example.

This is how you connect the Arlo Pro 3 with Alexa:

Turn on the security camera and connect it to your network.
In order for Alexa to access the camera, she needs to activate the Arlo skill. You can do this either via voice command or manually in the skill store. Then follow the instructions to connect the Arlo account to the Alexa account.
Done! Now you can instruct Alexa by voice command to show you the live stream on your Echo Show or FireTV.

Solar Panel

The Netgear Arlo Pro 3 security camera can be powered in various ways, from a socket, with rechargeable batteries or solar energy.

Using the solar panel is useful as long as it is positioned so that the sun can shine on it. Then the batteries are recharged by the sun. This is not only practical but also environmentally friendly.

The Best Mini Security Camera: YI Cloud Dome Camera

Check Price:

AMAZON*

The YI Cloud Dome Camera* can record up to 80 hours of video and store it on an SD card or in the cloud. What makes this mini camera so special is its ability to record 360 degree video in 1080p HD.

In addition, a good mini security camera has to be easy to position and offer flexible installation options. In addition to rotation around the horizontal axis, it can also change its viewing angle vertically. This allows it to be positioned in many situations without attracting attention.

Here are the best features of the YI Cloud Dome Camera:

Very large field of view due to two rotating axes.
Good sound quality due to two microphones.
Night vision mode: The built-in 8 infrared LEDs have a range of up to 3 meters.
Different recording modes: You can either set a permanent recording or just monitor the live image via PC or Smartphone.
Very good motion detector that can distinguish between humans and falling leaves.
Flexible installation

Bottom Line

A security camera is very useful not only for deterrence or prevention of break ins and intervention in emergency situations. But there are also many other ways to use an smart security camera. Whether as a baby cam or intercom – you always know from anywhere in the world what is going on in front of or in your house.

With the knowledge of what is possible and the need for more security, it quickly makes a lot of sense to buy a smart security camera or a system of several cameras.

Choosing the right smart security camera for your smart home system should be well thought out. With this article it will hopefully be easier for you to make this decision and find the best choice for your situation.

Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
Disclosure: This website is the property of Martin Lütkemeyer and is operated by Martin Lütkemeyer. Martin Lütkemeyer is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to enable Web sites to earn advertising revenue through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links marked with * are affiliate links.