Why You Can Trust CNET Best Wireless Home Security Cameras of 2023
We tested the best wireless security cameras so you can be sure your home is safe and secure.
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Security cameras are no longer exclusive to the rich and famous. Nowadays, anyone can get the peace of mind that comes from having a security camera to protect their home. Whether you want the added security or you just want to be able to keep an eye on deliveries and who's at your door, a wireless security camera is a worthwhile purchase. You don't even need to hire an electrician to set it up. Whether you want to protect the inside or outside of your home, these are some of the best wireless security cameras of 2023.
Installation is significantly less involved, making the whole process easier. And the best thing about wireless security cameras is that when you need to relocate one, moving it is hassle-free. We've collected a number of the very best wireless home security cameras on the market to make finding the right one easier.
You can put an outdoor camera on a fence or secure a hidden camera in a tree, untethered to the house's power. In fact, you can install your security camera anywhere your Wi-Fi reaches. Scale up your home security system and invest in the peace of mind you'll receive from your outdoor camera setup. You can even have an indoor camera and video doorbell, so you can keep watch on your home and deter intruders, all without needing to fiddle with or fuss over wiring.
You can find countless battery-powered security cameras out there, but who's got the spare time to comb through all of the options? Me. I made the time and sifted through a bunch to find the best wireless security camera options on the market. I considered surveillance camera factors like field of view, video quality and storage, battery life, whether or not it connects to your existing smart home and if it provides a mobile app with recording options.
Read on, if you're seeking a wireless security camera to meet your home protection and security needs.
Best wireless home security cameras
Arlo's floodlight camera is the best on the market -- and unlike most floodlight cams, you can install it without wires. It includes weatherproof housing, crisp HD livestreaming, reliable alerts and true security camera features with arming and disarming capabilities -- plus a built-in siren and a very bright built-in floodlight. It works with Alexa and Google Assistant, too.
Arlo's latest Pro series camera is a fantastic device with features to spare. It boasts 2K HDR resolution, a 160-degree field of view, two-way talk, full-color night vision, a built-in siren and spotlight, compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Apple HomeKit -- the list goes on.
This powerhouse of a camera lists for $200 -- pricier than super-affordable options like Wyze Cam V3, but easily worth the premium. For $3 per month, you can also get smart alerts, motion zones, 30 days of event history and a few other cool features. This wireless outdoor security camera has a local storage option to secure your videos directly from your home security system to your Arlo Base Station. In short, the Arlo Pro 4 is a fantastic home security camera for most people.
Wyze has a fantastic wireless video doorbell for $100, and you can sometimes find it for less. The Video Doorbell Pro has a tall and wide 1:1 aspect ratio with 1,440x1,440-pixel resolution. It has everything else you'd expect a video doorbell in 2023 to have: two-way talk, live streaming, smart alerts and so on. Wyze even comes with a plug-in chime so you don't have to wire it or rely on app notifications. In short, this thing is a pretty unbeatable deal.
How we test wireless security cameras
Hands-on testing is core to our evaluations of home security products. In short, when it comes to security cameras, we pay special attention to resolution, night vision and latency, extra features, general performance and overall value. We evaluate all of these elements in a real home environment over the course of a week. If you want to read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security cameras and video doorbells.
How we picked and tested
- Trusted manufacturersWe identify and acquire new or highly reviewed products from trusted manufacturers or interesting startups that consumers are most likely to come across when shopping online or in a brick and mortar store.
- Objective testingWe set up the camera by precisely following the instructions, and test all advertised features in a home setting, paying special attention to resolution and image quality at various distances, night vision efficiency and notification latency.
- Testing over timeWe allow the camera to operate for a period of time, typically around one week, to get a feel for how often and reliably the camera detects, alerts to and records sounds and movement during the day and at night.
- Testing with different smart home ecosystemsWe operate the cameras with different systems such as Google, Alexa and Apple HomeKit to gauge how well the camera functions with other smart home devices.
Wireless home security cameras compared
| Arlo Pro 4 | Arlo Pro 3 With Floodlight | Wyze Video Doorbell Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $158 | $159 | $100 |
| Resolution | 2K | 2K resolution with HDR | 1,440x1,440 pixels |
| Field of view | 160 degrees | 160 degrees wide | 150 degrees |
| Setup | Wireless, indoor/outdoor | Wireless, outdoors only | Wireless, outdoors only |
| Extra features | Live streaming, two-way talk, night vision, weather resistance | Weatherproof housing, crisp HD livestreaming, reliable alerts, built-in siren, integration with Alexa and Google Assistant. | Two-way talk, live streaming, smart alerts, cloud storage |
| Review score | 8.5 | 9 | 8.9 |
Wireless security camera system FAQs
Can wireless cameras work without internet?
Wireless smart cams generally rely on your home internet connection to function, but that isn't always the case. Some devices, like Nest's wireless video doorbell and Wyze's cameras, can save footage locally in case of an outage. Other systems, like Lorex's cameras, work using their own wireless network. That means as long as their base station has power, the wireless cameras will keep recording onto a microSD card.
What's a good affordable wireless security camera system?
The cost of smart security cameras can add up really quickly, so if you're looking for a whole system of cameras, more affordable options from developers like Blink or Wyze might be the right call for you. Getting an affordable video doorbell might be a good idea, too -- and wireless options are getting cheaper every year.
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