A security camera is a key part of any solid home security system, and there’s a bewildering choice of models for both indoors and outside. That’s why I’ve put together this shortlist of three tested and recommended cameras I’d trust to protect my own property.
Whether your priority is night vision, video resolution, or the ability to track subjects as they move across your property, there’s a cam here for you. There’s even one that comes with built-in facial recognition without a subscription fee – and it really works. Most of these cameras are fully wireless as well, so you don’t need to worry about power cables, with solar panels to maximize batter life between charges.
Indoor
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Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam
This little camera is one of Ring’s most affordable models, and its ability to pan and tilt (which you can control via the Ring app) means it has a much wider field of view than most budget-friendly cams.
Although Ring’s newer cameras offer higher resolution images, during our tests we found the Pan-Tile Indoor Cam’s footage perfectly fine for most situations, appearing sharp and crisp when viewed on a phone. We were particularly impressed by how well it handled moving subjects, with no noticeable pixilation or lag.
The audio quality isn’t exceptional, and a higher-end model will have better microphones, but the two-way talk function works well. We also appreciated the inclusion of a physical privacy cover that slides over the lens to stop recordings, and an audio cut-out feature.
The biggest drawback is that it won’t pan and tilt automatically to track movement like the Reolink Altas below will. It’s also worth bearing in mind that you’ll need a Ring Home subscription to make the most of all its features, and to store video recordings in the cloud so you can watch them later. There’s no way to insert an SD card into the camera to store files locally.
Read our full Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Cam review
Night vision
Reolink Altas PT Ultra
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The Reolink Altas (not ‘Atlas’) PT Ultra is an excellent exterior home security camera for monitoring your property, and performed so well in testing that it won a prize in last year’s TechRadar Choice Awards.
It’s definitely a large camera, and not the easiest unit to install, but once it’s up you’ll benefit from pin-sharp 4K footage, 355-degree pan and 90-degree tilt (complete with subject-tracking) and an extra-large capacity battery for continuous recording.
What really impressed us during testing, however, was the Altas PT Ultra’s extraordinary night-time recording. Many home security cameras can only capture images in black and white after dark, but the Altas uses ColorX technology to record in full color. The results were extremely impressive (and there are bright spotlights for recording in total darkness).
There’s also an optional solar panel to extend its battery life, but if you want a security camera that will last as long as possible between charges, I recommend taking a look at the Baseus Security S2 below instead.
The Altas isn’t the most expensive camera around either, and although you can pay a monthly fee to keep your video recordings in the cloud, it’s not mandatory; you can store them on a MicroSD card instead if you prefer.
Read our full Reolink Altas PT Ultra review
Subscription-free
Baseus Security S2
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Another excellent security cam that can be used without a subscription, the Baseus Security S2 has a unique design with a rectangular solar panel mounted on a long camera barrel. This panel rotates to follow the movement of the sun across the sky, catching as many rays as possible to maximize the camera’s battery life. It’s an innovative idea, and during our testing we found it remarkably effective, letting the camera record constantly without a wired power supply or frequent recharging.
Another of this camera’s best features (and one that would usually require a paid subscription plan) is built-in facial recognition. Just add the names and faces of housemates and family members, and the camera will tell you whether it’s spotted a familiar person or a stranger. During testing we found that it could even recognize faces reflected in windows.
We were also impressed by the lack of false alerts from things like tree branches waving in the wind, which is a common problem with some other outdoor home security cameras.
The S2 records footage at 4K resolution, and like the Altas PT Ultra above, it can save your videos on a MicroSD card without the need for a paid plan (it supports cards up to 256GB). Both cameras are around the same price, so it’s a question of which bonus features appeal most: extra wide field of view and superior night vision, or facial recognition and extended battery life.
Read our full Baseus Security S2 review
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