Best Home Security Cameras in 2023

The top 5 features to look for in a home security camera

A home security camera that connects to your smartphone is one of the best home security tools. This type of camera offers a range of functions and is available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and designs, which can make it challenging to pick one. The more popular and important security camera features are broken down below for you to review before making a purchase decision.

Motion & audio sensors

It is impossible to over-emphasize the significance of motion sensing for home security cameras, particularly if you want to capture unusual behavior or activity that might occur while the camera is on. Motion detecting allows you to pause recording until a moving object enters the picture rather than continuously recording, which can quickly cause your storage option to become maxed out with data and no longer be able to record video. Noise detection that can trigger video recording and send you an alert when audio is detected in the vicinity of the security camera is also of extreme value when choosing between home security cameras.

Communication like two-way audio

Most home security cameras come with a microphone. This microphone enables the device to pick up audio that occurs within a certain range. Some home security cameras come equipped with both a microphone and a speaker, thus facilitating two-way audio capabilities. With two-way audio, you can do much more than just listen to the audio occurring within a certain range of the camera. You can also use the camera’s app to have a conversation with someone on the other side of the camera. Your audio will then play through the camera’s speaker for you to hear.

Field of vision

When choosing and installing security cameras, the field of vision, which is commonly referred to as the viewing angle, is a crucial aspect to take into account. Where you place the cameras and how much of the scene they can observe at once will depend on the viewing angle.

Although a camera with a smaller field of vision can’t capture as large of a view as a camera with a larger field of vision, the detail will be better. If you want a camera that can show you what’s going on in a large location, you’ll want a camera with a wider field of view. Having a large field of vision is also helpful if you need to put it in a spot that limits your ability to reposition it easily.

Quality of video

The image quality of any security camera is, undoubtedly, a very important feature to consider before making a purchase. It wasn’t long ago that security cameras lagged far behind in terms of recording resolutions when compared to available technology. Thanks to advancements, however, it is now very affordable for any homeowner to thoroughly equip a home with a security camera that provides 720p or 1080p recording resolution.

When shopping for cameras, remember that low-resolution filming will occur when you opt for a device that captures smaller images. A camera that produces larger images will produce film with higher resolution. The most common types of resolution available on today’s home security systems are:

• 1080p
• 1440p
• 1920p
• 2160p

A camera with a high resolution will cost more, but it will also likely offer more features, such as night vision and different types of motion detection notifications. Cameras with higher resolution are also more likely to sync with other smart home devices.

As far as what is considered the best resolution, many tech gurus say cameras with a 1440p resolution offer clearer images than ones with a 1080p one. The images produced by a camera with a 1400p resolution tend to be much clearer and ideal for capturing objects in vivid detail, even from a distance.

Power source

Most home security cameras receive power by plugging into a standard outlet. With such simple access to power, this makes it easy to place the cameras in just about any location. All you’ll need to place one in a faraway location from an outlet is an extension cord. You’ll need a battery-powered camera if you want to place it somewhere without access to an electrical outlet. With a camera that’s hard-wired to a power source, you get rid of the hassle of having to change and charge batteries all the time. However, you also limit your placement options.

Home security camera: wired vs. wireless

There are two primary types of home security cameras. For years, the only kind available was wired, but nowadays, you have the wireless option. Even though there’s a lot of confusion about wired and wireless camera systems, they’re not that hard to understand.

The differences between wired and wireless systems

When differentiating between wired and wireless security cameras, a wired device must be hard-wired to a network to communicate with other devices on the network. A wireless device can communicate wirelessly with a network to communicate. Most wireless security cameras use Wi-Fi to transmit data, whereas a wired device uses wires and cables. A wireless camera that uses a battery as a power source is considered a wire-free camera.

A wireless home security camera is commonly referred to as a Wi-Fi camera. An AC power adapter powers it, and it broadcasts video over a Wi-Fi network. Because they are powered by an AC power adapter that’s plugged into an electrical outlet of some type, not all Wi-Fi cameras are completely wireless. You must keep this in mind when shopping for a camera. Only those Wi-Fi cameras that are battery-powered are truly wireless.

The advantages of wireless systems

Wireless home security cameras come with several advantages over wired cameras. For starters, wireless cameras, generally speaking, are easier to install than the wired versions. They also tend to offer more placement options and flexibility when it comes to operation. Many of today’s wireless cameras come with an array of storage options, including cloud storage. A lot of them also come with machine learning features, making it simple for the devices to distinguish between animals, pets, and vehicles.

Types of wired security systems

If you opt for a wired security camera, chances are it will come with a recording device along with one or more cameras. Most wired systems come with a minimum of four cameras and as many as 16 or more. These types of cameras record video (and some recorded audio) footage around the clock. Most of the systems have internet connectivity and allow remote viewing. The systems themselves have usually hardwired into the internet as well as some type of power source.

Currently, there are two basic types of wired home security camera systems to choose from. A traditional DVR system consists of a recording device, a storage device, and multiple camera devices. An NVR device, also known as a network video recorder, is much the same as a DVR system except in its power source. A DVR system uses a coaxial cable as a power source. The NVR systems use an Ethernet cord.

DVR systems aren’t different from NVR systems in how they record video. Both systems record video using the internet via the Ethernet cable. Another difference, however, between the two systems can be seen in their video quality. NVR systems usually provide a much clearer image than DVR systems, but both types support two-way audio as well as motion and person detection.

The advantages of wired systems

Regardless of whether you choose a DVR or NVR system, wired systems have higher rates of reliability than wireless systems. Wired systems also come with greater durability and dependability when used either indoors or outdoors. Another main advantage of wired systems stems from their local storage, which keeps storage fees to a minimum.

The disadvantages of wired systems

On the downside, wired systems require professional installation, costing some home and business owners thousands of dollars. It’s also with wired systems that you’ll notice that apps and software are not as user-friendly as apps and software for wireless systems. It’s also a letdown for many people that wired systems don’t tend to integrate with Alexa or Google Assistant devices.

IP ratings for security cameras: what you need to know

A security camera is something you should have. It can not only help you see a thief or other possible threat, but it can also prevent the offender from approaching your land or property if it has the right features. Whether you’re using a wired system or a wireless system, and whether you’re using it indoors or outside, it’s pertinent to understand IP ratings.

Choosing between cameras with different IP ratings can become perplexing. Oftentimes, trying to understand IP ratings ends up causing a person to ask even more questions and have more confusion about home security cameras. Use our helpful guide below as a quick overview of IP ratings that’s easy to understand and simple to reference.

What does an IP rating look like?

The IP rating for a camera will always have at least two digits. Some IP ratings also include a letter. The number filling the two digits represents how well the camera enclosure on the device is at keeping solids and liquids from entering. When there is a letter at the end of an IP rating, the letter signifies how easy it is for a person to tamper with the enclosure. Thus, all in all, the IP rating represents how weather-proof and tamper-proof a camera system is.

Do all cameras have IP ratings?

Home security camera manufacturers are not required by law to have an IP rating. Instead, the IP rating assessment is completely voluntary. The advantage of an IP rating from manufacturers stems from a customer’s enhanced ability to easily identify how water, wind, and tamper-proof a camera system is. There are three common IP ratings for today’s home security systems: IP-66, IP-67, and IP-68. However, it’s not uncommon to see various systems with an IP-54 rating.

What do the first and second numbers represent?

As stated before, the two digits in an IP rating represented by numbers indicate how weather- and tamper-resistant a camera system is. The first number in the combination indicates the camera’s ability to deter solid objects and dust from entering the camera enclosure. The second number indicates the system’s resistance to liquids.

The first number represents protection against solid objects.

• 0 – No protection
• 1 – 50mm or bigger
• 2 – 12.5mm or bigger
• 3 – 2.5mm or bigger
• 4 – 1mm or bigger
• 5 – Minimum dust protection
• 6 – Full dust protection

The second number represents safety from liquids.

• 0 – No protection
• 1 – Vertically dripping water
• 2 – Vertically dripping water as well as dripping water when the enclosure is tilted up to 15 degrees
• 3 – Spraying water hitting the enclosure at an angle of up to 60 degrees
• 4 – Splashing water
• 5 – Water projected from a nozzle
• 6 – Powerful water jets
• 7 – Immersion into water up to 1 meter
• 8 – Immersion into water beyond 1 meter

What do the letters in an IP rating mean?

If a letter is found at the end of an IP rating, it will be one of the following, indicating how tamper-proof the camera is.

The letter represents protection from intrusions as follows.

• Back of hand
• Finger (and lower)
• Tool (and lower)
• Wire (and lower)

The letter represents additional testing of the camera.

• High-voltage device
• Device moving during a water test
• Device standing still during water test
• Weather conditions

When IP ratings are really important

When you want to use a camera, the IP rating is very important in situations like:

• In a windy area
• Where there’s a lot of dust and debris
• Locations with dripping water
• Spaces where people regularly work
• When the camera will likely come into contact with body parts or tools
• Areas that are prone to flooding