Credit:
Reviewed / Rachel Murphy
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Credit:
Reviewed / Rachel Murphy
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
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With multiple options for installation, the Nest Cam (battery) is a versatile home security camera that’s full of smarts. Read More
The Eufy SoloCam S40 is a solar-powered home security camera that works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Read More
Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera is very reliable, offers a wide view, and records in 2K video. Read More
This Tapo security camera offers fantastic day and night video quality, including color night vision, and works with Amazon Echo and Google Home. Read More
The peace of mind that can come with outdoor home security cameras is priceless. Unfortunately however, purchasing surveillance cameras can be pricey. Here at Reviewed, we test the best security cameras on the market so you know that you’re buying the best option for you.
The best outdoor home security cameras should have a wide field of view, take high-quality video, and have desirable features such as night vision and smart motion detection. Additionally, they should be easy to install, weatherproof, and have sufficient video storage. Some even incorporate flood lights for extra protection.
Reviewed’s smart home experts continuously test outdoor security cameras in our own homes to get hands-on experience about how these top picks perform. The best outdoor home security camera we recommend is the Nest Cam (battery) (available at Best Buy for $129.99) for its fantastic spread of free smart features and multiple installation options.
If you don’t want to deal with charging camera batteries, you might want to consider the Eufy SoloCam S40 (available at Amazon), our favorite solar-powered outdoor home security camera. It has a great battery life as long as you install it in a spot that gets plenty of sun.
Regardless of what you’re looking for, we’re confident that our list will have an option that will suit your needs.
The Nest Cam (battery) is a smart, functional, and reliable outdoor security camera that's perfect for any home.
The Eufy SoloCam S40 has a built-in solar panel.
The Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight camera is a reliable option to help safeguard your home.
The Ring Stick Up Cam Pro Battery works well with Alexa.
The Tapo C325WB security camera offers incredible video performance.
The Reolink Argus 3 Pro security camera offers good video quality for the money.
The Logitech Circle View security camera works exclusively with Apple HomeKit.
High-quality video
Feature-packed
Cloud storage is optional
App is confusing
Motion detection can be finicky
While video doorbells excel at detecting activity on a porch, a security camera system can protect other home areas.
Indoor security cameras are great for interior spaces, but an outdoor security camera is the first line of defense in protecting your home.
To find the top outdoor home security cameras, we research the market, purchasing and testing cameras from the top brands. As new options emerge and older models are discontinued, we retest our winners, pitting them against new cameras.
We install each camera, noting the installation procedures, in-app setup process, and reliability. Testing includes evaluating video quality, audio quality, responsiveness, Wi-Fi network reliability, weather resistance, and app usability.
A big trick with security cameras is dialing in the notifications so you're alerted to the things you want to know without being bombarded with notifications every time a bird flies by. Because of this, we test the sensitivity controls for each product, whether they support motion zones, and how quickly they send alerts about people and noise.
We also installed mobile apps on iPhones and Samsung devices to determine whether the app experience was identical across platforms. Additionally, we tested how quickly each app began a live stream.
In a world where high-powered cameras are becoming more common, more than pixel count is needed to set a good security camera apart. Here are some things to consider.
A wireless outdoor camera with a rechargeable battery is convenient, as most cameras should only be recharged once or twice a year. However, not all cameras have a removable battery. That means you must take the entire camera down to charge it. It’s not make or break, but it’s something to be aware of if you like the appearance of having security cameras up at all times.
With wired cameras, we recommend having electrical outlets in the soffits of your roofline. This allows you to easily connect a camera without running cords all along the outside of your home.
While there is more to a good outdoor camera than picture quality, it’s still an important factor. Finding a camera with 2K resolution doesn’t have to break the bank, however. Some models we tested have exceptional picture quality at a value price, such as the Kasa Cam Outdoor.
Another thing to consider when investing in an outdoor home security camera is a field of view. You want the camera you choose to be able to capture images from important access points around your home and have limited blind spots. Our top pick has a 130-degree field of view, while other recommendations have a wider degree. One thing to remember: You may need to restrict the field of view so you aren’t looking into your neighbors’ properties.
When shopping for an outdoor home security camera, consider what features are really necessary to meet your needs, as additional ones usually come with a higher overall price tag. Features can range from two-way talk audio to privacy zones. Here are a couple of important features we think are worth consideration.
Night Vision: Night vision can come from infrared imaging, full-color night vision capture, or a spotlight. Infrared is the least reliable of the three. Full-color night vision uses powerful light sensors and a minimal supplement light to help the camera record in the dark. Finally, a spotlight can help the video capture images and warn passersby they’re being recorded, which you may or may not want.
Smart Motion Detection: Not all motion sensors are created equal. Some cameras are incredibly adept at separating vehicles, packages, animals, and people. Others simply bombard you with constant notifications. Still, others allow you to set up zones and adjust sensitivity to your preferences. Make sure your camera is on when it needs to be.
Where does your video live? Is it on a hard drive that you own? Or is it on the cloud somewhere? Paying extra for updates, advanced features, and cloud storage is not uncommon. However, accessing your video clips without an extra fee is nice.
It’s worth noting that most outdoor security cameras have apps that let you control when they record and upload video to the cloud.
A paid subscription plan is fairly common with almost any smart home security system gadget, from smart doorbells to security cameras. Think of home security as a continual investment rather than a one-time deal. If you want access to the best features like continuous surveillance and special detection alerts for people, cars, animals, and packages, subscribing to a paid plan is the way to go.
Alternatively, some cameras record to built-in storage, an optional microSD, instead of uploading to a cloud, at least as an option. But most of the time, a paid plan enhances what the camera can do. Features like differentiating between people and general motion or the ability to share videos are worth paying for.
From data breaches to sharing your footage without your consent, there are plenty of concerns about the security of your security footage. Ensure you sign on with a company you trust to maintain your privacy.
We have excluded from our security camera recommendations any cameras from the well-known brand Wyze. The company received criticism after some customers reported being able to see live feeds of cameras that weren’t theirs. For that reason and previous security issues, Reviewed has decided to withdraw recommendations for all Wyze security cameras.
When deciding which security camera to choose, there are some privacy protections to look for.
Two-factor authentication: This security feature, which sends a code to your mobile device to verify that it’s really you, is available on many home security cameras and should be sought out and activated. That way, if someone tries to hack into your account, you will receive an alert and can quickly resolve the problem.
End-to-end encryption: Encryption offers a layer of protection that can help prevent unwanted eyeballs from viewing your saved videos.
You can also take some steps to protect your data. Create a strong password that’s unique to your camera’s app. Do not reuse passwords across multiple websites and apps.
You should also consider regularly deleting your voice recordings when using security cameras with smart assistants like Google, Alexa, and Siri. Muting the speaker’s mic when not in use is yet another way to protect your privacy..
For more privacy tips, read our securing your smart home guide.
Camryn Rabideau is a full-time freelance writer and product tester with eight years of experience. She's been lucky enough to test hundreds of products firsthand, and her specialties include bedding and pet products, which often require help from her two dogs, three cats, and flock of rambunctious chickens.
Rachel Murphy is Reviewed's home editor. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Central Florida. Prior to joining the team, she worked as a freelance writer for publications like Insider and Mashable, and as an associate editorial producer for Good Morning America. Aside from smart home tech, her interests include food, travel, parenting, and home renovation. You can usually find her sipping on coffee at any time of the day.
Originally from Australia, de Looper has long had a passion for gadgets and consumer electronics. He has reviewed products in all areas of the consumer tech world, and is dedicated to helping people find the best products for their lifestyle.
Nick Woodard is a tech journalist specializing in all things related to home theater and A/V. His background includes a solid foundation as a sports writer for multiple daily newspapers, and he enjoys hiking and mountain biking in his spare time.
Rick Broida
Contributor
Rick Broida has been writing about consumer technology since the days of the Commodore Amiga, meaning he’s not only incredibly old, but also the undisputed champion of Defender of the Crown.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
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