Pros
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Compact and lightweight
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Improved video quality
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Built-in spotlight
Cons
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Problems with smart router
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Outdoor adapter sold separately
The Wyze Cam V3 Pro is an upgraded version of the Wyze Cam V3. We like it for its compact form, accurate smart alerts, and local storage, but the new Pro model offers a few extra features, including improved video quality and a built-in spotlight. Unfortunately, I ran into some compatibility issues between the camera and my smart router, which I did not experience when I tested the previous generation. The security program used to protect my Wi-Fi network kept flagging false attacks from the camera, rendering it virtually unusable in my smart home.
About the Wyze Cam V3 Pro
Here's everything included with the Wyze Cam V3 Pro.
- Color: White
- Connectivity: 802.11 b/g/n, 2T2R 2.4 GHz (5 GHz Wi-Fi not supported)
- Power source: 110-240V(AC/DC)
- Resolution: 2560x1440 (2K)
- Field of view: 116 degrees
- Digital zoom: 8x
- Smart assistant: Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT
- Operational temperatures: -4°F to 131°F
- Weight: 4.23 oz.
- Dimensions: 2.05 in x 2.05 in x 2.3 in
The Wyze Cam V3 Pro is almost identical to the brand’s standard V3 camera. Both have an extremely compact and lightweight design, and they can both be used both inside or outdoors.
Like the regular V3, the Pro version allows you to store video footage locally via a microSD card, and if you want the camera to capture full-length videos when it detects motion and send smart alerts, you have to opt for the brand’s Cam Plus subscription, which costs $1.99 a month or $20 per year.
However, the Pro model does offer a few new features to justify its slightly higher price tag. It has improved video quality, providing clearer footage both day and night, as well as a built-in spotlight that turns on when the camera detects motion.
What we like
The video footage is clearer than past models
The picture quality these cameras capture are some of the most impressive we've seen.
I previously tested the Wyze Cam V3, and when I compared footage from the two models, the Pro definitely stood out in terms of clarity. The standard V3 Cam offers 1080p resolution, while the Pro delivers 2560p—or 2K—video footage.
The images and video clips from the Pro were much clearer, and I was impressed with the clarity of the live stream when I zoomed in.
The camera also delivers surprisingly clear video at night, which came in handy when I wanted to see what my dogs were barking at without going outside.
It has a built-in spotlight
In terms of actual camera design, the one major difference I noticed between the Wyze V3 and the V3 Pro is that the Pro model has a built-in spotlight. When the camera senses motion at night, it automatically lights up, giving you a better view of what’s going on. It’s not the most powerful light ever, but it still illuminates a 10-foot radius or so.
Plus, I like that if someone were to approach my house at night, they would instantly know they’re being recorded.
The new Smart Focus feature is very useful
Another new feature that I liked from the Wyze V3 Pro is its new “Smart Focus.” When this feature is activated, the camera automatically zooms in on any person it detects, providing a closer view of the action when you’re watching the feed live. The full camera view is available simultaneously, shrunk into the corner of the screen.
This feature is particularly handy when you’re watching the live camera feed—after all, chances are that you’re going to want to see who’s approaching your house or walking through your home.
I liked that it zooms in automatically, saving me from having to do it myself, and if you don’t like the feature, you can always turn it off.
What we don’t like
My router security program didn’t like the camera
All of these supposed phishing attacks were false alarms, but there were too many of them.
Almost as soon as I had set up the Wyze Cam V3 Pro, my Wi-Fi router had problems with it. I use a Netgear Orbi router, and it has built-in security tools that help to prevent common security issues, such as phishing attempts, malware, and other online attacks.
Every time you connect a new device to the Wi-Fi, the Orbi runs a security assessment, and when I set up the Wyze Pro, I started getting notifications that the router was detecting a “Denial of Service” attack via the camera.
The alerts came in non-stop, quickly creating a wall of messages on my phone—it was enough to freak me out, and I unplugged the camera immediately.
After a bit of online sleuthing, I discovered that this seems to be a common problem with this version of the Wyze camera—other users have experienced the same issue with other routers, including the popular Netgear Nighthawk.
We reached out to Wyze for insight on this issue, and they explained that the router is flagging a false positive.
Here’s what they said: “As you can imagine, our cameras send many packets of data back and forth between the camera and our servers, and in some rare cases a user's security package (often a high-end service the user is paying for) is flagging this process as a DoS attack.”
Wyze also noted that they’re working with Netgear to resolve the issue.
I felt better knowing that this was a known issue and that the camera wasn’t actually being hacked, but the whole situation definitely made me a bit uncomfortable.
Not to mention that the non-stop notifications from my router were inconvenient, to say the least.
If you have a router that offers this type of security feature, you may want to avoid this camera model until the issue is resolved.
It doesn’t include an outdoor power adapter
The Wyze Cam V3 Pro is marketed for both indoor and outdoor use, as it’s IP65 rated for all-weather operation. However, it doesn’t actually include the adapter you need to use the camera outdoors.
I set mine up in a covered area for the brief time I tested it, but if you’re going to put this camera outside, you’re going to want to purchase the Wyze Outdoor Power Adapter, which costs an additional $14.
Should you buy the Wyze Cam V3 Pro?
No, it doesn’t work with all Wi-Fi networks currently
It's a high quality camera, but it will probably need some updates and patches before we can fully recommend it.
Given the issues we ran into using the Wyze Cam V3 Pro, we don’t recommend it for anyone who has a router with a security system that monitors their Wi-Fi network—at least not until Wyze sorts out the issue, anyway.
Receiving constant notifications that your Wi-Fi network is under attack is enough to concern even the most experienced tech users, and there are plenty of other smart security cameras out there that don’t have the same compatibility issues.
If you don’t have a high-tech router and are considering this camera, the Wyze Cam V3 Pro retails for $50, but don’t forget that you’ll have to add on an additional $14 for the outdoor adapter if you plan to install it outside.
It does have a few additional features—better video quality and a spotlight, namely—that set it apart from the previous model, but if you’re looking for the most inexpensive option, we recommend sticking with standard Wyze V3 Cam, which is just $30 and works just as well for everyday security.
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Meet the tester
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.
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