Comparing the Best Wireless Outdoor Cameras
See which outdoor wireless cameras are worth a second glance
See which outdoor wireless cameras are worth a second glance
Looking for the best wireless outdoor camera? Here’s a round up of our recommendations.
Terms like wired, wire-free, and wireless get thrown around a lot in security camera forums. Before we dive into talking about the best wireless cameras, let’s define some terms.
Wireless cameras: These cameras use Wi-Fi to transmit video footage to cloud storage. That’s why you can access them on any device, like your phone. These cameras are battery-powered or plug-in.
Wire-free cameras: These are Wi-Fi cameras powered by batteries. They have no wires attached to them whatsoever and are thus very simple to install.
Wired cameras: This term can refer to either a Wi-Fi camera that requires a plug-in, to be hardwired, or to a camera that transmits video via a cable (like a CCTV camera).
In this guide we’ll use the term wireless to refer to all Wi-Fi cameras, whether they’re plug-in or battery-powered.
Best if you’re concerned about battery life and can place a camera within easy reach of an outlet.
Both the Arlo Essential and Arlo Essential Pan Tilt plug-in cameras are a great option if you want constant monitoring that works with your Wi-Fi.
The Arlo Essential Plug-in offers 130° Field of View with clear Color Night Vision and 2-Way Audio. It’s also equipped with a siren, like most Arlo cameras.
The Arlo Essential Pan Tilt camera comes with very similar features but offers 360° views and Automatic Motion Tracking. A great option if you’re worried about blind-spots or someone dashing by the camera too quickly.
The battery-powered Arlo Essential camera is maximum convenience at the best price — $69.99 as of this writing. (The plug-in version mentioned earlier is even more affordable at $59.99, but needs to be installed near a power source.)
2K Video Resolution, motion detection triggered alerts, Color Night Vision, and 2-Way Audio — all make for a powerful security camera that won’t break the bank.
Best for if you need to place a camera in a hard-to-reach spot, like a tree, or a fence post.
The Arlo Pro is now in it’s 6th generation and continues to be one of our most popular cameras for a reason — it offers wide angle Field of View (160°), crystal-clear resolution (2K HDR), and a brilliant spotlight for night-time so you can catch important details like vehicle license plates, shirt colors, and other key identifiers.
It also offers easy-to-swap rechargeable battery packs that last 15% longer than the average battery for a camera of similar size.
Nest cams continue to be a popular choice for wireless outdoor cameras, with good reason. The latest Google Nest model comes with detection alerts for packages, people, and animals, and allows you to set customizable alerts.
It’s also made to snap into place and most users find it easy to install. It offers high-resolution and color night vision capabilities, which makes it a good choice for both in-house and outdoor use.
Best if you have a dark alleyway, tucked away garage, or live in a poorly-lit area.
Bright, LED-powered, and completely wireless. Arlo Wireless Floodlight is perfect if you want a Wi-Fi camera and a motion-activated light in one package. It can be connected directly to your Wi-Fi without a hub, and offers 2K HDR, 160° Field of View, and a rechargeable battery.
Have a smart home assistant? The wireless floodlight works with Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant.
The Ring Spotlight camera is a great choice for smaller areas, and still offers great video quality (2K HDR) and color night vision. While the light itself, as the name implies, is more of a spotlight than a full-on floodlight, you’ll get 3D motion detection, built-in siren, and reliable Wi-Fi connectivity.
Best if Wi-Fi connectivity is a concern (remote areas, construction sites, monitoring an RV or a van when you’re travelling).
Arlo Go 2 is wireless (rechargeable battery) and can work with LTE or Wi-Fi when available. It comes with the usual Arlo features, like excellent resolution, 2-Way Audio, and an Integrated Spotlight with Color Night Vision. Since it works via LTE it also offers local storage for recording offline. It’s the perfect camera you can use at home and take with you on the go for long-distance RV trips, vanlife adventures, or anywhere the road takes you. Frequently asked questions |
What features should I look for in the best outdoor cameras?Look for high-resolution (at least 1080p) and night vision capabilities. After all, the usefulness of any security camera hinges on being able to see exactly what’s happening on your property, day or night. Beyond that, think about your use cases and where you’d like to place your camera and how you’d like to manage them. Are wireless outdoor cameras better than wired?It depends entirely on your needs. Many people find wireless cameras more flexible, easier to install, and like how easy it is to stream footage on their phone. But wired cameras offer advantages if you need to monitor an area without a Wi-Fi connection. Do I need to have someone install outdoor cameras?Not necessarily. The best wireless outdoor cameras are designed to be installed by the user. At Arlo we offer both phone and chat support to help you with the installation process, as well as professional installation services. |
