A good Outdoor surveillance camera must perform well and be able to withstand wind, rain, and hail all sorts of other weather changes. We tested a number of weatherproof cameras to come up with this short list of favorites, including the feature-rich ones Arlo Pro 3that is budget friendly Wyze Cam outdoors and the reliable one Arlo video doorbell.
There are many variations between the models that made the cut. If you've been looking for an outdoor security camera to keep an eye on things outside of your home, see for yourself.
Tyler Lizenby / CNET
The $ 500 Arlo Pro 3 (two-camera pack plus hub) is a great security camera. It has 2,560 x 2,560 pixel streaming, color night vision, 12x zoom, a built-in siren and a built-in spotlight. After unpacking, you will receive motion and acoustic warnings as well as access to the live feed.
Otherwise, you'll have to pay an optional monthly fee that starts at $ 3 per month for the Arlo Smart Subscription Service. Arlo Smart has a number of additional features, including detection zones and advanced notifications (people, animals, vehicles, and packages). The $ 10 pricing tier is added in E911, a feature that allows you to contact local law enforcement through the Arlo app no matter where you are.
The Arlo Pro 3 isn't cheap, but it makes an excellent security camera if you have the money to spend. Read our Arlo Pro 3 review.
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Wyze makes a variety of solid, affordable smart home devices - and the $ 50 Wyze Cam Outdoor Starter Bundle is no exception. For your money, you get a rechargeable battery-powered outdoor camera and required base station, as well as a host of features.
In addition to standard features such as HD live streaming and motion detection alerts, this affordable camera has free two-week event-based cloud storage and an integrated microSD card slot for local storage. It has a customizable motion detection zone, an "off-grid" option called "travel model" and time-lapse videos. Make sure to check out my full review of the Wyze Cam Outdoor if you're looking for a great outdoor security camera at a great price. Read the CNET test.
Tyler Lizenby / CNET
The $ 150 Arlo Video doorbell works well as a security camera, has a long list of features, and competitive cloud storage rates starting at $ 3 a month. The optional cloud storage subscription gives you access to advanced notifications about people, animals, vehicles and packages.
This smart buzzer is also easy to install and features two-way audio, motion detection zones, activation / deactivation modes and a built-in siren. Read more about the Arlo Video Doorbell.
In summary
We tested too many outdoor surveillance cameras to list here. You can find an overview of all models in my gallery below. It's worth noting that any Wi-Fi security camera you end up buying is only as good as your home's network connection. If the connection is spotty, you might see pixels in the feed, lag times, and other related issues Check your Wi-Fi speed before you start drilling holes in your walls.
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Wyze's fantastic outdoor surveillance camera is only $ 50
