The hub is the main communication point for all the sensors, and it also has a speaker for the siren that sounds when the alarm is tripped. The hub has a battery backup to keep it running if the hub loses power, but remember, if the power is out to your neighborhood, your internet will be out and monitoring will not be sent to Noonlight. Note that the Wyze Home Monitoring system wyze security camera does not have a cellular backup, so if your home internet or Wi-Fi is down, the system will not relay alarm events to the monitoring company. Cellular backup is important if you want your home’s alarm to be monitored during a power outage. You can pick and choose which sensors to include, but the entry and motion sensors are the only sensors that can trigger an alarm.
This device is mounted on a wall near the entry door using its adhesive back. The LED-backlit keys use motion sensors to light up upon detecting nearby movement to provide nighttime visibility. There’s no backup battery, and the optional $10-per-month live-monitoring fee doesn’t include cellular backup. I first started testing smart-home devices more than 20 years ago, back when the only smart-home devices were X10.
Finally, I installed the entry and motion sensors using the included double-sided tape, updated the firmware, and the installation was complete. After several years of testing Wyze security cameras and video doorbells, we can confidently recommend them to anyone on a limited budget. The no-frills, affordable approach extends to the Wyze app and cloud storage. We found the process to be pretty easy, but it does mean you’ll need an extra app. Although we didn’t test that many devices this time around, we did add an extra Eero 6 Extender by the front door to ensure a strong connection with outdoor cameras. When connected to our home internet, the Eero actually gave us speeds a little better than promised, up to 900 Mbps.
If you dismiss an alarm within 30 seconds, the monitoring service will not call you. This setting is off by default, so you have to turn it on if you want to get calls no matter what. We only looked for DIY security systems that offer professional monitoring options—the key feature that sets a security system apart from a local alert system. We also insisted on no-contract systems, even though those require you to pay for the hardware up front. While some companies provide free or heavily discounted hardware in exchange for a service commitment that can last anywhere from one to five years, we found no-contract systems to be the most flexible. For instance, some people may want monitoring only when they’re on vacation; no-contract systems let you come and go as you please.
Finally, both Wyze cameras have easy-to-set-up bases and the v3 is easy to mount to a wall (hardware included). While the Nest Cam is a top-performing camera, it falls short where cost is concerned because it is priced much higher than comparable devices. wyze security camera Included in this cost assessment is the subscription required to gain access to many of the features that make this camera competitive. For example, glass breaking alerts, emergency service notifications, and smoke and carbon monoxide detection.
Given benefits like that and the more direct capabilities of monitoring and protecting your home, it might be the right time to upgrade your security. The Ring Stick Up had stellar results in both assessments regarding the sound picked up by the camera and produced by its speaker (i.e., when you’re talking through the speaker). Its speaker has clear, high-volume audio, and its mic picks up voices well with no background effects, though the sound is a tiny bit echoey at times. Both the Wyze Cam v3 and the Cam Pan v2 did well in the sound quality assessment while the Nest has the loudest and clearest sounding on-camera speaker. The sensors and hub are easy to install, and the app is simple to use.
More than just offering users a top-tier product, the v3 is among the most affordable cameras on the market. In addition to a rock bottom price for the hardware, Wyze adds a free subscription service for live monitoring and data storage. However, more features and storage are available for a fee if you need them. Moreover, the data stored in the cloud has a redundant backup in an in-camera SD card that rolls through data by erasing the oldest data as needed to make room for the newest. An all-in-one home security device in this price range is a tall order that we wanted to put through its paces to ensure it works as advertised. And the CamPlus Pro performed well in our testing, without delays or hiccups.
CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. If you’re keen to get your hands on the Wyze Cam Pan v3, and we can’t blame you, then you’ll be glad to know that it launches today, January 10, 2023, and costs $33.99 plus shipping.
The motion sensor (also matte white) is powered by two AAA batteries (included) and has a 120-degree field of view (motion range). It can be installed using double-sided tape or mounting screws (both are included). Finally, Wyze will add person detection and 12-second cloud-based motion event recordings to your “security-assigned” cameras (with an overall five-camera cap). That feature is in addition to the single Cam Plus license that already comes with Wyze’s home monitoring plan. It delivers simple but reliable equipment and a frills-free DIY setup.
In fact, I’ve downsized from multiple door sensors, motion detectors, and a home security hub spread throughout my apartment to just a single 2-inch camera pointed at the front entryway to relay status info. Now, live video accompanies notifications when the cameras detect motion or the front door is opened. The Wyze Cams paired with CamPlus Pro cuts all of the fat of those devices. I now get a live look at the action as it happens instead of watching play-by-plays later on.