Cameras with only cloud storage typically don’t support 24/7 filming. You want a subtle night vision camera
Many outdoor cams with color night vision rely on large spotlights that trigger when movement is detected. These are good for deterrence but also call attention to the cameras themselves. The Wyze Cam v3 takes great night footage without need of a spotlight. Smart home startup Wyze is a relatively new name on the home security block, launching its first camera in 2017.
Included in the box are the camera, a six-foot USB extension power cable, a USB power adapter, a wall mounting plate, mounting screws, and a quick start guide. The Wyze Cam V3 looks similar to the Wyze Cam V2, but there are subtle differences. It sports a square black camera face as opposed to the round face found on the V2 camera, and it has rounded edges as opposed to the V2’s sharp corners.
Our recordings with HSV have also missed a lot of action, sometimes for hours at a time—even when our recordings with the Eufy Cloud subscription have caught it. Some of these features—like the mobile app, two-way audio, 1080p video, motion detection, and night vision—are standard fare for most security cameras. But Wyze stands out for offering time-lapse videos and smoke alerts without a subscription when companies like Google Nest† and Arlo charge extra. If you’re wyze thermostat looking for high-quality video, then the Arlo Ultra may be the home security camera for you. It comes with 4K Ultra HD resolution, which has four times the detail of Full HD models so you can accurately see what’s happening around your home. (It gives you the option to run it on a battery or with a plug-in outlet connection.) Unlike other Arlo models, though, you’ll need an Arlo SmartHub to power it up so it’s not the most convenient model on our list.
A 32 GB card can hold about 60 hours of 2K video or 72 hours of 1080p video; when you’re using a 128 GB microSD card (which is the max), you can expect about 240 hours of 2K footage and 288 hours of 1080p recordings. You must view clips through the app; because the files are encrypted, you can’t pop out the card and view or copy files on a home computer. Recordings live on your local storage until it’s full, at which point the camera auto-deletes the oldest footage automatically. Note that should you opt for continuous recording, the video quality is downgraded to 1080p, although you can still get all of the various types of alerts (including person, pet, and crying).
In a pitch-black room indoors, we found the Wyze Cam v3 didn’t have enough light for colored footage. But placed outside, moonlight or nearby street lights offered up enough light to generate clear, vivid footage all night. Other cameras may offer a better resolution for clearer footage, but Wyze’s full HD video can upload more easily on slower wi-fi networks. The Wyze Cam v3 is weatherproof, but requires a power outlet wyze security camera rather than using a rechargeable battery so its outdoor use is certainly limited. If you’re looking for an inexpensive home security camera that can withstand the elements, the Wyze Cam Outdoor v2 should definitely be on your list. This model not only combines a rechargeable battery with an excellent night vision feature, but it also includes Travel Mode, allowing you to use it even when there is no internet connection.
Even though the Wyze Cam v3 works outdoors, you need to use an outdoor power adapter. Unfortunately, this adapter isn’t available yet, which keeps the camera indoors for now. In case you’re wondering, no, that is not normal in the security community. While experts tell me that the concept of a “responsible disclosure timeline” is a little outdated and heavily depends on the situation, we’re generally measuring in days, not years. Since the Wyze Outdoor Cam v2 is so easy for the owner to manipulate, it also means it’s going to be easy for someone to tamper with or remove the camera.
Home security cameras, as useful as they are, have limited function as a security measure, according to some experts. We spoke to Barak Ron, the CEO of Mr. Locks, a security system installation and service specialist based in New York, to get more information. One of the draw backs from being so user friendly and accessible is most people don’t know how to install these cameras professionally.
When comparing WYZE to other camera systems I have found WYZE to be easier to set up, is more user friendly, costs far less, and really has some nice features you will find from the top of the line models. However, the new model features a weather-resistant design for use in rainy and snowy environments, as well as a pair of 2600mAh batteries that enable a few months of use before the camera needs to be recharged. As well, Wyze has packed many of the features from its in-home security cameras into the outdoor model. The camera’s sensitivity settings for motion detection can be adjusted in the Wyze app. During my tests, I paired the Wyze Outdoor Cam with a Cam Plus subscription and made a few minor adjustments to the sensitivity settings before receiving accurate motion and person alerts in a timely manner.
You might experience a few hiccups, but when you’re dealing with setting up security equipment, there’s always a bit of tinkering involved. All of the devices are battery-powered and should last about 18 months before needing those batteries replaced, according to Wyze. The batteries are AA and AAA, which makes those replacements relatively convenient. You can see a clear difference in the picture quality and the field of view between the new Wyze Cam (left) and the last-gen model (right). For this review, we tested out the Wyze Cam, the Wyze Cam Pan, and the Wyze Cam Outdoor.
I am not a licensed electrician, and am not liable for any damage you may cause to yourself or your property. If you are unsure about what you are doing, please hire a professional. If a company has a security issue and owns up to it, I admire that. Wyze owned up to their security breach back in 2019, which is great… and also not what I am talking about right now.