Recommended Smart Camera for CCTV
Anker Eufy Cam 2
Top Rated
★★★★★
Whilst a more expensive option the Anker Eufy Cam 2 is a fantastic device with an IP67 rating and no Subscription required. It only records in 1080p resolution and when triggered (No constant recording), however, what it lacks here is outweighed by the 365-day battery life and lack of subscription.
Ring Indoor Cam
★★★★★
The Ring Indoor Cam is a phenomenal budget camera that records up to 1080p HD 24 hours a day. It offers two-way audio which is incredibly clear to hear despite the price of the product. The only downside is the requirement for a subscription service.
Blink Mini
★★★★
The Blink Mini is a fantastic little camera that records in 1080HD, however, it does require a subscription. Whilst this is a downside, the Blink XT2 does offer night vision as well as Two-Way audio. The audio isn’t amazing and does have a weird echo based on the acoustics of the room.
Arlo Pro 3
★★★★★
Whilst these cameras are significantly more expensive, they record at a 2K resolution and free cloud recordings that stay around seven days. It has two-way audio that is incredibly crisp and the video is surprisingly good at night although we do suggest having the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight if you’re using this outside.
2020 has been a big year for us with Smart Home Security, whilst we’ve been testing Smart Cameras on the market, Ring brought out the most mind-blowing futuristic tech I didn’t think we’d have any time soon.
But more on that later! If you’re looking for a CCTV Camera that doesn’t break the bank and can be watched from your phone or Smart TV, we’ll break down everything we’ve reviewed here.
A complete deep dive into the best Smart Cameras of 2021
Indoor Smart Cameras
Blink Mini
Pros
- Reasonable Price
- Clean HD footage
- Night footage is clear
- Easy to use App
- Cloud Storage
Cons
- Subscription service of $3 / £2.50 per month
- Has no person detection
- Local Storage doesn’t come as standard
Ring Indoor Cam
Pros
- Reasonable Price
- Clean HD footage
- Compact
- Night Vision
- Two-Way Talk
- Motion activation
Cons
- Featured locked behind a monthly subscription
Arlo Pro 3
Pros
- Extremely clear HD footage
- Compact
- 2K Resolution
- Extremely good battery
- Night Vision
- Two-Way Talk
Cons
- Featured locked behind a monthly subscription ($2.99, £2.49 a month).
- Extremely Expensive
Arlo Essential Indoor Camera
Pros
- 1080p HD footage
- Compact
- Privacy Shield
- Plugs into mains
- Built-in Siren
- Motion Detection & App Alerts
- Night Vision
- Two-Way Talk
Cons
- Doesn’t work with Apple Homekit
- Expensive in comparison to its counterparts
Outdoor Smart Cameras
Anker Eufycam 2
Pros
- 1080p HD footage
- 365-day Battery Life
- Two-Way Talk
- Weather-proof IP67 (Protected from immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter in depth.)
- Doesn’t require a subscription
Cons
- Only records when triggered
- Expensive in comparison to its counterparts
Netatmo Presence
Pros
- 1080p HD footage
- Pet, Car & People detection
- Dimmable LED Floodlight
- IPX7 Standard (Good against storms)
Cons
- Quite Large
- Very expensive
- One-way audio
Nest Cam Outdoor
Pros
- 1080p HD footage
- Lots of Smart Home Integration
- Two-Way Talk
- App is extremely easy to use
Cons
- Requires a subscription ($5, £5 per month)
- Extremely easy to steal
Night Owl Security Camera – CAM-2PK-IC8
Pros
- 4K footage (8MP)
- Offers both NVR & DVR
- Night Vision
- 24/7 Support 365 days a year
- IP Camera that records locally
- Weather-Resistant (IP66)
- Color Boost
- Remote Viewing
Cons
- Requires Technical knowledge
- Expensive in comparison to its counterparts
Recommended Smart Cameras breakdown
Not got any time to read a full review? We get it. Check out these bitesize Smart Home Security Camera reviews.
A Quick look at the Blink XT2 Camera
For a long time, the Blink XT2 was our go-to camera, regardless of indoors and outdoors usage. If you got the Blink products before they added a subscription fee, you’ll be happy to know there is no subscription! Otherwise, joining the Blink Family does have its downsides.
They are quite expensive, but the app is great and you can watch your Blink XT2 on your Amazon Firestick or Echo Show with ease, so it’s definitely up there for me in terms of usage.
Does the Blink Mini pack a punch?
I don’t have much to say in terms of condensing down my initial review, to sum it up. It’s a great little purchase, but there are better alternatives out there. There wasn’t much in terms of an update to this other than size, as it still detects Small pets and it’s built using cheaper materials.
If you want it though, wait till Amazon Prime Day
Neos Smartcam
Before going fully into the Blink XT2 ecosystem, the Neos Smartcam was my go-to purely because it’s hackable.
If you’re looked on Kickstarter, I’m sure you’ve seen this exact hardware under a lot of different names. This is likely because it’ simply shipped out from a factory and given to companies like Neos and Wyze to create their own firmware.
If you’re into custom firmware and DIY setups, check out the Neos Smartcam!
