9/21/2022
Ben Smith
Table of contents
Cameras are always the most requested item when it comes to home security. If a breakin or piece of property were to get stolen, having the video evidence is the best way to try and find the person who did it and get your stuff back. I have seen countless videos of packages being stolen from the front door step only to find the guilty person a few days later thanks to the police. High quality camera video, night vision, and the ability to download and share the video are all crucial features in today’s world.
The problem with most cameras is the installation. Not only do you need to get on a ladder to mount the camera, but then you have to run wires all the way to the attic to plug them into an electric outlet. This can make the process super daunting for anyone who hasn't done it before.
Thankfully, there are plenty of options nowadays for cameras that just run off batteries. The cameras I will be going over in this article don’t need to be plugged into anything. They are all wireless. You will simply mount the camera and occasionally charge the batteries and that is it! This article will only cover cameras powered by batteries that you have to recharge on your own.
If you want to see my other review which includes cameras that can run off solar power and batteries then click here.
Best for remote locations without wifi
Arlo is the best fit for anyone who is trying to install their camera in a remote location that doesn’t have wifi. Their camera has the ability to connect to 4G LTE and stream all of it’s live video through the cell towers. It does require a mobile phone plan since it is using LTE to stream it’s video. This can be accomplished by visiting a verizon store. If you just want to mount these to your home then you will just use your wifi and there is no cost for that.
This camera comes fully loaded with a 1080p lens. This gives you crystal clear video to be able to easily detect whatever is going one. The camera does come equipped with night vision which makes seeing the dark possible. On top of that, you have the ability to talk with whoever is on the other end of the camera. Using the app on your smartphone, you can hear and talk to people through the camera. The same is true for the person in front of the camera. They are able to talk back. This feature is called two-way talk. It can be a great deterrent if you have someone walking around your property looking through windows.
Once you download the app on your smartphone, you can pop in and see whatever is happening in real time and any moment. If you miss a moment, then you can go back and see any previously recorded video clips. The recordings are free for up to 7 days. This means that whenever there is motion in front of the camera then it will start to record. So it will only record in clips and save those clips for up to 7 days for free. If you want to have a continuous recording then you need to pay for that.
How much is it for recording?
As I stated before, any clip recorded within the past 7 days is free. If you want to have continuous recording for up to 14 days then it is $14.99 per month. If you want even more, you can get up to 30 days of recording for $19.99 per month. I would recommend starting off with the free version and save any clips to your computer that you think would be necessary. For example, if someone broke into your home, you would want to save that video to be able to show to the police department later.
Overall the Arlo Camera is a solid choice for anyone who is needing to install their camera in a remote location. If you want to see what packages they have you can check it out here.
Most Affordable
Many companies are recognizing the need and want for easy to install battery powered cameras. This includes Amazon. Recently Amazon acquired their own outside camera called Blink. This camera is the most affordable camera that is on the market right now. You can pick up a camera for only $99. This includes one camera along with it’s hub. Then each additional camera is only $69.
My favorite part about this camera is the small compact design. It is small and black which makes it very discreet. This can help give you a chance of catching the person since they are less likely to notice it.
Just because the camera is small and affordable doesn’t mean it doesn’t pack a punch! The camera quality in this small camera is a full 1080p. You can easily see what is going on with this camera. You also have night vision too. So even if it is pitch black outside, you can still see what is going on. Just like all cameras now, you can download the app on your phone and see what is going on in real time. Any moment there is someone approaching the camera, the motion sensor built inside of the lens will alert you on your phone. And, of course, you can talk to them too. Inside is a built in microphone which gives you the ability to talk to them through it just like a doorbell camera.
How long does Blink outdoor camera battery last for?
The astonishing part about this camera is the battery life. It will last up to 2 years before it needs to be changed out! As far as I know, this is the longest lasting battery life for an outdoor camera.
Widest Angle Lens
Sometimes less is more. The Logitech Circle 2 camera proves this to be true by coming equipped with a 180 degree lens! This one of the widest angle lens cameras on the market. A wide angle lens means you can see a lot more with just one camera. In some cases this one camera can see what normally only two would be able to see. This can help prevent the expenses of having to buy extra cameras.
The camera quality is also excellent. You can expect to receive a full 1080p resolution video. Just like the other cameras, it is fully night vision as well. So at any time, day or night, you are covered. Similar to its competitors, you can converse with people through the camera via it’s two way talk feature. It is a great way to make it look like you are home even if you are away. It is important to note that wifi is required for all the features to be available on your phone.
The camera costs $129, but there are refurbished ones on amazon for only $84.
How long does the battery last?
The battery has three different modes. Each mode will depend on how long the camera battery lasts, but it will last between 30-90 days. The most conservative mode will only try to record about two clips a day and will allow the camera to last for 90 days. If you run the camera as normal then the battery will only last 30.
##Is there a monthly cost?**
There is a free plan which allows you to keep recording from the past 24 hours. If you want to have 14 days worth of recordings then it is $3.99 per month for one camera. You can upgrade up to 5 cameras for $6.99 per month. The final plan is to keep the last 30 days worth of recordings and that costs $9.99 for a single camera and $17.99 per month for up to 5 cameras. This plan is more expensive than other competitors out there.
You can learn more about the Logitech camera on amazon by clicking here.
Best Storage without Monthly Price
Some people are really against the monthly price that comes with today’s services. I don’t blame them, it can add up after a while. If that person is you then you will want to take a look at the Eufy Security Camera. This camera comes with a base station that allows the cameras to record to through your wifi. It can record up to 3 months worth of security footage without having to pay monthly. It is important to note that this storage is done locally and not through the cloud. That means in order to access the footage you have to connect the base station to your computer.
The other features are what you would come to expect by now. The camera has a 1080p lens with night vision. The mobile alerts are sent to your phone so you can know when someone is approaching the home. The great part is that you can set up a zone where it will only alert you if someone walks through that zone. This can help prevent people who are walking on the sidewalk in front of you home and pick out the ones who are actually approaching it. Two way talk is also a feature within their cameras that are always handy.
How long does the battery last for the Eufy Security camera?
The battery lasts for up to 6 months before it needs to be recharged.
If you want to see more of this camera, you can check it out on amazon!
Best with Alarm Integration
Most people have probably heard of a Ring doorbell camera by now. Their innovative work took the industry by storm and allowed for the company to begin to branch out. In addition to their doorbell camera, they also offer an outside camera powered by batteries. This camera is also a great addition since it can later be combined with Ring’s alarm system. If you feel like later you want to add a home security system. You can combine your cameras with their alarm all into one system.
This gives customers a great option because most companies force you to get their security service even though all you want is just their cameras. With Ring you can do just the alarm, or just the cameras.
The camera comes with night vision and 1080p HD video. Just like the other options, you can talk to people through the camera as well. The app on the phone makes it easy to be alerted and see who is there in real time. Also if you ever miss a moment, you can go back and see who was there because it does record and save it to the cloud.
There is another version of this camera that comes with a flood like you can check out on amazon.
How long does the battery last for the Ring Stick up camera?
The battery lasts for up to 6 months.
Is there a monthly cost for the Ring Stick up camera?
There is a fee of $3 per month to keep all recordings for 60 days. It is bumped up to $9.99 per month for unlimited ring cameras.
You can get more info on this camera on Amazon by clicking here.
Hopefully after reading through all of this you have been able to find the camera that will fit best your needs. There are a lot of options on the market, so it can make things more daunting. If you are searching for other security options, you can check out my thoughts on the best home security systems here.