Whether you have concerns about security, want to keep an eye on your kids when you’re not in the same room, or even just check up on your pets when you’re at work, an indoor smart camera could be exactly what your home needs. Here’s what you should be thinking about before investing.
Sleek Look
View a live feed, or use the adjustable alert frequency, which means you set the sensitivity levels so flying insects and light changes don’t trigger notifications. YI
You can buy the most hi-spec camera in the world but if you don’t have reliable WiFi, you’re going to struggle to get your smart camera to work properly. If you want to install the camera somewhere that doesn’t have the best reception, consider getting a range extender for your WiFi system to ensure your camera’s stable connection.
Night Mode On
14-day free cloud storage for images, plus the ability to communicate with whoever’s in the room, make this a family-friendly option—as does the fact that multiple family members can access the live stream. WYZE
Think about what you want your camera to do and shop according to the features that you need. If, for example, you want to be alerted to movement in a child’s bedroom at night, make sure you have one that will sense movement and also has night mode. Want to chat with your dog while you’re away? Check for a two-way communication feature. If your concerns are security related, you might want to check that the camera has the capacity for an SD storage card that will record when movement is detected and store the video. (Some cameras will let you store footage in the cloud, but there is often an additional subscription fee payable for this service.)
For Large Houses
The ability to control which direction this device points as well as motion tracking means that you get 360 degree coverage of any space as well as streaming, and alerts as required. WYZE
While many of the cameras available are fixed, with a relatively wide angle to allow you to see as much of the room as possible, if you’re looking for something that gives you more control over a greater area, look for a camera that offers pan on demand. This means you can control the camera remotely and scan the entire room, giving you maximum coverage, without having to have multiple fixed cameras set up.