The Best Home Security Cameras for 2023: Testing the Top Options from Ring, Google Nest, Wyze & Blink

The days of bulky CCTV cameras are long gone, and modern home security cameras are now compact, smart, and affordable. You no longer have to worry about clunky cameras that continuously record with no end or purpose aside from capturing video. Instead, the best security cameras are smart enough to ensure that only real threats are captured. Thanks to these vast improvements in camera technology, anyone can protect their home from every angle, inside and out.

Because we’re big fans of smart home systems, we’ve tested every major product in this category. Our editors and contributors have tested all of the best home security cameras, and some of our product testers have over a decade of experience reviewing these products. When testing out security cameras, we consider all competitive factors including video quality, reliable alerts, color night vision, and the ability to detect threats intelligently.

We know that no one has the time to micromanage their camera and security setup. Instead of scrolling through hours of video footage, the top security cameras only record what you need to see, and they can even send you real-time alerts as potential threats are detected.

For this review, SPY tested more than 20 security cameras over 12 months, covering indoor cams, outdoor cams, and video doorbells. With so much testing under our belt, we can confidently say you’ll find the best home security cameras of 2023 below. If you’re in the market for smart security products, then keep reading for SPY’s in-depth security camera reviews.

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Why We Chose It: No other home security camera comes close to its versatility of working inside and out and offering exceptional detection to catch culprits in their tracks.

The Google Nest Cam (Battery) earns our top spot as the best security camera for many reasons. For starters, it’s a versatile home security camera that you can use indoors or outdoors because it’s battery-powered and has a water-resistant construction. Its magnetic mounting plate has one of the strongest connections we’ve come across, too, just because it requires a fair amount of force to remove.

It’s not only the best wireless security camera, but we also love that it offers incredible video quality thanks to HDR support, which handles high-contrast scenes exceptionally well by balancing the exposure throughout the entire shot. That way, details in the highlights and shadows are maintained. It’s also intelligent enough to discern people, pets, and vehicles, so you only receive relevant alerts.

Furthermore, the Google Nest Cam (battery) is one of the few that can remain operational during power or internet outages — critical in protecting your home through all sorts of events. And yes, it comes with three hours of free video alert history.

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Why We Chose It: Porch pirates won’t dare come close to your front door because the Ring Video Doorbell 4 has sharp video quality to see everything.

Ring makes some of the best video doorbells around. The Ring Video Doorbell 4 takes the runner-up position because of its simple installation, excellent video quality, and enhanced detection features.

Since it’s battery-powered, you don’t have to worry about messing with wires during the installation. We also love that it features a quick-release mechanism with its rechargeable battery, which is a far better implementation than previous offerings that required users to remove the entire video doorbell to recharge the battery.

Over on the video side, the 1080p clips are crisp and detailed, but you’ll appreciate that its pre-roll feature manages to record the four seconds before motion detection. This feature is vital because most security cameras begin recording the first instance that motion is detected, so you may miss something important before the event happens. You won’t miss a thing with the Ring Video Doorbell 4.

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Why We Chose It: For its low cost, you’re getting some rich features that tend to come with high-end security cameras.

Owning a low-cost home security camera doesn’t mean you’ll need to settle for fewer features or a sub-par performance. The Wyze Cam V3 is a great budget buy and is still one of the best security cameras around.

For what you’ll end up saving, it’s unbelievable how many rich features come with it. Sure, it comes with the now-standard 1080p video recording with night vision. Still, Wyze generously packages it with features like color night vision, local storage via microSD card slot, detection zones, and a water-resistant design.

It sets the bar for all entry-level security cameras.

Key Specs

Why We Chose It: This affordable indoor security can pan and tilt to keep track of whoever is within its gaze.

It’s crazy how much value comes with the Eufy Solo IndoorCam P24. At under $60, it’s easily one of the best home security cameras. It boasts features such as 2K video, continuous recording via local storage, intelligent detection, and the ability to track subjects.

The latter is especially noteworthy because the Eufy Solo IndoorCam P24 is the only one on our list that can pan and tilt for 360-degree protection. While you can manually articulate the camera to any position, it can automatically track subjects so they’re always in frame. This makes it a top contender for the best indoor security camera.

Eufy has upgraded its camera since it launched because now you can set up two-factor authentication with your account and the option for geofencing to automatically arm and disarm itself without having to do that yourself manually.

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Why We Chose It: No other camera has better image quality than this; it can be easily used indoors and outdoors.

Arlo’s a well-known player in the security camera space, but it takes video quality more seriously than others. The Arlo Pro 4 offers superior video quality compared to the other home security cameras we tested, with 2K video resolution and impressive battery life. The Arlo Pro 4 has the best video quality we’ve seen in a home security camera in the last year, with class-leading 2K HDR video, resulting in highly detailed clips with proper exposure throughout the scene.

It also has one of the best night vision performances we’ve seen. You have your standard black-and-white night vision footage, but the Arlo Pro 4 takes the next logical step with color night vision. This feature is beneficial because the addition of color means you’ll be able to provide even better descriptions of people and events.

Setting it up is a breeze because it’s a battery-powered security camera that works indoors and out, with a six-month battery life rating.

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Why We Chose It: Its offline mode lets it record video without internet connectivity.

Have you ever thought about bringing a security camera when you travel? If so, the Wyze Cam Outdoor is the best security camera for the job because of its compact size, battery power, local storage, and ability to work offline.

The Wyze Cam Outdoor offers a travel mode that allows it to continuously record video to a microSD card without internet connectivity. This feature is essential because most home security cameras require internet connectivity to work, whether detecting motion or saving clips. Other options in travel mode consist of time-lapse and continuous and scheduled recording.

For an outdoor-centric security camera, it’s honestly impressive how compact Wyze was able to design it — so you can even use it indoors.

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Why We Chose It: Even the top video doorbells struggle with oversensitivity, but not the Google Nest Doorbell. This is also one of the best home security cameras for anyone that doesn’t want to subscribe to yet another service.

Monitoring what’s happening at your front door is critical because it’s the barrier between the inside of your home and the outside world. You’ll have a worthy guard with the Google Nest Doorbell because of its intelligent detection.

All security cameras watch out for detection, but no one wants to be constantly bombarded with alerts whenever a squirrel runs through the frame. Thanks to on-device machine learning, the Google Nest Doorbell is one of the smartest to provide you with meaningful alerts. It can distinguish vehicles, packages being delivered, pets, and even familiar faces if you subscribe to Nest Aware.

Like the Google Nest Cam (battery), it benefits from three hours of free video event history, so you’re not forced into a subscription service.

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Why We Chose It: 3D Motion Detection paired with its bird’s eye view traces the route of where motion was detected.

The Ring Spotlight Cam Pro is what we’d like to classify as a workhorse in the home security camera space because of its advanced detection features, exceptional battery life, and superior night vision range. In our own testing, we could see well over 35 feet with its night vision performance.

What’s most remarkable about this outdoor security camera is how it utilizes radar technology to detect movement. Meaning, it can not only trigger when it spots an individual in your yard, but its 3D Motion Detection technology will also trace their route on a map. That way, you know if they’re coming or going.

And lastly, it features dual spotlights that flank the camera. It’s wonderful for illuminating dimly lit areas, but we also love how it helps out with the color night vision performance of the camera.

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Why We Chose It: It’s one of the few options that offer Wi-Fi connectivity and 4G LTE connectivity for true access from anywhere.

Are you vacationing somewhere remote that won’t have any Wi-Fi connection? If it’s a cabin in the woods or something like that, the Arlo Go 2 is the perfect option because it offers 4G LTE connectivity to allow you to view its live feed anywhere.

It’s one of the most versatile home security cameras because it has your standard Wi-Fi connection. Paired with excellent image quality and Arlo Secure for extra intelligent detection, you have one of the best home security cameras that can work through almost anything.

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Why We Chose It: Achieve complete coverage thanks to its class-leading 180-degree field of view that ensures edge-to-edge visibility no matter where it’s placed around the home.

Often overlooked, a camera’s field of view is significant because it can differ between seeing an event and not. The Logitech Circle View has the widest field of view in our roundup at 180 degrees, which means it can see everything happening in front of it.

The wide field of view with its weather-resistant construction is an asset because it can see more of the scene in a fixed position. This HomeKit-only compatible home security camera is simple to set up because you don’t need to download any additional apps. Instead, you control everything through Apple’s Home app, making for less clutter with managing apps. There’s also a strong focus on respecting your privacy at home with its convenient on/off button, geofencing options and end-to-end encryption with videos stored in iCloud.

Thanks to its superior video quality and wide field of view, Logitech’s Circle View is one of the best home security cameras of 2023. While Logitech isn’t as well known in the security space, encryption and convenient cloud storage make this a great option for smart security systems.

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Why We Chose It: You’ll never feel uneasy at home with the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera because it features a mechanical privacy shutter that covers the camera.

No one should ever feel like Big Brother is watching them while at home, which is why the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera is so beloved. Arlo Essential Indoor is the best security camera in our roundup for mechanical privacy like the one used by the Arlo Essential Indoor.

Taking it one step further, Arlo adds even more peace of mind because you can activate a physical privacy shutter to go over the camera’s lens — so you know that no one can see you. All security cameras can have the capability to be turned off electronically. However, a good hacker can still bypass that and watch you without your knowledge, so we love this implementation. There’s even an audible sound whenever the privacy shutter is activated.

Beyond that, it also features geofencing to arm and disarm itself automatically. It can open the camera’s lens when you’re out, then close it when you return. The only thing that’s lacking with this camera? It loses out compared to other security cameras for its average video quality and a somewhat narrow field of view, which can leave blind spots unless you place it in exactly the right place.

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Why We Chose It: Setting it up is a breeze, even if you’re not tech-savvy. It’s also a simple security camera that works well for basic things.

Setting up a security camera shouldn’t be a long, arduous process, so you’ll have a breeze with the GE Cync Indoor Camera. This affordable indoor camera only takes a few minutes to set up and connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network using the Cync app for mobile. Don’t let its simple design fool you because it comes loaded with rich features such as 1080p video, night vision, two-way audio, an SD card slot for local storage, and even a manual privacy shutter to cover the camera and mute the microphone.

While the GE Cync is certainly easy to set up, it’s not as sophisticated as other smart home security cameras. Despite that, unlike many other GE smart home products, the Cync, fortunately, does not require a separate smart home hub.

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Why We Chose It: Recharging batteries can be a pain, especially when it’s every couple of weeks. With Blink Outdoor’s class-leading battery life, you won’t have to worry about that.

One of the main benefits of today’s security cameras is that many are wireless and powered by batteries. However, it can be a little annoying to frequently charge them. That’s why you’ll want to check out the Blink Outdoor, which like its predecessor, takes pride in offering a long-lasting battery life.

That’s because the company has it rated to last upwards of two years, powered by nothing more than two lithium batteries that come included with the packaging. During our time testing the Blink Outdoor, it was still chugging along after six months. That’s pretty impressive for an outdoor camera.

Otherwise, it’s straightforward to set up, features a water-resistant construction, and works great with Alexa and other Amazon smart home products. There are many great Blink products, but Blink Outdoor is easily one of the best home security cameras of 2023.

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Why We Chose It: When you’re in a place without Wi-Fi, you can rely on its built-in local storage and 4G LTE connection for security.

There are a few reasons to be excited about this outdoor wireless camera. For starters, the setup couldn’t be easier without any wires, power, or WiFi to connect to. Since it works with LTE, you don’t have to worry about WiFi as you can connect to your camera as long as you have cell service.

There’s also two-way communication so you can talk to whoever is on the other end of the camera, as well as built-in GPS, so if you place it somewhere deep in the woods, you can easily find your camera later. The bread and butter, though, is 8GB of local storage through which you can see all of your footage without paying any fees.

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Why We Chose It: Knock two birds with one stone because the Lockly Vision Elite is both a smart lock and video doorbell in one.

Airbnb rental owners will love what the Lockly Vision Elite has to offer. It is a video doorbell that can watch out and record who comes through the front door, and it also doubles as a smart lock. Instead of buying two separate devices, this will satisfy the need for a smart lock and security camera.

Of course, we love that you can chat with whoever is at the front door whenever motion is detected. Although, even better is the fact that you can set custom unlock codes specific to users. That way, your Airbnb guests will have their own unique key code to get in without needing you to give it to them beforehand.

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Why We Chose It: New hardware boosts its detection performance and video quality.

Technically a variant of its best-selling home security camera, the Wyze V3 Pro boasts new hardware that ups the video capture resolution to 2K. With the bump in resolution, it’ll capture more information to help you discern even the smallest detail.

Additionally, Wyze added an integrated spotlight to this model, as opposed to the add-on attachment with the standard Wyze Cam V3 — making its design more cohesive. The light will also help tremendously with its color night vision performance when ambient light is non-existent.

Armed with a new 1.2GHz processor, it leverages onboard artificial intelligence to provide instant detection of events. Best of all, it still features a microSD card slot, so it technically doesn’t require a monthly subscription for you to view and store the video it captures.

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Comparing the Best Security Cameras

Cameras are all around us. There’s a good chance you’re facing a camera right now as you read this sentence. When protecting your home, which security camera should you choose? Today, the best security cameras provide us with convenience and meaningful alerts, so you’re not wasting time scrolling through pointless video footage.

Often, we depend on these cameras to record emergencies and, in the worst-case scenario, home invasions. In these cases, a home security camera is only as good as its responsiveness and video quality, and these were two crucial criteria in our testing process. At the same time, we know that convenience and affordability matter to SPY readers, so we’ve included options at various price points.

Having tested and reviewed many of the most popular home security cameras, we selected the best devices for SPY readers. Since home security cameras cover a broad category, we included video doorbells, indoor cameras, and outdoor cams. Most importantly, all of these cameras have proven to us that they’re reliable enough to protect your home and perform when you need them. 

SPY Home Security Camera Reviews: About Our Testing Process

Why should you trust us? For starters, our editors and contributors have real-life tested many home security cameras. Our testing and review process for this product category consists of using a particular camera for weeks until we can adequately evaluate its responsiveness, security and privacy features, video quality, smart features, and video quality. We tested some of the models below for months before rendering a verdict.

Of course, our subjective experience of using them in a home setting is valuable, but for this particular roundup, we also assessed each camera according to the following criteria:

After rating more than 20 home security cameras according to the above criteria, we compared the results and selected only the top-performing models for this review. Many good-but-not-great products from brands like Blink and Wyze didn’t make the cut, and we remain scrutinous in our journey through the new products in the home security camera market.

Below, you’ll find additional photos taken during our testing process.

Click here to read more about how we test and review products.