Blink’s person detection works quite well, but is only available with a subscription.
Resolution and view
When it comes to home security cameras, we always look at resolution and field of view. Checking details up close and from a distance is very important for live views and the quality of recorded video. It’s important to pay attention not only to the resolution numbers and the width of the field of view, but also whether a brand links higher resolutions to a subscription (some do).
Video memory
By video storage, we mean how easily videos can be recorded and shared, usually either in the cloud or locally via a connected hub/hard drive. Cloud storage is almost always locked by a subscription, except in rare exceptions like Google Nest and a few others. Local storage is generally a better way to avoid subscriptions and still get that important quality of life.
Smart Home Integration
Smart home support for voice assistants (Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant) or platforms like Google Home or Apple Home isn’t often tied to subscriptions: what you see in the specs is what you get. This may be limited to a single platform (Amazon likes to focus its devices on Alexa right now) or spread across multiple platforms. If you already use a voice assistant or a full smart home security system, look for a camera compatible with it.
Object recognition
Object detection, such as detecting packages or approaching human-like entities, is another feature that is often tied to a subscription. Some cameras offer free object detection. Eufy uses person detection on many of its cameras, TP-Link Tapo cameras offer some free detection capabilities, and several Lorex cameras offer package and person detection.
User-friendliness of the app
Quality security cameras come with intuitive apps that are easy to manage settings. It’s also a huge advantage if they don’t constantly have pop-ups asking you to sign up for a subscription.
Night vision
We always take a close look at night vision and its distance to make sure it is working properly and providing enough benefit to capture images from across your yard or room.
Two-way audio
Two-way audio features let you scare away intruders, talk to strangers, or tell the kids to go inside for dinner. They’re always free, but we also take a close look at their quality and range.
