The best smart security cameras you can buy - Android

We take a look at the best smart security cameras currently available so you can be alerted when trouble comes home.

In this age of the smart home, we can use our phones and even our voice to turn on a TV, listen to music, or turn on our lights. However, perhaps the biggest and most important aspect of the smart home is to add better security to where we live. That’s where smart security cameras come in.

There are now a variety of different smart security cameras to choose from. All of them have some degree of control via voice or smartphone apps. Many of them allow you to store videos taken from those cameras on a cloud server. Let’s take a look at the best smart security cameras you can currently buy.

You’ll notice there are no Ring products on this list. After the massive data breach the company experienced last year, we are no longer recommending Ring products in our roundups.

Best smart security cameras:

Editor’s Note: We will update this post as more smart security cameras are released.

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1. Best smart security camera system: Arlo Pro 3

The Arlo Pro 3 is quite possibly the best set of smart security cameras available. There aren’t too many competitors that can hold a candle to it. In fact, the only real downside to the Arlo Pro 3 is its price — it is really expensive.

However, you get a lot for your money. There are no wires to worry about for any of the cameras and you can use any of them as either indoor or outdoor models. They each have 2K resolution with HDR support, color night vision, and an integrated spotlight to shine on any intruders.

Once you get the main system (the hub and at least one camera) it’s easy to add new cameras to your hub. Without a doubt, there isn’t much on the market that’s as good as the Arlo Pro 3. If you have the money for it, this is what you’re looking for.

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2. Best indoor smart security camera: Nest Cam IQ Indoor

If you only need one indoor camera to maybe put into your entryway, the Arlo Pro 3 would be overkill. You can save some cash and instead get the Nest Cam IQ Indoor, which is one of the best smart security cameras on the market.

Nest is owned by Google, so it should come as no surprise that Google Assistant is integrated heavily into the Cam IQ. In fact, the camera itself is a Google Assistant-powered smart speaker. You can say “OK Google” and ask questions or send voice commands and it will respond just as a Google Nest Mini would.

Aside from its Assistant-powered abilities, the Nest Cam IQ is also just a great camera. It has a 4K sensor built-in, a triple microphone array, and powerful speakers. It also uses AI smarts to identify people and then send you alerts. Unlike other systems, though, you can actually teach the Nest Cam IQ to recognize certain people, so you don’t get alerts when your wife walks into a room. But you will get alerts when your neighbor does.

Unfortunately, those AI smarts will cost you $5 per month at the moment. However, Google has promised that it is revamping the subscription pricing for Nest hardware, so that could change very soon.

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3. Best budget indoor smart camera: Wyze Cam

If you’re on a tight budget and don’t need all the bells and whistles of a Nest Cam IQ Indoor, you should check out the Wyze Cam. With a retail price of under $30, you could buy multiple cameras for the same price as one Nest Cam.

Of course, you’re going to miss out on a lot of features by paying less. The Wyze Cam only records in 1080p and doesn’t double as a Google Nest Mini, for example. But it does have cloud storage and you can get notifications when it detects someone in your home while you’re not around.

If you want the best of the indoor smart security cameras, the Nest Cam IQ Indoor is definitely our suggestion. If you just want a camera that will do the basics and not break the bank, you can’t go wrong with the Wyze Cam instead.

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4. Best outdoor smart security camera: Nest Cam IQ Outdoor

As one would expect, the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor is basically the same device as its indoor counterpart, although with housing that makes it safe against the elements. It also doesn’t double as a Google Assistant smart speaker because that would be weird to have outside.

It does have the same 4K sensor, AI-powered person recognition technology, crisp night vision, and daytime HDR powers of the Nest Cam IQ Indoor. It also has a specially crafted locking hinge mechanism that makes it safe against tampering.

You’ll need an outdoor outlet in which to plug in the Nest Cam IQ Outdoor, but its 2×2 MIMO Wi-Fi means you won’t need an Ethernet cable. Although you’ll pay quite a bit for the Nest Cam IQ, it is definitely one of the best smart security cameras out there.

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5. Best budget outdoor smart camera: SV3C HD Wi-Fi

The Nest Cam IQ Outdoor has a ton of features that make it well worth the price, but some folks probably don’t need something that powerful. If you just want an outdoor camera you can switch on and see what’s going on around your home, the SV3C HD is likely what you’re looking for.

You may have never heard of SV3C before, which is fine. It’s a Chinese company that creates entry-level products designed for the budget-conscious consumer. What sets SV3C apart from the competition is its customer service. Most Chinese companies will barely have a website, let alone a customer service rep you can chat with, but SV3C has glowing reviews on Amazon from buyers who experience terrific customer service.

Although the outdoor camera from the company certainly isn’t a looker, it will do what it needs to do and won’t drain your wallet too much. This makes it one of the best smart security cameras around for the frugal buyer!

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6. Best doorbell smart camera: Eufy Wireless