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I'm PCMag's expert on fitness and smart home technology, and I've written more than 6,000 articles and reviews in the 10-plus years I've been here. I unbox, set up, test, and review a wide range of consumer tech products from my home in Florida, often with the help of my pitbull Bradley. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. Since then, the company says it has upgraded its network architecture and upgraded it’s servers.
Kasa claims your video feed is secured with industry-standard 128-bit AES encryption with SSL/TLS directly from the camera. Speaking of the app, it does not offer two-factor authentication—a basic security feature that alerts you to new logins. Since a security camera is privy to some of your most private moments, selecting a secure indoor camera is the best way to protect yourself from unwanted eyeballs. Testing also included a lengthy period of regular use in my home as I evaluated video and audio quality, responsiveness, uptime, and app usability.
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The Swann Tracker includes plenty of features, but unfortunately also forces users to deal with some frustrating communication delay and issues with settings. Sometimes, the camera light refused to shut off when it was supposed to, and there was also some lag in terms of live viewing. During initial setup, the camera failed to make a connection until multiple restarts were performed.
The good news is that many affordable options are now available for less than $100. Because you can't put a price on peace of mind, however, carefully consider what features you want to forgo before picking a lower-cost option. Kangaroo’s camera works with Alexa and Google Assistant, but overall it’s a very lackluster experience.
What should I look for when buying an indoor security camera?
The main reason people purchase indoor security cameras is to ward off thieves of all kinds. That video can help neighbors as well, so they know what to look for around the neighborhood. Often thieves will sit on a spot days in advance before targeting it so if an indoor security camera captures suspicious-looking people, you can alert your neighbors.
It fares better at night, as the color night vision is pretty easy to make out in the dark. For one thing, many of the features like two-way audio, smart object detection, and custom motion zones are locked behind one of Kangaroo's paid plans. The paid plan also adds more detailed alerts like person detection but does not include notifications for vehicles or packages like you will find with other comparable camera subscription plans from Wyze.
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Some brands will provide just a day or two of video backup if they use an SD card or something similar. Other brands will use the cloud for video data storage, but how much and what it records will often depend upon the subscription model that you choose to purchase with the camera. Once you connect your camera, you can access a live view and any recordings via your smartphone or tablet. The vast majority of home security cameras pair with a companion app that handles all the controls and settings.
However, the app lacks two-factor authentication and does not send email alerts when a new device logs into your account, which makes us feel a little uneasy about unwanted users accessing the account. For best practices, you should look for apps that offer 2FA to work with authentication apps to keep your smart home secure. However, the camera is quick to detect motion and alerts you immediately to events.
You pay no monthly fees to keep the camera live, and you can even use it outside, thanks to weatherproofing and thermal sensors. Though there are no subscriptions, you can still count on 24/7 recording with wireless support via the cloud or local storage as well as night vision. Most home security cameras generate a QR code in the companion app during setup to pair the camera with your account. Simply hold your phone or tablet about six to eight inches from the camera, with the QR code displayed, and the camera will begin the pairing process. Once set up in the app, you can link the camera with compatible voice assistants for hands-free control.
It's easy to install and performed well in testing, capturing sharp 1080p video and identifying motion caused by people and animals. Just know that it requires a Nest Aware subscription (starting at $6 per month) to view recorded video that is more than three hours old and to use its face detection feature. The Nooie Cam 360 is a budget-friendly indoor home security camera that features motion tracking and, as the name implies, 360-degree rotation. The camera is equipped with a 1080p high-def lens and two 940nm infrared LEDs.
The Blink Indoor is a solid buy for anyone looking for an affordable indoor camera that's easy to use and delivers sharp video and accurate motion detection. Note that Blink’s Basic storage plan goes for $3 per month or $30 per year and gives you 60 days of rolling storage for one camera and access to Blink’s Photo Capture feature. That's exactly what you'll get with the Kasa Spot Pan Tilt indoor security camera, which can be mounted to the ceiling or placed on a solid surface.
Arlo’s camera is also among the fastest and smartest when it comes to detecting and sending intelligent alerts. When paired with an Arlo Secure Plan (starting at $3/month after a 3-month free trial), it can differentiate between people and animals (and packages and vehicles, though you don’t need those alerts for inside). The paid plan also gets you access to cloud video storage, so you can review and share video clips. Arlo’s preview notifications are helpful, too, allowing you to watch a quick clip without opening the app. Even better, all detected objects are outlined in green so you can quickly identify what’s going on from the preview alert. A paid subscription is common for most cameras and ranges anywhere from a few bucks a month to roughly $10.
In addition, it provides sharp, colorful 1080p video, accurate motion alerts, and is very easy to install. Picture quality is arguably one of the most important features to look for in a security camera. A video recording resolution of 1080p is standard on most indoors security cameras, though some offer higher resolutions.
Its app is easy to use, but the Tracker suffers significant lag in its two-way communication. When you go into your app to change up settings as well, sometimes your alterations aren't saved, which can lead to some serious frustrations. The company doesn't flaunt the same bells and whistles as other manufacturers, and as such you get a no-frills camera with the Swann Enforcer. It performs most of its duties well, and you can certainly count on it to take on the role of sole security system in your home. Data breaches feel like the norm as of late, making it all the more important not to reuse passwords across multiple websites and apps.
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