Logitech Security Camera Best Buy Extra Quality
If you want to stop porch pirates and package thieves, one of the best video doorbells could be the answer. If someone's at your door, a smart doorbell can alert you to their presence, and let you see and talk to them through your smartphone. In these times of social distancing, it's also a handy feature if you want to talk to a visitor, but want to keep your door closed.
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From Ring to Nest, we've tested dozens of video doorbells to bring you what we think are the best. For a deeper dive, be sure to check out our comparison of Ring vs. Nest video doorbells, as well as our Ring vs. Ring Pro vs Ring 3 page, which examines every Ring video doorbell in depth.
Package theft is an all-too-common problem, and the best video doorbells have adapted with cameras that can better see more of your front porch. The Eufy Video Doorbell Dual takes things one step further, with a second camera that points directly downward, giving you the clearest view possible. What's more, it also comes with package detection, so you'll get an alert when something gets dropped off. In our tests, it worked flawlessly.
Even better: You get all this without needing to pay a monthly subscription fee, which is a rarity among the best video doorbells. We also liked that the Eufy saved video to a local, secure base, so that it can continue to record video even if your internet connection goes down. Yes, the Eufy costs more upfront, but it could save you money in the long-term.
If you're looking for the best video doorbell under $100, the Ring Video Doorbell (2nd generation) is your best option. It has a 1080p camera (up from 720p on the original), as well as improved night vision and better motion-tracking capabilities. It's still the best video doorbell for those on a budget.
Arlo's app has a ton of features, but some of them, such as motion sensitivity, are difficult to find. And, for most of the smarter features, including video storage, you need to sign up for a subscription. But, if you have Arlo's security cameras, its video doorbell will make an excellent addition, as you can add up to five cameras for $10 a month.
The Ring Video Doorbell 4 can run on battery power or as a wired unit, making it easy to install just about anywhere. This 1080p doorbell camera offers good customization for motion alerts, although it's not as robust as the Ring Pro 2. Also, its field of view is more limited than the Ring Pro 2, the Arlo, and the Nest, and like other Ring doorbells, it lacks package detection. However, its new color Pre-roll feature does make it a lot easier to see visitors.
We found the Ring Peephole Cam was easy to install, and recorded very good 1080p video. However, if you have a storm door, the camera's video will be partially obscured, especially at night, when it reflects off the glass of the door. And, because the Peephole Cam is battery-powered only, you may find yourself recharging it more often than the advertised 20-40 days. Good thing spare batteries are just $30.
The dual-camera setup worked well, though this video doorbell has a few rough edges. Its speaker is pretty quiet, and there's a delay between the time you talk and a visitor hears you. Plus, the Maximus doesn't work with any other smart home system, such as Alexa or Google Assistant.
The video doorbells we tested take different approaches to capturing video at night. The August Doorbell cam uses motion-activated LEDs to light the area in front of the camera, so it can capture colors a little better. Ring's doorbells use infrared night vision to see in the dark, but the result is monochrome video.
Like the best home security cameras, many video doorbells require that you sign up for a monthly or yearly subscription if you want to use cloud storage or access all of the doorbell's features (such as package detection). Typically, a subscription will start at around $3/month; for more details, check out our guide to security camera storage plans compared.
Video doorbells don't necessarily make the best home security cameras. While the apps let you choose to receive motion alerts as well as doorbell alerts, motion-triggered events often resulted in video of a person or car just exiting the frame.
A dedicated home security camera may be a better choice if you're looking for actual security, because you can position such a camera in more places. And when you get a motion alert, you can back up the video and see what happened before the alert came in.
Of course, we also look at video and audio quality, both during the day and during the night. Is it easy to recognize a person's facial features while they're moving? How clearly can we hear them, and how clearly can they hear us? And, how quickly does the camera start recording video once it senses movement?
Many video doorbells also require a subscription to access features and save video recordings. We factor in the cost of the subscription, as well as what you get for the price. (Our guide to the best security camera storage plans breaks everything down in detail).
The best dash cams can have anything from one, two or even three cameras. Single camera dash cams record the outside view from your windscreen, dual dash cams add an inside facing camera which is especially useful for ride-share drivers like taxis, while three-camera dash cams are more for professional drivers clocking up the miles, adding an additional viewpoint from the outside of the vehicle, being especially handy for trucks.
The advent of rear-facing cameras (or complete kits that contain both front and rear) require a little extra installation, as these often involve cables that run from front to back. Expect some fiddly work involving the car's headliner to get these fitted correctly.
Dash cams record smaller snippets of footage, usually in increments of one to two minutes at a time. The cameras continually record over the oldest clip in order to keep the memory card from filling up as well.
When it comes to dash cams, don't take everything at face value. 4K video recording might feel crucial, but the quality across cameras can vary wildly - even Full HD video in some of the best dash cams can give sharper detail than that of 4K in lesser-quality offerings. 4K can also fill up memory cards really quickly.
If you want to record inside and outside your vehicle at the same time, then a dual dash cam is for you and be advised that the spec can vary a lot between these two cameras. There's plenty more to consider; ease of installation, ease of use, companion apps and bonus features like what3words. You can learn more through our buying tips at the end of this guide.
The Nextbase 622GW is a new flagship dash cam, and it's proven itself as the best dash cam you can buy right now. In our tests, it delivered much-improved video quality and better stabilization, along with the inclusion of what3words geolocation services for pinpointing stricken vehicles within a three-meter radius.
A built-in polarizing filter on the front of the camera can be rotated to reduce glare from windscreens, while digital image stabilization is another first for the dash cam market and helps smooth out those bumps and shakes caused by potholes and poor road surfaces.
Like its 522GW sibling, this model can be controlled via your voice with Alexa Skills, but it requires the accompanying smartphone app to work, which we didn't rate as the best we've tried. Despite new dual 2.4GHz + 5GHz Wi-Fi, we found that it still had trouble connecting with phones to transfer images and video clips.
Aimed at those who spend extended periods behind the wheel, the Nexar Pro is a dual-cam solution that can record video both inside and outside a vehicle. Comprised of two separate camera units connected by a cable, we found the setup to be pretty neat, even if it took up a fair bit of screen real estate.
Both cameras offer a 2560x1440 resolution and a wide 156-degree field of view. We found that footage was dependably impressive, with plenty of detail and decent dynamic range, even in dim and dark conditions.
The Nextbase 622GW flagship (see no.1) might be one of the most advanced dash cams you can buy, but the 522GW remains the best dash cam all-rounder. Thanks to a crisp 1440p resolution and wide-angle lens, it does the basics very well, but also throws in plenty of additional features.
At face value, the Viofo A129 Pro Duo is an unattractive dash cam with a cheap-feeling build and rudimentary hardware, plus installation is a fiddly process. But if you want a dual-channel solution at a good price, it does plenty to impress. Utilising a Sony Exmor R sensor, the front camera captures crisp 4K footage (3840 x 2160p) up to 30fps.
In our tests, footage captured out of the front camera was perfectly good enough in most scenarios. That said, it falls some way behind some of the market leaders, which now offer impressive 4K capabilities, excellent low-light capture and Wide Dynamic Range technology for all driving conditions.
The interior and rear cameras capture 170-degrees of action, thanks to a wide field of view, while that interior camera also uses six LEDs to assist with its infrared capabilities. Even in the darkest driving conditions, we found it easy to make out what was going on inside the car.
Both the display angle and camera lens are adjustable, so you can find the right position between road and driver. Full HD footage is shot in HDR at 30fps, delivering balanced exposure and enough detail to make number plates legible. The huge screen is useful for reviewing footage, but video itself suffers from noticeable stabilization wobble. 041b061a72