Wyze Security Cameras Review

Wyze is the best value in security cameras thanks to its cameras that match the features of more expensive (or even average-priced) brands like Arlo, Ring, and Google Nest. Chief among these is the Wyze Cam v3, which offers excellent night vision and a design that works inside and outside your home.

Indeed, Wyze cameras aren't nearly as advanced—they lack 5GHz Wi-Fi support, don't work with large microSD cards, and don't support as many smart home platforms. But what Wyze lacks in advanced features, it makes up in reliability at a fantastic price.

Regardless of which Wyze camera you choose, they all come with the same core features:

• The Wyze app is your portal to set up, view, and control these cameras using a smartphone.
• Two-way audio gives you the option to talk to people through the cameras and hear their replies.
• Motion and sound detection allow the cameras to capture important events without continuously recording. The Wyze Video Doorbell is the only model that doesn't support sound detection, but we think that's a good choice that respects visitors' privacy at your door.
• Infrared night vision allows the cameras to record videos in complete darkness, though the Wyze Cam v3 and Wyze Cam Pan v2 have better night vision than other Wyze cameras.
• 1080p HD video quality captures enough detail to show what's happening in front of the cameras.
• Time-lapse recordings can compress several hours of video footage into short clips for easy review.
• Compact, minimalist designs mean the cameras blend into their surroundings without taking too much space.
• Smoke and CO alerts allow the cameras to send you a push notification if they detect the sound of a smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm.

Some of these features—like the mobile app, two-way audio, 1080p video, motion detection, and night vision—are standard fare for most security cameras. But Wyze stands out for offering time-lapse videos and smoke alerts without a subscription when companies like Google Nest† and Arlo charge extra.

All Wyze security cameras include free cloud storage that stores video clips online for up to 14 days. While this free storage is handy for folks who want to skip a monthly fee, it comes with two heavy recording restrictions that can reduce its effectiveness.

Video clips can't be longer than 12 seconds, which might not be enough time to capture vital information about what's happening in your home. The short video clips aren't terrible on their own, but a mandatory five-minute cooldown between recordings amplifies the problem.

In short, you have to be incredibly lucky for Wyze's free cloud storage to make a difference during a security event. But there are three ways you can get around the issue:

1. If you don't want to pay a dime, you can adjust the camera's sensitivity and create detection zones to limit recording triggers. While changing the motion or sound sensitivity can work in many cases, we prefer using detection zones that trigger only when there's activity at a specific door or window.
2. An easier option is buying a microSD card for the camera since the camera can record all motion to the card without a paid cloud storage subscription.
3. Paying for a Wyze Cam Plus storage plan removes the 12-second limit and recording cooldown.

Wyze supports three major smart home platforms: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT (If This Then That). While the support isn't particularly deep compared to brands like Arlo, it's a welcome bonus for budget products like Wyze. In general, security cameras don't offer as much benefit to a smart home as they would to a security system. Still, it's nice to see Wyze making an effort.

With Alexa and Google, you can view live video streams from your Wyze cameras on a compatible smart display, like an Amazon Echo Show or a Google Nest Hub, by using a simple voice command. But we couldn't find any other ways to use Wyze cameras with these digital assistants, so you can't start recordings or even turn off cameras.

IFTTT has more options for controlling your cameras and linking them to smart home devices beyond Amazon and Google smart hubs. But IFTTT recently introduced a paid subscription model that limits what users can do for free.

Aside from the Wyze Video Doorbell, all of Wyze's security cameras can record video locally on a microSD card—and support a maximum of only 32 GB of storage. This is because the cameras use a FAT32 file structure that doesn't work as reliably on larger cards.

A 32 GB card isn't huge compared to the 128 GB cards you can buy for less than $20, but Wyze says it's enough to hold up to two days of continuous HD video or eight days of SD video. If you want to maximize your card storage, you can use the "Record events only" setting to record one-minute clips whenever there's motion.

Although the Wyze Video Doorbell's lack of local recording is more pronounced, the Wyze Cam Outdoor also approaches local storage differently.

In this case, the Cam Outdoor and its base station each have microSD slots. Any microSD card in the base station is a duplicate of the card in the Outdoor Cam, making it easier to access recordings without grabbing a ladder. Unlike other Wyze cameras that support microSD, the Cam Outdoor doesn't have the option to record continuous video, which helps prolong its battery life.

There are different frame rates among Wyze's security cameras, with the newer models generally recording a higher number of frames per second (fps) for a smoother video that captures more detail. The individual cameras have different frame rates depending on the time of day, with lower frame rates at night allowing for longer exposure times to account for low-light conditions.

Wyze's three newest cameras have weatherproofing, so you can use them in outdoor conditions—Wyze Cam v3, Wyze Cam Outdoor, and Wyze Video Doorbell. This adds a lot more flexibility than the Wyze Cam Pan and Wyze Cam v2, which aren't big fans of rain, snow, and temperature fluctuations.

Even though the Wyze Cam v3 works outdoors, you need to use an outdoor power adapter. Unfortunately, this adapter isn't available yet, which keeps the camera indoors for now. We'll update once we find out a firm release date.

Most of Wyze's cameras have a simple, metal mounting plate that you attach to the wall using a screw or adhesive tape. The metal plate provides a firm surface for magnets in each camera's base to hold on to.

But the Wyze Video Doorbell doesn't use a magnetic mount. Instead, it comes with a mounting plate that you screw to the wall. This is a reasonable choice that helps prevent someone from walking away with your doorbell on a whim.

Read our guide to security camera installation for more information.

There are three power sources for Wyze cameras that allow them to work in different environments:

• Indoor cameras like the Wyze Cam v3 and Wyze Cam Pan use simple USB adapters.
• The Wyze Outdoor security camera relies on a battery so you can place it far from power outlets. It also uses a base station indoors (USB adapter) to connect to Wi-Fi and extend its battery life.
• The Wyze Video Doorbell connects directly to existing doorbell wiring, giving it continuous power so you can see visitors on your porch.

On the whole, the Wyze Cam v3 is probably the best value among affordable security cameras. Its thoughtful features and powerful night vision are hard to pass up at such a compelling price. Other budget security cameras like the Ring Indoor Cam and Blink Mini can't keep up.

While the Wyze Cam Outdoor has more powerful infrared night vision than the Wyze Cam v3, it doesn't offer full-color video, which might be a downside for some folks. Still, this Wyze wireless camera is ideal for watching over your yard at any time of day.

Learn more in our full Wyze Cam Outdoor review.

Although this is the largest Wyze camera by size, it's still quite compact—not much larger than a stick of butter. The original Wyze Cam Pan remains one of our favorite budget security cameras, even if the Wyze Cam v3 recently stole our hearts. Time will tell if the Wyze Cam Pan v2—and its color night vision—can live up to its predecessor.

Overall, the Wyze Video Doorbell could benefit from a wider field of view, but the camera's video quality is probably good enough for most folks. Still, don't expect it to outperform pricier doorbell cameras like Arlo, Google Nest, and Ring.

Check out our full Wyze Doorbell Review.

The Wyze Home Monitoring Service is Wyze's first DIY security system with professional monitoring. As you might expect, it can work in tandem with Wyze security cameras and even includes Cam Plus cloud storage for a single camera as part of the $5 monthly price. Learn more in our Wyze Home Monitoring review.

Unlike the monitoring service, Wyze's smart home devices might not provide as many immediate benefits when you pair them with a Wyze security camera. But you can control them with the same app as your cameras and create rules for them to work together—like having a light bulb turn on when a camera detects motion.

Wyze's smart home devices:

Wyze security cameras are an unlikely pairing of price and substance. While they don't have the most advanced technology, they manage to keep up with pricier competitors. We're especially fond of the Wyze Cam v3 and its color night vision that works in any environment inside or outside. But the company's other cameras definitely hold their own.

Overall, we recommend Wyze security cameras to anyone who wants an affordable security option or for folks with larger budgets who want to amass a fleet of cameras.

Head over to our review of the best cheap security cameras to see how Wyze fits into the sub-$50 category.

We wanted to provide a comprehensive look at Wyze's security cameras, so we focused on its four most recent models. We didn't review the Wyze Cam v2 because it's similar to the new v3, which costs the same, though we briefly discuss it in the Wyze Cam v3 review above.

After choosing which cameras to review, we highlighted shared features and differences between the products before delving into brief reviews of the individual cameras. This approach let us compare Wyze as a whole to other security camera brands while emphasizing model-specific strengths.

Our research for these Wyze security camera reviews looks at specifications, online reviews, and personal experiences with Wyze's cameras and other products—some on the SafeWise team own and use Wyze gear in their homes. Consider reading our review methodology if you want to learn more about how we test and rate products.

• Wyze Cam Pan Review
• Best Cheap Security Cameras under $50
• Best Home Security Cameras
• 9 Ways to Stay Safe When You Live Alone
• Best Home Security Cameras Available on Amazon

1. Wyze Labs Inc., "Our Story - Wyze," October 2017. Accessed January 14, 2022.