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However, the Nest Aware subscription is still required if you want to access more than three hours of saved footage. Unlike the regular Nest Cam, the IQ comes with person recognition without the need for a subscription. However, it actually uses a 4K, Ultra HD sensor, and that increased resolution means you can zoom in on footage - to help police identify a burglar, for example.
Best indoor security camera 1080p#
Nest Cam Indoor Security Camera $199 at Best BuyĪ more intelligent offering from Nest, the Cam IQ shoots Full HD 1080p video and can stream the same quality to your smartphone. This also enables continuous 24-7 recording if you want it, and that footage is saved online for five days, where it can be viewed and downloaded. While basic video recording is free, advanced features like facial recognition (so the camera only alerts you when it sees an unfamiliar human instead of your cat) come as part of Nest Aware, which starts at $5 a month or $50 a year. (Check out The GearBrain, our smart home compatibility checker to see the other compatible products that works with Nest.) A microphone and speaker mean you can talk through the camera from the app - if you need to shout at your children or pet, for example - and there are eight infrared sensors to enable night vision. It also taps into the Nest ecosystem and can be configured to only record while you are away from home.
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The Cam Indoor, which GearBrain has reviewed, is a small security camera that records in 1080p Full HD and streams that footage to your phone or tablet via the Nest app. Google-owned Nest is a leader in the smart home market with its intelligent thermostat, smoke alarm and cameras. Nest Cam Indoor - $199 for one, $397 for three or $645 for five Once you have found a good spot, it's time to look at the options available to you. Of course, placing a camera high up might mean buying an extension cable to power it. That way, you are unlikely to see the lens regularly (helping you and your guests to worry less about being recorded) and the camera has a good view of where burglars are most likely to enter. It's best to place an indoor camera high up and with a view of the front (or back) door. This means a few days of false-negatives pinging your phone, which can become annoying. However, as we found with the Netatmo Welcome indoor camera, it takes a while to teach the system the faces of everyone who lives in your home, along with those of regular visitors like friends and partners. Once the camera knows this, it is less likely to record when you and your family are in shot. Some smart cameras aim to reduce unwanted recording by using facial recognition to learn who lives in the home. Some readers might be okay with this, but for many it can feel uncomfortable when a camera permanently sits nearby - and guests might well be unimpressed to discover they are being recorded without their permission. But this also means their all-seeing lenses will likely be closer to you (and in your view more often) than a camera fitted outside the property. Indoor security cameras are usually designed to sit on a shelf or window sill, making them ideal for renters unable to drill holes into the walls. But there are some welcome exceptions which are both weatherproof and, importantly, landlord-friendly thanks to requiring no cables. Most of these cameras are designed to be used indoors, so need to be placed looking out of a window.
Best indoor security camera install#
Thankfully, there in an increasing number of options available to the renter who wants to install a security camera without making any changes to their landlord's property. The best removable and landlord-friendly smart home tech for rentersīut, as with smart thermostats and door locks, most renters will find it impossible to install a smart security camera, due to the power cables and mounting brackets most external solutions require.
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The renters' guide to fitting a smart video doorbell.
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