Two-way talk: A microphone and speaker allow you to inform intruders that responders are on the way or tell your dog to get off the couch while you’re at work. Only receive the alerts** that matter. Customize the area in which detection takes place to suit your home.

The built-in AI notifies** you of excessive noise levels so you know when your little one needs some attention (human facial detection only). I prefer cameras that pan (see many choices below), but this one from Cync ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends) beats out everything else with one important feature: a shutter that covers the camera lens when you don't want it watching—or listening!—to you. Plus, the app has two-factor authentication, and you can't opt out of it. That's a good thing. The solar panels charge the built-in battery while sunlight is available. If the camera's current operation uses more power than the solar panel can provide, the battery level will reduce.At 125 degrees, the Eufy Solo IndoorCam C24 has one of the narrowest fields of view on the market. When compared to the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera, which is five degrees wider, we did lose a small section of the room in capture. However, for most homes it should still be sufficiently wide. Video quality: You’ll find a few 2K and 4K cameras, but a 1080p resolution is usually enough, as it offers sharp video that streams well over a standard Wi-Fi network. The solar panels are not charging the device enough. One possibility is that the position of the camera is not allowing enough access to direct sunlight. In this case, adjust the position or location. It may also be that the weather is not ideal for solar charging. In this case, there is no need to worry. When the weather becomes sunny, normal charging will resume. Alerts: All cameras offer motion alerts, but some can alert you when people and pets are present, trigger based on sound, and even distinguish between, say, a smoke detector and a baby crying. Geofencing: This feature automates motion detection when you leave or return to a predetermined area (usually your home). For it to work properly, every person in the home (including kids) needs to have the app installed and geofencing enabled on their phone.

Storage: We limit our testing to cameras that rely on cloud storage. Local storage, in which video recordings are stored on a microSD card, is also an option for some devices, but using a card means your recordings won’t be accessible if you lose power—or if the card is stolen. The current operation of the camera is consuming power beyond what is normal. In this situation, you may need to adjust the configuration to reduce false triggers and excessive recording events. Try the following: