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Best outdoor security cameras
In this article
- The best outdoor security cameras
- The outdoor security cameras we tested
- How we test outdoor security cameras
- Don't Buy outdoor security cameras
- Cheap outdoor security cameras
- Wired vs. wireless vs. wire-free cameras
- Which security camera brands offer the best software and security support?
- How to protect your camera and make it harder to hack
The best outdoor security cameras can record in high resolution and are simple to use, and they will alert you if they spot or hear any suspicious activity so you can take action. Bottom-of-the-heap models suffer from poor-quality video, sub-standard app interfaces and cheap build quality.
All cameras have motion detection and will send a notification to your phone – however, there can be differences in how well this works and how customisable it is. We test to see which ones work best.
Unlike many other review sites, we test every security camera for potential security flaws and flag them in our reviews, so you can rest assured that if you buy one of our recommended products, your personal data will stay private. 14% of the models we've tested over the years have been found to have security issues, and we tell you when we find them.
How our tests find you the best
Video quality
What's the point in a camera if the video footage is unusable? We test in daylight, low light and at night to make sure the camera delivers quality pictures in all conditions.
Sound quality
Nobody wants to be straining to hear what's going on or deciphering distorted audio. Our experts tests filter out the worst offenders from those with crystal clear sound.
Motion detection
From spotting ninjas to cats, motion detection is crucial to security cameras. Our tests find the most responsive.
We also test...
How simple it is to install, use the app, and store footage. We also check that it's safe from a cyber attack.
The best outdoor security cameras
Only logged-in Which? members can view the outdoor security camera test results below.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
| Outdoor security camera | Price | Score | Video quality | Sound quality | Ease of use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sign up to reveal Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations. Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time Already a member? Log in | 80% | ||||
| 79% | |||||
| 79% | |||||
| 76% | |||||
| 76% | |||||
| 75% | |||||
| 75% | |||||
| 74% | |||||
| 72% | |||||
| 72% | |||||
| 72% | |||||
| 72% | |||||
| 70% | |||||
| 68% | |||||
| 65% | |||||
| 45% | |||||
| 43% |
Sign up to reveal
Get instant access to this and all our scores and recommendations.
Unlock tableFirst month £5, then £11.99 per month, cancel at any time
Already a member? Log in
Date tested: January 2025, July 2024, May 2024, October 2023, June 2022, October 2021, March 2021 and June 2020. Page last checked: April 2025. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available. We’ve tested more than 100 outdoor security cameras in total, but the tables display our top picks and Don't Buys only.
The outdoor security cameras we tested
All the outdoor security cameras we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.
Only logged-in Which? members can view the best outdoor security cameras from our tests.
Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.
Arlo Essential 2K Outdoor Camera
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Most recently tested July 2024
Power source Battery
Need to know No local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
Arlo Pro 5 (2-pack)
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Available at Arlo (£250)
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Most recently tested October 2023
Power source Battery
Need to know Local storage with separate hub, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
Eufy SoloCam S340
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Most recently tested May 2024
Power source Battery
Need to know Local storage, no cloud storage, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period until at least October 2025
Eufy S330 (Eufycam 3)
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Most recently tested April 2023
Power source Battery
Need to know Local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
Eufy 4G LTE Cam S330
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Most recently tested January 2025
Power source Battery
Need to know Local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
Reolink RLC-1224A
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Most recently tested July 2024
Power source Mains
Need to know Local storage, no storage subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
Reolink Argus 3 Pro
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Available from Reolink (£80)
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Most recently tested April 2023
Power source Mains
Need to know Local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
Secure your home effectively. Find out how which are the best burglar alarms and smart security systems in our tests
Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro
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Most recently tested October 2021
Power source Mains
Need to know No local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period until 2028
Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Plug-in
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Most recently tested April 2023
Power source Mains
Need to know No local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period until at least 2028
Ring Spotlight Cam Pro Wired
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Available from Ring (£200)
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Most recently tested April 2023
Power source Mains
Need to know No local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period until at least 2027
Somfy 1870471
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Available from Somfy (£399)
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Most recently tested October 2021
Power source Mains
Need to know Local and cloud storage, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
TP-Link Tapo C310
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Most recently tested March 2021
Power source Mains
Need to know Local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
TP-Link Tapo C320WS
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Most recently tested November 2022
Power source Mains
Need to know Local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
TP-Link Tapo C325WB
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Most recently tested May 2024
Power source Mains
Need to know Local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
TP-Link Tapo C420S2
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Most recently tested April 2023
Power source Battery
Need to know Local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
TP-Link Tapo C500
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Most recently tested October 2023
Power source Mains
Need to know Local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
TP-Link Tapo C520WS
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Most recently tested May 2024
Power source Mains
Need to know Local storage, cloud storage for a subscription, motion detection, customisable privacy zones, siren function, software update period unknown
How we test outdoor security cameras
Only the best outdoor security cameras excel in all of these areas:
- Video quality We use a panel of experts to judge the video quality in various light conditions, including in full daylight, low light and at night. We also look for signs of graininess, loss of focus, and whether any fine detail is lost when subjects are distant – it’s no good having a camera that has low resolution and renders any footage you’ve captured unusable.
- Sound quality Our tests check whether the sound comes out clearly to you, and to the person near the camera. You won't want to be straining to hear what's going on, or being blasted out with overly loud, distorted audio.
- Set up and ease of use We check if set up is simple for a home DIYer or if you'll need to hire a professional to do it. We also run a wide range of ease of use tests, from the ease of using the app to your options for recording video clips to either a local storage device or into the cloud.
- Motion detection sensitivity We check if the camera responds as expected to movements, whether fast or stealthy. We also assess how well the camera alerts you, either via a mobile app, text message or an email alert.
- Privacy and security All security cameras go through a barrage of tests to check how well they protect you from hacking attacks, and keep your data secure and private. If our tests flag up any causes for concern we will contact the manufacturer and work with the brand to fix it.
We regularly revisit the outdoor security cameras on sale to see if there are any more popular brands that need testing and when we find them we do.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.
Don't Buy outdoor security cameras
Our tests uncover the best and the worst. If a product performs so poorly that we think you should avoid it, we call it a Don't Buy. We've tested two outdoor security cameras that we've named Don't Buys.
Poor picture quality, weak sound, and clunky apps are just some of the problems you'll face if you're left lumbered with one of these.
Sign up to Which? to unlock the results and find out which of the outdoor security cameras we tested are Don't Buys and which are worthy of our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations.
Cheap outdoor security cameras
You don't have to pay lots up front for a quality outdoor security camera. Our testing has revealed three Great Value cameras, all under £50, that have good video quality and are easy to setup.
However, be wary at the cheap end of the market, especially if you're shopping at online marketplaces like Amazon Marketplace, eBay, AliExpress and Wish.com.
Our investigations have frequently found security issues with cheap cameras from little known or unknown brands.
Bear in mind when setting your budget that you might need to sign up to an additional subscription to get the best out of your camera.
You often need to pay to store video clips in the cloud in case you need to access them remotely, and features such as advanced notifications can also be locked behind a payment plan.
Video storage costs for wireless cameras (and other smart home devices) can rack up to more than £100 per year.
Sign up to Which? to unlock the results and find out which of the outdoor security cameras we tested are worthy of our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations.
Wired vs. wireless vs. wire-free cameras
Wireless security cameras aren’t necessarily wire-free, the term ‘wireless’ meaning they connect wirelessly to your existing wi-fi network.
Most wireless security cameras are plugged into the mains, with a few of these offering some back-up battery time in case of power failures.
However, there are battery-powered, wire-free security cameras, which are easier to position as they doesn’t need to be near a power source. But bear in mind this does mean you’ll have to charge the battery or pay for new ones if they’re disposable.
Which security camera brands offer the best software and security support?
As well as providing security for your home from burglars and intruders, an outdoor camera should also provide digital security against hacking attacks.
That's why we ask all brands of cameras that we review how long they will support their devices with updates. While a few brands do give clear information on this, sadly many do not. We will continue to press all companies to be more transparent.
- Amazon's Ring has said that it will support all security cameras for at least four years after the device is last available to purchase.
- Another Amazon brand, Blink, has said the same.
- Google's Nest has said that it will support for 'at least five years after launch'.
- TP-Link said it will support cameras for three years after the product is last for sale.
- The same policy is in place for Foscam.
- Eufy said that it will update its doorbells for two years with updates.
- Imou will support its products for two years from launch.
- Ezviz didn't have a general support policy, but its smart doorbell support will end between 2029 and 2031, depending on the model.
Other brands, including Arlo, did not provide specific support lengths for their cameras. Hive said it is dedicated to support until it officially decommissions devices, as it previously announced with Hive security cameras and Homeshield devices.
If a camera you own falls out of update support, there's an increased risk to using it. Although it's unlikely to immediately get hacked, the risk does go up with out of support products. For more information, read our guide to smart devices and security.
How to protect your camera and make it harder to hack
As with any internet-connected device, data privacy and security are of the utmost importance. While the camera may record first-class-quality video, the camera isn’t fit for purpose if it has weak security setting, making it vulnerable to being hacked.
So how can you stop hackers and other nefarious users from finding your camera(s) on the internet and watching you?
Although there aren’t any security cameras which are ‘unhackable’ per se, you can follow these simple steps to greatly reduce the risk of someone accessing your footage and device.
- Update your camera’s firmware: Most wireless security cameras feature firmware that can be upgraded by you. If a vulnerability or attack vector has been identified by the manufacturer, often it will release a firmware update to remedy the issue. You can update the camera’s firmware via the admin settings and it’s worth periodically checking the camera manufacturer’s website to see if there are any applicable updates.
- Change default passwords: A camera's default admin and password details can often be easily guessed by a hacker. Taking the simple step of changing your login details will help keep a novice hacker at bay. If your camera offers it, set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for an extra layer of protection.
- Password-protect your cameras: Some wireless security cameras don’t have password protection enabled by default. After the initial setup, go back to the admin settings and create a strong password.