There are many smart indoor cameras for sale. But which is the best indoor smart cameras and which ones are value for money and why? The most expensive is not always the best.
The best indoor smart cameras of the moment
You can place smart indoor cameras in your home for all kinds of reasons. Perhaps you combine it with a smart lock; this way you can hang it in the hallway and check who enters. For example, because you have granted access to the neighbors via an app or have the postman deliver that package as quickly as possible. But you can also use it in a nursery or elsewhere in the house, so you can protect valuables or members of the family. Such a camera must of course meet specific requirements; few smart cameras really meet all requirements.
What should you pay attention to when considering best indoor smart cameras?
An indoor smart camera, an outdoor camera and a doorbell have many similarities, even if they are used in a different way. Nevertheless, you have to pay attention, because one camera is not the other. The price difference is sometimes not only in the functionality or design, but also simply in the name of the manufacturer. Expensive is not always better, but sometimes cheap is expensive. So always read carefully about the specifications, the possibilities and a possible subscription. This way you will not be faced with surprises.
For example, pay attention to the range of the built-in WiFi antenna. Your indoor camera may be too far away from a modem, router or mesh network, but that is unlikely. Nevertheless, it is still something you have to take into account. Another important part of the internet is the integration with external services. Is there a cloud subscription and is it mandatory? Is there support for voice assistants and if so, which one? Many people choose either the Google Assistant, or Siri, or the English-speaking Amazon Alexa assistant.
The image quality is definitely important. What resolution does the camera have? And is there, for example, support for high dynamic range? What about the night vision? Is it in color or just black and white? So you see that there are many possibilities. You will undoubtedly find a camera that suits your needs, but it takes a while. You should also pay attention to things like motion sensors and the option to record a message in the absence. Also, let’s not forget the app – that’s the interface you often encounter.
Since you also need to be able to communicate with someone in front of the door, you should check the audio quality. Can everyone hear you well? And can you also hear the person on the other end of the line? These are all relevant questions when we talk about indoor cameras. There are also some variables. Some smart cameras work with a hub, while others support a micro SD card. So you are not always dependent on offered subscriptions (regardless of whether you have to pay for them or not).
The best indoor smart cameras
Blink Mini
A security camera for less than 40 euros? Then almost can not go well. Amazon proves otherwise with the Blink Mini, a very compact indoor camera that offers great value for money. Among other things, the device features the 1080p resolution, as well as night vision, motion detection and two-way communication. You can use the camera in combination with a subscription. From March 31, you can also purchase a Blink Sync Module 2 , with which you can also save images locally.
Fortunately, the application has been kept nice and simple, so that you quickly arrive at the functions that are important. Still, not everything may go as you would expect. When you receive a notification of an event, you will not be brought to the live image. Instead, you end up in the recordings screen. Also useful, but not at that specific moment. It is also good to know that the Blink Mini offers support for Amazon Alexa and IFTTT, but not for the Google Assistant.
- Good picture and sound quality
- Very Affordable
- Adjustable movement zones
- IFTTT expands the possibilities
- Build quality, especially of the foot, could be better
- Notification sends you to the recording and not to Live view
Eufycam 2
Don’t be too blind on the grade we gave the Eufycam 2. That 7 stands for a lack of new functions and possibilities compared to the previous model. If you have never used or seen that previous model, this may be a very complete camera package for you at home or at the office. You will immediately lose 349 euros (suggested retail price), but for that you get two wireless indoor cameras (which work on a battery, which should last for a year), as well as a base station for storing the images.
That base station has 16 GB of internal storage space, but unfortunately no micro-SD card slot. However, the 16 GB available should be enough for a long period of time. The Eufycam 2 cameras have a resolution of 1080p. That is 1920 by 1080 pixels. They have a field of view of almost 120 degrees, have evening vision, person and animal recognition and support Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa and Siri. There is also support for HomeKit Secure Video , but unfortunately there is no person recognition (anymore).
- Batteries last a long time
- HomeKit integration works fine
- Local storage
- No cloud service required
- Few smart home integrations
- No real upgrade (compared to first Eufycam)
- No audio detection
- Little storage
Arlo Pro 3
Another camera system with wireless cameras on batteries is the Arlo Pro 3. It is a very complete camera system, which also has a built-in siren and spot light. They are waterproof, support two-way audio, have a wide-angle lens and also record color images in the evening. This function is still not widely available on smart indoor cameras. There is also a 2k resolution and you will receive notifications when movements or sound are registered. You can also use the cameras with a plug.
If you already use older Arlo products, you have to stay sharp. The Arlo Pro 3 is a package that consists of two cameras and a hub. While you can link the older Arlo cameras to the new hub, you cannot use the old hub with the new cameras. The hub allows you to store images locally, so that you are not dependent on a cloud subscription. Furthermore, the application is clearer than ever and that there is support for Google Assistant, Siri and Amazon Alexa.
- Image quality generally very good
- Lots of smart home options
- Flexible and easy to install
- Quite a smart system
- Not cheap
- Subscription required for useful functions
- Quality loss when zooming in
Ring Indoor Cam
We have already seen in this overview that smart indoor cameras do not have to be expensive. The Ring Indoor Cam is another example of this. It’s a compact camera that you can put down or hang anywhere – whether on a shelf, table, cupboard or even the ceiling. In addition to a speaker and microphone, the Ring Indoor Cam also has full HD resolution, night vision and a live view, so that you can also watch directly. A small blue LED light indicates that the camera is currently in use.
There are some features missing, which you may not expect at this price point. For example, there is no person recognition and images cannot be stored locally. So if you want to view your images at a later time, you are obliged to take out a subscription. Furthermore, we also miss support for other smart home platforms and services, so that the Ring may not be suitable for everyone. If you already have products from the manufacturer at home, this is a very interesting addition.
- Image quality
- Installation
- Night vision
- Clear app
- Subscription required to review images
- No sound detection
- No local storage
D-Link Smart Full HD and Mini Full HD Wi-Fi Camera
One of the more extensive smart cameras of the moment is the duo D-Link Smart Full HD and Mini Full HD Wi-Fi Camera. Although the cameras are somewhat disappointing in terms of design and the application is not exactly user-friendly (something that we have been saying about D-Link apps for years), we still have to admit to the manufacturer that it is often good in terms of functionality. The cameras can register sound, people and movement and send a notification based on your settings. You can also enable privacy functions very quickly. It’s that easy.
Another useful option are the so-called Rich Notifications. As soon as the camera has detected something, you will see a notification with a screenshot of the recorded image. You then have two buttons below that notification. You can go directly to the live view to watch live and from this screen you can also easily talk via two-way communication by pressing the microphone. It is also good to know that there is free cloud storage and that you can save images on a micro SD card.
- Good picture and sound quality
- Free cloud storage
- Smarthome integration
- App is way too cumbersome
- Not for beginners
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