Many of us don’t spend as much time at home as we’d like to. And no matter where you live, you probably want to be able to keep an eye on your house when you aren’t there. Maybe you’ve got petty thieves in your neighbourhood stealing packages off of porches. Maybe you want to make sure that your dog walker shows up when they’re supposed to. Maybe you like checking your property without getting off the couch. Outdoor security cameras can bring us peace of mind in so many ways. They can deter intruders, help you keep an eye on your kids and pets when they’re romping around outside, and even protect all of your outdoor belongings (including your vehicles!) from damage and theft. If you’re ready to buy an outdoor security camera, we’re here to help. There are so many options out there, and it can be tough to know which one to choose. Outdoor security cameras will vary in price, camera functionality, power type, connectivity, and so much more. And everything matters! This comprehensive guide will investigate the best outdoor security cameras in Canada right now and outline the criteria you should consider while making your purchase decision. Let’s dive right into our top five products. The Best Outdoor Security Cameras Right Now Our Top Wireless Pick for The Best Outdoor Security Camera Tapo C410 2K Outdoor Wire-Free Battery-Powered Security Camera Review What We Think of the Tapo C410 2K Outdoor Wire-Free Battery-Powered Security Camera We like pretty much everything about the Tapo C410 2K Outdoor Wire-Free Battery-Powered Security Camera. One of its best features is, of course, the wireless design. You won’t have to worry about power access when choosing a prime spot for your new camera to do its job. We also appreciate that you have local and cloud storage options to suit your changing needs. This camera is built to serve you well. That doesn’t stop at night, either. With stunningly clear colour night vision up to 30 feet, the sun won’t have any say in what you can see around your property. Plus, with the option to customize your alerts and detection zones, you’ll only be notified about things that are important to you. Package delivery? Yes. Squirrel running across the yard? No. The only feature that leaves a little something to be desired is the battery life. With a 6-month maximum for each fresh battery change, you’ll have to spend a bit more time maintaining your security system each year than you might like. If you’re looking for a couple of years in between maintenance visits, this isn’t the wireless camera for you. Overall, the Tapo C410 2K Outdoor Wire-Free Battery-Powered Security Camera has a strong list of features working in your favour. Whether your priority is deterring package theft, knowing when your kids get home safely from school, or communicating with visitors when you’re out, this camera has you covered. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Tapo C410 2K Outdoor Wire-Free Battery-Powered Security Camera Reviewers have great things to say about the Tapo C410 2K Outdoor Wire-Free Battery-Powered Security Camera. They love that it’s so easy to install anywhere they need it, even if there’s no power access. The custom zones and alerts make it really easy to stay informed about the activity they care about, too. They highly recommend this one. Tapo C410 2K Outdoor Wire-Free Battery-Powered Security Camera Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Tapo C410 2K Outdoor Wire-Free Battery-Powered Security Camera Specifications Our Top Wired Pick Tapo Outdoor Wired Security Camera Review What We Think of the Tapo Outdoor Wired Security Camera The Tapo Outdoor Wired Security Camera has so many things to boast about. Dual antennas that give you a more reliable internet connection (no missed alerts, in other words), sound and light alarms that scare off prowlers, multiple storage options, and three options for night vision, including a stellar Starlight colour mode are only the beginning. This camera will let you see everything, everywhere, thanks to the tilt/pan functionality providing a 360º field of view. Plus, there’s a privacy mode that will hide the lens in the housing when you don’t want anything recorded. And don’t think we forgot about detection quality. It’s got a range of almost 100 feet and can intelligently distinguish between cars, people, and pets. Since you can customize your zones, you’ll get alerts for the things that matter. You can say goodbye to alert spamming with this one. We had a hard time finding anything to go in the cons column with this one. The only potential downside we see is the power cord. Depending on where you want to install the camera, the need for a power source might become an issue. That’s it! What Reviewers Are Saying About the Tapo Outdoor Wired Security Camera Reviewers are thrilled with the quality of the Tapo Outdoor Wired Security Camera. Aside from a couple of issues with the length of the power cord, they are happy with every single feature. The footage quality is great at all times, the Wi-Fi connection is stable, and there are tons of useful features built-in. TP-Link Tapo Outdoor Wired Security Camera Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… TP-Link Tapo Outdoor Wired Security Camera Specifications Our Budget Pick Blink Outdoor 4 Smart Security Camera Review What We Think of the Blink Outdoor 4 Smart Security Camera The Blink Outdoor 4 Smart Security Camera is easy to love. The compact, wire-free design means you can install it anywhere, and you won’t be subjected to the hassle of argumentative wires. You’ll be able to use the smartphone app or the included Sync Module 2 home base to check out a live stream of your cameras, and you can even ask Alexa to show you this footage. If you’re the kind of person who likes to test out features before you buy (aren’t we all?), you’ll love that you get a free 30 days of the Blink Subscription Plan. You can try out cloud storage, person detection, and a bunch of other features. Since you can set custom detection zones, you won’t be bothered by an endless stream of alerts. You’ll only know about the things that matter to you. The way it should be. Now for the part we don’t like as much. The stuff we don’t love about it. The detection range is fairly short at 30 feet, so this camera is best for driveway/sidewalk or backyard monitoring. Plus, since the battery life is dependent on the alert frequency, you’re unlikely to actually get the full two years of battery life that is advertised. We’re also not fans of the paywall that is the Blink Subscription Plan. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Blink Outdoor 4 Smart Security Camera Reviewers are quite happy with their Blink Outdoor 4 Smart Security Cameras. They wouldn’t mind some improvements to the detection range and battery life, but it’s still really useful to them. People love how easy it is to install, and the custom detection zones are reliable. They also like that they can see a live view from their smartphone or the Sync Module 2. Blink Outdoor 4 Smart Security Camera Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Blink Outdoor 4 Smart Security Camera Specifications Our Solar-Powered Pick Eufy Security SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera Review What We Think of the Eufy Security SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera Solar-powered cameras don’t get much better than the Eufy Security SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera, and we’re about to tell you all of the reasons why. One of the best things about this camera is the power source. Solar power is sustainable, won’t cost you any money, and allows you to set up the camera anywhere you’d like, maintenance-free, as long as there’s access to the sun. We love the flexibility! We also love that this camera can swivel to provide a 360-degree view of your property. It can do the job of multiple cameras all by itself! You’ll never miss the details, either, thanks to its 8x zoom feature and 3K resolution. Daytime (and nighttime) surveillance has never looked better. There are only a couple of reasons this security camera might not be right for you. First, it doesn’t offer cloud storage, only local, so that’s something you’ll have to be okay with retrieving manually. Second, it comes with a higher price tag than many other options, so it won’t be a good fit for folks shopping on a budget. It sure is worth it, though. All in all, the Eufy Security SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera is an easy one to fall in love with. As long as you aren’t shopping on a tight budget, or in need of cloud storage, this camera has everything you need for peace of mind. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Eufy Security SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera Reviewers are very happy with the Eufy Security SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera. They love how flexible the installation requirements are, and they’ve never seen better resolution in a security camera. The custom detection zones make it easy to perfect their alerts, and the zoom feature is a huge benefit for capturing license plates and other details. They’d all choose this one again. Eufy Security SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Eufy Security SoloCam S340 Solar Security Camera Specifications Our LTE Pick Defender AI 2K+ Frontier 4G LTE Wireless Cellular Security Camera Review What We Think of the Defender AI 2K+ Frontier 4G LTE Wireless Cellular Security Camera The Defender AI 2K+ Frontier 4G LTE Wireless Cellular Security Camera boasts one of the best feature lists in the world of outdoor security cameras. Of course, its main draw is its suitability for remote locations. Thanks to solar power and LTE coverage, this camera can keep your property protected no matter how far out it is from civilization. We love that for you. We also love how great this security camera is at actually providing security interventions. Its AI tracking features ensure you’ll never lose sight of an intruder because they’ve walked out of frame…the camera simply follows them around! With a built-in spotlight and siren to scare trespassers off, you’ll never have to worry that someone will come prowling without you knowing about it. The only thing that might make you think twice about choosing this security camera is the monthly fee you’ll have to pay for the LTE coverage. It isn’t an insignificant amount of money, even if you choose the annual plan for some savings, so you might need to give this one some extra thought if that won’t fit easily in the budget. Otherwise, there’s nothing to dislike about this camera. All in all, the Defender AI 2K+ Frontier 4G LTE Wireless Cellular Security Camera is one of our favourite security cameras of all time. No matter where you need to install it, or what (or who) it needs to monitor, you’ll be very happy with its job performance. What Reviewers Are Saying About the Defender AI 2K+ Frontier 4G LTE Wireless Cellular Security Camera Reviewers are raving about the Defender AI 2K+ Frontier 4G LTE Wireless Cellular Security Camera. They absolutely love how perfect it is for remote locations thanks to the solar power and LTE capabilities, but it works great at home on Wi-Fi, too. The camera resolution is fantastic, and they feel very safe thanks to the AI tracking system, siren, and spotlight. They can’t recommend it highly enough. Defender AI 2K+ Frontier 4G LTE Wireless Cellular Security Camera Pros and Cons Buy If… Don’t Buy If… Defender AI 2K+ Frontier 4G LTE Wireless Cellular Security Camera Specifications How to Properly Choose Your Outdoor Security Camera Price Some outdoor security cameras are as affordable as $50, others cost upwards of $600. Most people will be just fine with a camera priced between $100 and $300. In general, more expensive cameras have better ranges, more intelligent detection, and higher resolutions. Resolution & Field of View The resolution and field of view of an outdoor security camera both affect how well your footage comes out. If you’re only looking for the big picture, they won’t matter as much, but if you need detailed images and wider coverage, you’ll need to invest some extra money. Range The range of an outdoor security camera can be as short as 20 feet and as far as 100 feet. The best fit will depend on the size of the property you plan on monitoring and how much notice you want of approaching people/animals/vehicles. Detection Capabilities Pretty much every outdoor security camera will let you set up custom detection zones, and this is a must-have feature for people who don’t want to be spammed by meaningless alerts. Most cameras will also use motion detection to start recording, but a rare few can also use sound detection. Power Type There are three options when it comes to power supplies for outdoor security cameras. The most common options are a wired connection directly to the power supply of the house and an internal battery that is either replaced or charged. However, there are also cameras that have built-in solar panels, and these are the best option for remote locations or management-free power and easy installs.
