The best floodlight cameras for added security

When it comes to outdoor technology, traditional home security products can only accomplish so much because most cameras, whether weatherproofed or not, are only designed to capture the most image details by daylight. Come nightfall, built-in infrared typically takes over, which can cause a big drop-off in resolution and contrast. That said, if you’re looking to effectively guard your property when the sun sets, a floodlight camera is the way to go.

It’s unclear whether outdoor floodlight cameras have a profound effect on deterring unwanted activity, but they will definitely help you have increased peace of mind. They offer more features and are more visible than a traditional security camera. Plus, you’ll now have a better view around your home and more ways to interact with what’s going on.

Like any other smart home product, there are many choices to pick from. We’ve listed the best floodlight cameras available for you in various categories. Check them out below.

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera

The best overall

The best option on our list today is the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera. It has some of the best video quality of any floodlight camera on the list, and it pairs that with HDR to give you a crystal-clear image. It also has a 160-degree field of view.

One of the other best features of the Arlo camera is that it works seamlessly with any smart home integration, including Homekit and IFTTT, which is nearly unheard of. It can detect people, animals, cars, and packages with its auto-tracking feature. This means Arlo provides fewer false alarms than other security camera brands.

Of course, there are some downsides, too. While it only costs $250, it doesn’t feature local storage recording. You’re forced to pay between $3 and $15 monthly for cloud recording storage plans.

And while the siren isn’t the loudest we’ve ever heard, when it comes to intuitive AI detection, bright and powerful floodlighting, and excellent in-app customizations, there’s no better outdoor option than the Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera.

Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera

The best overall

Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro

Honorable mention

While we feel the Arlo is the best camera to buy for its features, the Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro is no slouch. It’s actually what we’d suggest to most people searching for more outdoor security — unless, of course, you’re in a HomeKit ecosystem.

The Cam 2 Pro also features 2K resolution with a pan and tilt adjustability, but the camera can also rotate a full 360 degrees. It can also auto-track people and give you smart alerts about them.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of drawbacks to the Eufy cam that we need to discuss. First off, it doesn’t work with HomeKit – only Alexa and Google Assistant. Secondly, the Eufy floodlight has a $300 retail price but offers free local storage — yet no 24/7 recording. So, while you may pay a bit more upfront, you save money if you intend to keep your recordings stored on a microSD card.

Eufy Floodlight Cam 2 Pro

Honorable mention

Wyze Cam Floodlight

For the budget conscious

The Wyze Cam Floodlight joins us on the list for those who don’t want to pay hundreds of dollars for extra security. Or, maybe you want to test how a floodlight cam fits in your home without having to invest too much.

The Wyze floodlight option is available for $100 with a small $2 monthly fee for smart alerts and other features. You even get free cloud and local storage with this camera. It’s no slouch on the spec front, either.

The Wyze Cam Floodlight features 1080p video quality with a 130-degree field of view, the lowest of any camera on this list, but will still give you better optics than a traditional security camera. It can detect not only people, animals, cars, and packages, but also sound, which is unique to the Wyze cameras.

Here, though, is another camera that only appeals to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa users.

Wyze Cam Floodlight

For the budget conscious

Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro

The best hard-wired camera

Last on our list is the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro, which should also get the award for the most extended. Ring offers a wired floodlight option with its camera that allows power to come to the camera without worrying about (re)charging batteries.

The Ring floodlight camera can detect people in 1080p resolution inside its 140-degree field of vision. It also has the loudest siren of any camera on this list and a decent zoom level of 8x.

Ring retails around $280, with a monthly fee between $3 and $10. Unfortunately, it only integrates with Amazon Alexa, which isn’t much of a surprise considering Amazon owns Ring.

One thing to note with Ring is that the company offers a Pro and Plus version of its floodlight wired cameras. They are very similar but have slight differences in features. For one, the Plus is about $70 less expensive than the Pro version. The Pro version features better audio, motion detection, and wi-fi capability.

Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro

The best hard-wired camera

Blink Outdoor Floodlight Camera

The best for Alexa households

Pros

• 1080p live views and recordings
• 700 lumens
• Great motion triggering
• Easy to customize

Cons

• Not as bright as other floodlight cams

Amazon’s Blink lineup is an impressive and budget-friendly assortment of home security products that are easy to install, wrap your head around, and customize. If you’ve been looking to illuminate and monitor an outdoor space, the Blink Outdoor Floodlight is the way to go.

Touting 700 lumens of powerful illumination, the Blink Outdoor features 1080p live views and recording, along with impressive motion-detection capabilities that you can customize from the Blink Home Monitor app. Erring on the budget side of floodlight cams, the Blink Outdoor may not be as bright as some of the other models in this roundup or have as many features, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the purchase.

Best of all, if you’re already using Alexa products in your home, the Blink Outdoor is the perfect addition to your ecosystem. Using the Alexa app and compatible devices, you’ll be able to view live video, receive alerts, use two-way talk, and more.

Blink Outdoor Floodlight Camera

The best for Alexa households

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re in the market for a better way to protect your yard, a floodlight cam may be the way to go. Our top choices include those by Arlo or Eufy, but more options are available depending on your specific needs and smart home ecosystem.

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