WIRELESS SECURITY CAMS

BUYER’S CHECKLIST

THE KEY SPECS, FEATURES AND TERMINOLOGY YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN BUYING A WIRELESS SECURITY CAM

WI-FI

All the IP cameras tested include inbuilt Wi-Fi, but some also have wired connections for areas with poor signal.

RESOLUTION

A 1,280 x 720p resolution is most common in affordable IP cameras, and it’s best to avoid older 640 x 480 models.

NIGHT VISION

While not strictly necessary, IR night vision is very handy for security monitoring in the dark and is included on all but the cheapest cameras.

APP CONTROL

The IP cameras tested all can be controlled remotely via a smartphone app, and can be operated without any other form of recording device.

MOTION SENSING

The better cameras can automatically detect movement (and audio), and start recording, as well as send an alert to your phone or email account.

TWO WAY COMMUNICATIONS

While most of the cameras have microphones, the best include a speaker that enables two-way communications from the control app.

CLOUD RECORDING

Local or phone recording is fine, but being able to save your footage directly the cloud makes life a lot easier, but is not always free.

PAN AND TILT

Despite being more expensive, pan and tilt cameras can give a lot more coverage and provide excellent value for money.