Best outdoor security cameras in 2025
Outdoor security cameras require a little more research than mostindoor cams, as the exterior of our homes and businesses offer a less-controlled environment when it comes to temperature, precipitation, and wildlife. You also need to worry more about where the cam will be mounted, and whether you’ll have to worry about batteries.
Fortunately, there are numerous outdoor security camera models to choose from. From reputable brands like Arlo and TP-Link, the best outdoor cams bring more than just great video quality and local storage to the table. Whether you need to buy another cam for your home, or you’re building a DIY smart home system, there’s a security camera out there that’ll suit your needs.
Here’s our roundup of the best outdoor security cameras you can grab right now.
Top outdoor security cameras
Bi-annual battery charge
With a battery that lasts over six months and sharp 2K video, the Arlo Essential XL Security Camera (2nd Gen, 2K) is an excellent choice for yard, driveway, or front door surveillance.
Whether you’re a renter who wants to stay up to date on their door or a homeowner with a huge backyard to monitor, the extra-long battery life and 12x zoom of the Arlo Essential XL Outdoor Camera (2nd Gen, 2K) suit the needs of many. It installs in mere minutes with minimal effort, and there’s no base station required.
This entry in Arlo’s affordable Essentials line promises impressive day and night color vision. The 2K resolution retains faces and important details even from a distance, so the Essential XL will perform well on a busy front stoop. Battery life is this Arlo model’s greatest strength, hands down. Depending on your preferred settings, this camera can last 6 months or more on a single charge.
Where else can you get a battery you only have to charge twice a year?
While the Essential XL is nearly perfect, it has a few caveats. There’s no removable battery compartment, so the entire camera needs to be removed for charging, and there’s no local storage. The camera also doesn’t have an SD slot, and it’s not just that the Essential XL doesn’t need a base station — it’s incompatible with all of Arlo’s base stations. So, keeping a footage archive on a smart hub isn’t an option either.
Full feature set and great video quality
Consider the Arlo Pro 4 if you’re looking for pristine video quality, but don’t want to shell out several hundred dollars for a complex system with a wireless base station. Its high resolution and HDR capabilities make the recordings easy to see in any lighting conditions, and it takes just minutes to set up and program.
TheArlo Pro 4fits the bill of a high-end security camera well. Its 12X digital zoom and 160-degree field of view are among the best on the market, and it’s one of the rare options with dual-band Wi-Fi support. Also, the built-in spotlight is an effective deterrent for would-be bad actors, and it’s relatively easy to set detection zones and sensitivity.
24/7 peace of mind with a 6-month battery life
Just be aware of the Arlo subscription model. While youtechnically don’t need a subscriptionto use the camera’s basic features, the more advanced functions are locked behind the paywall. Luckily, though, it only costs about $3 per month. The other thing to keep in mind is that Arlo currently doesn’t offer the Pro 4 as a single camera, but rather in packages. And, for what it’s worth, the Pro 4 has been superseded by the Arlo Pro 5S, but the upgrades aren’t quite enough to justify the significant price increase.
Rotates a full 360-degrees!
Long-cherished as a reliable and feature-loaded camera brand, TP-Link went all out when designing the C510W. You can expect terrific video quality, intuitive smart home integrations, and the ability to store footage locally via microSD.
We had the opportunity to go hands-on with the TP-Link Tapo C510W, and we were blown away by the kind of footage such an inexpensive outdoor cam was able to capture.
The main idea behind the C510W, though, is performance on a budget, meaning some of the more advanced capabilities of higher-priced outdoor models aren’t available here. But when we say “advanced,” we’re mostly referring to in-app features and customizations, which TP-Link could add more of down the line.
Thanks to pan-and-tilt motors, the C510W is able to pull off a full 360-degree rotation, making it ideal for large front yards, backyards, driveways, and garage awnings. Do keep in mind that you’ll need to mount the cam close to a power outlet (which also means you won’t need to worry about recharging any batteries), so make sure you’ve confirmed the location of a power source before mounting the C510W.
An outdoor pan/tilt camera for any budget
Other great features include local storage via the microSD card slot, and seamless compatibility with a number of smart home ecosystems, including Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, and IFTTT.
No fussing with wi-fi signals
When it comes to features and intelligence, the Synology BC500 and TC500 lead the outdoor security camera pack. Their advanced AI detection capabilities and wired ethernet connection make these cameras one of the most reliable options for homeowners.
While a powerful, local AI program that distinguishes animals, objects, people, and vehicles in each motion event is a fantastic perk, it’s just the tip of the iceberg with these cameras. The Synology BC500 and TC500 cameras are no small investment, but if you’re looking for cams that lock your local storage down and use a wired ethernet connection for advanced safety, don’t let the price tags scare you away.
Image quality isn’t the absolute best in the game, but it gets the job done. Besides, the image quality isn’t the star of the show with these two Synology cams anyway. It’s their collaboration with a Synology NAS to securely store your footage, safe from the dangers of the cloud, with encryption to boot. Plus, the cameras have a microSD tray for a small cache of local footage stored directly in the camera.
They’re hard to install, but come with plenty of features
Combined with continuous recording thanks to the cameras’ hard-wired connection, the BC500 and TC500 truly never miss a beat. This attention to storage security is a huge perk — but if you need to add even more storage, Synology offers a cloud-based storage addition. Unfortunately, hardwired power and ethernet mean some seriously involved installation, so it’s smart to double-check that your home is equipped for this kind of product.
Up to 128GB of local storage via microSD
Thanks to 4K video quality, color night vision, and up to 128GB of local storage, the Reolink Argus Pro 4 is our favorite floodlight camera. It can even come with a solar panel, meaning you won’t have to rely on battery power, especially if you plan on mounting the cam in a sunny area.
Taking over where the Reolink Argus 3 Pro left off, the Argus 4 Pro uses a dual-lens system to deliver some of the best-looking 4K video quality we’ve seen on any outdoor or indoor cam for 2024. It also has some of the strongest zoom capabilities, letting you hone in on the parts of the FOV that matter most. We’re also big fans of any cam with local storage options, and the Argus 4 Pro handles up to 128GB via microSD!
While we wish the standalone battery was a little better, one of the big benefits of this camera is the included solar panel. When properly mounted and connected, you’ll seldom have to worry about the battery waning. We were also very impressed by how well the Argus 4 Pro was able to capture color nighttime footage, which bodes well for pretty much any homeowner.
What’s the recipe for an excellent security camera?
Yes, it’s one of the most expensive cameras on our list, but when it comes to overall power and performance, it’s hard to beat the Reolink Argus 4 Pro!
High-end image quality and convenience
Straightforward setup and operation are calling cards of Ring’s video doorbell and smart camera offerings. The Spotlight Cam Pro, in particular, sports some premium features that others don’t, including comprehensive and easily managed cloud storage. The only drawback is that it’s so pricey.
Those with an Alexa-based smart home can’t do much better than the Ring Spotlight Cam Pro. One of its big selling points is how easy it is to integrate with existing Ring setups, particularly theRing Video Doorbell, which isamong the best.
The app interface and powerful cloud storage utility make it easy to manage and customize. However, we don’t like that it lacks onboard local storage. The other big thing to remember is that it doesn’t support Google smart homes outside very basic functionality.
Light up your yard and keep it safe with a single product
On the bright side, it’s dual-band enabled, records crisp 1080p footage, and features bright LED lamps that will light up the target area for better coverage at night. It also has color night vision, making it even more convenient.
A premium price and a refined experience
Google’s smart home devices are known for being straightforward to use while offering a number of useful features. If you’re mainly using the Google Assistant ecosystem, the battery-powered, outdoor-safe Google Nest Cam is a no-brainer in terms of streamlined setup and use. That is, if you can afford the upfront cost and subscription.
The 2nd-gen Nest Cam Outdoor looks every bit the part of a Google device, with a compact build and clean lines that won’t stand out under your home’s eaves. It’s also equipped with the easy user experience we’ve come to expect from the Big G.
It’s easy to combine with multiple cameras over various interfaces, and it picks up audio significantly better than most of the competition. Take note, though, that you need a Nest Aware subscription to get anywhere near the most out of this cam. But if you love Google smart home devices (and many people do), it’s a solid choice.
They don’t get much easier to use than this
Fans of the Ring ecosystem will have a hard time overlooking this ultra-simple security solution. It works perfectly in tandem with the rest of the Ring lineup, and it’s as easy to install as they get. Its battery lasts reasonably long, it’s easy to recharge and replace, and there’s also a wired version available.
Suppose you’re already the proud owner of any Ring cameras or video doorbells. In that case, the Stick Up Cam is a worthwhile choice, whether you want a removable, rechargeable battery or are OK with wired power.
Granted, you’ll want to get the subscription to unlock the most useful features, but that’s why this is such a great choice for existing Ring users. Those useful features include 180 days of retrievable video history, plus active capture and sharing of pictures and videos.
Subscription costs and a lack of purpose keep Ring’s portable camera from shining
Person detection is beneficial and reliable, and the “persistent visitors” feature draws extra attention to anyone lingering near your camera. We, however, noticed during testing that the color night mode drains the battery rather fast compared to daytime usage. All factors considered, this is a good outdoor security camera for those willing to pay for Ring’s Protect subscription plan.
Most effective smart home security cameras
As you can see, there are numerous outdoor camera options on the market, but not all cameras are created equal. You’ll want to make sure the cams you’re looking at will satisfy the basics; fortunately, the ones included in our roundup all go above-and-beyond.
That is most definitely the case with the Arlo Essential XL Security Camera (2nd Gen, 2K). Arlo has long been a celebrated brand in the world of security cameras, and the Essential XL really ups the ante. Expect great video quality, up to six months of battery life, and one of the best companion apps for DIY security gear.
If you have the budget, though, why not spend an extra $40-$50 to nab yourself our premium pick, the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera. This outdoor cam delivers some of the best video quality and HDR performance we’ve seen to date. It’s also smart enough to know what types of motion to alert you about, and has a long-lasting built-in battery, just like the Essential XL.
But what if you’re looking to spend as little as possible on some reliable outdoor surveillance? Our value pick, the incredible TP-Link Tapo C510W, can rotate a full 360-degrees and even includes a microSD card, meaning you won’t have to subscribe to a cloud storage platform and can keep all of your security footage local and easy to get to.
The Arlo Essential XL Security Camera (2nd Gen, 2K) delivers terrific video quality, long-lasting battery life, and a solid companion app with plenty of features and customizations.
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