Wireless cameras

How to choose a wireless camera

A Wi-Fi camera is the fastest way to keep an eye on your home: screw it to the wall, pair it with the app and the picture is on your phone. Three things decide the choice — where the camera gets power, where it records and whether it sees colour at night.

• Power. A mains-powered Wi-Fi camera records continuously and suits indoors. A battery camera (Reolink Argus, Tapo C410, Dahua BF5H, EZVIZ HB8) runs 2–6 months per charge and records on motion; a solar panel keeps it topped up. A 4G camera (Reolink Go, Dahua 4G, EZVIZ EB) works where there is no Wi-Fi at all.
• Resolution. 1080p is enough indoors, 2K or 3–4 MP is the sensible outdoor minimum, 4K or 8 MP shows a number plate and face at 10 m.
• Night vision. Infrared sees in the dark in black and white; a floodlight camera (Tapo C720, Reolink Argus B440, Dahua PV) switches on white light on motion and records in colour.
• Storage. A microSD card in the camera (up to 256–512 GB) is free and private; the cloud is convenient but usually paid. Reolink, Dahua and Tapo also record to an NVR, Eufy and Ubiquiti to their own base station.
• Indoors or out. Outdoors choose IP65–IP67 and an operating temperature of at least –20 °C. An indoor camera can be a pan-tilt model (Tapo C210, Dahua H series, Reolink E series) that follows a child or pet.
• AI and app. Person, vehicle and pet detection cuts false alerts; auto-tracking follows movement.

Wireless cameras in our range

Indoor cameras: TP-Link Tapo C100–C230 pan-tilt models, Dahua C2K–C5A cubes and H series PT domes, Reolink E321–E340, Xiaomi C100–C701 Pro, EZVIZ H1C and Trust IPCAM. Outdoor Wi-Fi cameras: Tapo C310–C660 and the C720 floodlight, Dahua F2C–F5D bullets and P series pan-tilt, Imou Cruiser, Cell 3C and the Bulb Cam for an E27 socket, Reolink W437 and RP-WCB8MZ Wi-Fi 6, Xiaomi CW100 and CW500, EZVIZ H4 and H90, Hikvision DS-2CV and Ubiquiti G4 Instant. Battery cameras and solar panels: Reolink Argus B440, Altas B630 and B660, Tapo C410 and C465, Dahua BF5H and BF8H, EZVIZ HB8, Eufy SoloCam E30 and S220, plus separate panels and battery packs. 4G cameras: Reolink Go G330 and G430, TrackMix G770, Dahua P4F, EZVIZ EB3 and EB8, Eufy S330. There is also the video doorbell Tapo D205 and a few PoE models from Reolink, Synology and Hikvision.

Brands

TP-Link Tapo is the cheapest and simplest start: cameras, sensors and plugs in one app. Reolink makes the strongest battery and 4G cameras and 4K models that record locally. Dahua brings professional quality to Wi-Fi and works with Dahua NVRs. EZVIZ and Imou are affordable outdoor cameras with floodlight and siren, Anker Eufy records to a HomeBase with no cloud, Xiaomi fits the Mi Home ecosystem.

Related products

For continuous recording see wired IP cameras and NVR recorders. A camera pairs with smart locks and smart home devices. The full selection is in video surveillance.

Frequently asked questions

Does a wireless camera need the internet? Yes, for alerts and remote viewing. It still records to microSD when the internet drops; a 4G camera needs a data SIM.

How long does the battery last? On a quiet street 3–6 months, in a busy yard 1–2 months. A solar panel keeps the battery topped up even in winter if it faces south.

Does a camera survive an Estonian winter? Most outdoor cameras handle –20 °C, Reolink and Dahua models down to –30 °C. Battery capacity drops in the cold, so you charge more often.

Do I have to pay for the cloud? No, if you record to microSD or a base station. The cloud is an option that keeps the footage if the camera is stolen.

How quickly does a camera arrive? A camera ships as a small parcel: to an Omniva, DPD or Venipak parcel locker in 1–2 working days.