If you want to keep a watchful eye on your home around the clock, a reliable security camera can give you peace of mind. These gadgets are more popular than ever, helping homeowners around the world dissuade intruders. The best battery-powered security cameras to buy in 2019 are easy to install and able to record crystal-clear HD footage.
Compared to wired security cameras, battery-powered alternatives are far quicker to set up. You don’t need to drill through walls to get them to stay in place. Place a camera in the area of your home you want to monitor, insert the batteries and you’re ready to record.
Below, we’ve highlighted some of the best battery-powered security cameras. We’ve got all the details on cameras from major home security brands including Arlo, Blink Home Security and Reolink.
What is a wireless security camera?
A wireless security camera is designed to monitor the inside or outside of your home. You can look through the lens of the camera at any time from your smartphone, or have ‘highlights’ saved and sent to you automatically.
Some wireless security cameras are designed to be used outside and are protected with a water-resistant design. We’ve also seen several ship with cages to prevent potential intruders from causing permanent damage.
Depending on the Wireless security camera you buy, you may be able to talk through it thanks to a two-way microphone. This is a handy feature if you want to use your camera to greet (or scare away) guests making their way to your front door.
Cheap vs premium security cameras: what’s the difference?
Generally, expensive wireless security cameras are able to film at a higher resolution than far cheaper rivals. Some of the cameras we’ve included in our roundup can capture footage at an impressive 1080p, which means you’ll be able to make out exactly what’s going on in saved clips.
You’ll end up paying a higher price for convenience. Most cheap home security cameras store footage on a microSD card, which you’ll have to plug into the product when you set it up. Pricier alternatives will save your footage to the cloud, which means you don’t have to manually copy highlights over to your PC.
How much does a battery-powered security camera cost?
Prices typically start around the £50 mark but will rise depending on the power and skillset of the camera. We’ve seen some security cameras break the £300 mark, but in most cases, you can get away with spending less.
Bundle deals (where you get more than one camera) are usually the most expensive option. The Blink XT Home Security Camera, for example, can be bought in packs of two or three. The XT 3-Camera System will set you back by around £260.
The cameras we’ve picked out below range from around £50 to £180.
Best battery-powered security cameras
1. Reolink Argus Pro wireless security camera
- Price: £87.99
This battery-powered security camera from Reolink can film at a resolution of 1080p – Full HD. You don’t need to fiddle around with any wires to set it up as it pairs over-the-air with your router.
You can run the Reolink security camera using its built-in rechargeable battery. Alternatively, for “non-stop power”, you can pick up the Reolink Solar Panel Power Supply for an additional £25. This camera from Reolink is protected by a water-resistant design and can be placed outside.
When monitoring your home in the middle of the night, the Reolink Argus Pro can see “up to 36ft” away with a 130-degree viewing angle. It records up to 64GB of footage to an SD card which means you won’t need to pay monthly for cloud storage. You’ll need to buy the SD card separately, though.
To watch back clips from this battery-powered security camera, you simply download the free Reolink app. From there, you’ll get instant notifications on your phone when the camera detects movement. Mobile alerts can be turned off at any time.
As this battery-powered security camera has two-way audio, you can talk through it. You might want to tell the postman to leave a package in a specific spot or greet guests as they arrive. We’ll leave that decision to you.
Verdict: A dependable battery-powered security camera at a budget price.
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2. Blink XT home security camera
- Price: £99.99
You can buy a single Blink XT security camera for just under £100. The 1080p camera is equipped with trusty motion-detecting powers and runs off a “two-year battery life”.
Blink XT battery-powered security cameras are sold alongside the Blink Sync Module. The Sync Module (shown behind the camera on the right) looks like a Wi-fi extender and communicates with the camera. You’ll need to make sure the Sync Module is running off the same Wi-fi connection as your main router. Up to 10 cameras can be synced with the Sync Module at one time.
These security cameras from Amazon-backed company Blink are fully weatherproof and ready for indoor or outdoor use. You get free cloud storage out of the box and your smartphone will buzz when the motion detector is triggered.
With Blink’s ties to Amazon, it’s not surprising that this wireless security camera is Alexa-enabled. You can control the Blink XT camera with voice commands on the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Spot and Fire TV.
Verdict: A feature-packed wireless security camera backed by hundreds of positive Amazon reviews.
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3. SDETER Outdoor Security Camera
- Price: £79.99
Here’s another battery-powered security camera under £100 to consider. The SDETER camera has a waterproof shell and a metal casing to prevent damage from wrong-doers. It records video at Full HD quality and has effective night vision.
To set the SDETER camera up, you simply download the CloudEdge app and register an account. Once you’ve put a microSD card inside the camera and synced it with your router, you’re ready to go.
The camera attaches to your wall with a magnetic bracket screw, so make sure you have a toolbox handy. The screw comes bundled with the camera out of the box, along with a reel of double-sided tape.
With the app installed, you’ll get notified if the watchful camera detects movement. With infrared night vision, the SDETER can help you see what’s causing a racket late at night. The motion sensor works from “up to 20ft” away. Support for two-way audio also means you can speak through the camera remotely.
Verdict: An affordable wireless security camera that’s easy to install.
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4. Forrader rechargeable battery security camera
- Price: £55.99
This sub-£100 battery-powered security camera can be mounted inside your house. It films at 1080p with adjustable digital zoom for grabbing detail from long range.
Forrader sells a couple of different battery-powered cameras. This A1 model is indoor-only, but the Forrader A3 (£75.99) can also live outside thanks to a waterproof design.
Like the SDETER camera above, the Forrader can see in the dark. Its infrared night vision sensor can detect movement “up to 20ft away”. Your phone will buzz if the camera picks up on something you should investigate. If you’re looking at the camera’s live feed through the CloudEdge app, you can use the two-way microphone to speak remotely.
The rechargeable battery on the Forrader security camera can go from flat to fully-powered in around 5 hours, according to the brand’s website. The Forrader will last “over 15 days” before it needs another charging session.
With an SD card (up to 128GB) inside this camera, clips that were filmed automatically will be saved for you to take a look at. A 130-degree wide-angle lens means you’ll have a good view of the action.
Verdict: A trustworthy wireless security camera that lasts an impressive time between charges.
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5. Hive View Smart Indoor Camera
- Price: £179.99
The priciest battery-powered security camera in our list comes courtesy of Hive. The Hive View is designed strictly for indoor use and films at 1080p. It has a built-in motion and sound detector.
Hive’s smartphone app has plenty of features to try out. For starters, there’s a ‘Play a Sound’ feature that lets you scare away any unwanted guests. It’s good for pranks or confusing your pets, too. The app also acts as a home for all of your saved clips, which you can download straight to your smartphone.
Support for 8x digital zoom on the Hive View means you’re guaranteed a great view from inside your home. You can also schedule privacy mode so the camera only films at certain times during the day.
Although you can technically run this camera using the internal battery alone, you’ll get constant use with a wired connection. It comes with a magnetic base but can also be attached to the wall.
Verdict: An intelligent battery-powered security camera that’s super easy to set up.
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