What Factors Should I Consider When Choosing the Best Outdoor Home Security Camera?

1. Waterproof or Weatherproof IP Rating

The first thing to consider when choosing an outdoor home security camera is whether it has a waterproof or weatherproof IP rating. Waterproof cameras typically have an IP66 rating, which provides complete protection against dust and powerful water jets, while weatherproof cameras have a lower IP65 rating, protecting against general water jets and allowing the camera to be used outdoors. A best outside home CCTV security camera should have at least an IP65 rating.

2. Wireless VS Wired

Not all wireless outdoor security camera systems for home are completely wire-free.

The term “wireless” technically means that data transmission is via WiFi.

Some outdoor WiFi home security cameras still require power wires.

However, there are wire-free outdoor home security cameras that are battery-powered, such as the ZOSI 1NC-291 camera mentioned above.

These cameras come with a rechargeable battery that can last for 4-6 months per charge.

Additionally, a solar panel can be mounted with it for only $24.99, eliminating the need for battery replacement or charging concerns.

3. Resolution

It’s best to choose a high-resolution outdoor surveillance video camera system for your home.

Factors like weather and lighting can affect the clarity of the videos captured by an outdoor camera.

Therefore, the higher the resolution, the clearer the video.

The bottom line for resolution is 1080p (1920*1080), also known as Full HD. Other options include 4MP (4-megapixel) and 5MP (5-megapixel). You may also want to compare 4K vs 5MP vs 1080p vs 720p in security cameras.

4. Night Vision

When selecting an outdoor home security camera, night vision is a must-have feature.

However, the night vision should be of high quality, capable of identifying car license plates and people even in 30 or 100 feet when it’s pitch black outside.

Night vision can be color or black and white, and you can find more details in the Night Vision Security Camera Buying Guide.

Factors that affect night vision quality include resolution, IR range, 3D DNR, wide dynamic range, IR cut filter, field of view, and more.

However, you don’t need to check all of these factors before purchasing a camera.

When selecting an outdoor home security camera, there are two things you need to confirm:

#1. Night vision range

Make sure that the camera has a long-range night vision, at least 30 feet. This is also referred to as IR distance.

For example, ZOSI 1NC-291, the best seller, has 33 feet color night vision and 33 feet black and white night vision.

#2. Video footage

It’s best to look for a video sample captured by the outdoor security camera for home as proof. Check if there’s any video footage available.

Here are some video footage samples of outdoor home security camera systems:

Day time video and night vision video in color by ZOSI Outdoor Security Cameras:

5. Audio

Outdoor home security cameras with audio are essential, particularly when you’re away from home.

These cameras record what happens with video and audio, and allow you to talk to the person at the end of the camera. For instance, you can answer the door when you’re not home and warn the uninvited to leave your property immediately.

Note that some outdoor home video cameras feature 2-way audio, which allows you to listen in and talk back, while others have only one-way audio, meaning they can only record the voice.

6. Network Connection

Network connection is a crucial factor to consider when selecting an outdoor IP surveillance camera for home. WiFi connection issues may arise when placing security cameras outdoors due to the outdoor surveillance video camera getting a WiFi connection bug or the location having poor WiFi reach.

If you encounter such issues, you may try the top 2 solutions for the wireless outdoor home security camera situation with no WiFi or give up the WiFi connection and look for a 4G mobile outdoor home camera.

7. Vandal-Proof

If you live in a bad neighborhood, your outdoor property, including the outdoor home security camera, may be tampered with, stolen, or vandalized.

Therefore, opt for a vandal-proof outdoor security camera for your home, such as the ZOSI IPC-182, which reaches vandal-proof IK10 standard. Others like ZOSI 1NC-291 and 1NC-296 mentioned above would also be a great option since they can hardly be vandalized by others.

8. Storage

The best outdoor security camera for home should have the options to record and store video footage, such as saving the video footage onto an onboard SD card, NVR or DVR, computer, or cloud, so that you have evidence and can play it back to see what happened in detail.

Therefore, ensure that the best wireless outdoor security camera systems for home you choose have at least one storage option.

Read also: Outdoor Security Cameras for Home: Best Picks for 2024