Updated on 19 January 2023
This comparison is certified 100% impartial and follows our selection process.
Arlo Essential Spotlight
As its name suggests, this camera has the essentials of what you would expect from a model at this price, with high recording quality and extensive functionality.
The Essential Spotlight is Arlo’s basic model. It focuses on full HD recording at a 130° angle. Its recording quality (both audio and video), coupled with its well thought-out application and intuitive handling have quickly placed it at the top of the mid-range models. However, it has one major drawback: the obligation to subscribe to the Cloud (for a fee) to take advantage of the backup of clips and additional features (smart notifications, differentiated detection, creation of activity zones, emergency call). We can also criticise its alarm that lacks power (71.7 dB).
There are various kinds of cameras, sometimes more discreet, sometimes more practical.
Day or night, the quality must be the best possible to identify troublemakers.
A camera with automatic rotation enables to avoid blind spots.
We believe that local storage is the most economical way to store your records.
Initial setup and installation should be as simple as possible.
The application must be intuitive and easy to use for everyone.
Discretion and compactness ensure that your camera will not be detected by an intruder.
Eufy IndoorCam 2K (C24)
This camera is a good starter if you want to protect your home without ruining yourself. Its excellent price-quality ratio places it ahead of its many competitors.
The Eufy IndoorCam C24 is a small entry-level camera. It is an interesting solution for anyone wishing to equip themselves at lower cost. It still comes with assets, however: a video quality neat for its price, both during day and night, and a complete and intuitive application. As a bonus, it can operate without a cloud subscription thanks to an SD port or the possibility of connecting it to a NAS server. However, we can criticise its power supply which reduces the possibilities during the installation. A version with a motorised rotation is also available.
Arlo Pro 4
In addition to adapting to the exterior and benefiting from a 160° angle of view, it further stands out thanks to its color image and, above all, thanks to the flash that perfects night vision a little more.
Designed for an indoor space, this camera is also suitable for an outdoor environment, which is why it is currently ranked as the “best of the best” in our dedicated article. With its 2K and 160° range, it can capture a quality image, during the day or the night. Whether you opt for cloud storage or via USB, you still get an ultra-connected device that is resistant to the elements and features HDR mode and flash. It is also Wi-Fi enabled, so you do not have to buy a dedicated HUB.
Eufy SoloCam E40
This wireless camera has a good battery life and a fairly clear view. Unlike others, it does not require a subscription service.
This camera offers up to 2K resolution, providing a clear and detailed view, both day and night. It also has two-way HD audio. What caught our attention was the 8 GB of local storage, which allows you to keep up to a month’s worth of recordings on your smartphone for free. Plus, it’s easy to set up and runs on battery power (it lasts about 4 months on a full charge). Its downsides? It doesn’t work while charging and it doesn’t offer colour recordings at night.
Our selection
Our choice, Best mid-range Best budget Best high-end Mid-range alternative Arlo Essential Spotlight Eufy IndoorCam 2K (C24) Arlo Pro 4 Eufy SoloCam E40 As its name suggests, this camera has the essentials of what you would expect from a model at this price, with high recording quality and extensive functionality. This camera is a good starter if you want to protect your home without ruining yourself. Its excellent price-quality ratio places it ahead of its many competitors. In addition to adapting to the exterior and benefiting from a 160° angle of view, it further stands out thanks to its color image and, above all, thanks to the flash that perfects night vision a little more. This wireless camera has a good battery life and a fairly clear view. Unlike others, it does not require a subscription service. £ 99.91 on Amazon See the price on Amazon £ 180.00 on Amazon £ 54.99 on Amazon
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How did we do the tests?
To test the cameras, we installed them on the floor of our tester, in real conditions. The main objective is to cover as large an area as possible by placing them in different rooms and furniture. From this elevated position, we were able to optimise the lens orientation and determine the ability of the different cameras to record video and audio.
This also allowed us to analyse the effectiveness in backlit and dark environments while listening to the various noises around us. We also tested motion detection through the front door or the routine activities of our colleague’s cat. Finally, we used each brand’s app to test the ease of use and take advantage of the different options available.
How to choose your indoor security camera?
The indoor surveillance camera is an asset to limit the risk of burglary or even to monitor a child playing in another room. But their presence in number on the market and their different features complicate the task of finding the one that suits your needs.
We have therefore determined the important criteria to consider, in order to help you choose your future indoor security camera:
- Use: if it is to monitor a child playing inside or to assess the damage of a burglary, you do not need the same features. On some models, you can give them commands with the built-in microphone and speaker.
- Image quality: to determine it, we must look at the resolution of the video stream captured by the camera (HD, Full HD, 4K), the presence of a night vision and the quality of the latter. If the camera will be used to monitor the house in your absence, it must be able to identify a possible intruder clearly and without distortion of the image.
- Range of the camera: depending on the perimeter to cover, check the angle of view offered by the surveillance camera. It must be able to capture on a distance of several meters (the range is always greater when the room is lit) and avoid blind spots.
- Image storage: it is generally proposed to store images locally on a microSD card or to store them online in the cloud. Beware, however: some systems require a paid subscription for this second feature.
- Installation: the security camera must also be simple to set up and use. Thus, those operating “wireless” are most convenient, while the wired models require more effort on your part.
- App: almost all current cameras offer an application to configure or use certain parameters directly on your smartphone. It must therefore be intuitive and easy to use.
- Design: a security camera for the interior must be compact and discreet. It is also necessary to look if it has a support to fix it according to the place where you wish to place it.
Other surveillance cameras we recommend
Ring Indoor Cam (£49.99 upon publication): a relevant and effective in-between range. Easy to install and simple to use, this model offers a 1080p resolution that is also useful when the night mode is activated. Beyond its compactness, which allows it to fit into the smallest corners, it offers a colour mode, effective motion detection and compatibility with Alexa and IFTTT. We just preferred the Wyze Cam 1080 which, for a lower cost, offers more features.
Ring Stick Up Cam Battery (£49.99 upon publication): an interesting mid-range alternative. This model is suitable for everyday use. Capable of rendering a Full HD image, it also features a bi-directional system and a viewing angle of approximately 130°. Therefore, you will have no trouble identifying your visitors clearly, during the day or the night. It depends on the cloud for recording clips, but this drawback coexists with other advantages, such as Alexa compatibility and, above all, a removable battery.
Other surveillance cameras we have tested
Blink Mini (£29.99 upon publication): This model is excellent value for money if you want to cover small areas of the house. It has very good reactivity, but its daytime recordings lack detail.
Xiaomi Mi 360° 2K (£47.99 upon publication): What stood out the most was the motion detection system, the free cloud storage and the remote orientation settings. However, the quality of the recordings, both image and sound, did not convince us.
Google Nest Cam (wired) (£74.99 upon publication): The best thing about the Nest Cam is its infrared quality and wide viewing angle. However, in addition to some shortcomings in its application, the recording quality during the day is inferior and access to history is limited in the free version.
Translated by Ramsés El Hajje
