Inexpensive Wireless Security Cameras from Littlelf, Eufy and Blink in Review – Which One? New

Our latest round of wireless security camera tests saw a trio of affordable models battling for attention. But can these inexpensive cameras really stand up to more expensive rivals from Arlo, Nest, and Ring?

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to monitor your home from afar. But other than the price, there is no point in buying a security camera that cannot provide good image quality or is difficult to use. Our rigorous testing pays special attention to the most important features.

Keep scrolling as we take a closer look at three wireless security cameras that cost less than £ 30. We also have a few details on what kind of features you can expect from a camera if you’re willing to crank up your budget.

Our opinions on the best wireless security cameras will help you find the right model to keep an eye on your home

Littlelf 1080P Home Security Camera (£ 23.99)

• Viewing angle: 130 degrees
• Maximum video quality: 1080p
• Or buy: Amazon

This low cost camera from Littlelf is a popular choice on Amazon. Despite the low price, you still get plenty of features out of the box, with the full list including two-way audio and a night vision mode. The manufacturer claims that you can use this camera as a baby monitor, but we haven’t tested that.

The Littlelf 1080P Home Security Camera can shoot at 1080p and will send an alert to your smartphone or tablet if it detects motion. With two-way audio, you can open your smartphone and talk remotely through the camera, which is handy if you need to get someone’s attention but you’re not at home.

To operate this attentive Littlelf camera, you plug it into the mains, then download the Littlelf smart app. Stick a micro-SD card to the side of the camera and you can record video clips for later review. There are also cloud storage plans that you can pay for monthly or annually.

Has this wireless security camera become one of the best models under £ 50 we’ve got our hands on? Our full Littlelf 1080P Home Security Camera Review has the details.

Eufy 2K Indoor Camera (£ 27.99)

• Viewing angle: 125 degrees
• Maximum video quality: 2,304 x 1,296
• Or buy: Amazon

The Eufy Indoor Cam 2K is on a mission to prove that you can buy a high-performance security camera without digging into your wallet. Targeting competing brands like Blink, Ring and TP-Link, this indoor wireless security camera offers continuous or live recording at 1080p.

Once you’ve plugged in the camera, you can put it on a shelf in the living room or mount it to a wall in the hallway using the bracket provided. From the app, you can set “activity zones”, which means you will only receive notifications when motion is detected in specific areas. The app can also alert you if the camera detects excessive noise levels and you can speak through the gadget using two-way sound.

Although you cannot physically move and tilt this wireless security camera, you can digitally zoom the image using the app. Video clips are stored locally using an SD card or in the cloud – you can take advantage of a 30-day trial if you want to give it a try.

We sent this security camera to Which? test lab to see if it can effectively protect your home while you are on the go. For the results, visit our Eufy 2K indoor camera review.

Blink Mini (£ 26.99)

The Blink Mini is a wireless security camera that is part of Amazon’s Blink brand. Setup is done in three steps: place the camera in an area where it will perform an action, download the Blink Home Monitor app, and sync it with your home Wi-Fi network. You can also connect the device in the Alexa app if you want to control it using voice commands.

This camera has a fixed viewing angle of just 110 degrees, which isn’t the best we’ve seen – you’ll have to think carefully about where you place it to get a good view of your home. In the app, you can manually label the detection areas and play with the sensitivity of the camera.

Buy the Blink Mini today and you will get a free trial of Blink cloud storage, but note that this trial ends on March 31, 2021. Once this offer expires, you will need to pay £ 2.50 per month for a basic subscription , or £ 8 per month for a Plus plan. Blink told us that the camera will eventually be compatible with local storage (so you won’t need the cloud service), but it will cost you £ 35 as it requires a Blink 2 sync module.

What image quality can you expect from this affordable wireless security camera? Read our full Blink Mini Reviews.

Wireless Security Cameras: What Do You Get If You Spend More?

Most inexpensive wireless security cameras stick to the basics. Once you’ve plugged them in, you can watch a live view of your home from your smartphone or tablet, but that’s about it.

Increasing your budget may give you access to premium wireless security camera features including:

• Weather-resistant design Many more expensive security cameras are designed to work outdoors, which is ideal if you want a clear view of your driveway at all times. You can also record clips in the dark using night vision mode.
• Compatibility with other smart products Security cameras compatible with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa can be controlled with your voice.
• Increased storage If you plan to record images from your security camera, you will need a lot of space for the files. High-end cameras generally offer more storage space than their cheaper competitors. The £ 222 Hive camera, for example, comes with a 16GB memory card. It can also be expanded up to 128GB.

Are you working on a tight budget? Make sure you choose the perfect camera with our expert guide on the best cheap wireless security cameras under £ 100.

Consider Safety When Buying a Wireless Camera

When you buy a wireless security camera, make sure that the product is well protected from hackers. Buying a camera with poor quality security could potentially allow other people to access a live broadcast from your home.

A survey conducted by Which? found that more than 50,000 internet-connected cameras with critical security vulnerabilities were sold through Amazon and other retailers. Many of these cameras are mass-produced in Shenzhen, China, and shipped to customers with weak default passwords.

More recently, another Which? investigation uncovered more than 100,000 indoor security cameras in UK homes and businesses at risk of hacking.

Unfortunately, it’s not just small tech brands that are at fault. Last year, we identified a TP-link camera open to hacking and contacted the manufacturer directly to resolve the issues.

How we test wireless security cameras

Every wireless security camera that reaches our test lab goes through the same controls. We take a look at each model to see if it can shoot clear videos with good color accuracy, as well as impressive still image quality.

Motion detection is another important aspect of security cameras. To make sure the cameras are up to par, we assess how well the product alerts you, whether through a mobile app, text message, or email alert.

Ease of use is also crucial. The best wireless security cameras we’ve seen are easy to set up and connect to your Wi-Fi network, even if you’re not particularly comfortable with the tech.

Find out how we identify the cameras that are worth your hard-earned money with our guide on how we test wireless security cameras.