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When you are willing to setup a smart home, there is nothing that beats SmartThings. Out of all, the most impressive update that you can make is a smart camera system. Checkout the Best camera for SmartThings below.
Prevention is always better than cure. Similarly it is always a wiser choice to install a Smart Thing camera at your home for indoor and outdoor surveillance, than to leave your home at the risk of unwanted happenings.
With various technological gadgets being introduced in the market, we really appreciate the cameras that work for SmartThings. These cameras keep track of all the motion that goes in your home and you get separate indoor and outdoor cameras with special functionalities.
Table of Contents
What is Samsung SmartThings?
Samsung SmartThings is a user friendly Smart home automation and control application. The system contains a Central hub, and a SmartThings app. It also has SmartThings devices. The basic function of the Hub is to connect your home to your Internet wirelessly and allow communication between you and SmartThings.
Watch this video to understand it fully:
The Best cameras for SmartThings:
Samsung SmartThings Cam
We are glad to begin our list with an extremely affordable Samsung Smart things cam for the ultimate convenience of the users. Usually, SmartThings devices require a SmartThings hub to function but this device does not even depend on a SmartThings hub.
That is why we claim it to be extremely convenient for the users. Anyone can directly connect it to a Wi-Fi network and the device is ready to serve you with its 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz wireless radios.
We really like the look of the Samsung SmartThings camera which looks like more of a premium webcam. Moreover, you do not even require a subscription for recording anything less than 10 seconds. But anything that takes longer than 10 seconds you need and access to the paid plan of the device.
The quality of the recordings is unquestionable. Samsung SmartThings cam is very user-friendly with all the genuine features that make it perfect for usage. The mounting holes are located right under the hinged base that rotates left and right.
The camera has a very easy setup and the picture quality is undoubtedly 1080 pixels. That is a lot of clarity that we can expect from a camera to do smart things at home.
You can easily control this camera with your smartphone by downloading the SmartThings app; as the device is fully Android and IOS compatible.
Also Checkout: Best Dash Cam Under $50
Last but not least, this camera is able to differentiate between an object and a person that gives you an additional benefit.
Pros:
● Tell Who from What
● Android & Ios Compatible
● Independent of Smart thing hub
● 5 Ghz and 2.4Ghz bands
● Nice audio system
● Easy set up
Cons:
● Ultimately, you would need a paid subscription
● Lacks a siren or any alarming sound
Arlo Pro 2
For those who are looking for a weather-resistant camera that can tolerate small weather disturbances and can be installed outdoors, Arlo Pro 2 makes this possible. And it can be operated at a temperature ranging between 32 degrees to 122 degrees Fahrenheit.
The wireless camera is perfect to do smart things at home with a great focus range from 2 feet to infinity. The picture quality is 1080 pixels HD with the Night Vision.
The smart camera brings you closer to more sharp and visible details when the Night Vision automatically turns on whenever it senses a low light condition. The 7 days of Free Cloud Recording allows the user to view the recorded video and audio for up to 7 days.
Now let’s quickly know all the additional security features that make this camera a hit in the list. Firstly, you can operate the smart camp on your smartphone and personalize the alerts. The camera is capable of detecting specific zones and you can contact emergency services immediately from your smartphone.
The camera is compatible with Google assistant and Amazon Alexa too. The only drawback of the camera remains that its detection zone requires an Arlo Smart Plan subscription.
Pros:
● Perfect for outdoor installation
● Auto Night Vision
● 7 days of Free Cloud Recording
● Allows personalized alerts
● Good audio and motion detection
Cons:
● The detection zone requires an Arlo Smart Plan subscription
Arlo Q+
Coming from Arlo, the Arlo Q+ SmartThings camera makes one of the best indoor matches if you are looking for a SmartThings camera at home. It’s not hard to fall in love with the Push to Talk feature, which is actually a Two Way Audio Mic integrated in the camera for you to listen and talk.
The device comes with Alexa voice control and 1080 pixel HD resolution which you can operate through your smartphone or laptop. The smart camera comes with a 130 degree Wide Angle lens that gives you a broad view of the actions going on in the place.
The settings of the smart camera are very flexible, while the rest of the features of this camera remain similar to Arlo pro2. For example, the 7 Days of Free Cloud Recordings, Google Assistant, Customize alerts, contact emergency, and detecting specific zones.
Pros:
● Easy installation
● Clear Night Vision
● 7 days of Free Cloud Recording
● Allows personalised alerts
● Good Push to talk feature.
Cons:
● Battery could be better
Ring Floodlight Cam
Hearing and speaking to strangers and guest appearances cannot get more easy than this. Ring Floodlight Cam is a brilliant SmartThings camera that is integrated with Alexa voice control.
You can make announcements whenever you detect a moving object or person on your screen through the camera. Next you can talk to visitors with the Echo devices by simply saying, “Alexa talk to the front door”.
The camera comes with the Ring Protect Plan for a secured video and audio reviews. If you want the smart camera to focus on only a certain subject,then you can use the Privacy Zone of the camera and target a certain area of your focus or concern. You get a Siren and Ultra bright flood light with this camera.
The picture quality is of 1080 pixels HD resolution. Speaking about the installation of the camera then it requires a hardwired installation to weatherproof electrical boxes. Lastly, the camera also includes Night Vision and Live Views.
If you want to enjoy a clever home surveillance camera along with beautiful outdoor lighting, this camera becomes the ultimate gift to a safe home. It has a dual LED floodlight on the articulated arms and the camera is perfectly waterproof bringing back your peace of mind regarding the weather damages.
Pros:
● Clear Night Vision
● Waterproof
● Allows two way audio mic
● Great Alexa control
● Beautiful LED lights
● Siren
Cons:
● Installing ia not as easy
Ring Video Doorbell and Ring Pro
Now let’s talk about the most famous video doorbell that comes in the market as the Ring Video Doorbell. If you want complete value for your money then this is what you should go for without any hesitation.
The combination of Ring Video Doorbell and ring pro is a famous one and probably the best smart things compatible doorbell cameras that one can use. You get a 1080 pixel full HD video along with sharp audio quality.
While the original Ring Video Doorbell had only a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity Radio, this upgraded model has both 2.4 and 5.0 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity. You can easily recharge the batteries of the smart camera and connect to the doorbell.
The Alexa connectivity allows you to make announcements simply by saying “Alexa, talk to the front door.” With this camera, you also get mobile notifications whenever there press at the double door the sensors of the Camera sense any motion around.
You may also subscribe to the Ring Protect Plan for more options and the plans are very affordable too.
Pros:
● Extremely Wide Angle visions
● Allows two way audio mic
● Great Alexa control
● Mobile notifications
● Good sensors
Cons:
● Paid subscription becomes a must for unlimited usage
Ring Spotlight Cam
Ring spotlight cam happens to be one of those Incredibles SmartThings cameras that has an inbuilt LED light strips and a siren. The company claims that if your camera gets stolen they are going to replace it for free. This is an absolutely amazing deal.
The ring spotlight cam is capable of detecting any motion going around the area. It simply notifies you on your smartphone or Tablet. The Ring Protect Plan is there to record your videos and you can review whatever you missed for up to 2 months.
The camera is capable of recording 1080 pixels HD resolution pictures videos. You can see, hear and speak to any stranger or guest who comes across the ring spotlight cam.
Pros:
● Wide Angle visions
● Allows two way audio mic
● Alexa voice control
● Mobile notifications
● Ring Protect Plan
Cons:
● Installation is not as easy as it could get
Wyze Cam
Wyze Cam is a super inexpensive camera that has the ability to record 1080 pixels HD indoor videos. The smart camera is capable of recording Low-light conditions with its Night Vision it has efficient Wi-Fi connectivity.
The Smart Thing camera allows two-way audio that can be used to listen and talk simultaneously. It works with Alexa and Google assistant to increase the convenience and utility of the camera. The camera is great for detecting motions where you have an option between Virtual Switch on Motion Detector.
It has incredible setups that can allow wonderful security steps, for example: “If Wyze cam detects motion, turn on patio lights”. Having said that the camera is not fully compatible with SmartThings apps which becomes a major drawback of it.
Pros:
● Super affordable
● Allows two way audio mic
● Alexa voice control
● Good Motion detector
● Security setups
Cons:
● Its compatibility to smart things app is limited.
Q. What features become important for a SmartThings Camera?
Ans: Here we have some features that are essential for SmartThings cameras. If not all, your camera must include at least some of these features for a powerful service.
- Siren: When it comes to giving alerts for dangers nothing can beat the sound of Siren. Sirens become just so important for alarming situations. If you can get hold of a SmartThings camera that has a siren you must be good to go with it.
- Night Vision: It is as important to keep an eye on the area of concern at night, as it is during the day. If your home or office requires surveillance, it is important for you to maintain the same surveillance during the night. Thus, it would be a great idea to select a camera with a Night Vision feature to capture good quality in night videos.
- Resolution: Many times it happens that video recordings do not have sufficient clarity for you to figure out the face of the stranger or details of an object. You should select a camera with 1080 pixels HD resolution for enhancing the clarity of details in the video.
- 2-way audio mic: A two-way mic is important for you to listen and to talk to a visitor or instruct the camera via Alexa or Google assistant. Unless you have a two-way audio mic you want to be able to use the communication available through the SmartThings app.
- Smartphone operation: SmartThings app is an Advanced Technological app that allows incredible controls. Such magical controls become best when they are allowed to be operated through smartphones. Hence, you can always look for a SmartThing camera that is well operated via a smartphone.
These were our picks for the best cameras for SmartThings. Samsung SmartThings is one of the most user friendly automation smart home ecosystem. You can find a lot of cameras for SmartThings Camera. Right from indoor home security cameras, outdoor cameras to even video doorbells. There are a lot of devices which can work with SmartThings.
Ultimately, it will depend on you, which camera is the best. However, most of the users will pick something for video surveillance system. Thus, what you want to monitor will ultimately decide which camera is the best for smarthings for you.
The Ring Video Doorbell Pro which we mentioned above, offers more features when compared to the Ring. However, it is not Wireless, whereas the standard ring camera is.
For most users, The Arlo Pro would be an excellent choice for outdoor video surveillance. For users who want in-home monitoring, Arlo Q+ is a great pick. Ultimately, there are plenty of cameras to choose from and our list has the best ones currently available in 2021.
