Pros and cons of battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras

Should you invest in a battery-powered Wi-Fi camera system when most Wi-Fi cameras on the market need to be plugged into the power source to keep it running?In addition, battery improvements and energy saving technologies over the past few years have led to the popularity of battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras.The big question is: Are they worth using?

Compared to Wi-Fi cameras, battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras have certain advantages and disadvantages.Here are some things you should know about battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras to help you get the right decisions before you withdraw your wallet.

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Wi-Fi cameras running on batteries need to be recharged every few months

Of course, even if the battery is good enough, it must be used for a long time and they need to be recharged regularly, perhaps this is one of the biggest drawbacks of battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras.

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In fact, many battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras today have very good lifespans, up to at least several months on a full charge, so don't worry that you'll have to charge them as often as for mobile phones. .However, you also need to make a note of the charging time to avoid having the system empty.

Another big problem is the ability to operate 24/7.The camera will turn off when the battery is exhausted, which is a sure thing, and even during charging, it still can't work.On average, battery-powered Wi-Fi cameras take a few hours to charge, which means that within a few hours your house will not be monitored, leading to security risks, but not by much. The risks are not impossible.

Can be easily installed anywhere

Wi-Fi Wi-Fi cameras do not need to be connected to power to operate, this offers one of the biggest advantages that you can place them anywhere you want, as long as it's within range. wave of home Wi-Fi network.

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In addition, you will have more choices in choosing a camera location as well as having better, more flexible angles than wired cameras.Not only that, battery-powered cameras are much easier to install, especially in small, narrow, and sensitive locations.

Recording quality affects battery life

Although the video quality on battery-powered cameras is not too much inferior to other cameras.But the fact is that video quality affects quite a lot of battery life, for example when you record videos in Full HD 1080p quality for too long, make sure the battery life is not guaranteed.

Some types of wireless cameras support 1080p video resolution, but most of them are recommended to limit to 720p.This is not a big problem, but for many fastidious users who are familiar with Full HD1080p resolution, 720p can be considered a pretty big minus point.

However, considering the actual use, 720p HD video quality is good enough.At this resolution, you can clearly see what is going on in the video, even the facial features if the video is recorded in bright enough conditions, but for any battery-powered camera, you usually You can only choose between the best video quality or the best battery life and not both.Therefore, consider and make the most appropriate choice for your needs.

Battery must be replaced

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Imagine that a dark scenario is that the battery in all your cameras is "in a hurry" in a day, maybe.It is highly likely that you will have to replace the battery before the camera hardware has problems.This usually happens with smartphones and laptops.A laptop from the time you bought it to the end of a scrap of 3, 4 pieces of battery is normal.Normally the battery will need to be replaced before the whole device can no longer be used, simply because the battery has a shorter life span.

The battery in a wireless camera will need to be replaced after a few years, degradation will slowly appear until the battery can no longer be charged (also known as battery bottle phenomenon).

Some battery cameras allow users to change batteries easily.However, for some other wireless cameras, batteries cannot be replaced.

No more expensive than wired cameras

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The good news for those who intend to invest in a battery-powered Wi-Fi camera system is that they're not more expensive than any traditional wired camera, which means you won't have to pay more for the convenience. they bring.

For example, the Canary Flex models, Blink and Ring Stick Up mostly cost under $ 200 and compete directly with wired cameras like Nest Cam.The exception is the Arlo Pro system, which costs from $ 240 because it comes with a stand.

summary

After all, if you can, it's best to use a Wi-Fi camera that is still better because the stability it brings is bigger.Battery-powered camera is excellent in some difficult cases of installation location and power source.For example, if you want to install an external camera, but don't want to have trouble running wires through walls.In that case, the wireless camera is the best option.However, if you only plan to place the camera somewhere in the house and the wiring is not too complicated, it is best to use Wi-Fi cameras.

See more:

1. Things to know before choosing to buy a Wi-Fi camera system
2. How to set up security cameras that can be accessed remotely
3. Things to know before installing a wired security camera system
4. Surveillance camera: Should buy wired or Wi-Fi?