Can I Use Simplisafe Camera Outdoors
Security Cameras Brands to Consider
SimpliSafe ventures outdoors in a serious fashion.
We've been fans of SimpliSafe security systems for a while now. One of the things that has been missing from those systems, though? A high-quality outdoor camera. Indoor cameras are of import to any security arrangement, of course, but we want to be able to protect the perimeter of our belongings too. That ways we need to accept eyes on the outside of our domicile as well equally the within.
The big question is – how does this new outdoor camera from SimpliSafe measure up? We put it through its paces, and we accept all the important details on how it performed. Read on to find more.
Primal Features
The SimpliSafe Outdoor Photographic camera is definitely a skilful-looking device. The camera itself is a white cylinder with a black confront. It rests on a blackness, rounded mountain with a unique await that is sleek and modern.
Of course, looks are great, but this camera is more than just a pretty face. Information technology comes with several outstanding features.
Outdoor Rated
Permit'southward commencement with the well-nigh of import characteristic of this camera: its ability to piece of work outdoors. SimpliSafe has sold its SimpliCam for years, and that camera has e'er been a decent pick for indoor recording. Up until now, though, if we wanted outdoor monitoring, we had to buy a kit to plough the indoor camera into an outdoor camera. That wasn't exactly the best solution. But now that SimpliSafe has an outdoor camera, is it really an outdoor camera?
The answer is a resounding yeah. How do we know? For starters, we didn't need a kit. The outdoor photographic camera mounts on an outdoor surface and works great as-is. More than importantly, this camera is outdoor rated at IP65. That ways it is completely dust-tight and can withstand low-pressure h2o jets (think heavy rain). In improver, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera works in temperatures ranging from minus 20 degrees to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. That might not be enough for Arizona in July, but it'll do the job for us in Brooklyn all year circular.
Born Siren
The new outdoor camera from SimpliSafe comes with a congenital-in siren. Nosotros liked the fact that we had a choice of how to utilise information technology. Nosotros prepare it upwardly to go off any time the photographic camera detected motion, which made it handy for scaring off any potential intruders. We could take set it to silent mode likewise. Sometimes we desire to capture what's happening on our front porch without letting anyone know nosotros're filming.
Image Quality
The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera features 1080p Hd video resolution. That's the manufacture standard these days. In that location are some great cameras out there with resolution equally high as 4K, such equally the Arlo Ultra, merely 1080p Hard disk drive provides crystal clear images, and we don't demand a 4K screen to meet them.
The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera also offers a 140-degree field of view. We expect our cameras to see at least 110 degrees. All in all, nosotros were pretty pleased to accept wide-angle viewing. The camera likewise features 8x digital zoom. That meant nosotros could tell exactly what costumes trick-or-treaters were wearing as they strolled up the sidewalk to our door this past Halloween.
Night Vision
We expect our security cameras to work just also at night as they do during the twenty-four hour period. Subsequently all, co-ordinate to the latest FBI statistics, 39 percent of all burglaries happen in the night.1 The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera includes a congenital-in spotlight that turns on the moment information technology detects any motion. And we didn't just have dark vision; nosotros had full-colour night vision plus HDR. For those who don't know, HDR stands for high dynamic range. Cameras with HDR engineering science really take three pictures at once, which together provide more than detail in darker and lighter areas than a unmarried image.2
2-way Audio
We're not always looking to scare people off with a siren. Sometimes information technology's nice to be able to take a conversation with whoever happens to be on our doorstep. Luckily, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera comes with 2-way audio, another characteristic nosotros're always looking for in security cams. Terminal week, nosotros were able to inquire our mail person most two-day shipping without even getting out of bed.
Smart Detection
The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera let us fix custom detection zones so nosotros captured merely what we needed to. Fifty-fifty ameliorate, the photographic camera uses artificial intelligence to differentiate between people, animals, and vehicles. That cut down on the number of false alarms nosotros were getting from our neighbor'southward wandering dachshund. Was this characteristic always authentic? Unfortunately not. But nosotros didn't experience likewise many simulated alarms during our tests.
Smart Platform Integration
The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera works with both Google Assistant and Alexa. That meant nosotros were able to actuate the camera and change settings using just our voices. Although SimpliSafe isn't known for the best home automation options, the company is actually coming around and offering some super-smart features equally of late. (The SimpliSafe home security organization now works with Apple Scout and Baronial Smart Locks, as well.)
Security Organisation Integration
One of the best things about SimpliSafe's new outdoor camera is simply that it'due south from SimpliSafe. Equally a result, it integrates seamlessly with all of SimpliSafe's other security products, including cameras, entry sensors, and keypads. All we had to do was install the camera, and our SimpliSafe system detected information technology immediately.
Bombardment Powered
The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera is wireless, meaning information technology runs on battery ability. Luckily that battery can last between 3 and half-dozen months between charges, depending on usage. When we did need to accuse it, it was just a matter of plugging it into a wall outlet and leaving it there for five hours. That's pretty good, especially when compared to the eight hours required to charge batteries on Ring security cameras. For those who don't want to leave their cameras off, fifty-fifty for five hours, SimpliSafe sells a backup battery you can slip in while you're charging the master battery. You tin even eliminate charging altogether past investing in one of the visitor'southward solar chargers. Not every security company out there offers a solar option for its cameras. The abode security arrangement doesn't come with i, for instance. We always like information technology when companies push button the boundaries to make life just a little easier.
Wi-Fi
I of the nicer features of the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera is that it includes two Wi-Fi antennas. That meant nosotros could position it on the contrary end of the house from the router and still get a strong connection. Nothing frustrates us more than having to spend money on an antenna booster to make sure all our videos go far safely to the deject. We loved the fact that we got that kind of coverage without having to buy additional equipment.
DIY Setup
We had no trouble setting upwardly our SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera. It took all of effectually five minutes, and most of that time was spent deciding where to place it. Every bit we notation in our guide to installing video cameras, it's e'er best to place cameras out of easy achieve and so no one tin tamper with them. Of course, that meant pulling the ladder out of the garage, which added a couple of minutes to our installation time. Luckily, though, all we had to practice was spiral the mountain on. The photographic camera itself attaches to the mount using magnets, so all we had to do was stick it on. Those magnets also made it an easy thing to arrange the camera so we could become merely the right view of our front g.
Storage Options
As with all SimpliSafe cameras, all storage is deject storage. That's a trivial disappointing. We like having local storage options so nosotros don't have to buy a storage plan if we don't want to. Still, SimpliSafe offers a depression-toll storage plan. For just $four.99 a month, we got unlimited recording, and videos were stored for up to 30 days. Y'all can encounter more than on pricing below. Of grade, considering the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera is wireless, it doesn't have the battery ability to tape non-stop. However, when the photographic camera detects motion, it records for a minimum of five minutes, and longer if information technology continues to detect motion.
SimpliSafe Outdoor Price
SimpliSafe prices its outdoor photographic camera at $169.99. That's $70 more than the SimpliCam, but this is a hardier camera, engineered specifically for outdoor use. In fact, as outdoor cameras go, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera is at the lower stop of the cost spectrum. Arlo Pro cameras toll $ten more, and Ring's Spotlight Cam costs $199.99.
Of form, in that location are savings to be had if you lot bundle your camera with other SimpliSafe products. At that place's no discount specifically for the outdoor camera, but if you buy a camera every bit office of a security system packet, SimpliSafe throws in its base of operations station and a keypad for no accuse.
In addition, you tin notice SimpliSafe deals and discounts throughout the year. For Male parent'southward Day this yr, the company offered all its systems for 25 percent off and threw in a gratis SimpliCam. For Prime Twenty-four hours, everything was xl percent off, including cameras. Here's hoping that SimpliSafe will include the outdoor camera in time to come sales.
Finally, yous should know that the SimpliSafe Outdoor Photographic camera comes with a 60-twenty-four hours render policy. That includes costless shipping. Basically, you can give the camera a try for two whole months without risk. That's pretty generous. Most companies' satisfaction guarantees max out at 30 days or less.
Monitoring
SimpliSafe'due south monitoring plans can exist a flake disruptive, just information technology'southward worth taking the time to empathise them earlier yous commit to buying a photographic camera.
Kickoff, you can use the camera in a limited chapters for gratuitous. Apparently, the free programme doesn't include any professional monitoring or video storage. However, it does provide existent-fourth dimension alerts, and you can use your app to view the alive feed. In improver, yous tin can command your camera using your mobile device, and the app includes a system timeline that describes the concluding 7 days of activeness.
If you want to add merely storage, you can practise that for one camera or up to five. Both storage plans let for unlimited recording, and you can go on videos for upward to xxx days.
We encourage you lot to sign upwardly for 24/seven monitoring with whatever security cameras or system you use. The reason is simple: unless you're a superhero, you tin can't possibly monitor your cameras all the fourth dimension. With monitoring plans, you don't have to. SimpliSafe will check your feeds whatsoever time there is an alert and call you if there'south a problem. Information technology will even telephone call emergency services for you if you aren't available. SimpliSafe offers two kinds of monitoring: monitoring with and without video storage.
SimpliSafe Monitoring Plans and Prices
| Program | Unmonitored | Self-monitoring storage, 1 camera | Cocky-monitoring storage, 5 cameras | Professional person monitoring with no storage | Professional monitoring with storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Live video feeds | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yep |
| Unlimited storage for thirty days | No | Yep | Yes | No | Yep |
| Person detection | No | No | Aye | Yes | Yes |
| Congenital-in cellular connection | No | No | No | Yes | Yeah |
| Dangerous temperature detection | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Water leak detection | No | No | No | Yes | Yeah |
| 24/7 fire, police, and medical acceleration | No | No | No | Yes | Aye |
| Cost per month | Free | $4.99 | $ix.99 | $xiv.99 | $24.99 |
SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera vs. Arlo Pro iv
How does the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera stand up against the competition? Well, we put it caput-to-head against a comparable outdoor-rated camera, the Arlo Pro 4. We considered how each camera performed in a variety of categories, and here's what we discovered.
- Resolution: The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera offers the industry-standard 1080p Hard disk resolution. That'due south swell. Withal, the Arlo Pro 4 has a maximum resolution of 2K. Side by side, the images from these two cameras won't look much different. However, if you zoom in, the 2K will be sharper every time, with the Arlo Pro 4 winning by a nose.
- Field of view: Here again, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera exceeds expectations, with a 140-degree field of view. Yet, the Arlo Pro iv, with its 160-degree field of view, still manages to outdo SimpliSafe, if merely by 20 degrees.
- Dark vision: When it comes to night vision, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Photographic camera and the Arlo Pro 4 are remarkably similar. Both feature full-color night vision images and both attain this by using a congenital-in, movement-activated spotlight.
- Artificial intelligence: Both cameras include person detection, which tin help eliminate faux alerts. Even so, neither provide facial recognition, which is an up-and-coming engineering in the security camera world.
- Smart platform integration: Here again, SimpliSafe and Arlo run neck and neck. Both outdoor cameras work with Alexa and Google Domicile. Neither works natively with Apple tree Homekit, simply you can get around this deficiency by purchasing an Apple Homebridge hub.
- IP ratings: The Arlo Pro iv and the SimpliSafe Outdoor Photographic camera are advertised equally outdoor cameras. How well do they live upwards to this claim? Both are rated IP65, which means they are grit-tight and capable of withstanding h2o from a nozzle. In addition, both cameras are capable of operating in temperatures up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit. When it comes to depression temperatures, though, SimpliSafe has the border. It tin operate in temperatures every bit depression equally minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit, while the Arlo Pro 4 but works to minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Bombardment: Both companies claim their cameras' batteries can last up to 6 months. Of grade, claims are just that: claims. The truth is that bombardment life depends a great deal on how you lot use your photographic camera. In the end, this one is some other toss-up.
- Storage: Nosotros like the choice of local storage, and both the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera and the Arlo Pro 4 let us down in this regard. Both offering deject storage, although they each require y'all to pay for it. Arlo'southward cloud storage plan is merely a tad cheaper at $two.99 a month for a single camera versus SimpliSafe's $iv.99 per month cost tag.
- Toll: Finally, how do the ii cameras compare when it comes to the earth-shaking consequence of toll? The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera takes the prize at $169.99, which is $10 cheaper than the Arlo Pro 4.
In the cease, which camera offers the all-time features for the best price? The truth is there's not a lot of difference between them. Both include a congenital-in siren, both apply magnetic mounts, and both are rated for outdoor utilize. The decision, and then, really comes down to what yous want in a camera. If you're looking for the sharpest, widest views, the Arlo Pro 4 is probably the way to go. However, if you're looking to relieve a lilliputian coin and savor ultra-fast installation and ease-of-use, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Photographic camera is something to consider.
Video Review
The Bottom Line
Taking everything into account, we call up the new SimpliSafe Outdoor Photographic camera is a great purchase. For merely $169.99, we got an IP65 rated device that delivered excellent video quality, rain or smoothen, day or night. The 140-degree field of view isn't the widest on the market place, but it'due south far from the smallest.
We loved having a siren nosotros could plow on or off to suit our needs. We thought the person detection did a neat job of cutting down on annoying false alarms. Nearly of all, though, we were impressed by the fact that SimpliSafe is able to offer an affordable outdoor camera without skimping on extras similar a second antenna. All in all, we retrieve this camera makes for an excellent add-on to the SimpliSafe family unit of products.
Looking for more than options for outdoor cameras? Bank check out our list of the best outdoor security cameras, the best wireless outdoor security cameras, and the best outdoor security systems.
FAQs
Desire even more than information almost the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera? Cheque out our FAQs below for answers to some of your about popular questions.
- Is SimpliSafe's Outdoor Photographic camera any good?
Yes, SimpliSafe has built a well-rounded outdoor camera. The camera features 1080p HD resolution, a 140-degree field of view, color dark vision, and a built-in siren. In improver, it is rated IP65, which means it is dust-tight and tin withstand low-ability water jets. It is too capable of operating in temperatures between minus 20 degrees and 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Do SimpliSafe security systems work with other cameras?
No, SimpliSafe systems aren't uniform with cameras from other companies. Because SimpliSafe makes its own line of cameras, it hasn't invested in finding ways to piece of work with devices from other brands.
- What are the best outdoor security cameras?
According to our research and hands-on testing, the all-time outdoor cameras are produced by Lorex and Nest. Other peachy outdoor cameras include Arlo, Blink, and Ring.
- Should I upgrade my SimpliSafe security system?
You should upgrade your SimpliSafe system by adding an outdoor camera. The SimpliSafe security organisation works great, and typically doesn't need to be updated. However, it's important to ever keep up with the latest engineering. If you lot haven't yet purchased the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera, it can exist a useful addition to your full home security.
Source: https://www.security.org/security-cameras/simplisafe-outdoor/
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