Most of these peephole cameras can record the events of the day and store in either on the cloud storage or in the devices themselves, thereby giving you the time to scrutinize the events outside your door. And that’s not the end of the story. They give you an additional sense of security since you have a clip in your hands that you can share with the concerned authority should an unfortunate event occur. However, the market for peephole cameras is still niche and there aren’t many products. Plus, many products lack features which makes them a little difficult to recommend. Nevertheless, there are some good products out there, and in this list, we have shortlisted the best peephole cameras out there. Let’s take a look. But first,
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1. Brinno SHC500 Peephole Camera
Video length: 10 secondsLocal storage: Yes, microSD card
It comes in two parts. One is the lens that goes into the peephole, and the other is the camera where you can see the recorded footage. Installation is no rocket science and should not take much of your time as long as you follow the instructions. On the downside, there are no rechargeable batteries since it runs on AA batteries. A set of new batteries can power the camera for 6 months, depending on the usage. By default, the camera has a viewing angle of 90-degree which should be enough to show you what’s in front of the camera. Though the picture quality is not top-notch (no HD video here), it gets the job done. On top of it, you can zoom in on the screen to view closely. Do note that the angle reduces to 40-degree when zoomed. As noted earlier, it’s a manual camera. You will have to activate it manually. Thankfully, it’s an easy-peasy process. But at the end of the data, the Brinno SHC500 is not perfect. Since it doesn’t have an automatic-sensing mechanism, you tend to miss a lot. But, for the money, it’s an effective solution.
2. Brinno SHC1000 Peephole Camera
Video length: 10 secondsLocal storage: Yes, microSD card
Again, you won’t have top-notch HD video quality like some of the premium security cameras like the Arlo Pro. However, it gets the job done and has enough detail for you to recognize faces and the likes. Like its counterpart above, the Brinno SHC1000 has a viewing angle of 90-degree, which again is decent. The camera interface is simple and is easy to operate. You can view the recorded files right from the camera interface, and the date-wise arrangement of the videos makes it convenient to go through the events of the day. The video playback has all the necessary tools to help you scrutinize the video better. Though it has a premium price tag, it lacks a few features. For instance, it doesn’t have cloud storage, nor does it have any virtual assistant support.
3. Ring Peephole Cam
Video length: N/ALocal storage: No, cloud stoarge
For now, you will get access to 1080p video. However, unlike the ones above, the Ring Peephole Camera doesn’t bundle a camera interface. Instead, you will have to use the mobile app to watch the recorded footage. Video footage is clear and sharp. It also comes with a couple of infrared LEDs to lend a hand to low-light videos. It doesn’t have facial recognition yet, but it does a good job of alerting you when someone is at your front door. Additionally, you can also set a motion detection zone if you do not want your camera to intrude into your next-door neighbor’s area. However, all these nifty features come at a cost. The Ring Peephole Camera doesn’t have local storage. Instead, it comes with a paid subscription. The Ring Protect plan begins at $3 gives you access to your videos for a span of 60 days. On the upside, you get a rechargeable battery that lasts around 6 months.
Bonus: Arlo AVD1001B Video Doorbell
While automated schedules let you arm and disarm the camera automatically at the timing of your choosing, it’s the motion alerts which you should look out for. From parcel delivery person to animals and vehicles, this one can tell one from the other, which is a huge plus. Like the Ring camera, there’s no option for local storage. You will have to opt for cloud storage which starts at $3 per month.
Smart Door for Entry
A smart home is no longer a myth. With more smart products joining the lineup, it has become increasingly easy to manage the home with voice commands or through your phone. However, products such as the ones above are not foolproof. For example, someone can easily hold a hand over the peephole to block your view. Hence, it’s recommended to settle for full-fledged devices that give you many options to play with.
