Home Smart Home The Best Hidden Cams
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You don’t need to be a paranoid homeowner to want to have a hidden security camera. Whether you spend most of your time at the office or you’re headed out on vacation, being able to keep an eye on your house is essential. Having a hidden camera in your home can be beneficial if an intruder breaks into your house since they won’t be able to shut them off or break them because they don’t know where it is. You don’t only need them for security purposes because you can also use them for monitoring your pets at home. When you place cameras around your home that are easily noticeable, people you invite over might think that you’re turning your place into some type of evil Bond Villain lair in which unwitting guests are subjected to secretive surveillance 24/7. Having cameras wherein you’re the only one who knows their exact location will come in handy when you’re trying to ensure that your new babysitter is following all of your house rules while you’re away, or maybe you’ve been dying to play a prank on your unwitting cousin who happens to be spending the week with you. Regardless of your specific (and hopefully not too nefarious) intents and requirements, sometimes you need a security camera that’s truly hidden—so hidden that your guests won’t even be able to see it if they’re looking directly at it. There are plenty of hidden home cameras to choose from, many of which take the form of everyday household objects such as clocks and USB drives. To make your search easier, we’ve listed some of the best hidden cameras on the market in 2022.
There’s no denying that the Arebi Mini Wi-Fi Cam 8C Pro is among the best you can find on the market because it’s a tiny device that can record 4K Ultra HD video. Its compact size makes it easy for you to hide it in different things, decorations, or appliances you have around your home. The camera has a 160-degree wide viewing angle, and its automatic infrared night vision allows it to perform well even in low-light environments. Users don’t need to keep the camera plugged in 24/7 because it has a rechargeable battery that they say can last around 3-10 days per charge. You will need to download the companion app for the camera on your iOS or Android smartphones. Whenever the camera senses any motion, it will alert your phone and send snapshots of whatever it caught. Something to keep in mind about the device is that it only supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and you need to keep it close to your router and mobile device when configuring it. Whatever footage your camera records get stored in either the cloud or a microSD card of up to 256GB. Customers will get a free USB charging cable and magnet mount upon purchase.
4K recording160° Wide AngleMoition sensorsBuilt-in rechargeable batteryCloud or card storage
You'll have to worry about recharging it every now and thenDoesn't support 5G networksCan only use microSD cards up to 256GBApp needs improvements
You might’ve encountered modern digital clocks that double as Bluetooth speakers, but we bet you’d never guessed that some clocks could secretly spy on people. The Waymoon 4K Hidden Spy Camera looks like your average desktop clock, but it’s equipped with a built-in camera that can record 4K video at 15fps. It can capture clear footage at any time of the day since it also has Night Vision that can see clearly in dark rooms. The device has a 160-degree field of view, so if you position it right, you can monitor every inch of your room. The Waymoon camera/clock has motion detection capabilities, and it will send instant notifications to your phone when it senses something while you’re away. Footage from the camera is stored on the app via Wi-Fi, but you can also use a microSD card with a maximum size of 128GB. Unfortunately, some users have reported that they don’t hear audio when viewing the stored footage on the SD card and would only hear sound when watching the live feed. You can use the camera with iOS or Android devices, but you’ll have to ensure that you’re only connecting the camera to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.
4K qualityDiscreet clock designNight Vision
Some have reported that it doesn't record audioLimited to 2.4GHz Wi-FiMaximum size for its microSD is 128GB
Whenever you visit someone else’s home, you would barely give any attention to things like air purifiers around the house. It’s why an air purifier is among the best places to store a hidden camera in. The Quniao Wireless Hidden Spy Camera Air Purifier looks like a small tabletop air purifier at first glance, but it has a built-in camera. It can record 1080p video at 30 fps, and its night vision capabilities ensure that you can still capture clear footage in dark environments. You don’t have to worry about dead spots because it has a 120-degree wide field of view. The camera can continuously record footage around your home 24/7 and uses Wi-Fi to send everything over to your mobile devices. Of course, its storage capacity isn’t infinite, and the 128GB SD card you can use with it can store about 2-3 days’ worth of footage. You’ll have to check your footage and free up space when needed regularly. The camera-air purifier hybrid comes with an advanced PIR motion sensor alarm that will automatically send you alerts when any disturbing motion is detected. When the time comes you see something wrong when checking the feed, you can immediately alert who’s close to the hidden camera because it supports two-way audio.
Can't tell there's a cameraCan still capture clear footage at nightTwo-way audio
Disappointing audio qualityUnit can give off a static sound or clicking noise at times 1080p recording
The WNAT Hidden Camera Smoke Detector is perfect for those who want a camera that’s completely hidden and hard to reach. This camera is hidden inside a smoke detector, so people can’t really tell right off the bat that there’s any surveillance going on. The only catch is that it will most likely be attached to your ceiling, so your footage’s angle will be from above. The device records videos in 1080p and has a 125-degree viewing angle. You won’t have trouble with its performance when the sun sets because it has Night Vision. Like many hidden cameras, it lacks 5G Wi-Fi support and will only work with 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. The WNAT camera comes with PIR human motion detection. It will instantly notify you through the companion app if it detects any movement, and it will also record a snipper of whatever passed the motion detector. Any footage recorded can either be stored in the app or on a microSD card. Sadly, you’ll have to purchase a card separately, and you’re limited to a card with a maximum capacity of 128GB. Users don’t need to plug the device into an outlet because it has a rechargeable 5,500 mAh battery. You can get up to 20 hours of video recordings and let the device stand by for as long as 180 days per charge.
Impressive discreet designPIR human motion detectionNight vision
Only captures footage in 1080pBattery life needs improvementsCamera points down since it's inside a smoke detector
If you’re not willing to spend a sizeable amount on a hidden camera, you can opt for more affordable options like the Ehomful Spy Camera. This tiny camera can easily be hidden in any part of your home, and it would only cost you around $16. The camera records 1080p videos and has built-in infrared night vision LEDs that help it capture footage clearly even at night. It’s equipped with a helpful motion detector that automatically records whatever or whoever triggered it. The camera will stop when no more motion is sensed to save space and battery. The footage recorded by the camera gets stored in a microSD card, which is already included, but what many might not like is that the camera will only work with a maximum capacity of 32GB. This means that you won’t get to record and store long hours of footage, which isn’t a problem if you only need the camera to catch occasional things or people that trigger its motion detector. You won’t only get to use the Ehomful Spy Camera for your house because you can also mount it on your cars or wear it. You get what you pay for with this camera, so you shouldn’t be surprised that you’ll have to regularly recharge it because of its small 200 mAh battery that only gives you less than two hours of usage.
Highly affordableMotion detectorNight visionCompact size
Shoots only 1080p videosLimited storage capacity and recording timeShort battery life
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