When it comes to choosing the right smart camera for your home, there are a lot of factors to take note of such as video and audio quality, software, smart home integration, and local storage capabilities.
While a lot of smart cameras include attractive subscription plans, especially when it comes to cloud storage, it’s also useful to have the option of sufficient local storage as an option, if you prefer not to opt for any additional plans.
All these cameras feature local storage via a USB or an SD card. Please note that having local storage doesn’t necessarily mean that the cameras will record 24/7 to local storage. Most of the cameras will only record motion-triggered activities. If you’re looking for a continuous video recording to local storage make sure to check out our take on Top 5 Smart Continuous Video Recording Cameras where we break down cameras with local & cloud CVR support.
So let’s get right into it, and see which smart camera suits you better!
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eufy Security eufyCam E
The wireless Eufy Security Cam not only comes with no additional monthly fees, but it also includes a 16 GB micro SD card that stores up to one year’s worth of recordings! Which comes down to about 30-second long videos per day.
With Eufy Cam you can also take advantage of other features such as night vision, Alexa integration, and more.
Key Features:
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Field of View – Don’t miss out on anything with eufy Cam’s impressive panoramic field of view of 140°. Having a good coverage of your porch will ensure that you can keep a track of all the comings and goings of your loved ones, guests, as well as potential package thieves.
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Anti-Theft Alarm – Keep your eufy Cam safe with the 100-decibel siren sound alarm which will be activated if someone tries to forcibly remove it.
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Live – View on Demand – You can always be in the know of the comings and goings of anyone with the live-view on-demand technology. Use your iOS or Android device to see in clear, high resolution your kid’s playroom, or who is pulling into your driveway.
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Alexa – eufy Cam is also compatible with Amazon Alexa, meaning that you can take advantage of cool features such as voice control. Using either Echo Show, Spot or even Fire TV, so you can view your footage on a large screen TV.
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Weatherproof – Luckily eufy Cam can be used both indoors as well as outdoors too. As it’s made of a cutting-edge ASA composite material allowing it to work in both rainy weather conditions, as well as freezing winters -4°F and hot summers 122°F.
Arlo Pro & Arlo Pro 2
With Arlo Pro & Arlo Pro 2, you don’t have to pay for cloud storage which you won’t use. Meaning, that you can keep 7 days of motions and audio-triggered recordings at no additional cost, as your recordings can easily be secured with a USB drive local backup storage.
Another great thing about Arlo is that it offers versatile power options too, so you can choose between going wire-free, or plug it in via USB, the choice is yours.
Key Features:
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2-Way Audio – Communicate with anyone at any time via the two-way audio system. Using your iOS or Android smartphone you can easily instruct your postman on where to leave the package, or simply say hello to a loved one while you’re away.
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Activity Zones – You can even set specific zones that you wish to keep a closer eye on, by taking advantage of the activity zone setting technology. All you need to do is highlight areas in your camera’s view, and you’ll be constantly alerted whenever any suspicious activity is detected. This is great for high-risk areas such as the front door area, or your garage.
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CVR – You can even upgrade your Arlo to store its non-stop recording in the cloud when your camera is plugged in. This is a great security feature to take advantage of when traveling or while at work.
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Works with Alexa – Have fun using voice commands on your new smart camera with Alexa. You can also hook up Arlo to your Fire TV to view live footage on the big screen.
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Advanced Motion Detection – Receive alerts directly to your smart device whenever any motion is detected. This feature will ensure that your home is protected at all times, and give you peace of mind.
Arlo Ultra
Arlo Ultra steps it up with its free one-year Arlo Smart plan, which includes 30 days of cloud recordings. If after you decide to go back to a free plan, you can still take advantage of using the SD card option via Arlo SmartHub.
Not only that, but this smart camera also features advanced video technology that will provide you a clear view at all times, while also being easy to install and placed anywhere around your home both indoors as well as outdoors.
Key Features:
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4K & HDR – Arlo Ultra features an advanced 4K and HDR image quality technology that will allow you to clearly see, as well as zoom in on anything you want to take a closer look at on your iOS or Android device.
This applies to night vision too! You won’t have to struggle to make out anything in the pitch-black either. You can even ward off any potential intruders with the Arlo Ultra’s integrated spotlight feature, which will light up during the night if any motion is detected.
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Field of View – Never miss a thing with Arlo Ultra’s impressive 180-degree field of view. The wider lens reduces the fisheye effect while also allowing you to see even more.
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Two-Way Communication – You can easily communicate with your postman or guests with Arlo Ultra’s crystal clear two-way audio that also comes with noise-canceling technology. Ensuring that you can clearly hear what the other person is saying and vice versa.
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Weather Resistant – Place your smart camera both indoors as well as outdoors, as Arlo Ultra is weather resistant meaning that you won’t have to worry about rain or sun glare.
Arlo Q Plus
Arlo Q Plus is pretty flexible when it comes to its power options, you can connect to the camera using WiFi, Ethernet or USB.
Arlo also has its own local storage to take advantage of. However, keep in mind that it is a dual record so it will only duplicate cloud recordings and serve as a main storage place when the internet is down.
Not only this, as with most Arlo cameras you also have the advantage of 7-day free cloud storage, with the option of upgrading to Arlo Smart.
Key Features:
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Power over Ethernet – Unlike Arlo Q, the Arlo Q Plus features flexible power options. You can either use a mini USB cable to power it or better yet use a PoE adapter. With this adapter, you can both power and connect your Arlo Q Plus camera to the Internet with a single ethernet cable. Just make sure you have the power over ethernet switch to enjoy the benefits of PoE. For more information about PoE, check out our take on What is Power Over Ethernet?
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2 Way-Audio – Take advantage of Arlo Q’s built-in mic and speaker, and communicate with anyone both inside or outside your home. This comes in especially handy when you’re traveling, or when instructing the delivery man on where to leave your package.
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Enhanced Night Vision – A good night vision is an essential feature for any smart security camera to have. Luckily, Arlo Q will allow you to see anything clearly, even in pitch-black darkness. So you won’t have to worry about hearing strange noises around your home, as you can check it out on your smartphone from the comfort of your bed.
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Smart Home Integration – Having a smart camera that can easily integrate with your equally smart home can be both fun and useful feature to have.
With Arlo Q Plus, you can enjoy seamless integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, SmartThings and even IFTTT. Allowing you to take advantage of features such as voice control, and casting your live footage on a smart TV.
Arlo Go
Similarly to Arlo Q Plus, Arlo Go also supports local video and audio storage via its in-built SD card slot. It also boasts untethered mobile security, supporting 3G, as well as 4G-LTE wireless connections.
This compact wire-free smart camera can be placed anywhere both outside and inside and comes with useful technology such as mobile alerts, live view on-demand, night vision and more.
Key Features:
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Live Streaming – Know what’s going on at all times at day or night with the live streaming technology. Using your iOS or Android smart device and the Arlo app, you can keep an eye on your kids while you’re cooking, or wait for your guests to arrive.
And the same for night time too! Using it’s 850 nm LEDs, you’ll be able to check-in throughout the night if you hear any noises that turn out to be nothing.
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Motion Alerts – Keep your home extra safe with motion alerts! Arlo Go will notify you via app alerts whenever any suspicious activity is detected both outside or inside your home. An especially useful tool while you’re away at work, or when expecting guests.
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2 Way-Audio – Listen in, or communicate with your guests and loved ones with the two-way audio system. This will allow you to say hello to your guests while you’re at work, or even warn off a potential package thief away from your porch.
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Alexa – Take advantage of voice control when integrating your Arlo Go with Amazon Alexa. With the use of a smart speaker such as Echo Show or Echo Spot, you can receive voice alerts as well as use simple voice commands such as, “Alexa, check the living room.” or “Alexa, turn off the alerts”.
YI Home & YI Dome
Both YI Home and YI Dome smart camera support local storage using a microSD card ranging from 8 to 32G, which will additionally allow you to take advantage of the continuous video recording feature.
The main difference between the two smart cameras lies in their appearance. YI Dome, hence its name has a more “dome” shaped design, which allows you to get a 360° coverage. While YI Home offers a smaller 111° wide-angle lens.
However, both models come with advanced technology such as motion detection, night vision, and more.
Key Features:
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YI Cloud – If you wish to skip the microSD card option, both YI Home and YI Dome offer YI cloud storage. Which provides you with loop-recording with no limit!
Meaning that if something were to happen to your smart camera, your footage will remain secure and easy to access in the cloud. You also have the option to try out the free one-month trial before making the commitment.
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Two-Way Audio – Talk to your pets or scare off intruders with the two-way audio technology. Both smart cameras have an in-built advanced microphone and speaker that enables you to have clear two-way conversations.
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Motion Detection – Know what’s going on at all times with YI Home’s and Dome’s high accuracy motion detection feature. Your camera will send alerts directly to your iOS or Android smartphone of when, where and the type of movement was detected.
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Night Vision – Both smart cameras possess a night vision featuring a non-invasive infrared sensor that will provide you with a clear view even in total darkness. Ensuring that you’ll receive clear images, and video alerts whenever you hear a bump late at night.
Wyze Cam
Wyze Cam will keep your home safe by automatically recording 12-second motion clips, whenever activity is detected, where it’s then saved to the cloud for 14 days. You also have the useful option of taking advantage of the CVR (continuous recording) technology by including an 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB MicroSD card.
Additionally, Wyze Cam also includes other advanced technology such as AI person detection, smart home integration and more.
Key Features:
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Voice Control – You can integrate your Wyze Cam with Alexa, as well as Google Assistant allowing you to take advantage of using voice commands. Using just your voice you can do things like, check in on your baby or see who is outside your front door.
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Live View on Demand – See clearly who’s at your front door or in the kitchen both day and night with HD quality with the live-view on-demand feature. Using your Wyze Cam app, and iOS or Android device, you won’t miss a thing.
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Motion & Person Detection – Wyze Cam detects both motions as well as people too. Which can come in very handy when you’re expecting guests, or if you’re keeping an eye out for the neighborhood package thief!
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Motion Tagging – Wyze Cam v2 also has unique motion tagging technology, which allows it to highlight and detect specific motions, such as moving objects. This type of addition could make it easier for you to identify someone, within your smart camera’s field of view.
Best Smart Cameras With Local Storage — Our Thoughts
In the end, it’s clear that there are many smart cameras on the market today which support versatile local storage options.
While also coming with some great subscription plans if you really want to amp up your cloud storage such as the Arlo Smart Plan.
If 24/7 recording something that you wish your smart camera to have, then it’s worth looking into Wyze Cam, YI Home & YI Dome. All you need is a micro SD card, and you’re ready to go.
However, eufy Security eufyCam E comes with a 16GB microSD card already included, which has the power to store up to a year’s worth of video recordings. It also comes with no extra subscription costs, and with all the features that are desired in a smart camera, such as night vision, motion detection, and smart home integration, making it a good option when it comes to its storage capacity.
Last update on 2024-04-18 at 17:30 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
