Reviews You Can Rely On

Wyze Cam v3 Review

A high-performance camera at a low price that allows access to most of its features without a subscription
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Wyze Cam v3 Review
Credit: Wyze
Price:  $36 List
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Manufacturer:   Wyze
By Nick Miley, Austin Palmer, and Matt Spencer  ⋅  Nov 13, 2023
80
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 12
  • Recorded Video Quality - 35% 7.5
  • Monitoring Performance - 35% 7.8
  • Ease of Use - 30% 8.7

Our Verdict

We highly recommend the Wyze Cam v3 because it is affordable, extremely functional, and easy to use. Unlike many other options in our best security camera review, the unit does not require a subscription to unlock its features — though the subscription is useful and very inexpensive. The unit is easy to set up, smart device compatible, and has minor latency issues when watching real-time video. The subscription offers a few sophisticated features such as a person, car, pet, and package identification. All told, this is the best camera of the lot, topping the test results in every category while remaining one of the most economical cameras on the market.
REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Most features available without subscription
Color night vision
REASONS TO AVOID
Plug-in power source
No remote panning
No backup battery

Compare to Similar Products

 
wyze cam v3
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Wyze Cam v3
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Camera
Best Buy Award
Best Camera On a Budget
  
Price $36 List
$35.39 at Amazon
$40 List
$39.98 at Amazon
$30 List
$16.98 at Amazon
$30 List$30 List
$17.99 at Amazon
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Bottom Line A top-performing camera at a below-average price that doesn't require a subscription to unlock most of its featuresAn exceptional and affordable camera that builds on the success of the previous modelThis very affordable security camera offers exceptional performanceA reasonable, do-it-all camera at an affordable priceThis camera performed poorly in all of our assessments making it a bad choice regardless of the price
Rating Categories Wyze Cam v3 Wyze Cam Pan v3 Wyze Cam OG YI 1080p Home Blink Mini
Recorded Video Quality (35%)
7.5
8.9
8.4
6.5
5.1
Monitoring Performance (35%)
7.8
7.8
7.8
7.8
4.2
Ease of Use (30%)
8.7
8.7
8.7
8.4
4.7
Specs Wyze Cam v3 Wyze Cam Pan v3 Wyze Cam OG YI 1080p Home Blink Mini
Camera Type (Indoor or Outdoor) Indoor Only Indoor and Outdoor Indoor and Outdoor Indoor and Outdoor Indoor Only
WiFi Type 2.4 GHz
802.11b/g/n
2.4 GHz
802.11b/g/n
2.4 GHz
802.11b/g/n
2.4 GHz
802.11b/g/n
2.4 GHz
802.11g/n
Encryption Types AES 128-bit H.263 256-bit encryption
and SSL
AES 128-bit AES 128-bit
Resolutions Available 1080p 1080p 1080p 1080p 1080p
Video FPS 20 FPS Day
15 FPS Night
20 FPS Day
15 FPS Night
N/A 20 FPS Day
15 FPS Night
Up to 30 FPS
Wired or Battery Wired Wired Battery Wired Wired
Smart Device Compatability Amazon Alexa
Google Assistant
IFTTT
Amazon Alexa
Google Assistant
IFTTT
Not Supported Amazon Alexa
Google Assistant
IFTTT
Amazon Alexa
Siren Volume (dB) 67.8 dB 67.6 dB 70.2 dB 66.0 dB N/A

Our Analysis and Test Results

Few home security cameras, or electronics in general, deliver such high quality and ease of use for a low price relative to their competition as the Wyze Cam v3. We find it hard to consider other products — even when they bested the v3 in one test or another — given the overall performance and low cost of this camera.

Performance Comparison


wyze cam v3 - the amazing, affordable, and effective wyze v3.
The amazing, affordable, and effective Wyze v3.
Credit: Chris McNamara

Recorded Video Quality


The Wyze Cam v3 came in well above average in the recorded video quality metric. This metric comprises overall video quality, night vision, and field of view evaluations. The v3 has 1080 resolution, which yields enough detail to differentiate facial features and identify individuals. However, we did find that bright surfaces tended to be overexposed and washed out.


The v3 night vision has the benefit of yielding color recordings. However, light-colored objects tend to be overly bright, and eyes pointed directly into the camera produce an eerie glow. That said, the recordings are clear, allowing us to identify facial features and read text, which is useful for capturing license plates.

wyze cam v3 - while the wyze's night vision is quite good, the camera tends to...
While the Wyze's night vision is quite good, the camera tends to oversaturate white objects.
Credit: Matt Spencer

As for the field of view captured by the Cam v3, the unit has a fixed setting of 130º of horizontal coverage. This camera lacks mechanical panning. However, the 130º of vision is more than enough coverage for common applications. We did not feel hindered or limited by the field of view or the fixed positioning.

wyze cam v3 - the v3 has a wide field of view at 130 degrees.
The v3 has a wide field of view at 130 degrees.
Credit: Matt Spencer

For each test in the recorded video quality metric, we used a side-by-side method of comparison to assign product rankings. Specifically, all the cameras in the review were mounted in the same location and trained in the same area. Recordings were then captured of a subject walking through the room. The recordings produced by the Cam v3 were then compared to the same recordings produced by the competition. We looked for image stutter, color quality, and crispness in details like facial features. This process was repeated for the night vision analysis. The manufacturer provided the field of view, but this was double-checked by comparative analysis.



Monitoring Performance


The monitoring performance metric is similar to the recorded video quality — the difference being that this metric focuses on live video. Monitoring performance is comprised of a series of evaluations, including latency, sound quality (delivered to the monitoring device and produced by the camera speaker), and alarm volume. The Wyze Cam v3 received a relatively high appraisal in this metric.


A key aspect of the monitoring assessment is the apparent latency observed between actual events and those appearing on the monitoring device, be it a tablet, desktop, or smartphone. The Cam v3 has a nearly unnoticeable latency of less than one second for video. However, fast movements can get a little blurry. On the other hand, the sound lags about two seconds, which wouldn't be so bad except that it is out of sync with the video. We found this to be a little annoying.

wyze cam v3 - the wyze has pretty good live monitoring. yet, fast movements can...
The Wyze has pretty good live monitoring. Yet, fast movements can get a little blurry, and the sound lags about two seconds behind in the video. We thought this was a bit annoying.
Credit: Chris McNamara

One aspect of live monitoring that some might not consider is how much time an app will allow you to watch live video. This is not a problem with the Cam v3. You can watch live video for as long as you like.

Moving on to sound quality, the sound captured by this camera is on the quieter side compared to other models in the class. This shortcoming was most evident with noises produced at a distance from the camera's microphone — they had to be relatively loud to be heard clearly. Voices were also a bit soft, and there was a slight static noise. Aside from that, we thought that the sound was relatively sharp. In contrast, the sound produced by the camera's speaker was quite loud, if not a little rough at times. In light of this, we're surprised that the camera's alarm is soft enough to make it nearly useless.

wyze cam v3 - the sound captured by the v3 is on the quiet side. this was most...
The sound captured by the v3 is on the quiet side. This was most evident with distance from the microphone.
Credit: Chris McNamara

Our tests for live video and sound quality are practical. We have a subject pass through the camera's field of view and time (with a stopwatch) the delay of this event appearing on our monitoring device. This evaluation is repeated for sound. Image and sound quality is assessed by comparison to the other models under review. Alarm volume is measured at 10 feet distance from the camera using an SPL meter.

Ease of Use


The ease of use metric is about how the user interacts with the product. The Wyze Cam v3 thrives in this arena, earning a top spot in the class. The high score of this product is in part due to its easy-to-use app and data storage options. All cameras in our review require an app to use the device. As such, the intuitive quality of the app contributes significantly to the user experience. The v3 app home screen is organized with convenient tabs for the features such as 'Events', 'Monitoring', and 'Account'. Everything you need is right at your fingertips.


The app also allows you to access all the cameras connected to your network by simply tapping on the camera you want to select. This will take you to a screen for that specific camera. You can also make changes — such as turning the camera on/off, manually recording, or watching the live feed — without affecting other cameras in the network.

wyze cam v3 - the wyze app is easy to navigate and offers most of its settings and...
The Wyze app is easy to navigate and offers most of its settings and functions free of charge.
Credit: Matt Spencer

Another feature that we found easy to activate and useful is the custom notification that can be set on the Cam v3. For example, you can get alerts for people, vehicles, animals, or general motion using the camera's motion detector. You can set alerts for when the camera's microphone picks up sound. Moreover, if the camera is used indoors, it can sound an alarm if smoke or carbon monoxide is detected.

wyze cam v3 - several useful alerts can be set to a personal device on the v3 app...
Several useful alerts can be set to a personal device on the v3 app - people are one.
Credit: Chris McNamara

The ease of use evaluation also considers how a camera stores data. Most cameras require the data to be stored in the cloud, which requires a monthly subscription. However, Wyze provides free, rolling 14-day cloud storage (you will have 14 days of video; the oldest data disappears on your 15th day). Moreover, if you don't trust the cloud with sensitive personal data, a micro SD port on the camera supports 8, 16, and 32 GB cards. Also, in contrast to much of the competition, Wyze does not lock up the best features when you don't use their service. Essentially, the Wyze gives the user all the control. That said, there are some cool features available through its ultra-affordable subscription, such as car, human, and pet-specific alerts.

wyze cam v3 - the v3 has onboard data storage in the form of a sd card.
The v3 has onboard data storage in the form of a SD card.
Credit: Chris McNamara

Finally, how the camera is mounted is evaluated. This may seem trivial — it is a one-time set-up detail. But we found that some camera designs leave a bit to be desired in this regard. The v3 is not one of those cameras. This camera comes with a rotatable stand which allows it to pivot up and down. The stand also functions as its wall mount by adding the included adhesive. Overall, the Cam v3 is super easy to set up and operate.

wyze cam v3 - the v3 has an easy-to-adjust position base and redundant power...
The v3 has an easy-to-adjust position base and redundant power sources (battery and plug-in).
Credit: Chris McNamara

Value


We determine value by the ratio of cost to performance. From this perspective, the Wyze Cam v3 is a chart-topping value product. You literally can not find a better-performing product at any price, and this product is one of the lowest cost items in the class. We highly recommend it.

Conclusion


The Wyze Cam v3 is a top-performing home security camera at a rock bottom price. The camera has nearly every conceivable feature one could want to monitor their property and loved one's safety. There are no hidden subscription fees, and with the SD card port, one can avoid using cloud-based services if they like. All told, this camera is the standard-bearer for the class. No other models approach its ease of use, functionality, user control, and affordability. We love this camera.

Nick Miley, Austin Palmer, and Matt Spencer