Current technology has greatly improved how we capture moments in photography. Old cameras were huge, the earliest versions even taking up whole rooms of space. Now, there are tiny handheld devices that carry powerful cameras. While the size may be small, their capabilities are still numerous. These often function like regular handheld video camera devices, only with the added benefit of its petite mini size.
Many mini cameras are available now, and it can be daunting to identify the best device for you. After going through many mini cameras, we can conclude our number one pick is the SS 1080P HD Mini Waterproof Camera. Please scroll down to find our in-depth review of this great mini camera! Before you proceed, check the TOP 11 Best Mini Cameras this year. Here, you can check the mini camera instructions.
Quick Summary: Top 9 – Best Mini Camera of 2023
Our professional editors pick and rate these products specifically for each category and recommend the best product we can. We may receive a commission from affiliated links.
Best Overall: 1. SS 1080P HD Mini Waterproof Camera
With great design, extremely small size, a camera full of features, and a great price!
Best Video Resolution: 2. Wireless Mini Wi-Fi Camera 960
Convenient and easy to use, 960p video quality, motion detection, and much more at a very low price!
Best Battery: 3. SS11 Mini Camera
As tiny as a camera gets, this one has it all despite its size—great recording times and crystal clear image and video quality.
Best Night Vision: 4. Hidden Mini Camera
Wireless camera with great features for outside use. Excellent motion detection and night vision enable you to catch everything, even dark.
Best Hard-Wired: 5. Ehomful E003 Mini Camera
Remote access to your home anytime and anywhere. This mini camera can catch it all with its great field of view!
Best Motion Detection: 6. Cusflyx Portable Surveillance Camera
The pricey mini camera. If you can spend a bit more, this camera is amazing. It packs all the features of a great camera with a 2K resolution!
Best Connectivity: 7. SIR GAWAIN Mini Spy Camera
You have everything you need for an excellent mini camera with quick and easy installation, smart motion detection, free video recording, and a 180-degree field of view.
Best Features: 8. HUOMU Mini spy cam 1080P
Check what’s going on in your home anytime and anywhere. This is an excellent, simple mini camera with a 170-degree viewing angle and great video quality.
Best Price: 9. RETTRU HD Camera
Even if it’s ranked on the low side, this mini camera is worth looking into. It packs a huge battery, enabling you to record a long time on its 1080p camera.
Top 3 Quick Comparison
1. SS 1080P HD Mini Waterproof Camera
2. Wireless Mini Wi-Fi Camera 960
Our Reviews
1. SS 1080P HD Mini Waterproof Camera
Best Overall
You can easily record without it being seen, making it a great spy camera.
This mini camera has a waterproof casing that lets you take it out in the rain, at the beach, or even when swimming. The miniature 1 cubic inch size also makes it extremely portable. The SS 1080P HD Mini waterproof Camera is more of a sports camera.
However, because of its size, you can easily record without it being seen, making it a great spy camera. The added durability and waterproof feature means you can bring it almost anywhere. The device can last up to 100 minutes if left to record continuously.
But, with the motion detection mode enabled, it could record even weeks, depending on how often it turns on. The built-in motion sensors allow the camera to turn on automatically whenever it detects movement. This saves much battery time and storage space since there won’t be hours of still video files.
The camera lens has a wide 150 angle. That wide angle and the infrared lights for night vision mode enable the camera to record 1080p videos even in low light settings.
Product Reviews:
“The picture and video quality are great for my purposes. Works very well. Motion detection is working fine, even while charging. The IR LEDs are working, too, but only when it is not charging. Very good item for the price.”
2. Wireless Mini Wi-Fi Camera 960P
Best Video
This device offers many features, including night vision mode, 2-way audio, motion detection sensors, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
This round mini camera is built specifically for home surveillance purposes. This device offers many features, including night vision mode, 2-way audio, motion detection sensors, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Through the YOOSEE App, homeowners can see live video streaming feedback from the camera. You can access the app via your smartphone or tablet device. The video quality on the device is decent and captures 960p HD video. The 180 panoramic view angle covers a large area. The video quality is often presented in a high contrast level. Even in low light conditions, it can record great videos.
At night, the camera relies on the 8 IR night vision lenses set on the camera. The night vision mode can support up to 10 m in distance when recording. The device also has motion sensors, which you can program to send you motion detection alarms when recording based on detected movement in the area.
The audio recording on this device is also crisp and clear. One of the main problems of this device is that it does not have a built-in battery and needs to be plugged in to use it.
Product Reviews:
“It’s fast, setting worked after trial and error hooked to the WiFi. The picture quality is good, picture style ‘fisheye.'”
3. SS11 Mini Camera
Best Storage
You can install a mini-surveillance camera near your front door instead of a doorbell camera.
This is a colorful mini-camera device that has a sleek cubic design. The camera has a nice appeal, with the multiple color options and the little rainbow accent that runs from one end to another. Aside from the looks, this device also offers good functionality. It offers 1080p video recording with a 150-degree lens.
Although the video quality of this device isn’t the best in this list, it can deliver clear and high-color recordings. The files are automatically stored in the inserted TF card. It is also able to support TF cards up to 32 GB capacity.
In night vision mode, the camera can also capture good videos. While facial features and text are not as clearly seen, other details are clear enough. The device also has motion sensors, which can be activated when you set the camera to motion recording mode. This mode allows the device to record only when it has detected movement in the area. This can be extremely useful when you need to conserve battery life.
While it can go around an hour and a half continuously recording videos, it can last up to a week if on the motion recording mode. Another alternative is to leave the device plugged into an outlet to allow for continuous loop recording.
Product Reviews:
“This camera is a great little guy for the price. I use it as a dashcam facing the car’s rear, and it works amazingly.”
4. Hidden Mini Camera
Best Size
This doorbell camera has been perfectly fitted for standard door frames. It’s one of the smallest designs in the market.
This miniature camera is jam-packed with features that make it a great home surveillance system. Its small 1” x 1” size makes it easy to hide in a corner at home, while the night vision mode on the camera provides high-quality videos even at night.
The package has a short but detailed instruction manual to guide you through setting up, using, and troubleshooting. To set the camera in place, a clip-on bracket is provided. The small box fits into the bracket, and you can easily place it on most surfaces to secure your vantage point. The bracket is quite adjustable, so you’ll be able to get the best view.
Unfortunately, the device doesn’t have any connectivity functions. The only way to retrieve video files is to manually connect the device with a USB cable to your PC and then copy the files directly. That means there is no live viewing of any video recording. The USB cable also doubles as a charging cable.
Another way to get the files is by removing the SD card. The device can handle memory cards that hold between 8 GB and 32 GB memory.
When using the camera, turning it on and off is as easy as pressing a button. However, you’ll need to watch the LED light, which turns blue when the device is on. Turning it on doesn’t automatically start video recording. You have to press the power button again to start recording.
The blue LED light turns off when recording, which is great since it keeps it hidden. But this makes it difficult to tell whether the device is recording. If plugged in, the camera should be able to record 24/7, automatically deleting the oldest files to make room for new videos. If it relies solely on the battery life, the camera can last up to a full hour if recording videos continuously. This mini camera offers great value despite its size.
Product Reviews:
“I can set it up to motion to watch my house while I am out. It gives me the versatility to use at my daughter’s soccer games. This camera is awesome… we’ve captured some great quality video and snapshots of our cats after setting off the motion detector, even in night-vision mode.”
5. Ehomful E003 Mini Camera
Best Angle
With a very slim design, it can provide 2-way audio, high-quality videos
The Remobell Doorbell Camera is a slim doorbell device that relies on existing wiring. Installation can be a bit difficult and requires some technical skill. But, if your existing doorbell is already wired, you can easily replace it with the Remobell.
A good thing about this device is that, despite its very slim design, it can provide 2-way audio and high-quality videos and has built-in motion sensors. You can connect this to the Wi-Fi when you set it up so that you can access the videos through your phone via the Remo+ App.
Using the app takes a bit of getting used to as the UI is not the friendliest. However, you can talk to the people outside your door from your phone and see them in real time.
Free cloud storage that stores videos up to 3 days old is also included with the purchase of this app. If you want more storage, you can opt for a subscription with the developer.
Other great things about the connectivity are that it syncs well with smart home devices, such as Alexa, and allows most household members to access the app and watch live video feedback easily. The doorbell is fairly weather-resistant and can operate well in most temperatures.
Video resolution is better than other cameras in the same price range. Although, it isn’t a full HD experience. The 180-degree view provides enough coverage to show you most of your front porch.
It also allows users to adjust the sensitivity of motion sensors and even select specific areas for the app to monitor more. That means you’ll have more sensitive motion sensors targeting those areas.
Product Reviews:
“Compared with others in the same price range, this offered the best video quality and motion detection. It’s been only 2 weeks, but the blue ring gives me peace of mind when I come home in the evening.”
6. Cusflyx Portable Surveillance Camera
Best Recognition
Unlike other devices, this doorbell camera has integrated smart recognition software built to specifically recognize human figures and faces. (1)
This Doorbell security camera from Eufy has many added in-app features that make the device a great tech to monitor your home. Unlike other devices, this doorbell camera has integrated smart recognition software built to specifically recognize human figures and faces.
This feature supports the snapshot notifications the app sends you when someone comes to your front door. You don’t just receive alerts when something moves, such as a stray dog passing by or a car driving through, but you also get specific alerts that give facial recognition cues. Unfortunately, the software isn’t 100% reliable as other figures, such as trees, are sometimes recognized as human.
On the other hand, you can also set the motion detection settings to only monitor specific areas. Walking on the sidewalk, they wouldn’t automatically set off an alert unless they approach an area you think they shouldn’t be in.
This camera also provides 2-way intercom communication to let you talk to whoever is at your door. If you have a package you expect to get delivered, you can also play a pre-recorded response instead of talking to the delivery guy on your phone. The responses can be suited to give instructions or anything you want to inform people about.
Eufy also prioritizes security. The videos are stored in an encrypted storage space. When you have access to the videos, they come in great detail and are in a 4:3 ratio, giving a more top-to-bottom view.
Product Reviews:
“Image quality is amazing. Distortion correction is surprising. My doorbell is close to the front door. The distortion correction corrects the fisheye effect at the image edge and makes the video more natural.”
7. SIR GAWAIN Mini Spy Camera
Best Notification
The product is fairly durable, with an IP65 waterproof rating and durable metal composition.
This doorbell camera gives you a choice of style with changeable faceplates. You can choose satin black, silver, or Venetian bronze – whichever fits your doorway best. Aside from the fancy faceplates, the product is fairly durable, with an IP65 waterproof rating and durable metal composition. On initial observation, the camera looks strong. Installing the doorbell camera requires a few tools, but most are already included in the package. Since you need to screw it in, it makes it less susceptible to theft. If someone does try to steal the product from your front door, the device recognizes the act and sends you a snapshot to alert you.
Like the other products in this list, the camera is made to send multiple alerts and notifications whenever motion is detected. However, instead of regular motion sensors, the RCA doorbell camera relies on thermal sensors that detect human movements specifically. This lessens the likelihood of you receiving alerts from swaying branches or moving cars.
The video camera comes with a 16 GB memory card. But it also offers Wi-Fi connectivity. You must download and sync the existing app to your smartphone or tablet. The app is easy to use, and you can set it to send you alerts and push notifications whenever someone is at your door.
You can also pre-record a voice message to answer visitors when you are not at home or too busy to use the 2-way audio communication that the device allows. All-in-all, this camera provides many of the same features as the others. It stands out because the day and night video quality is among the best on this list. The 3MP lens can take higher-quality images and videos than most other doorbell cameras.
Product Reviews:
“Excellent picture both night and day. Easy installation with clear instructions. iPhone app is easy to use. Mini SD card 16 GB included. No monitoring service required.”
8. HUOMU Mini Spy Cam 1080P
Best Features
The device has many features, including a night vision mode, adjustable volumes, and Wi-Fi connectivity.
This mini camera is a sleek addition to your front door. It is available in a gold color that looks good. The device has many features, including a night vision mode Wi-Fi connectivity. You can easily view the live videos from the camera by simply syncing your phone and the camera to the device.
9. RETTRU HD Camera
Best Price
It offers almost all of the features you would look for in a typical doorbell camera – motion detection, Wi-Fi connectivity, wireless installation, and a 1080p lens capable of capturing HD surveillance videos.
One of the most affordable in the market is this simple doorbell camera that offers almost all of the features you would look for in a typical doorbell camera – motion detection, Wi-Fi connectivity, wireless installation, and a 1080p lens capable of capturing HD surveillance videos. For the price of the product, it offers a lot. Unfortunately, one of the main problems is that it is not made of waterproof material, so you have to install it in a covered area that is not likely to get wet when it’s raining. If you have a covered front porch, this should be no problem.
The device is also very easy to install. There are 2 ways to put it up. The first is to secure it onto the wall with screws, while the second is to stick it on using 3-ply adhesives. The first option is more secure, but the second option should suffice if you don’t want to drill any holes into your door frame or wall.
When you have it installed, you need to place batteries and connect it to your home Wi-Fi so you can easily access it through the app. The installation and syncing are easy. The device also only needs regular AA batteries. You can get 2 rechargeable pairs to swap them out and have a fully charged pair on hand so the camera doesn’t have to be off. The batteries are expected to power the device for at least a month.
Product Reviews:
“It has a sleek and modern look, is very easy to install, and works as described. The audio and video quality is superb, and the app is easy to use. This is a nice product for its moderate price!”
Things to Consider Before Buying a Mini Camera
Mini cameras are miniature devices that can be used for many purposes. The main advantage of having a miniature camera is its portability. The small size allows people to easily keep a mini camera or two in their bags – or even their pockets. However, the large supply of mini cameras in the market shows that a ton of these cameras offer most of the same features.
However, if you inspect these gadgets more closely, you’ll find more differences between each product than just the looks. Before you pick out the best mini camera, you also need to consider the main purpose you want the camera for. Some people want to use the mini camera to establish a hidden home monitoring system, while others want a small device they can use on the go. Some mini cameras can be great for travelers who need a small device to help record their adventures.
You can also use a mini camera to record your lectures if you are a student. Depending on the situation, some mini cameras may better fit than others. To determine what features you are looking for, you must first define the main purpose – why do you need the mini camera?
After doing so, you can look at the specifications you need to consider.
Video and Image Storage Capacity
One of the main things you must consider when comparing mini cameras is how much storage the device can keep. While most mini cameras rely on a removable memory card, there are often limits to what the device can support; a usual limit of up to 32 GB is common for most mid-range mini cameras. One feature that you will find useful in many mini-camera devices is when the camera can overwrite the oldest recorded files automatically. This stops the need to worry about whether the device is still recording. It also frees up the space for newer recordings. However, if you have plans to check on videos from the last month, you will need to save your files constantly. (2)
Other devices also have WiFi connectivity features, which could mean that files are automatically stored on a cloud server. In this case, you also need to check on the app’s security, as it isn’t advisable to have confidential video files stored on third-party software.
Video and Image FileTypes
The file types saved on the memory card will also differ from one device to another. While videos are most commonly stored as either .mp4 or .avi files, there are many other formats that the device may use. Other formats could be more optimal for storage or can improve the video quality of the recordings.
However, certain file types are not viewable with common multimedia players. This can be a hassle when you try to watch the recorded videos only to find yourself going through many applications to find what players are compatible with the video type. Often, the product already comes with a few recommendations or even a specific application where you can watch the recorded videos.
Video Resolution and Image Quality
Depending on your purpose, you may have different needs about video resolution. If you are looking for a mini camera that you can alternatively use for home surveillance purposes, the level of video quality need not be at a High-Def level.
However, finding a high-quality video recording device is imperative if you plan to use the camera for recreational purposes, like recording travel blogs or special events.
Battery Life
These miniature devices already try to fit in so much despite their small size. Along with everything that allows the camera to capture videos and images, it also needs to pack a decent battery to ensure the camera can stay on for a few hours at least. A portable camera can become problematic if it can only record for a few minutes.
Ease Of Use
Most mini cameras offer easy control buttons. Since these devices don’t have any screen where you can see the actual settings, other signals will help you know what’s happening. One of the most frustrating things is thinking you have been recording when the device isn’t on yet. Most mini-cameras have one or two switches and a colored LED light that can help identify what the camera is currently doing – charging, recording, and on pause.
A mini camera with simple-to-follow instructions will make a lot of difference when you start using the device. While mini cameras can be convenient, they can also be difficult to operate if you don’t know what you are doing.
Size
Mini cameras are small devices, but there are different shapes and forms that they are available in. Some mini-cameras are smaller than others. This factor needs further consideration of the purpose you are looking at the camera to fulfill.
Water Resistance
This may not be necessary, but a truly durable and long-lasting device should be water-resistant to a certain degree. Since mini cameras are meant to be portable, different things could easily go wrong – a spilled drink or a sudden downpour. Having a water-resistant camera will help ensure that when unexpected accidents happen, you’ll still have a functioning mini-camera. This feature can also be very important if you are looking for a travel camera.
Other Features To Look For
Aside from the main things to consider, a few other specialized features can bring a spy camera to the next level. These features may not always be necessary, but these are a few great things to have on a spy camera.
Connectivity
Spy device developers have started creating apps and software that connect easily to the device. This means you can connect your spy camera directly to your phone, laptop, or desktop PC, enabling you to view the recorded videos directly or even LIVE. Added functionalities include changing views or moving the camera’s lenses to get a different perspective of the scene and using your phone as a remote control for the spy camera. This makes it extremely convenient. Great if you want to have more control over your surveillance.
Wi-Fi Capability
To connect, most cameras rely on a Wi-Fi connection. Others, however, use Bluetooth or other connectivity methods. The most convenient connectivity mode is when the device can connect to the internet. For one, it saves storage since the camera can directly upload new videos into a virtual storage space, which you can easily access with other devices. Plus, with a Wi-Fi connection, you are also likely to have the option to view the camera recording live. To connect, most cameras rely on a Wi-Fi connection.
Others, however, use Bluetooth or other connectivity methods. The most convenient connectivity mode is when the device can connect to the internet.
Motion Activation
This feature is especially useful for a spy camera you plan to use for home surveillance. With motion sensors embedded in the device, you’ll only limit recording to when there is movement or activity in an area. In this case, you can avoid recording several hours of footage where nothing is noteworthy. It lessens the hassle of reviewing recordings when looking for a specific event.
Night Vision Mode
Also, another feature that you should look for if you need a mini spy camera for home surveillance is the night vision mode. A handy spy gadget can record videos even in the dark. Night vision capability is cool whether you want a gadget to use indoors or outdoors. I would consider this a must-have feature for any spy gadget.
You’ll often find mini spy cameras disguised as random gadgets that you can normally find around the house or as small cameras that are easy to hide. Many different styles are available, each fitting a variety of situations and purposes. Overall, spy cameras are a great device to have. They provide protection surveillance and give you a sense of safety in your home as long as you use the spy camera for your safety and not to harm or infiltrate the safety and privacy of others.
SS 1080P HD Mini Waterproof Camera
This mini camera has a waterproof casing that lets you take it out in the rain, at the beach, or even when swimming. The miniature 1 cubic inch size also makes it extremely portable. The SS 1080P HD Mini waterproof Camera is more of a sports camera.
References
(1) Human recognition. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/js/2014/838751/
(2) Loop Recording. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loop_recording
