Going out on vacation and don’t have anyone to look over your home? Have a remote cabin with no power source and no Wi-Fi? Working on a construction site and have to relocate the camera every few days? Then a cellular security system is just what you need. Cellular security cameras allow you to monitor your valued places day and night as they do not require a Wi-Fi connection to transmit life feed to your phone.
They are wireless, can be relocated easily, and some are solar-powered too. After performing igorous checks and testing them, you cannot go wrong with Reolink Go + Solar Panel. If you are considering beefing up security, but cannot figure out where to start then we provide you a convenient list of best security cameras and also, :
- A quick summary of the best cameras for every budget and requirement
- A detailed assessment of our top 5 picks for cellular security cameras
- Extremely informative buying guide
Contents
Quick Summary: Top 5 Best Cellular Security Camera
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: Reolink Go + Solar Panel
This affordable, durable, and highly-rated cellular security camera is loaded with features. We think it is the best cellular security camera with a rechargeable battery.
This affordable, durable, and highly-rated cellular security camera is loaded with features. We think it is the best cellular security camera with a rechargeable battery.
Runner-Up: Vosker V200 LTE Security Camera
If you are willing to spend a little extra and are looking for a long-lasting, reliable device, then you’ve got yourself a winner.
A little higher on the price list but is durable, gives quick alerts, and has a live streaming option.
Best Multi-function: Arlo Go Mobile HD Security Camera
It is costly and highly motion sensitive but ideal for those who prefer linking their devices to Alexa.
It is costly and highly motion sensitive but ideal for those who prefer linking their devices to Alexa.
Best Affordability: Fosin 4G LTE
Crystal clear day and night vision with a stellar performance at affordable rates makes it a great option.
Crystal clear day and night vision with a stellar performance at affordable rates makes it a great option.
Top 3 Quick Comparison
Product | Photo | Connections | Night Vision | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall |
| 3G, 4G LTE | Yes | |
Runner-Up |
| 4G LTE | Yes | |
Best Popular Choice |
| 4G LTE | Yes |
Our Reviews
Given the limited options, this cellular security camera is the best one on the market. It is battery powered, has decent quality, and is 100% wire-free, enabling it can be mounted anywhere. You can also buy it with a solar panel that allows it to run on solar energy.
Loaded with features, it runs on 3G, 4G, and 5G cellular network. Its PIR motion sensors detect any potential danger and send a notification to your phone so that you can see the live video immediately. You can even talk to the person on the other side of the camera, with its two-way audio. This comes handy when there’s a delivery boy or family there. You can even use it to warn the burglars that they are being watched.
The camera starts recording at the slightest motion and stores the whole thing on the cloud, which is available freely for seven days. In case you a memory card in place, you can keep the feed forever. The lack of wires makes it very hard for intruders to stop the camera from recording, and hence providing optimum security. It is waterproof and can resist heat and snow.
With just a sim card, memory card, and battery to install and a QR Code to scan, it is reasonably easy to set-up. It is light, portable, and can easily be shifted from one location to another. It has a stunning 1080 picture quality, 33 feet visibility, wide-angle view, and grid view. It is even equipped with starlight night vision, which allows you to see even in total darkness and gives you enhanced clarity.
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
Product Reviews:
"Amazing camera! Easy to set up. Easy to modify the settings via the app. The microphone is exceptional, I can hear things on the app like if I were standing where the camera was mounted. The 1080p is crystal clear! "
Vosker V200 is one of the premium cellular security cameras on the list. Enabled with GPS, in case it gets lost, it is well-built and pretty durable. It is IP 65 certified weather-resistant and is even resistant to water sprayed directly from a nozzle. It is capable of operating in a temperature range of -40℉ to 104℉.
Setting up this device requires installing a pre-activated SIM card, SD card, and the mounting bracket. It has a built-in solar panel on the top of the camera that keeps the battery charged and makes it the ideal solution for off-grid-surveillance. The other power options are 8 AA batteries and a 12V external battery pack.
It provides a 24/7 photo coverage via a 4G cellular network. It sends alerts on the mobile phone only when there’s an actual intruder. It operates on a set of AI tools called Vosker Sense by the company, identifies people and vehicles, analyses the data, and sends only relevant alerts. This advanced technology prevents sending notifications on trivial movements like a bird’s flight or motion of a squirrel.
This cellular security camera records full HD 1080p videos and stores them in the SD card. But this device doesn’t allow you to watch the live video. You’ll need to get your hands on the SD card to review the tapes. There’s a ‘photo first’ option on the mobile app that, when enabled, sends a photo to your mobile phone for every video recorded. That way, you’ll know which video is worth watching and which is not.
The best part is that the company offers a generous 2-year warranty on the device. This speaks volumes about the durability of the camera in itself.
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
Product Reviews:
"I love this camera and phone app!! I use it as my primary driveway camera system. It never fails to alert me of visitors when I am at home or away. I will be buying another one for my other home."
Creative XP LTE 4G Cellular Trail Camera is a robust cellular camera, generally used for rough locations like for hunting or a cabin. But it works perfectly fine for home security purposes as well. This camera features a full HD night vision with a 65 feet range. It shoots high-quality 1080p videos and 12MP photos that are instantly sent to any US phone or email. It has a time-lapse feature that can either sends you a picture every 3 minutes, or you can set the timer to receive photos during certain hours of the day.
The package includes a free 32 GB memory card and a free Sim card that allows 500 free photographs. The camera features a wide dynamic lens that has an impressive 110° PIR angle. With its quick 0.35 second trigger, you get lightning-fast, 1 to 5 photos or a video. You can watch live feed through your phone over the cellular network. This ensures the stealth security of your homes.
This rugged camera is both water and snow proofed, making it ideal for outdoor use. It has 56 no-glow IR LEDs that hide it from any animal or trespassers. You can also buy solar panels along with the product to enhance battery life. It comes with 12 AA batteries that last about 5-6 weeks.
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
Product Reviews:
"So far the camera is good. I have it set up in the field and it transferred one pic of my walking away. When I came home, I downloaded the app and once I get it all figured out, it will be amazing I am sure."
Arlo Go works on 3G and 4G cellular service and comes with a data plan. This wire-free camera is suitable for outdoor as well as indoor use. The feature that makes it unique is that it works on Amazon Alexa's voice control.
The cellular security camera comes with an in-built SD card slot where you can store the videos in case of internet interruption. You can also save the recordings on cloud storage. The app provides three video qualities that can be set depending upon different recording times. For example, you can use high-quality images at night and low ones in the morning and evening hours. This not only helps you save data plan but also preserves memory.
This cellular security camera features a two-way talk that enables you to talk to the person near the camera. It may be a delivery boy, family member, or even a burglar, whom you can warn off. The automatic motion sensor lights a notification on your phone, and you stream the live video immediately.
You can complement this security camera with a solar panel to enhance its battery output. It operates on a 3660mAh, rechargeable battery that is capable of powering your camera for a long time. It has 850 nm LEDs that illuminate up to 25 feet at night, hence enabling you to get an enhanced vision even in the dark.
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
Product Reviews:
"Go Mobile, expensive, but a worthwhile upgrade."
FOSIN cameras are synonymous with quality. This 4G & 3G enabled security camera has impressive sound and video quality, which makes it the ideal system for indoors. Since the size is small, it proves advantageous in situations that require changing of the position of the camera and is best for monitoring children and pets in your absence. People have also found it useful as a baby-cam and travel IP cameras.
It allows to get video signals in real-time and sound. Enabled with a wide-angle at 120-degree, it can easily cover the majority of a big room. You can customize the settings to record automatically or also use a dedicated application on your phone to control when the tool should begin recording. It is highly motion-sensitive and sends alerts to your phone when it detects something out of ordinary.
The deal is made sweeter by free storage and the flexibility of adding more via a memory card. By default, the software keeps a record of 30 days worth of video recordings but can be programmed to overwrite the new ones with old. Its night-vision has been complimented time and again. With multiple different alarm and sound settings, you and your family will feel safe after getting this camera. It also has an in-built rechargeable battery that can last up to 24-hours on a single charge.
Another point worth mentioning is the company's tech support. In case of any complaints, the executive will get back to you within 24 hours to sort out the issue.
What We Liked
What We Didn't Like
Product Reviews:
"This is great for the price and the guality you really can't go wrong. The picture is clear and it is a breeze to set up and doesn't require any fancy knowledge or skill. It is made well and easy to use."
Features To Look Out For
Now before you make your final choice, there are a few features you must know in detail about. These will not assist in you getting the best cellular security camera, but also give you a better understanding of how this product works. So, let's get started!
Motion Sensing
The traditional cameras that run on Wi-Fi, work with CVR (Continuous Video Recording). This feature allows the camera to record 24/7. However, cellular security cameras work with motion-sensing technology. The AI-equipped device spends most of its time on standby, and whenever it detects any motion, it comes to life, captures photographs, and records a short clip. (1)
Motion Detection
The most raved feature of cellular security cameras is the AI-powered motion detector. The camera stays in standby mode most of the time. As soon as it detects any movement, it clicks a series of photos, records a video, and alerts the owner. The owner can either get notified by the notification via the app or by the images and videos sent on the mail or by MMS. (2)
A sensor called Passive infrared (PIR) is used to detect these movements. It sees the body heat emitted by humans and animals and sends a motion alert. Since some places are far busier and have various types of needless motions like falling of a leaf, you can adjust the sensitivity level of your PIR sensor. The more sensitive it is, the more alerts you’ll get. (3)
Night Vision
Night Vision is one of the essential features. It is the ability of the camera to record clear images, even in the dark. The PIR sensor plays an important role here too. It has an infrared LED light that emits a beam of infrared energy. This energy, when combined with the heat or infrared energy of an animal or human body, gets magnified and is easier to detect. Hence, creating a clearer image.
Now, the number of these LED lights determine the quality of images captured at night. The more the number of lights, the better the image.
Storage
You cannot keep an eye on the security system 24/7. You need storage to monitor the footage later on. The recordings can either be stored on the cloud or in a memory card installed in the device. Most cellular security cameras have slots for SD cards, and the ideal capacity is 64GB. The more, the better. Make sure that you don’t run out of memory, or the camera will stop recording.
Power
In remote locations, where there are no Wi-Fi connections, the chances of having a power supply are also low. Since these security cameras are also built to operate in such places, they have to be powered by a battery. This is another reason why these cameras do not run on CVR. Running consistently will drain the battery quickly.
Usage of a solar panel ensures longer running batteries and clean, efficient energy. One of the listed cellular security cameras has an in-built solar panel. At the same time, for some of them, you buy them additionally. Some of them also have built-in rechargeable batteries. Understand which option works best for you and opt for that one.
Weather Resistant
Since these cameras are also meant for outdoor usage, they are all weatherproof. It is a measure by something called IP rating. It is a two-digit number. The first one varies from a scale of 0-6 and tells how much a device is protected against dust. The second number measures the protection of the device against water or moisture on a scale of 0 to 9. Most of the security cameras have an IP 65 rating that provides sufficient weather protection.
Verdict
Whether you want to keep an eye on your campsite or want to install a security system for your RV or trailer, these are the best options you have. We recommend Reolink Go + Solar Panel because of its wholesome features and pocket-friendly cost. However, your personal preference may vary according to the budget and requirements.
You may also check other review guides we've made for other cameras such as; best endoscope camera, best body camera, best mini camera. For the camera instruction article, you may also click here. We hope these guides will help you in the future.
Our Top Pick Again
This affordable, durable, and highly-rated cellular security camera is loaded with features. We think it is the best cellular security camera with a rechargeable battery.
References
(1) AI - https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-ai-everything-you-need-to-know-about-artificial-intelligence/
(2) MMS - https://searchmobilecomputing.techtarget.com/definition/Multimedia-Messaging-Service
(3) PIR - https://learn.adafruit.com/pir-passive-infrared-proximity-motion-sensor/how-pirs-work
