- Dynamic light balancing
- Motion and sound detection
- Easy setup
- Playful design
- Includes four cameras
- Works indoors and outdoors
Bottom Line: Nothing Unique, Unless You Need a Baby Monitor
Usually, we can find all sorts of reasons why you should choose a particular brand over another. Still, Wisenet’s cameras are so average that they’re forgettable, even though some of them have Samsung branding (more on that later). While the cameras themselves are comparable to the competition and aren’t too expensive, there’s not much to make them stand out in an increasingly crowded market for security cameras.
All the same, the Wisenet BabyView Eco caught our attention for its playful design, soothing sounds, and competitive pricing.
Samsung Wisenet cameras are not our first choice, but there’s enough to like about them—like the SmartCam’s wide field of view and the All-in-One’s four cameras—that they’re worth buying if you get a refurbished model or find one on sale.
Read on to learn what else we like about Wisenet cameras and what we didn’t.
Best Wisenet Security Cameras
Compare Wisenet Security Cameras
| Price* |
| Resolution |
| Field of View |
| Night Vision |
|
Best Overall
|
Best Baby Monitor
|
Best CCTV System
|
| Samsung Wisenet SmartCam | Wisenet BabyView Eco | Samsung Wisenet All-in-One |
 |
 |
 |
| $99.99 | $169.40 | $249.99 |
| 1080p | 480p | 1080p |
| 130º | 55º | 105º |
| Up to 32 feet | Up to 16 feet | Up to 82 feet |
| View on Amazon | View on Lowe's | View on Amazon |
*Amazon.com price as of 04/10/2020 at 10:27 a.m. (MT). Read full disclaimer.
Our Approach
For our Wisenet review, we researched around 10 models to start with and then narrowed down our choices to the three we felt best represented the Wisenet brand as a whole. While we didn’t test these cameras in house, we compared the tech specs with our experiences testing other security cameras.
We also used online customer reviews to inform our top picks. Check out our full methodology to learn more about how we rank and review products.
Samsung Wisenet Camera Reviews
Samsung Wisenet SmartCam: Best Overall
The Samsung Wisenet SmartCam is the best Wisenet has to offer. It’s affordable and has crisp 1080p video quality. The camera employs both sound and motion detection as triggers for capturing video. It’s nice that it’s not wholly reliant on motion since motion detection alone can activate your camera more often.
You can record video in the cloud (plans start at $4.99 a month) or insert a microSD card into the camera to record locally. Even with local recording, you’ll still want to connect this camera to your Wi-Fi network to use the free app. The Wisenet SmartCam app lets you use the camera’s two-way audio and review videos on your phone.
We especially like its wide dynamic range, which makes it easier for the camera to record when there’s inconsistent lighting in a room. This is great for capturing video with the lights on, in natural daylight, and in complete darkness (using night vision LEDs).
Aside from the dynamic lighting, there isn’t much to set the SmartCam apart from other brands. For $99, it’s simply not as advanced as the Google Nest Cam IQ Indoor† (though that costs much more) or even the similarly-priced Ring Stick Up Cam Battery. On the cheaper end of the spectrum, we prefer the Wyze Cam Pan since it has essentially the same tech inside (plus mechanical panning) for a lower price. All of these competitors have excellent smart home capabilities while this Wisenet wireless camera has none.
Pros
- Wide field of view
- Affordable
- Local and cloud video storage
- Motion and sound detection
Cons
- No smart home support
Wisenet BabyView Eco: Best Baby Monitor
As a full-fledged baby monitor, the Wisenet BabyView Eco is the most colorful camera on this list. It has a sweet design that looks like it belongs in a nursery or child’s playroom.
The bright orange stand isn’t just for looks; it’s actually a flexible wire that you can wrap around other objects (like the edge of the crib) to get the perfect view into your baby’s crib. The flexible stand makes installing the baby monitor a breeze.
The BabyView Eco wirelessly beams its video to a dedicated screen for parents to watch over the kids. Even though there isn’t a mobile app for this baby monitor, we like that the screen frees up your phone for other things.
Using the parent unit, you can talk to your baby, check to see if the nursery is too warm using a built-in thermometer, or play lullabies and white noise to help your baby sleep.
Because baby monitors fit a specific niche, they don’t do well when you compare them with security cameras. This is especially true for the lesser video quality, narrow field of view, and lack of mobile app controls in most baby monitors.
Pros
- Cute, playful design
- Easy setup
- Comes with screen for parents
- Built-in lullabies and white noise
Cons
- Narrow field of view
- Not for general security
- No mobile app or video storage
Samsung Wisenet All-in-One: Best CCTV System
The Samsung Wisenet All-in-One is a good option if you want multiple weatherproof bullet cameras since it comes with four in the box. Now you can watch every square inch of your yard (or at least every door) like a security guard in a heist movie.
The cameras record at a variety of resolutions and framerates, which allows you to make the most of the spacious 1TB hard drive in the DVR. You can view the camera feed on your smartphone, but don’t expect two-way talk like with the SmartCam.
Each camera captures high-def video and has an impressive night vision range up to 82 feet, so you can see to the edge of your property when the sun goes down. You can place the weatherproof cameras either indoors or outdoors, though an outdoor installation is more difficult since you’ll need to run cables inside to the DVR.
A major drawback of the All-in-One is that it uses wired cameras, which makes for a complicated installation process, especially if you insist on hiding every wire. Still, each camera comes with a 60-foot cable to connect to the DVR, offering a lot of flexibility for where you place each unit. You’ll have a similar experience with other CCTV brands, not just the Wisenet system.
The Samsung Wisenet All-in-One costs around $250, which is average for a four-camera CCTV system, but similar systems from Swann (Alexa and Google compatibility) and Foscam (Wi-Fi cameras) are more suitable for most folks.
Pros
- Comes with four cameras
- 1TB of local video storage
- Works indoors and outdoors
- 82-foot night vision range
Cons
- Complicated setup
- Wired cameras
- Lacks two-way talk
Final Word
As a whole, Wisenet security cameras don’t hold a candle to more popular brands like Nest, Arlo, Ring, and Wyze. There’s not much that makes them stand out in the broader market, except on the baby monitor front. We think the Wisenet BabyView Eco is a solid option for parents thanks to its flexible stand and soothing sounds. It didn’t quite make our list of top baby monitors, but it’s worth checking out.
If we had to choose a Wisenet security camera, we’d go with the Samsung Wisenet SmartCam. It’s a good option that’s not too expensive, especially if you buy a renewed one on Amazon for less than half of the new price. That said, we think you’ll find better home security cameras by looking elsewhere.
FAQ
Does Samsung own Wisenet?
No, Samsung sold its security camera business, Samsung Techwin, to Hanwha in 2014.1 Hanwha later rebranded it as Hanwha Techwin2 and adopted the Wisenet brand for consumer products. As part of the sale, both companies now co-own the Samsung brand, which is why you sometimes see Samsung-branded Wisenet cameras.
Despite giving Hanwha better recognition for its products, this shared branding is confusing and leads to misconceptions about both brands. To add to that confusion, Samsung now makes and sells the SmartThings Indoor Security Camera.
Does Wisenet work with smart homes?
Yes and no. Some Wisenet cameras have limited smart home compatibility, but it’s not consistent across those devices. For example, some Wisenet cameras work with Google Assistant, while others work with Amazon Alexa, but none of them work with both. We couldn’t find any Wisenet cameras that work with SmartThings, and we don’t recommend Wisenet cameras for the smart home.
Sources
- Security Sales and Integration, “Samsung’s Surveillance Song to Remain the Same”
- Security Sales and Integration, “Samsung Techwin America Is Changing Its Name to Hanwha Techwin America”
Disclaimer
*Amazon.com list price as of 04/10/2020 at 10:27 a.m. (MT). Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
†Google, Google Assistant, and other related marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
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