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- Best Monitored Cameras
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There’s nothing small about the performance of this little smart cam. The Wyze Cam Pan features two-way audio, night vision, and motion tracking—plus, it can scan an entire room in just three seconds.
One of our security experts, Suzi, took the Wyze Cam Pan home for a month to see if it could deliver, or if all the good reviews were just a bunch of hype. Find out what we think you’ll love about the camera and the things you may be less stoked about.
Wyze Cam Pan Basics
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| Check Price on Amazon | |
| Image Resolution | 1080p HD |
| Warranty | 1 year, limited |
| Field of View | 120° diagonal wide angle lens
110° horizontal 53° vertical |
| Pan and Tilt | 110°/sec. rotation
360° horizontal range 93° vertical range 360° coverage in under 3 seconds |
| Night Vision | Up to 30 ft. |
| Alert Methods | Push notifications |
| Features | Motion tracking
Motion detection Sound detection Two-way audio Night vision 14-day rolling cloud storage Wyze mobile app Works with Alexa |
How the Wyze Cam Pan Stacks Up
The Wyze Cam Pan is a solid Wi-Fi camera you can pick up for under $40. The camera is packed with features, including free cloud storage and advanced panning ability. We’ve tested a lot of cameras, and this one holds its own with cameras that cost three or four times more. It is limited to indoor use and tied to a power cord, but there is very little else to complain about.
Price and Contract
It’s hard to fault the price of the Wyze Cam Pan. The camera retails for just under $40 and comes with fourteen free days of rolling cloud storage. There are no hidden fees and no subscriptions required. This is one instance where the adage “you get what you pay for” is untrue. With the Wyze Cam Pan, you get much more than the price would indicate.
Pros
- Great price
- No subscriptions
- Free, rolling 14-day cloud storage
Cons
- No complaints here!
Tech and Equipment
First things first—you’re going to love the compact size and sleek design of the Wyze Cam Pan. It doesn’t detract from room décor or overwhelm the space with its presence. Our expert used it primarily in her daughter’s room (she’s a little escape artist!) on the dresser. Other cameras Suzi tried had limited placement options due to short power cords. But she was able to place the Wyze Cam exactly where she wanted thanks to an extra-long cord. That made it easy to find the perfect perch for the camera to keep a watchful eye.
Another feature that makes the Wyze Cam Pan stand out is its ability to pan up and down (not just side to side). Suzi could watch her wee one whether her daughter was in her bed or playing on the floor. Suzi also enjoyed the two-way communication, which let her peek in on her daughter as she sang herself to sleep (although the night vision video of the child is reminiscent of Poltergeist). But the sound quality is better when you receive it through the app, rather than the speaker on the camera. Our expert’s son sent back a lot of “huhs” and “whats” when she tried to talk to him through the camera.
The only real downside we found is related to video storage. Although the camera comes with fourteen days of rolling cloud footage, it’s limited to automatic alert videos only. When motion is detected, the camera automatically captures a ten- to fifteen-second clip. That clip is instantly stored on the Wyze cloud. But if you want to capture a longer segment for playback later, you either need to use an SD card or store it locally on your phone.
“With the setup, it was really instant. The camera just automatically connected to my Wi-Fi network after a few easy steps. Other cameras I’ve used required you to put the camera near the router or move it around the room to connect, which was weird. This was easy—like a quick start.”
Suzi Brzezinski, SafeWise Security Expert
Pros
- Extra-long cord
- Versatile panning capability
- Easy setup
- High-contrast images
- Good incoming sound quality
- Great night vision
Cons
- Limited cloud storage options
- Glitchy speaker on the camera
Motion Alerts
The Wyze Cam Pan isn’t shy when it comes to letting you know what’s up. The first few mornings after taking the camera home, Suzi got an onslaught of alerts as her daughter started waking up. (No more need for an alarm clock!) Because that was not a fun way to start the day, our expert dug into the Wyze app to see if she could turn off or adjust the motion alerts. Ultimately, she ended up turning the alerts off. Although you can adjust motion sensitivity in the app, it was difficult to find a happy medium between no alerts and ALL the alerts.
Pro Tip
Motion tracking is another cool Wyze Cam Pan feature. If you have a kid or a pet in a room and the camera picks up movement, it will lock in and track the action so you can see exactly what’s going on. You can also use a feature called motion tagging. With motion tagging, you tag a specific zone or area that is designated by a box. Then the camera follows motion in the tagged area. Suzi used the box to keep track of her daughter’s tossing and turning in bed.
One improvement that Wyze could make would be to add email alerts as an option. This way you could still get all the alerts you want, but wouldn’t have to send them to your smartphone. And we’re not the only ones asking for this feature—there are a number of forums online where other customers are begging for email alerts from Wyze.
Pros
- Accurate motion detection
- Motion tracking
- Motion tagging
Cons
- Limited settings for motion sensitivity
- No option for email alerts
Customer Service
Suzi had reason to contact customer service and was pleased with her experience. Because she recently moved, the company had the wrong shipping address. When Suzi contacted customer service online, she was happily surprised to get a response within an hour. In addition to our own interaction with Wyze, we also checked out what other customers had to say. Wyze Cam Pan has a 4.2-star rating from customers on Amazon—and we couldn’t find any complaints about service or technical help.
“It felt like an intimate, small company—it felt human. The person I talked to was so responsive and nice, and they got my camera sent out again to the correct address with no hassle.”
Suzi Brzezinski, SafeWise Security Expert
Wyze customer service is available via email or phone. But customer service hours are pretty limited. Support is available only Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. (PST). Wyze also provides a number of articles online that are actually helpful. There’s also a Wyze community forum where customers can share their experiences and get (or give) advice.
Pros
- Prompt response time
- Friendly service
- Helpful online FAQs and articles
Cons
- Short customer service hours
Wyze Cam FAQs
What is the difference between Wyze Cam Pan and Wyze Cam 2?
Other than a slightly different size and shape, the panning and motion tracking features are the biggest differences between the two cameras. The Wyze Cam Pan also stands on its own, without the awkward base stand that comes with the Wyze Cam 2. You’ll also pay about twice as much for the Wyze Cam Pan—$40 vs. $20.
Is there a limit to how many cameras I can set up in the Wyze app?
No. You can add as many Wyze cameras as you want. But you can only live stream from one device at a time.
Pro Tip
Is the Wyze cloud secure?
All communication over the Wyze app, including videos uploaded to the cloud, are transmitted using Transport Layer Security. Wyze also uses both symmetric and asymmetric end-to-end encryption to make sure that if a hacker does get into the cloud, they won’t be able to decrypt the data.
Get More from Wyze
Now you can turn your Wyze Cam into a smart home security system. Wyze is releasing new equipment that’s just as affordable as its wireless security cameras.
Wyze Bulb
Use your voice to turn this smart LED lighbulb on and off.
- Combine with Wyze Sense for home automation
- Set schedules
- Adjust warmth and brightness
- Buy a four-pack on Amazon for under $40.
Wyze Sense
Miniature motion and contact sensors help you keep an eye on who’s doing what in your home (and which doors they’re opening).
- Wyze Cam required.
- Small size works on drawers and jars in addition to windows and doors.
- Starter kit includes bridge, one motion sensor, and two contact sensors..
- Buy the starter kit and a Wyze Cam V2 on Amazon for under $50.00.
Wyze Plug
Turn any outlet into a smart plug with the compact Wyze Plug.
- Wi-Fi connection for app or voice control.
- No hub required
- Early access sold out.
- Shipping in September.
The Bottom Line
Wyze is probably the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to a smart security camera. At this low price point, we were surprised at the quality of the images and how well the Wyze Cam Pan functioned. Unlike other popular smart cameras, it’s much more affordable to buy multiple Wyze Cams to cover different rooms and living spaces. Although we wish you could get email alerts in addition to push notifications, that’s a minor complaint. If you’re not sure you want a security camera—or if you need to add more than one to your home—the Wyze Cam Pan is a low-risk solution that won’t disappoint.
Pros
- Cheap price
- Fast, easy setup
- 360 degree pan
- Free cloud storage
- Quality images
Cons
- No email alerts
- Poor sound quality on speaker
- Limited cloud storage options
How We Evaluated the Wyze Cam Pan
To create our Wyze Cam review, not only did we research the specs and technical details of the Wyze Cam Pan—we also tested it out at home for over a month. Our security expert used it as a de facto nanny cam, a security camera, and a general tool to check in on things when she was away from home. We also compared the Wyze Cam’s features, price, and customer reviews to other similar security cameras like the Arlo Pro and Nest Cam. Check out our full methodology to learn more about how we rank and review products.
The post Wyze Cam Pan Review appeared first on SafeWise.
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