Almost every modern security camera is designed with an internet connection in mind. But a wireless connection isn’t possible in every situation; in fact, there are times when you specifically need a camera that doesn’t have Wi-Fi. Imagine if you have a vacation home, or an RV and travel frequently — in both situations, internet access isn’t guaranteed, but you would still want to keep an eye on your home. There are, however, security cameras specifically designed to work without Wi-Fi.
Arlo Go 2
BEST FEATURES
The Arlo Go 2 is one of the best options for small, wireless security cameras. Thanks to its LTE connection, you’ll be notified of any activity it detects even without a Wi-Fi connection. It has a built-in microSD slot for storing footage locally (up to a 2 TB SD card). It’s weather resistant for outdoor use, and two-way audio lets you speak to any visitors — wanted or unwanted. There’s a built-in siren, too. If someone takes the camera from its mount, GPS location tracking makes it easy to find the Arlo Go 2’s exact location. You can expect two to three months of battery life on a single charge.
Reolink 4G LTE Security Camera
BEST FOR SETTING AND FORGETTING
If you only visit a location once per year, you don’t want to make trips just to swap out or charge a battery. The Reolink 4G LTE’s included solar panel means you can set up the camera and forget about it. It also has 2K resolution and up to 33 feet of night vision. You can record videos to a microSD card (up to 128 GB), as well as upload it to the Reolink Cloud if you do have an internet connection. Two-way talk, smart detection and 16x digital zoom are other features that help keep your home safe from anywhere.
Muayb Mini Camera
BEST FOR HIDDEN USE
There are times when you need to hide a security camera; for example, if you suspect an employee might be stealing. The Muayb Mini wireless security camera is only $25, but can record up to 21 hours of footage with a 128GB SD card. The battery life is limited — only 90 minutes at most — due to its small size, but it can be set up to only record when it detects motion. If the memory card fills while recording, the camera will delete the oldest footage first to ensure you don’t miss a second.
What To Look for in a Wi-Fi Free Security Camera
Durability: Your camera might be placed outside, which means it will need a sufficiently high IP rating to withstand exposure to the elements. You also have to think about vandalism; if a would-be thief tries to disable the camera, how difficult will it be? Cameras that can be secured high off the ground, in areas that aren’t easily accessible, are the ideal options.
Power: Solar-powered cameras are great options if you won’t be around much. You don’t have to worry about swapping out the battery or wonder if a power outage will leave you without any security at all.
Storage: Your camera won’t be connected to the internet, so there’s no cloud storage option. Look for a camera that can store a large amount of footage on an SD card. If you can port the footage to a backup system like a DVR, even better — especially if you have multiple cameras hooked up.
LTE: If you have an LTE connection, you don’t need Wi-Fi — but you can still reap the same benefits, like remote access and viewing.
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