Top 10 WiFi spy cameras in comparison – 2020 test report

We have compared the best Wifi spy cameras and now we would like to tell you how they perform in the test, what advantages the different models offer and which is the perfect camera for you!

In this article we deal with the following products:

All products we have listed for you include a hidden camera. If you place these items in your home, they are guaranteed not to attract attention and you can film unnoticed. So let’s start with the first product.

Please note the following point:

Workplace surveillance is the most common form of non-public surveillance. Although the operational area fundamentally belongs to the private sector, it is a special case of the private sector, which cannot be compared with the legal framework of the purely private sector due to the special interests of the parties involved with regard to video surveillance.

In this case, the interests of the employees worthy of protection must be weighed up thoroughly with those of the employer, and the relevance of special labour law regulations and court rulings must be taken into account.

The observation of publicly accessible rooms with video surveillance is in principle only permissible if it is carried out by public authorities within the legal framework in order to fulfil their tasks. In exceptional cases, however, it may also be carried out by private parties for the purpose of exercising domestic authority or other legitimate interests for specifically defined purposes.

In any case, a detailed weighing of interests must be carried out between the encroachment on the personal rights of the persons concerned and the legitimate interest in surveillance (e.g. of the state for the protection of public safety and order).

Source: https://www.abus.com/ger/Ratgeber/Recht/Rechtliche-Grundlagen/Videoueberwachung, 29.04.2020

Bluetooth speaker with camera

The scope of delivery

In the scope of delivery, beside the speaker itself, you will find a USB charging cable, a user manual, a CD driver and a power supply unit to charge the battery. Due to the black/silver design the speaker looks very modern and inspires with its simple design. On the back you will find an on/off switch, a reset button, a micro USB connector and a slot for the micro SD memory card. You can easily use any memory card up to 128GB.

Connecting the camera to the Internet

Of course, you can also use the speaker as a normal speaker, but to use it for its real purpose, you’ll definitely need to download the HD Smart IPC app. It allows you to connect the camera in several ways. One way is to connect the camera via Wifi-Direct and another way is to connect the camera to your WiFi and access the camera from anywhere in the world. With the last method you can access the camera at home from your vacation and monitor it at any time. With the first method, the camera creates a WiFi network, where you have to log in with your mobile phone and view the recordings. This method is very practical if you are only in the next room and want to watch everything on one camera. The camera, which is built into the speaker, is a Full-HD camera, which records with 30 frames per second. In the dark, you can see up to 3m away thanks to the night vision mode.

The 360° view

Using the app, you can easily rotate the camera at an angle of 330°. Both to the right and to the left. This is extremely handy, because you can film in an all around angle. You will also be offered a night mode, which gives you a visibility of up to 3 meters. The battery has a capacity of 5000mAh, so you have a very long battery life. You can record up to 10 hours in one go with one charge. That is really neat.

The App

As already mentioned, the app allows you to rotate the camera at a very large angle. Furthermore there is the 2-way communication possibility. This means that you can hear the sound the camera records via your mobile phone, but you can also speak into the microphone of your mobile phone at the same time and the sound will be output via the speaker camera. In addition, there is the possibility to view past recordings after the event, which is of course really cool, because it automatically records when motion is detected. However, if you’re travelling, you should remember to connect it to the power supply first, otherwise the battery won’t last. Speaking of battery life: according to the data, you’ll get about 10 hours of battery life in one piece.

Change picture settings

You are able to brighten up the image, adjust the resolution, flip the image horizontally or vertically, take a picture or record a video manually in the live image window. If you are in the live picture, you can also rotate the camera by wiping to the right or left.

Changing camera settings

You can also edit some additional settings by opening the camera settings. For example, you can activate an alarm that will be sent to your phone when the camera detects motion. This feature is very useful when you are on holiday. You can connect the camera to your WLAN at home and be notified when motion is detected. In the settings you can turn the function on and adjust the sensitivity. So this is an alarm mode. All other camera settings can also be found there.

On the backside of the camera you should not forget to insert the memory card first, because otherwise the pictures can’t be saved. We have also linked suitable memory cards.

Conclusion

The speaker impresses with its good workmanship and many functions in the app. So you get a good price performance. If you want to have the product, please visit the page linked below.

The LED table lamp

Next, let’s talk about the table lamp. Optically, it is very similar to the previously mentioned loudspeaker, but there is one thing that makes it different. And that is the speaker. On the upper side of the lamp we do not find a speaker, but a lamp, respectively a light.

Scope of delivery

In addition to the table lamp, the scope of delivery includes a power supply unit, a charging cable, a micro SD adapter and a quick start guide. The detailed brochure is available online. This way we save valuable resources and thus protect the environment. Thanks to the included Micro-SD adapter, you can quickly and easily remove the memory card from the table lamp and read out the images immediately via the computer.

Adjusting the exposure of the image

With this lamp you have the great advantage that you can change the colour of the light at any time. You will be shown a colour palette where you can easily wipe back and forth with your finger to change the light mood. An additional advantage of the light is that you can also set a timer for the light. This means that you can let the light of the lamp wake you up. So if you want to get up at 8am, you can activate the wake-up time in the app and the light will gradually get brighter when you wake up.

Change/increase resolution

Of course, there is also a camera in the table lamp. This camera records with a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels as well. Basically, one can say that the table lamp is very similar to the previous product – with a lamp instead of a speaker. Just like before you can turn the camera 330°. The app offers the same functionality as the speaker and also gives you an alarm if something moves in the field of view of the camera. In darkness you can see up to 3m away thanks to the night vision mode.

The right memory card

By the way: You can also find suitable memory cards for the cameras in our shop, so feel free to have a look there! Please note: The products mentioned so far support SD cards up to 128GB. Cards with a larger capacity may simply not be recognized.

Powerbank Camera

A very exciting product from the range is the Powerbank with hidden camera. Everybody knows a Powerbank: a mobile battery with which you can charge your mobile phone. But the battery I show you now differs in one thing: the camera. But let’s start at the beginning: There are two outputs, which means that you can even charge two mobile phones at the same time. In the middle, there’s an entrance where the Powerbank is charged if it’s the one you want.

Keeping an eye on the battery status at all times

There is a battery with LEDs on the side to show you the status. So if three of the four lamps are lit, this means that it is still three quarters charged. If you look very closely, you will notice that there is another light next to it. This one hides the camera just mentioned.

The App

This camera can also be connected to an app, where you can view the recordings or adjust the image. The interesting thing once again is the alarm mode that is available to you. As explained earlier, the camera sends a message to your mobile phone when motion is detected. You wouldn’t believe how useful this feature can be. The great thing is that Powerbanks are actually everyday objects, so you won’t even notice them in your apartment or house. That’s exactly why you can simply place them on a table or shelf without attracting attention. This way you can take pictures unnoticed and of course you can save them immediately. As soon as a recording is made, the “Powerbank” automatically saves the video to the previously inserted memory card, but you also have the option of saving the video saved on the SD card to your smartphone. In the app you can immediately save the recording to your device.

Suitable SD card & further settings

Memory cards up to a size of 128GB are accepted. The camera records in HD resolution, i.e. 720P, at 15 frames per second. That’s not exactly as good as previous cameras, but the camera scores with a wide viewing angle of 120°. All cameras also record sound, but there is a small difference with the Powerbank. There is no 2-way communication here. Therefore you can hear the sound on your smartphone, but you cannot talk to the person within the camera’s field of view, because the Powerbank has no speaker to output the sound you speak into your cell phone microphone.

Night vision mode

The camera also scores with a night vision function. This reaches up to 6m in the dark. This is really neat, because the other two cameras have a range of 3m. So the Powerbank camera sees twice as far at night.

Mini table WIFI clock

The mini table clock is a very special product, because it features great technology inside and a great camera. Included in the scope of delivery are the table clock itself, a charging cable, a power plug, a micro SD adapter, a manual, a driver CD and a micro fibre cloth.

Variety of functions

On the front panel, the time, date, temperature and humidity are displayed next to the time. I like that very much. The camera hidden in here is a full HD camera that records at 25 frames per second. The app you need for the table clock camera is called TinyCam. You can find it for free in both the PlayStore and the AppStore.

Connect to the Internet

You can connect the table clock to your mobile phone in two ways. Either the Wifi Direct method, where you need to be close by, or the normal Wifi method, where you connect the camera to your home internet and you can access the camera image from anywhere where there is internet.

Change settings

On the top of the mini desk clock we will discuss different buttons for changing the settings. For example, you can switch between degrees Celsius and Fahrenheit by pressing the left button. If you remove the cover at the back, the battery is hidden there, which should be enough for a pure recording time of 4 hours. Again, if you want to record longer (for example while you are on holiday), you have to connect the camera to the mains using the charging cable included in the scope of delivery.

Hidden buttons

The buttons for switching on/off, for starting a recording and for resetting are then located at the bottom right under the cover. On the opposite side there is finally the charging port, which remains visible for charging even when the cover is closed. On each side there is a speaker, which serves to wake up a person.

Motion detector mode

On the front, you can see the 1MP camera at the top left if you look very closely, which also has an integrated motion detector mode. This means that the camera automatically starts recording as soon as motion is detected in its field of view. This is a very useful feature for holidays, because you always know what’s going on at home and it creates a feeling of security. So you can enjoy your holiday with a clear conscience. Even past recordings can be retrieved afterwards using the free app.

Night vision/alarm mode

Even at night you won’t miss anything, because thanks to the built-in night mode you can see up to 6m in the dark. So you won’t miss an important moment, because you also have the option to set an alarm mode. Within a few milliseconds after detecting a movement, you will receive a message on your mobile phone when the alarm mode is activated. The past videos can also be saved immediately on the mobile device.

If you are interested in the camera, please have a look in our shop under the category “table clocks”!

Night light plug spy camera

Next, let’s talk about the small nightlight camera, which is one of the most inconspicuous objects around. A night light in the socket is not uncommon these days, so no one would think that there is a high-resolution full HD camera inside.

Night vision & suitable memory cards

Logically, there is of course a night vision mode, which can see up to 6m in total darkness. Here too, all recordings can be viewed in retrospect using the free app, which is available in PlayStore and AppStore. The night light offers a micro SD support of up to 128GB. The card should not be larger, otherwise there is a risk that the memory card will not be accepted.

In the scope of delivery there is a quick guide, a driver on a CD, a micro-SD adapter and the reset needle next to the light.

Alarm Mode

The motion detector alarm mode can wake you up at night when the camera detects motion. So it is a good idea to place the light in the hallway so that you are awake in time. This is very interesting in dangerous situations, because you have enough time to react. On the bottom side, in the middle, there is a button with which you can switch the lamp on and off. By the way: No matter if the light is on or off – the camera always works. Additionally a small speaker is built in, through which the so-called 2-way communication is possible. So loot: You can hear the sound through your smartphone, but you can talk to the person within the camera’s field of view, because the light has no speaker on the bottom, which can be used to output the sound you speak into your cell phone microphone. To talk back, the microphone button in the app must be held down.

Change image settings

In the window of the live picture you have the possibility to brighten the picture, to adjust the resolution, to flip the picture horizontally or vertically, to take a photo or to record a video manually.

Automatic recording

The camera does not need to be switched on or off, as it is always active. Moreover, there’s no need to worry about having a full memory, as the recordings that the camera makes really don’t take up much space and thanks to the loop function, the oldest videos are overwritten by the current recordings when the memory card is full.

The night lamp is therefore a very useful and, above all, inconspicuous object that can be used to create hidden recordings, thus providing additional security within your own four walls. If you are interested in it, please have a look in our shop under the category “Lamps”.

Dummy WiFi router

Next it will probably be even more inconspicuous, because it is nothing less than a WLAN router. An item that is guaranteed to be found in every household and company. At the back there is even a LAN port to which one can connect an internet cable. Of course, this is only a dummy, so it is not a real router. Admittedly a deceptively real dummy! It’s almost impossible for anyone to guess what it is.

Scope of delivery

Let’s start with the scope of delivery: router camera, manual, micro SD adapter, reset pin, micro USB cable and finally the power supply. In this case, the hidden camera is located in the antenna, which can be folded out. So I did not promise too much: No one will unmask this camera!

Night vision/motion detector mode

In addition, the “Router” also offers a night & motion detector mode again. This means that the camera automatically starts recording as soon as motion is detected in its field of view. This is a very useful feature for holidays, because this way you always know what’s going on at home and there is a feeling of security. So you can enjoy your holiday with a clear conscience. Even past recordings can be retrieved afterwards using the free app. The built-in cam records in full HD resolution with a large field of view of 120 degrees. So you definitely won’t miss an important moment.

The App

The app is once again the same, i.e. the “Procam App”. On the back, the dummy router lets you connect to the power via the micro-USB port and you can use a micro SD of up to 128GB. By the way, you don’t have to switch the camera on or off, because it is always active. And you don’t have to worry about having a full memory, because the recordings the camera makes really don’t take up much space and thanks to the loop function the oldest videos are overwritten by the current recordings when the memory card is full.

Additional functions

The WiFi router dummy records sound as well and there is an intercom function. You already know this from the previous products. In the window of the live image you can brighten the image, adjust the resolution, flip the image horizontally or vertically, take a photo or record a video manually.

The WLAN router camera is therefore a deceptively real dummy, which is used to create hidden images. It works at night as well as in bright daylight and is currently offered at a very good price-performance ratio at a discount. Furthermore, the device is one of the most popular items in our range and has received a 5-star rating from customers.

USB charger plug hidden cam

The charger we would like to show you now is also one of the bestsellers from the shop. It also convinces with its extremely easy handling, which always plays an important role in a product for me.

Scope of delivery

Let’s start with the scope of delivery. A Micro-SD adapter is included, with which you can read the Micro-SD card on the PC. Simply insert the SD card into the stick and then put the blue stick into the USB port on the computer. Again, a mobile phone or tablet can be charged while the camera is recording. As with all models introduced so far, the camera has a motion detector mode in the charger, which ensures that recording starts automatically when motion is detected in the camera’s field of view.

Simple operation

The design is kept very simple and therefore the operation is extremely easy and understandable for everyone. On the side of the charger there is a small cover that has to be pushed up to reach the slot of the memory card. The memory card must be inserted there before use. The USB charger supports memory cards up to 128GB capacity. Suitable memory cards are available in our shop as well.

On the shiny front side, the hidden surveillance camera is hidden in the middle at the bottom. This camera records in a Full-HD resolution, which is really sharp! At night the camera can see up to 6m far. Thus, it does not matter whether day or night with the charger. The integrated alarm mode, if activated, immediately sends a message to the smartphone when a movement within the field of view of the camera is detected. As this is also a Wifi camera, it is also possible to view the recordings from a distance. However, before this is possible, the camera must be connected to the WLAN during setup. With the Pro iCam app, you can then view all the images and make further settings on the camera.

For example, you can brighten the picture, mirror it, hear the sound the camera records and much more. As you have just learned, the charger camera has a built-in microphone, which not only gives you an image, but also sound. So you can not only see what is going on at home, but you can also hear it.

Even more advantages

The USB charging port on the bottom is a quick charge port. The huge advantage of this: Your mobile phone or tablet is charged in much less time compared to normal mobile phone chargers. So you can see that you get a lot of things. The adapters for the different countries can be changed by pressing the button below the attachment. You get a great and very useful gadget for this price. The loader is one of the bestsellers and can be recommended by us and our customers without hesitation. This is also confirmed by the 5-star rating. You can find the USB charger on our site under the category “chargers”.

Wireless charger with spy camera

The next product is one of the most exciting products from our entire range. It’s a hidden camera, wireless charger, alarm clock, temperature display and Bluetooth speaker.

Scope of delivery

In addition to the multifunctional device, there is an AUX cable, a power supply unit, a micro SD adapter, a manual and a CD with driver. The AUX cable is for those who prefer to connect the smartphone or computer to the speaker via cable for better sound quality.

Using the device as an alarm clock

On the front panel, the set alarm time is also set. This can be changed using the setting button on the top. At the set time the alarm will wake you up. The buttons provide a stable pressure point and everything is extremely simple. So the operation is really a piece of cake!

The camera

Of course we must not forget the main function, namely the hidden camera. This is hidden on the front. It offers a night vision of up to 6m, so it doesn’t matter whether it’s light or dark in the surroundings. It records in a Full HD resolution with 25 frames per second. Full-HD is really sharp and also has the advantage that the recordings don’t need a lot of memory. The camera has a 120° wide angle through which you can see a lot of things.

Wirelessly charge your mobile phone

As mentioned earlier, you have the option to charge your mobile phone wirelessly by placing it on top of the station. It is important to note that not all smartphones support the wireless charging function. Therefore we ask you to check the website of your smartphone manufacturer to see if the device is suitable for this type of charging. With iPhones it is very easy to remember: All devices newer than iPhone 8 (including) support this feature. If your device doesn’t support wireless charging, that’s not too bad because you can also charge your mobile device using the USB port on the side. Simply use the cable that came with your phone or tablet. Since this is a quick-charging port, your phone may charge faster than the charger that came with your phone.

WIFI camera module

The probably smallest device in this article is our camera module. It is perfect for hiding it between the leaves of a plant, for example, and taking pictures from there unnoticed.

Live image & security

With WiFi, you can access the camera from anywhere and see the live image on your smartphone or tablet. First download the Pro iCam app (free) from the Play or AppStore. The app gives you an almost infinite number of control options. But more about this right away.

Video recording & storage

This camera is also a Full-HD-Cam. So it records videos with 1920×1080 pixels, which is very sharp. In the small black box you put the Micro-SD, which can be up to 128GB in this case. In addition, this camera also has the magic loop function, which makes endless recording possible. So as soon as the card is full, the oldest recording is overwritten and replaced by the new, current recording.

Using the WiFi function

What does the WiFi function actually do for me? – This function allows you to access the camera image in real time – from anywhere! A short example: I go on vacation and hide the mini camera between my pillows on the couch. While I’m on vacation, I can use my smartphone or tablet to access the image live in my living room and check that everything is in order. If the camera detects any movement in my living room, I immediately get a notification on my mobile phone and also an email. Thanks to the camera, I can check everything and can continue to enjoy my holiday without having to worry about my home.

Start-up

We also offer a video tutorial for this camera on YouTube. If you have any questions, we will be happy to help you. Feel free to ask questions under the YouTube videos and you will get an answer from us within a short time! With us you always have a contact person and will never be let down.

At the beginning insert the SD card and connect the battery. Then turn on the power switch and wait a short moment. Download the Pro iCam and log into the WLAN that the camera created. The app is available for free from the Apple AppStore and Google PlayStore. Once you have installed the app and connected to the camera’s wireless network, you can open the app, press the magnifying glass and click on the displayed camera. You will be asked to change the password. You can do that, but you don’t have to. Afterwards the camera is ready for use.

The App

The “HDSmartIPC” app is very impressive! If you open it, you will see all the cameras you have. If you click on it, you will get to the live view. On the plus sign in the upper right corner you add new cameras, the squares show several camera images at the same time. At the bottom on “Screenshot” you will see the pictures the cameras have taken. On “Recordings” you will see the videos that were saved. If you click on the camera, you will get to the live view, where you can choose the resolution in the upper right corner and change the exposure on the right side. In the lower right corner you can rotate the picture horizontally and vertically, start a recording, take a photo, switch on the sound of the microphone and also send sound via mobile phone to the speaker of the respective camera device. So you can also talk into the mobile phone microphone and the sound will be heard through the WiFi camera. On the gear wheel you can open the versatile settings. But to show them all would clearly go beyond the scope of this manual. If you want to learn more about the camera module, you can watch the video on our YouTube channel!

The alarm

The camera module has a great feature called “alarm mode”. If you switch it on, you will immediately receive a notification on your mobile phone and an email that something has moved. It’s similar to the motion detector mode, but here you will be notified. You can set up when the alarm mode will be activated and when it will be deactivated in the settings. For example, it should automatically activate at 22:30 and turn off at 7 in the morning. You can also fine-tune motion sensitivity and much more. So with “almost infinite control options” I didn’t promise you too much before!

Camouflaged wall lamp camera

Last but not least we discuss a wall lamp with a hidden camera. Also the wall lamp will most likely not be revealed as a camera, so it is perfect for making hidden picture and sound recordings in your own four walls. As this is also a Wifi camera, it is also possible to connect the camera to your smartphone or tablet and view the live image of the camera from a distance.

The scope of delivery

Inside the box, next to the wall lamp, there is a power supply, a micro-USB charging cable, a reset needle and a short manual. The detailed manual is available online as always.

The app for your mobile phone

This camera can also be connected to an app, where you can view the recordings or adjust the image. The interesting thing here again is the alarm mode. As explained earlier, the camera sends a message to your mobile phone when motion is detected. You wouldn’t believe how useful this feature can be. Again, you use the Pro iCam app. The camera in the wall light records in HD resolution. Compared to the previous products, this is a little less, but it’s still enough for a clear picture by day and night. In the app you can immediately save the recording on your device. In the window of the live picture you can brighten the picture, adjust the resolution, flip the picture horizontally or vertically, take a photo or record a video manually. If you are in the live picture, you can also rotate the camera by swiping to the left or right.

Easy installation

By simply plugging it into the wall socket you can mount the lamp in no time at all. So you can take pictures unnoticed and of course you can save them immediately. As soon as the video is recorded, the wall lamp automatically saves the video to the previously inserted memory card, but you also have the option of saving the video saved on the SD card to your smartphone. With the fully automatic recording mode, the wall light will automatically record when motion is detected in the camera’s field of view.

By the way: You can also find suitable memory cards for the cameras in our shop, so feel free to have a look there! Please note: The products mentioned so far support SD cards up to a size of 128GB. Cards with a larger capacity may simply not be recognized.

The camera

Of course we must not forget the main function, namely the hidden camera. This is hidden on the front. It offers a night vision of up to 6m, so it doesn’t matter whether it’s light or dark in the surroundings. It records in HD resolution at 25 frames per second. HD is really sharp and also has the advantage that the recordings do not require a lot of memory. The camera has a 120° wide angle through which you can see a lot of things. Motion detector and alarm mode are of course also included. So if motion is detected, your phone will display a warning message. If required, you can also set the alarm mode between two specific times. This works for all products mentioned in the text. So if you want to turn the alarm mode on at 11pm in the evening and off at 7am in the morning, you can activate it in a few seconds in the app’s settings. If you are interested in the wall lamp, you can find it on our website under the category “lamps”.

 

We hope that this article has enabled us to explain some of our products to you in more detail. If you have any questions, we are of course always at your disposal. Just ask us your questions under our YouTube videos or here under the article. You can also find detailed tests for the individual products in our blog. You would help us a lot by sharing the article with your friends. Thanks!