2.5K video, color night vision, and 24/7 microSD recording for about $36
Wyze Cam v4
Wyze
Reviewed by
Eran Yorkovsky · Founder, PickGrade
Almost absurd value: 2.5K footage, color night vision, and 24/7 microSD recording with no subscription, all for around $36. The compromises are the price of that price — 2.4GHz-only Wi-Fi, no HomeKit, an outdoor adapter sold separately, and AI alerts that need Cam Plus.
Dollar for dollar, nothing here competes. The Wyze Cam v4 shoots sharp 2.5K video, sees in color at night thanks to a pair of built-in spotlights backing up its infrared LEDs, and records around the clock to a microSD card with no subscription required — a combination that usually costs five times as much. A 99dB siren and two-way audio are built in. The trade-offs are what keep it cheap: it connects only over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, there's no Apple HomeKit, outdoor mounting needs Wyze's separate weatherproof power adapter, and person, vehicle, and package alerts require a Cam Plus plan (basic motion alerts are free). It's also worth knowing Wyze's history: a 2024 incident briefly let some users glimpse thumbnails from other people's cameras, which the company addressed — a fair thing to weigh for a camera pointed inside your home.
$35.98
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Last reviewed Jun 23, 2026
What we like
- ✓2.5K resolution and color night vision at a rock-bottom price
- ✓24/7 microSD recording with no subscription
- ✓Built-in 99dB siren and two-way audio
- ✓Wi-Fi 6 radio despite the budget price
Trade-offs
- −2.4GHz Wi-Fi only — no 5GHz
- −No Apple HomeKit support
- −Outdoor use requires a separately sold weatherproof adapter
- −Person/vehicle/package alerts are locked behind Cam Plus
- −Wyze had a 2024 privacy incident worth weighing for an indoor camera
Best for
you want the most camera for the least money and are fine managing a microSD card and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Avoid if
you need 5GHz Wi-Fi, Apple HomeKit, or free AI alerts without a Cam Plus plan
The three lenses
How we grade →- 7.5/10
Value & Longevity · Eran Yorkovsky
- 7.0/10
Design & Fit · Michal Zucker
Score breakdown
- value9.5/10
- storage value8.5/10
- video quality8.0/10
- weather durability7.0/10
- smart home6.5/10
- smart detection6.5/10
- installation power6.0/10
Specs
- Built-in
- 99dB siren + two-way audio
- Frame rate
- 20fps day / 15fps night
- Resolution
- 2.5K QHD (2560×1440)
- Connectivity
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi 6
- Night vision
- Color (2× spotlights) + infrared
- Field of view
- 115.8° diagonal
- Local storage
- microSD to 256GB, 24/7 recording, no subscription
- Smart detection
- Person / vehicle / package via Cam Plus (paid)
- Weatherproofing
- IP65 (outdoor power adapter sold separately)
- Voice assistants
- Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT; no HomeKit
How we know
High confidenceLast checkedTom's Guide called the Wyze Cam v4 the new king of budget security cameras, and TechGearLab reached a similar conclusion, both crediting its 2.5K image, color night vision, and free local recording as features unheard of near this price. Reviewers consistently flag the same limits we score against: 2.4GHz-only Wi-Fi, no HomeKit, and AI alerts behind Cam Plus. We rate it the strongest value in the lineup while keeping detection and installation scores honest about those gaps.
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