Best Solar Powered Home Security Cameras in 2024

There are hundreds of home security cameras on the market, ranging widely in price, features and quality, but only a few offer solar power. After CNET’s years of testing home security cameras, we have some tips if you’re in the market for a new solar-powered security camera. Here are a few parameters to consider.

Privacy

This is an important one. You don’t want anyone snooping on your property or hacking into your camera. Wireless home security cameras can be more susceptible to hacking because of their connectivity to Wi-Fi networks and remote access. Wired home security cameras are more secure. (Learn more about the pros and cons of wired vs. wireless systems here.)

Video resolution

Video quality should be a major consideration when purchasing a home security camera, whether it is solar powered or not. Simply put, your camera is ineffective if the only footage it records is grainy and unreadable.

The higher the resolution, the better the video quality. Most home security cameras on the market now have a resolution of 1080p, but some even have a resolution of 2K (like the Arlo Pro 4) or a resolution of 1536×1536 pixels (like the Arlo Video Doorbell). Keep in mind that the higher the video quality, the more bandwidth it takes up and the more likely your camera is to experience lag or interference.

Local vs. Cloud Storage

You have two main options: there’s cloud storage, which sends your video footage to a remote server for storage, and local storage, which relies on a separate accessory or piece of hardware, usually a microSD card, to store all the footage you want to save. Cloud storage usually requires a monthly fee.