Think of spy cameras and movies like Spy Kids, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Mission: Impossible, or good old James Bond in ‘Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ comes to mind. You begin to imagine a secret MI6 agent dressed in a black trench coat with thick dark glasses. Yes, back then spy cameras were only used by criminals and people who worked in top government security organizations.
Today, spy cameras have evolved into smart home devices which the everyday man can use to watch over his family and belongings. You don’t need to be a secret agent to own a spy camera. You can use a spy camera for any personal security reasons. If you live in a crazy or lonely neighbourhood, you can use a spy camera. Or if you feel that your life or property is in danger, you are allowed to use a spy camera. If you feel that someone you trust is doing something dubious, you can also use a spy camera to find out the truth.
As discussed in our previous post, spy cameras come in all shapes and forms. These days, they are designed to look like normal objects like; alarm clocks, pens, flash drives, Bluetooth speakers, doorbells, key holders, WiFi adapters, wristwatches, cigarette lighter, smoke detectors, and so on. There are many interesting designs to pick from. Thus, making a choice could become a dilemma. In this post, we will be reviewing some of the best spy cameras available on the market.
Our Top Picks for the Best Spy Cameras.
Best Overall: JAYOL MINI HIDDEN CAMERA
The price of this spy camera is a bit on the high side, but it’s one of the best you can find out there. The camera is 1 inch high but small enough to be hidden in your car, home, or office. It gives a high video resolution of 1080P during the day. The night mode feature gives a video resolution of 780P in the dark. It has an internal memory space of up to 64 GB where video footage is stored in the cloud.
If your viewing device is connected to your home WiFi, you can also watch live streaming directly on your phone. This spy camera uses a rechargeable battery. If you want to use it all day long, then you must plug it into a power source while in use. Although the camera comes with an instructional manual, set-up may prove difficult. In this case, you would have to employ the services of a handyman.
Video Resolution: 1080p
Field of View: 140 degrees
Size: 1inch
Internal Memory: 64 GB
Shop from: Amazon
Best Portable: LKcare CAMERA PEN
One could easily mistake this for the regular pen which everybody uses to write. But it is more than just a mere writing tool. This smart device has an inbuilt camera with a video resolution of 1080p. It has a 32 GB internal memory card. It is lightweight and easy to disguise. You can carry about all day and no one would suspect a thing.
This ballpoint pen-cum-camera has five ink refills and writes smoothly like every other pen. It may interest you to know that you can also take pictures with this spy camera. All you have to do is to click the button on top of the pen, and the snapshots will be taken. However, recording videos with this device is not as straightforward as with other spy cameras. You would have to hold the pen in a stationary position else the video will be shaky. When the battery is fully charged, it can record videos for up to 2 hours non-stop. If you want a portable device you can carry wherever you go, then this is the best spy camera for you.
Video Resolution: 1080p
Internal Memory: 32 GB
Shop from: Amazon
Best Adaptable: 1080P BUTTON SPY CAMERA
This is one of the best camouflage spy cameras you can find. It is tiny and can be disguised as a cloth button. You can fix it on the suit or dress and it would look like the regular buttons tailors use in sewing clothes.
It gives a superb video quality of 1080p and can also be connected to your home WiFi for smooth video recording. It also has a motion sensor that triggers video recording only when a movement is detected in its field of view. This saves your camera battery life and storage space.
Video Resolution: 1920 × 1080p
Field of View: 155 degrees
Internal Memory: 16 GB
Shop from: Amazon
Best with WiFi: AMCSXH HIDDEN CAMERA WALL CLOCK
This spy camera is designed to mimic a wall clock. You can use it to keep track of time while monitoring the activities in your home or office. As expected, it has a high video resolution of 1080p.
The camera is concealed in the face of the clock in such a way that no one would notice. It has inbuilt WiFi which gives you access to recorded videos any day, any time. The motion sensor sends a notification to your phone once motion is detected. Its field of view is 90 degrees. They can either be hardwired or powered by a rechargeable battery.
Video Resolution: 1080p
Field of View: 90 degrees
Shop from: Amazon
Best Wireless: WNAT HIDDEN CAMERA SPEAKERS
Music enthusiasts will love this one. This Bluetooth speaker doubles as a sound speaker and spy camera. You listen to your favourite songs while keeping an eye on everything around you. The inbuilt camera has a video resolution of 1080p and can be titled 170 degrees to get a better view. Unlike hidden spy cameras, you can see the entire room with this camera. It works effectively through a WiFi connection.
Video Resolution: 1080p
Field of View: 170 degrees
Shop from: Amazon
Best Budget: SUPOGGY MINI WIRELESS HIDDEN CAMERA
Now, the one you’ve all been waiting for. This wireless spy camera is a budget-friendly model for those looking for a subsidized package. The camera is small and very portable. It also has a clip that allows you to peg it to your clothing.
It may not have the best WiFi functionality and battery life, but it still maintains a video quality of 1080p. The lens is limited to a 75-degree field of view. The night mode activates 6 IR LED lights which record bright images in the dark. It also has an internal storage space of up to 32 GB.
Video Resolution: 1080p
Field of View: 75 degrees
Internal Storage: 32 GB
Shop from: Amazon
So, in the final analysis, the choice is yours as to the type of spy camera you want to go for. Simply consider how you wish to use the spy camera and then buy the one that fits that purpose.