Wyze Cam v3 Review

The Wyze Cam v3 is a compact go-anywhere camera that costs less than a trip to the grocery store.

It has a standard laundry list of features that we look for like 1080p video, two-way audio, and a few easy ways to mount it to the wall or stick it to the shelf.

It works indoors and outdoors with weatherproof casing and a 6-foot cable. Thanks to those features, we were able to easily move it inside and outside to test it at home.

If you have more than one Wyze Cam in your home, we recommend trying the Cam Plus subscription. With its $2/month price tag, it's worth it even for a single camera.

This is one of the cheapest subscription plans we’ve come across and has a long list of bonus features that really give you a bang for your buck.

Our experience without this subscription wasn't bad, but it could be improved. When we got motion alerts (which was often), we had to watch through everything in real time only to see that the alert was a passing car or a pet. For $2/month, Wyze will be more specific with your alerts and let you cut to the action.

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Inside, outside, day, night, or any combination of the four, the Wyze Cam v3 delivered a crisp picture. It also has a sensitive motion tracker that follows any action on screen, but the v3 doesn't pan or tilt like the Wyze Cam Pan.

While testing the video, we captured motion from far away. We tested it in a home near a busy street, and it was able to detect cars going by and even alerted us to someone walking up the alley near the house. (Don't worry; it was our tester).

The audio on this camera is pretty fuzzy. You can make out words and even have a conversation, but it's certainly not high quality. The speaker is about 80 decibels—loud enough to catch someone's attention but maybe not loud enough to scare anyone off.

When we spoke through the camera, the recording audio was really muddled. Unfortunately, this is a pretty common weakness in cameras we've tested. Even our top picks like the Reolink Argus 3 Pro had the same problem.

The motion detection on the Wyze Cam v3 is pretty sensitive. Even with motion sensitivity set to a half setting, we got notifications from distant objects like passing cars or pets moving around the room. You can adjust the sensitivity and notifications easily, so it really boils down to your preferences.

The v3 also has sound alerts. If the camera detects a loud noise or commotion, you'll get a notification. One of these includes smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. So if you don’t have a smart smoke detector, you'll still get an alert if the device sounds.

If you're looking to dip your toes into the world of security cameras and smart home gear, Wyze is a great brand to start with. Like all of the brand's products, the Wyze Cam v3 is affordable and effective.

For having standard 1080p resolution, the video quality on this camera is buttery smooth. We rarely encountered a lag and got motion alerts in real time.

The Wyze Cam v3 is a simple, low-stress security camera with customizable settings and a lot to offer. That said, the audio from and on camera needs some improvement. We also got a ton of notifications despite turning down the sensitivity. The addition of Cam Plus might help sort out those notifications by telling you what it’s seeing.

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