Best Smart Home Security Products in 2023

The Nest Cam Outdoor is a great solution for outdoor security monitoring. It has a weatherproof camera module and a rugged power cord to prevent damage from heat, cold, rain, or any other type of extreme weather. The Nest Cam is constantly recording in 1080p high definition video, and can also record in high quality night vision. It also has two-way audio, meaning you can both send and receive audio using the camera.

A great feature of the Nest Cam is the Sightline option within the mobile application. Sightline makes browsing through recorded video easy, by using dots and still images to pinpoint an event in the recording. It also lets you fast forward and rewind with ease. Nest’s Sightline feature with its intuitive mobile app and myriad other features makes this camera perfect for someone looking to expand their smart home into outdoor security.

With its simple aesthetic, free pivoting capabilities, cloud storage plan, and many other features, the Netgear Arlo Q is a powerful and useful home monitoring tool. The Arlo Q has built-in motion and sound detection tools, which can be toggled easily in the mobile app. And with its 4-megapixel camera, you get high quality 1080p video and high-quality night mode viewing as well.

One of the biggest reasons to choose Netgear’s Arlo Q as your next indoor smart security camera is its powerful scheduling feature. Using either the mobile app or webpage, you can set recording times during the week (you can have several active time slots each day) and pick the recording mode you want to use (video or snapshot), among other features. You can access your library of recordings in the intuitive mobile app, which allows for several viewing modes and browsing methods. The Arlo Q is a great camera for someone who wants a powerful recording device for inside their home.

The Canary Flex adds a unique element to the smart security game: portability. The Flex has a rechargeable battery that lasts for two months, easily allowing for you to monitor different rooms at your leisure. It is mounted on a magnetic cradle, allowing for versatile positioning both inside and out, with its weatherproof outer design. Its well-designed app utilizes a Timeline feature, allowing you to review the events captured on camera over the past 24 hours (30 days if you pay for Canary membership).

A big draw of the Flex is Canary’s membership program. At $10 per month (or $100 per year), membership gives you access to 30 days of automatic cloud backup, warranty coverage, incident support, and more. If you don’t mind paying slightly more for the membership upgrade, the Canary Flex is an impressive and flexible smart camera option for any home.

Smart locks connect your front door (or any door you choose) to your mobile device, and allow you to unlock and lock your house from your phone or tablet. If you have the August Smart Lock installed, you can simply pressing an on-screen button on your phone to unlock your door (as long as you are within Bluetooth range). Additionally, you can provide virtual “mobile keys” through your smartphone to let anyone you want unlock your door.

The Smart Lock also stands out because of the ease of installation. Most connected locks involve a complete reinstallation of your deadbolt system, but not with the Smart Lock. It is designed to work with just about any existing deadbolt, so installation only involves a few screws, 15 minutes of time, and no internal changes to your locking mechanism. For homeowners who want to ditch traditional keys and control their door lock from their phone, the August Smart Lock is a practical and innovative solution.

Chamberlain’s MyQ Garage Door Opener performs a relatively simple task – opening and closing your garage door – but it gives you connectivity to your home you’ll wonder how you lived without. Besides simply opening and closing your door from anywhere with an internet connection, the MyQ allows you to monitor the status of your garage door and set custom alerts based on the status of your garage. 

Installation of the MyQ is straightforward, but like all smart devices that require extra installation steps, it may be smarter to call your electrician to make sure you get the installation right and don’t damage your new tech or existing electrical wiring. The Chamberlain MyQ Garage is a useful and easily integrated smart security product for customers who want to keep expanding their wireless home control.