There are plenty of keychain cameras around but it is hard to find the ones that work. Most of them look the same and also have almost similar hardware configurations. The only way to find the right one is to use them all. That’s what we did. We tested all of them to find the best keychain cameras among all. Though everyone has their own uniqueness, Anysun HD Camera for us has all the right qualities.
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Top 7 Keychain Camera
1. Anysun HD Camera 1080P – Best For HD Recording
Any spy camera has to have a few qualities like night vision, motion detection, portability, and quick use. The Anysun car key chain camera has all the required qualities. To start with it has a 1080p camera lens which allows you to capture clear and sharp pictures. Also, the design of the keychain looks real. It is hard to know that it is actually a spy camera.
While testing, we took several images and recorded a few videos in different conditions. With good lighting, you can capture clear pictures. Every small detail visible. And under the low light condition, you can switch to night vision mode. Any object or person within 30 feet is perfectly visible. Beyond that, some details might not be clear, even if you zoom on to it while reviewing the footage. Also during the night, the covertness of the camera remains intact as IR LEDs used for night vision don’t give out any light.
As far as the hardware of the camera is concerned, it uses a Li rechargeable battery of 450 mAh. With a full charge, you can record a video for 90 minutes with any mode. And as far as the storage is concerned, it uses a TF card of 32 GB which is more than enough for a portable spy camera. Another thing that we like is the 150-degree wide-angle lens. It allows the camera to cover more areas from a short distance.
- It captures Full HD videos.
- It has good night vision.
- Wide-angle lens.
- Motion detector.
- The portable design of keychain.
- Good battery capacity.
- No Wifi.
- No audio recording.
Bottom Line
Apart from not having Wi-Fi support and audio, it covers all bases for a portable spy camera. We think the audio recording is deliberately not included keeping in mind the laws that prohibit people from recording audios without permission.
2. Aukfa Mini – Best Unit Night Vision
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The Aukfa is an alternative option for Anysun. Just like the Anysun, it has all the right ingredients for being a good spy camera. It has the necessary 1080p resolution camera and a 140-degree wide-angle lens. This combination allows you to capture quality images from a close distance. Moreover, the design of the unit is just like a wireless car key remote. It is perfect for home, office, or even outdoors.
We liked the images and videos it records but the best part of this camera is night vision. There is no additional hardware for the night vision. It has only the regular IR LEDs. However, still it manages to capture some quality videos at night. You can clearly see any object at 35 feet from the camera. Also, the wide-angle lens helps cover the maximum distance at a short distance. Specifically, due to this feature, you can use it for your home. If placed right you can cover a room of size 15×15 sq ft. with ease.
As far as the battery is concerned, it uses a 450 mAh battery which you can charge using the USB cable. With a single charge, we were able to capture a 90-minute video. The ergonomics are really simple. With just one click of a button, you can start or stop the recording. Also, you have a separate button for switching to night mode. And in order to review the footage, you will have to connect the unit to a laptop using the USB cable.
- Full HD video recording.
- Highly sensitive night vision.
- Wide-angle lens.
- The battery has a good capacity.
- Wireless car remote design.
- No audio recording.
- No wifi support.
- No loop recording.
Bottom Line
When you compare Aukfa with Anysun, both have a pretty similar design and configuration. You can go to either of them. However, we observed that the main difference lies in the night vision. However, this difference is a minor one.
3. Lowpricenice – Best For Budget Conscious Users
If you are looking to get a low priced keychain camera, Lowpricenice Car Alarm Remote Keychain DVR Camera is something that you can consider as a budget-friendly option. The design is a little different. It looks more like a keychain than a wireless car remote key. However, it also uses the HD camera lens just like any other spy camera. However, you do miss out on other spy camera features like night vision and motion detector.
Using the camera we captured a few images and videos under different lighting conditions. If the light is bright and the weather is clear, you can capture good videos. There is no wide lens hence you will have to point it towards the target to ensure you capture it. In case the light deteriorates, the quality of the pictures drops. We feel it is good only if you use it during the day or where there is light.
As far as the build quality is concerned, it is quite small and compact. The camera lens is hidden in front. You have to ensure that you do not cover it while using it. You can control the camera using a single button. Also, there is a separate button for the shutter which covers the camera lens. As far as the battery is concerned, it is only around 300 mAh. With a single charge, we were able to capture only a 45 minutes long video in one go.
- It is a full HD camera.
- It is very simple to use.
- Simple ergonomics.
- Budget-friendly.
- No night vision.
- No motion detection.
Bottom Line
If you are looking to buy a budget-friendly keychain camera that works, Lowpricenice Car Alarm Remote Keychain DVR Camera is a great option. But it is a basic option and has no other features.
4. Bescar – Best Unit With Motion Detection
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Another great example of a car keychain camera. However, this has actually had a key instead of just a wireless remote. The key is like a car key which is good for the disguise of the camera. As far as the key is concerned it has many features that allow you to categorize the camera as a spy camera. It has full HD 1080p resolution, night vision, and motion sensor. It can be useful in almost any environment, be it office or home.
The videos and images that we captured using the camera were good. We used the camera in almost all kinds of lighting. With good light, it is a great camera. You can see even small details on the subject if the subject is within 30 feet. Under low light conditions, you will have to switch to night vision. There are not many details on the IR LEDs but looking at the result it seems effective. We were able to see the details of an object at 20 feet. Beyond that it kind of gets blurry.
It also has motion detection on it. If you want the camera to get activated automatically upon detecting movement, it is a great feature to have. This feature is useful if you have placed the key at some spot for recording videos. We observed that any movement within 30 feet of the camera activates the recording. Along with motion detection, Wi-Fi connectivity would have made it a perfect spy camera.
- Full HD video recording.
- Motion detection.
- Night Vision camera.
- Car keychain design.
- Simple ergonomics.
- No Wi-Fi support.
- TF card not included in the package.
Bottom Line
There is a lot of similarity between the first two keychain cameras that we have mentioned. It has almost everything. We believe it has one of the best motion detection sensors for a keychain camera. You can use it for keeping an eye on your kids, babysitter, elderly, pets, and many more.
5. LawMate IPV-RC200HDW HD – Best DVR Unit
The Lawmate has been around for years. They have been offering quality keychain cameras. Though it has been years, the cameras are basic. They have not evolved as the other keychain cameras that we have mentioned on our list. You can say it is similar to mate 808 keychain camera but it is the most updated version. As a camera, it does capture full HD 1080p resolution video but does not have features like, night vision, motion sensor, or Image sensor. We still recommend this camera if you want a basic and reliable spy camera.
We captured full HD videos using the camera under different lighting conditions. When the light is bright you can capture sharp and clear images or videos. As the light conditions deteriorate, the quality of images and videos captured by the camera also goes down. The camera is not useful during zero light conditions like night.
As far as the build quality is concerned, it is probably the best in terms of mimicking the car keychain. The design resembles an old keychain. If you own an old car, it can be a perfect cover for carrying the camera keychain. There is one more thing that we like. Whenever you begin or stop recording the camera vibrates. It is much better than having a light indicator to provide information.
- It captures full HD video and images.
- The design resembles old style car keychains.
- Inbuilt vibrator for the record on/off indication.
- It uses a Micro SD card for storage.
- No night vision.
- No Motion detector.
- No Wi-fi connectivity.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a car keychain that has the design of an old car keychain, the Lawmate keychain camera is a great choice. But it is a straight forward DVR camera and has no spy camera features.
Buyer’s Guide – What To Consider
Even though discreet cameras come in plenty of options, the best keychain camera is effective and considered as top-functional in the market. Furthermore, the structure of ordinary keychains makes it highly portable and multi-talented. In this section, we will be discussing some important concerns on how to buy those keychain cameras in a practical scenario.
1. Battery Life/Recording time
The battery life or recording time will ultimately tell you to consider buying these technical products. They will not only make the camera long-lasting but also an essential factor to be present in every spy device. The recording time of keychain cameras after charging usually ranges between 3-4 hours. If the manufacturer is exceeding this limit, there should be no second thinking to buy that product. The No products found. has the best battery capacity on our list.
2. Resolution
Most importantly, the resolution is another factor to keep in mind while buying the best keychain spy camera. There is nothing good to buy spy cams with poor-quality resolutions. It is further important to buy the devices with HD resolution quality. Especially when you want to spy something very serious, there should be no compromise with this quality feature. In terms of resolution, Anysun HD Camera is one of the best option.
3. Night Vision
Is there any night vision provided with the device? If a high-quality night vision is offered by the manufacturer, you have to consider buying that particular camera. There will be high-tech infrared sensors available with the cam that enables night vision to get clean videos at night time.
4. Storage Capacity
These kinds of devices are mostly supportive of storage capacity with regards to the external memory card. That external storage should be at least 32GB and can go further. On the other hand, if any sort of internal memory is provided, make sure that it is maximum for the device. The meaningful storage capacity always makes sense for spy devices both in the long run as well as for portability function.
5. Durability
As it is an ordinary keychain, so durability is a must. You have to look for the material quality of the keychain for durability concerns. At the same time, you have to check up on the product’s flexibility for multi-purpose use. They should be built to last for years including good battery life.
6. Motion Detection & other high-tech features
Look for advanced features such as motion detection and heat activation etc. These features may look usual now but they will prove to be very functional in the long run. These functions will help you record important moments and also save battery at the same time. Once the field of view is detected, motion detection activates and does the rest on its own. You may also need a spy keychain camera 3 in 1 with video/audio/photo but during our research we didn’t find such units.
7. Price
As most guys say, price is a personal preference, but it’s not! If you are paying an expensive price for just a basic version, then it’s not worth it. At least, you would be getting some extra or high-quality features for an expensive range. Nevertheless, assign value to the features for selecting the product at the right price.
How to use?
A small invisible kind of camera is present in the keychain. Now, the question comes to operate that keychain camera. For the purpose, don’t overlook the manual guide provided along with the product. Also, make sure to insert the TF card before you operate the device. On the keychain itself, certain buttons are provided to activate the camera’s features. LED lights, if present, will flash after activation of the camera. It usually takes you to long-press those buttons. At first, the device will go to standby mode. The guide will instruct you on how to hold on those buttons and switch to different functions of the camera. However, there is no inbuilt memory in such cameras. So, you should always ensure the insertion of the card and it’s charging before use.
Final Thought
So, these are some of the key facts regarding the best keychain cameras. They can be bought keeping in mind some important factors as mentioned above. Now, intruders won’t be able to pry you anymore with their weird stuff.
Anysun HD Camera 1080P- Editor's Choice
Summary
Apart from not having Wi-Fi support and audio, it covers all bases for a portable spy camera. We think the audio recording is deliberately not included keeping in mind the laws that prohibit people from recording audios without permission.
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