You can categorize small cameras that are easy to hide as the spy cameras. Today, you can fit the camera into anything and there are plenty of sellers offering such cameras. But how many of them are of good quality? We found out seven best motion activated spy cameras after a lot of research and testing. A camera like AREBI is great for home security and comes with a good quality motion sensor.
Top Picks
Quick Navigation
Best Motion Activated Spy Camera
1. AREBI – Best Wireless Unit
Among all the cameras that we have tested, one camera that has all is the AREBI Spy Camera. It has a powerful wide lens, motion sensor, transmits video, high capacity, good battery, magnet mount for easy deployment, and mini size. And let us tell you there are not many mini cameras that have the ability to live stream the videos. Due to its compact size and magnet mount, you can use it anywhere. It is one of the best motion activated wifi spy camera.
The magnet mount it uses is really good. Magnets are powerful and don’t allow unit to move once deployed. We like the motion sensor, it beings the recording as soon there is any kind of movement in front of it. It doesn’t get triggered by the useless movement of plants or curtains or flying papers. The wide-angle lens gives camera the ability to cover even the large rooms. We were able to cover rooms of size 12×12 with ease.
You require the Arebi companion app to see the live streaming. It is available for both Android and iOS. If the Wifi signal is good, you will receive high-quality images. The battery is around 300 mAH only but you can easily extend it by 10,000 mAH by adding an external battery. You can also access videos remotely as it uses Wifi for internet connectivity but quality depends on the speed of the internet.
- It provides live streaming.
- You can use an external battery to increase run time.
- Wide lens.
- High-quality motion sensor.
- SD car is extendable up to 128 GB.
- Magnet mount
- None.
Bottom Line
If you are confused about which spy camera to go for, just close your eyes go with AREBI Spy Camera because it has covered every aspect of a motion-activated spy camera. The only aspect missing from it is that it is not waterproof.
2. MHDYT – Best Unit with Magnet Mount
Disguising cameras as everyday things like the charger is the best way to hide the camera. But if you make it small it also allows you to fix it in places where no one will be able to find it. It is perfect for keeping an eye on office employees, babysitters, old people, kids, pets, and many more. The great thing about it can be used both indoors as well as outdoors. You can even fit it over a drone.
During the testing process, we looked at the quality of the videos it captures. They are pretty high quality. It has a lens that captures videos at 1080p resolution and uses an SD card to store the data. The SD card is extendable up to 32 GB which is less if you are looking to record several days of activities. Ignoring the small storage space, the video quality is great. It supports night vision too which is a must feature for a spy camera. It doesn’t transmit any live images so you will have to connect the SD card to the laptop or PC to see the footage.
Deploying the camera is really easy. We did a little test where we asked one of our team members to deploy the camera without being noticed by other members. He was able to do that with ease. You do not require any kind of adhesive or screws to fix the camera. It uses a magnetic mount which allows you to fix the camera on any metal surface in second. Due to its tiny size, you can deploy it on very small metal surfaces.
- A very small size.
- It has a removable magnet mount for deployment.
- It uses a rechargeable 240mAH battery.
- High-quality videos.
- Night vision.
- No live video streaming.
Bottom Line
If you want motion activated spy camera for multiple uses, you must checkout MHDYT Mini Spy Camera. It is very easy to deploy and provide you high-quality videos as well as pictures.
3. Relohas HD 1080P – Best Unit With Zoom
The Relohas offer some interesting functions that you might like to use. It has features like different modes for a security alert, zoomable function, auto night vision, and 24-hour loop recording. Also, it is a Wi-Fi enabled spy camera that allows live streaming on your phone via a companion app. Though it is missing a magnet mount you can deploy with the help of stickers or just hang it on something. Looking at the design and the size it is pretty much useful for keeping a vigilant eye on the babysitter, kids, burglary, and many more.
Among all the Mini spy cameras that we have tested, it has the best app. There are a lot functions and setting that you can use. As soon as any moment is detected by the camera it sends you a notification on your phone. As far as the video quality is concerned it is really good as it uses 1080p resolution for normal videos and 720p for night vision videos. The motion sensor is also really good and it has different settings that can be controlled from the app. You can set the sensitivity to low, medium, and high.
We found that it is not easy to deploy like a magnet mount camera but once fixed they are stable. In a package, you get a 3mm sticker which can be used to fix the camera on any smooth place. One of the most attractive parts of the camera is the battery. It has a battery of 800mAh which compared to other cameras on this list it is way higher.
- HD quality videos.
- It supports live streaming.
- The sensor setting has four modes.
- High capacity internal battery.
- No magnet mount.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a spy camera that has extra features when it comes to app and notification it is a perfect option. Compared to other cameras it has a slightly higher price.
4. SIRGAWAIN – Best For Budget Conscious Users
The Sirgawain Mini spy camera is a typical cube camera. We were looking for a budget-friendly Mini camera that’s when we stumbled upon Sirgwain. If you make a checklist for a motion-activated spy camera it checks all boxes. It has features like full HD recording, night vision, motion detection, Wide Angle, loop recording, and extendable SD card support. Though it does not have a magnet mount or sticker, it does come with a 360 rotatable mount that you can either fix or just place it on a flat surface.
First of all, we checked the quality of the video and image it records. As it uses a 1080p resolution camera the video quality is really good. For images, it uses 12 megapixel which is not that bad but it could have been better. Even the night vision recording is really good. You can clearly recognize the faces and other small details. It also uses a 150-degree wide-angle lens which is higher compared to the other camera that we have tested and it is more than enough to cover a room of size 15×15.
We didn’t find the exact numbers on the capacity of the battery but the seller’s website say that it can record up to 60 minutes of video with a single charge. Based on this information we don’t think it is a suitable option if you are looking for a camera to record hours of video on continuously. Also with the SD card, it has a maximum limitation of 32 GB which is on a lower side compared to what we have seen with the other Mini cameras.
- It is a budget-friendly option.
- It uses a good quality camera lens.
- Motion sensor is sensitive enough.
- 360-degree rotation mount.
- A magnet mountain would happen better.
- SD card capacity is also low.
- No live streaming capability.
Bottom Line
If you are looking to buy several motion activated spy cameras then you can go for Sirgawain Mini spy camera. Though it is a budget-friendly option it has all the necessary features required for a hidden spy camera.
5. ALIWESTCOM – Best Self-Recording Unit
Not always you have the option of connecting the camera to Wi-Fi. In such cases you want something that can self-record and store the video. Aliwestcom mini spy camera is a portable camera that can be installed in many different ways. You can mount it on a wall or just put it on your body using the clip. It uses an HD camera to provide you with quality videos.
The camera can be installed in various ways to test all possibilities. The package comes with a Wall mount which allows you to install the camera like a normal CCTV camera. The package also includes a clip using which you can fix anywhere on your body. Since it does not use any kind of wifi network it stores the data on the SD card. You can connect the SD card to any PC or laptop to access the videos.
It uses a battery of 380 mAh battery which is not bad. With a single charge camera can capture 90 minutes of videos. You also thoroughly tested the motion activation of the camera. There are no settings to change the sensitivity of the sensor but it is effective. It can easily identify humans or any animal movements.
- It captures full HD videos.
- It has a rechargeable battery.
- One button activation.
- You can deploy it in various different ways.
- It does not live stream video.
Bottom Line
It is not as small as the other camera that we have mentioned in the post but if it is installed in the right place it can stay perfectly hidden. Though it can be used as a body-worn camera, we do not advise you to use it outdoors as it is not weatherproof.
6. Lilexo – Best Night Vision Unit
No products found.
One aspect of spying is to not get caught. Lilexon mini camera is compact and not easy to detect even with bug detectors as it doesn’t emit any kind of signals. No signal also means it does not use Wi-Fi. If you are okay with no live streaming, it can be used in many ways. You can place it anywhere due to its tiny size, fix it on the wall, and you can even use it on a drone. As far as the camera is concerned, it uses a 1080p 120-wide angle lens. Also, it has good night vision features which provide quality images in the dark.
With the camera, we explored all the possibilities of deployment. A wall mount is included in the package if you want to fix it on a wall. But we like the fact that it has a magnet mount that allows you to fix the camera on metal surfaces. Using the camera we were able to easily cover a room of size 15×15 because of the wide-angle lens. And in low light conditions night vision kicked in. You can also recognize faces in night vision footage.
We also tested the motion sensor extensively. The camera was exposed to all kinds of movements to see if the camera gets activated for the right movements. With human or animal movements the camera is activated almost all the time. Yes, if there is a bigger movement like swaying curtains due to strong winds, the camera might get activated. Though not weatherproof, it is one of the best motion activated spy camera outdoor.
- It cannot be detected by bug detectors.
- Full Hd images.
- Good battery.
- Different mounts included in the package.
- Not Wi-fi which means no live streaming.
- Not waterproof.
Bottom Line
If you want a spy camera that is not easy to detect by bug detectors you will have to sacrifice on Wi-Fi connectivity. Lilexo Mini Camera is probably the best camera without Wi-Fi.
7. Sanprove – Best For Video Recording
No products found.
The batteries are crucial factors when it comes to the camera because you never know how long you might have to wait and how long the videos are going to be. Cameras with long battery life would help you solve that issue. The Sanprove Spy camera wireless is one such option. We wouldn’t say it is the tiniest camera but it is small enough to hide it. There are two crucial features that can impress you is the HD night vision capability and the staggering 1680mAh battery.
Before going into the battery and videos, let’s look at how you can install this camera. It does come with a wall mount if you want to permanently fix the camera. There is no magnet mount like other spy cameras for quick deployment. So we recommend you to consider the camera only if you want to use it at a location where you have proper access. Since it uses a 1080p HD camera you can expect quality images but we were really impressed by the quality of night vision images. Probably it has the clear night vision images. Go for the camera if you are particular about getting a spy camera with night vision.
Now let’s talk about the powerful battery. We have already mentioned the number but what it allows you to take 12 hours of videos continuously. It could be useful if you want to capture long videos. If the camera is on standby or idle, you can expect 72 days of battery life. There is no other camera that has such long battery life.
- High capacity battery.
- Full HD videos.
- Quality night vision images.
- You can connect it to your phone via Wi-Fi.
- Size could have been a little smaller.
Bottom Line
Just for its battery capacity, we included the camera on our list. It has all the things that other spy cameras have but extra battery and clear night vision videos make a strong case. Only thing missing from it is live streaming capability. It also one of the motion activated wifi spy camera.
Buyer’s Guide – What to Consider ?
These cameras have some specific characteristics that qualify them as the spy camera. They have to be compact, should be able to give quality images, store videos and if required transmit data via Wi-Fi or 4G network.
1. Size
A most important aspect of any spy camera is the size. Since you want to deploy it somewhere where no one can see or even suspect it’s there, you want it to be as small as possible. Cube or circular are the two most common shapes used for the hidden cameras. If you are not particular about the shapes make sure the size of the devices should average around 1 x 1 x 1 inch. It is easy to hide and even if you install it on the wall or any other surface, it is not easy to see. There is a downside to having a smaller size. Smaller cameras can accommodate smaller batteries. If you want you can increase the size for larger battery cameras. Also, size depends on the way you want to use the camera. If you plan to deploy it for a day and retrieve it, something that is smaller and easy to deploy is perfect. And for permanent deployment, you can take chances with slightly larger cameras.
2. Resolution
The quality of the video depends on the resolution of the camera’s lens. You can get a range of lenses from 480p to 1080p. Whatever may be your requirement, we advise you to go for full HD cameras that have 1080p resolution. Why the high resolution? It might be okay with 480p resolution if you want to capture videos in light or in a small room. But if the coverage area is big 1080p is much better because if required you can zoom on the footage to find faces or details. Also, night vision works much better with HD cameras. All the cameras that we have mentioned in this post use 1080p cameras and if you want cameras with quality night vision images go for AREBI.
3. Storage Capacity
Storage is an important aspect of a camera. Most of the motion-activated spy cameras use SD cards to store images and videos. There are some cameras that do transmit videos on the phone via Wi-Fi but having an internal memory is always useful for the camera. There is a limit on the maximum capacity of the SD that can be used for a camera. There are cameras with 128 GB limits and some have smaller limits like 32 GB. Based on requirements you must identify how much memory you might need based on the purpose. And remember 1080p uses a lot of data. To give you an idea a two-hour video file of 1080p quality may need 5GB worth of storage space. During testing, we observed that 32-64GB of space is more than enough for 6-12 hours of video footage.
4. Battery
Wireless cameras are best suited as the spy cameras because you do not require any kind of wire for power or transmission. Hence, most spy cameras use rechargeable or disposable batteries. We don’t recommend any cameras with disposable batteries because they have very low battery life. The rechargeable batteries use lithium-ion technology which is popular and most reliable. Usually, the spy cameras have size constraints so there is very little space for batteries, that is you will find the battery capacity of motion activated spy cameras is around 200-400 mAH. With such capacity, a camera can capture 60-90 minutes of videos.
5. Connectivity
Since most of the cameras are wireless, they make use of either GSM or Wi-Fi networks to transmit the feed to receivers like phones or laptops. You have to make sure that the camera supports most modern Wi-Fi routers. Importantly, it should work with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi routers which are common in most of the households and offices. Also, make sure the internet that you use is high speed because most of the camera uses 1080p resolution which usually has a higher file size compared to lower resolution cameras. This could be a huge issue if you want to see the live stream. The other cameras provide pictures by a wired connection to the laptop or phone. There are not many cameras that use such connections. But they can be useful if you want reliable connectivity.
6. Motion Detection
Spy camera is worthless if it doesn’t detect the intrusion and fails to record it. So movement detection depends on the good quality motion sensor. Since technology has come a long way, now the good quality motion sensors are easily available. Sensors may be of different types some uses change in light intensity has the trigger for movement or some use change in the temperature of the movement. You don’t have to go knee-deep in technicality but make sure that whatever piece of spy camera you decide to by it has to have a reliable motion sensor.
Final Thought
You will lot of spy cameras in the market, but its a known fact that most of them are below average cameras. However, if you have the right knowledge, you can find the right spy camera for you need. Hence, we advise gathering as much information as possible before making a purchase.
AREBI- Editor's Choice
Summary
If you are confused about which spy camera to go for, just close your eyes go with AREBI Spy Camera because it has covered every aspect of a motion-activated spy camera. The only aspect missing from it is that it is not waterproof.
Leave a Reply