AI Life / Home / Security Cameras
The Wyze Cam v4 is a small wired camera that works indoors or out. It records 2.5K video, has color night vision and a siren, and saves to a microSD card without a subscription. Tom’s Guide calls it the new king of budget security cameras. The catch is that Wyze’s smart alerts and AI features are on paid plans.
I have not owned the Wyze Cam v4. This review is built from the maker’s published specs and independent reviews, linked below. For more picks, see the Security Cameras hub .
Key specs
| Wyze Cam v4 | |
|---|---|
| Video | 2.5K, 2560 x 1440 |
| Field of view | 115.8 degrees diagonal |
| Frame rate | 20 fps day, 15 fps night |
| Zoom | 8x digital |
| Night vision | Color |
| Weather | IP65 |
| Storage | microSD up to 256 GB |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz, Wi-Fi 6 |
| Extras | 99 dB siren; Alexa, Google, IFTTT |
Sources: Wyze , Wyze tech specs , Wyze service plans , Consumer Reports , Tom’s Guide .
What reviewers like
- Value. Reviewers rate it the budget camera to beat.
- Indoor or outdoor, with IP65 weather resistance.
- Local microSD recording works with no plan.
What to watch for
- AI alerts for people, pets, packages and vehicles need Cam Plus; face recognition needs Cam Unlimited; AI video search needs Cam Unlimited Pro, per Wyze.
- Wired power, so outdoor mounting needs an outlet nearby.
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only.
Who should buy it
Buy it if you want several cheap cameras for rooms, a porch or a garage and are fine recording to a card. Skip it if you want AI alerts without a plan, or a battery camera you can put anywhere.
Wyze plans, decoded
Wyze’s plan page lays out the tiers:
- No plan. Live view, microSD recording, basic motion alerts.
- Cam Plus. AI person, pet, package, vehicle and sound alerts, plus 14 days of cloud history, per camera.
- Cam Unlimited. Covers all your cameras, adds face recognition and self-monitoring.
- Cam Unlimited Pro. AI video search, 60 days of recording and professional dispatch.
If you only want a camera that records to a card, the free tier is fine. If you want the camera to tell you a person, not a leaf, is at the door, budget for Cam Plus.
Indoor uses
Wyze’s small size and price make it a common pick for a nursery, a pet room or a garage. Consumer Reports’ testing is a good place to check how it fares on video and privacy before you put one inside your home.
Privacy
Wyze has had security incidents in the past, which reviewers note. Turn on two-factor authentication, keep firmware updated, and think about where indoor cameras point. A camera you can switch off from the app, or unplug, is better in private spaces.
Alternatives
- Eufy SoloCam S340. Solar, pan and tilt, local storage.
- Reolink Argus 4 Pro. Wide 180 degree solar camera, no plan needed.
- Nest Cam (wired). Best in Google Home, with Gemini features on a plan.
Quick answers
Does it need a subscription? No. It records to a microSD card without one. The AI alerts need a plan.
Can it go outside? Yes. It is IP65 rated, but it needs a power cable and outlet.
Does it work with Alexa or Google? Yes, for viewing on smart displays, per Wyze. It does not work with Apple Home.
What size microSD card should I buy? Wyze supports cards up to 256 GB. A larger card keeps more days of footage before the oldest clips are overwritten, and a high-endurance card holds up better to constant recording.
Is the Wyze Cam v4 on sale for Black Friday?
It is one of the products I am watching this season. I do not list sale prices here because they change by the hour and differ by color, bundle and store. Compare against the price you see in the weeks before the sale, and check whether a bundle adds things you will not use.
Our take
AI Score note: research-based, not hands-on. The best budget camera in reviews. Factor in the plan if you want the smart alerts. This is my editorial read of published reviews, not a rating.
Check today’s price before you buy: See the Wyze Cam v4 on Amazon .
Compare
See Eufy vs Wyze vs Ring AI detection , or browse the Black Friday security camera and doorbell deals .