Samsung’s Smartcam HD Plus is like a Nest Cam that’s not shackled to the cloud
(credit: Valentina Palladino)
When you think "Samsung," you think of smartphones, TVs, and maybe smart kitchen appliances if you're a foodie. However, it's not the first company to come to mind when you think "home security." Samsung has a range of Wi-Fi connected home security cameras, though, and the most recent addition to the family is the Smartcam HD Plus. With 1080p video recording, motion and sound detection, two-way audio, and customizable action zones, this camera wants to take the popular Nest Cam head on.
The Smartcam includes some of the best features of other home security cameras we've tried. There's a lot you can do with it, and if you can get past the annoying app experience, you can turn it into a smart watchdog for your home.
| SPECS AT A GLANCE: SAMSUNG SMARTCAM HD PLUS | |
|---|---|
| CAMERA RESOLUTION | Up to 1080p |
| FIELD OF VIEW | 130 degrees |
| INTERNET | 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi |
| LIVE STREAMING | Yes |
| NIGHT VISION | Yes |
| MOTION/SOUND DETECTION | Motion and sound |
| MOBILE APP | Android and iOS |
| SUBSCRIPTION | None; Comes with a 16GB microSD card for local storage, supports up to a 128GB card |
| EXTRA FEATURES | Two-way talk, customizable audio messages, sound effects, motion zone selection |
| PRICE | $190 |
To say that the Smartcam HD Plus looks similar to the Nest Cam would be an understatement. The small, glossy-black device looks nearly identical to Nest's watchful eye, featuring a bulbous head where the lens lies and a narrow neck that attaches to the base. The Smartcam HD Plus' base is bigger than Nest's, however, and the camera can be tilted back and forth easily. To turn the head from side to side, you need to loosen the screws at the base of the neck-which is inconvenient to say the least.
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