- 4K Ultra HD Clarity with 360° Pan and 180° Tilt Coverage – Experience crystal-clear monitoring day and night with a wide…
- AI-Powered Motion Tracking for Pets & People – Next-gen CPU with integrated NPU enables faster processing and enhanced A…
- Robust Indoor/Outdoor Durability – Place your camera in or out, right-side up, up-side down, with an IP65 weather rating…
- 【Extra Long & Flat Cable】 20FT extension power cable keeps your indoor or outdoor Wireless Security Camera connected ove…
- 【Extensive Compatibility】 Compatible with WyzeCam, Wyze Cam v3,WYZE Cam Pan V3 (90 Degree L-Shape),Wyze Cam v4,WYZE Cam …
- 【More Convenience】 Replace your original short Micro usb cable that comes with your wireless camera so as to add more co…
- 【2K High Definition】Capture every detail inside your home with crystal-clear 2K high definition video with this indoor s…
- 【Up, Down, All Around】This Pan/Tilt camera see everything across an entire room or walkway with the 360° horizontal and …
- 【Detection & Instant Notification】Get instant push notifications when motion, person or baby crying is detected, there i…
Wyze Cam v4 Review: The Smart Security Camera You Need in 2026
It’s not every day that a product comes along and completely redefines what you should expect for your money, but that’s exactly what the Wyze Cam v4 does for home security. This little powerhouse packs features you’d typically find in cameras costing three or four times as much, making top-tier security accessible to everyone. With its stunning 2.5K QHD resolution, incredible color night vision, and smart AI detection, the Wyze Cam v4 isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a massive leap forward for affordable smart home tech.
Whether you’re looking to keep an eye on your front porch, check in on your pets, or add a layer of security to your apartment, this camera is designed to deliver exceptional performance without breaking the bank. We’ve spent weeks putting this camera through its paces, and honestly, we’re blown away by the value it offers. It’s versatile, powerful, and ridiculously easy to set up. Let’s get into why this might just be the best smart security camera purchase you’ll make all year.
Quick Summary
- Stunning Video Quality: The 2.5K QHD resolution is a significant upgrade, capturing crisp, clear details day and night that far exceed standard 1080p cameras.
- Revolutionary Color Night Vision: See vivid, full-color video in near-total darkness. This feature alone makes it a standout in its price range, providing more useful information than traditional black-and-white night vision.
- Incredible Value: For its low price point, the Wyze Cam v4 offers a feature set that competes with premium security cameras, including AI detection, a motion-activated spotlight, and IP65 weather resistance.
- Subscription for Full Power: While the camera is functional out of the box, the best features, like advanced AI detection and cloud video storage, require a Wyze Cam Plus subscription.
- Versatile and Easy to Use: Its indoor/outdoor rating and simple setup process make it a flexible solution for renters, homeowners, and anyone new to smart security.
What Exactly is the Wyze Cam v4? (And Why is Everyone Talking About It?)
The Wyze Cam v4 is the latest iteration in Wyze’s legendary line of budget-friendly smart security cameras. It builds upon the success of the wildly popular Wyze Cam v3 but cranks everything up a notch. Think of it as the v3’s smarter, sharper, and more capable older sibling. It’s a wired indoor/outdoor camera designed to provide high-quality video surveillance without the high-end price tag.
What makes the wyze v4 camera so exciting is its mission: to democratize home security. For years, getting features like 2K resolution, color night vision, and AI-powered alerts meant spending hundreds of dollars. Wyze shattered that barrier, and the v4 is their most impressive effort yet. It’s perfect for anyone who wants reliable security features but doesn’t want to commit to an expensive, complex system.
This camera is for the everyday person—the renter who wants to watch their doorway, the new parent who needs a high-quality baby monitor, or the homeowner who wants to cover their backyard without draining their savings. Its combination of performance and price is simply unmatched. To see it in action, check out this fantastic unboxing and first look from Milo B. on YouTube!
A Deep Dive into the Wyze Cam v4’s Jaw-Dropping Features
This is where the Wyze Cam v4 truly shines. It’s not just about one standout feature; it’s about a whole collection of high-end specs packed into an incredibly affordable device. Let’s break down what makes this camera so special.
Crystal-Clear 2.5K QHD Resolution: See Every Detail
Forget grainy 1080p video. The Wyze Cam v4 records in 2.5K QHD (Quad High Definition), which offers a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. That’s nearly twice the detail of standard HD! In the real world, this means you can zoom in on footage and still see clear details like faces, license plates, or the text on a package.
This higher resolution is crucial for security. If you ever need to provide footage to law enforcement or simply want to identify who’s at your door, that extra clarity makes all the difference. The image sensor in the wyze cam version 4 is a massive step up, delivering sharper, more vibrant images that give you a much better view of your surroundings.
Enhanced Color Night Vision: No More Grainy Black-and-White
This feature is, without a doubt, one of the most impressive aspects of the Wyze Cam v4. Traditional security cameras use infrared (IR) LEDs to see in the dark, which results in a washed-out, black-and-white image. While functional, it makes it difficult to identify key details like the color of a person’s clothing or a car.
The Wyze Cam v4 uses a highly sensitive Starlight sensor and advanced image processing to capture full-color video in environments with very little ambient light. The result is astonishing. You can see your yard or driveway at night in vivid color, almost as if it were dusk. This provides significantly more context and makes nighttime footage far more useful for identification purposes.
Motion-Activated Spotlight: A Bright Deterrent
Built right into the camera is a powerful motion-activated LED spotlight. When the camera detects motion at night, the spotlight can automatically turn on, accomplishing two things at once. First, it startles and deters any potential intruders, letting them know they’re being watched. Second, it provides enough light for the camera to record in even brighter, clearer full color.
You can customize how the spotlight behaves in the Wyze app. You can have it turn on with any motion, only with person detection, or you can turn it on manually whenever you want. It’s a simple but incredibly effective security feature that adds another layer of active deterrence.
Smart AI Detection: Smarter Alerts, Less Noise
One of the biggest annoyances with older security cameras is the constant barrage of false alerts from waving trees, passing cars, or roaming animals. The Wyze Cam v4 addresses this with on-device AI that can intelligently identify people, packages, vehicles, and pets. This feature requires a Cam Plus subscription, but it’s well worth it.
With smart AI detection, you can customize your notifications to only alert you to the events that matter. For example, you can set it to ignore vehicles but send you an immediate notification when a person is detected in your driveway. This drastically reduces notification fatigue and ensures that when you do get an alert, it’s something you actually need to see. The processing happens right on the wyze cam 4, making it faster and more private.
IP65 Weather Resistance: Built for the Outdoors
Don’t let its small size fool you; the Wyze Cam v4 is built to withstand the elements. It has an IP65 weather resistance rating, which means it’s protected against dust ingress and low-pressure water jets from any direction. In simple terms, it can handle rain, snow, and dust without any issues.
This makes it an incredibly versatile camera. You can mount it on your porch, under an eave, or overlooking your backyard with confidence. Just remember that while the camera itself is weatherproof, you’ll need to use the Wyze Outdoor Power Adapter (sold separately) if you’re plugging it into an outdoor outlet to ensure the entire setup is safe and weather-resistant.
Two-Way Audio & Voice Assistant Integration
Communication is key, and the Wyze Cam v4 includes a built-in microphone and speaker for two-way audio. You can listen in on what’s happening and speak through the camera directly from the Wyze app on your phone. This is perfect for talking to delivery drivers, greeting guests, or telling your dog to get off the couch.
Furthermore, it integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can ask your smart display to show you a live feed from your camera with a simple voice command like, “Alexa, show me the front door camera.” This makes it a seamless addition to your existing smart home ecosystem.
Wyze Cam v4 vs. The Competition: How Does It Stack Up?
The Wyze Cam v4 doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s part of a growing family of Wyze cameras and faces stiff competition from other brands. So, how do you know if it’s the right choice for you? Let’s compare it to its closest relatives and the broader market.
Within the Wyze ecosystem, the main comparison is against its predecessor, the Wyze Cam v3, and the more basic Wyze Cam OG. The v4 is the clear winner in terms of pure specs, but the others still have their place.
| Feature | Wyze Cam v4 | Wyze Cam v3 | Wyze Cam OG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resolution | 2.5K QHD | 1080p HD | 1080p HD |
| Night Vision | Enhanced Color | Color (Starlight Sensor) | B&W (IR) / Spotlight |
| Field of View | 116° | 130° | 121° |
| Spotlight | Yes, Motion-Activated | No (Pro model only) | Yes, Motion-Activated |
| Weather Rating | IP65 | IP65 | Indoor Only |
| AI Detection | On-Device (Person) | Cloud-Based (Cam Plus) | Cloud-Based (Cam Plus) |
| Best For | Highest quality & features | Proven budget performance | Basic indoor monitoring |
As you can see, the wyze cam v4 is a significant upgrade over the v3 in resolution and adds a built-in spotlight. While the v3 is still a fantastic 1080p camera, the v4’s 2.5K video is noticeably sharper. Compared to the market, brands like Ring and Arlo often require a more expensive hub and have higher subscription fees. The Wyze v4 camera offers a more straightforward, à la carte approach that is much more budget-friendly.
Pricing: Incredible Value or Hidden Costs?
This is the question on everyone’s mind. How can a camera with these features be so affordable? The upfront cost of the Wyze Cam v4 is incredibly low, often available for less than the price of a nice dinner out. For the latest pricing, it’s always best to check directly on Amazon.
Out of the box, the camera is fully functional. You get 24/7 live streaming, motion-activated notifications, and the ability to record locally to a microSD card (sold separately). This means you can absolutely use the Wyze v4 without a subscription. However, to unlock its full potential, you’ll want to consider Wyze Cam Plus.
Wyze Cam Plus is a subscription service that adds a host of powerful features, including:
- Unlimited Cloud Video Recording: The camera records short clips to the cloud whenever motion is detected, and they don’t expire after 14 days.
- Advanced AI Detection: This enables person, package, vehicle, and pet detection, giving you much more specific and useful alerts.
- Back-to-Back Recordings: No “cooldown” period between recorded events.
- Web View: Watch your camera feeds from a web browser on your computer.
The subscription is very affordable, typically costing just a few dollars per month per camera, with discounts for annual plans or multiple cameras. While it’s an extra cost, it transforms the camera from a good device into a truly smart security tool. When you compare this to the monthly fees of traditional security companies, Wyze’s model offers fantastic flexibility and value.
Pro Tip: If you’re on the fence about the subscription, start with local recording using a microSD card. This gives you continuous recording without any monthly fees. You can always add Cam Plus later if you decide you want the convenience of cloud storage and AI alerts.
The Real Deal: Pros and Cons of the Wyze Cam Version 4
No product is perfect, and a balanced review requires looking at both the good and the bad. After extensive testing, here’s our honest breakdown of the Wyze Cam v4’s strengths and weaknesses.
What We Absolutely Love (Pros)
- Unbeatable Price-to-Performance Ratio: You simply will not find another camera with 2.5K resolution, color night vision, and an IP65 rating anywhere near this price point. The value is off the charts.
- Exceptional Video Quality: The 2.5K QHD sensor delivers sharp, detailed video that makes a real difference for security. Day or night, the image is impressive.
- Game-Changing Color Night Vision: Being able to see in full color at night is a huge advantage. It provides more context and makes identifying people or objects much easier.
- Flexible Local and Cloud Storage: The option to record 24/7 to a local microSD card is a massive win for privacy and cost-conscious users. For those who want convenience, the Cam Plus cloud option is affordable and effective.
- Versatile Indoor/Outdoor Design: The IP65 rating means you can confidently place this camera anywhere you need it, inside or out, without worrying about the weather.
Where It Could Improve (Cons)
- Reliant on a Strong Wi-Fi Signal: Like all Wi-Fi cameras, its performance depends on a stable internet connection. If your Wi-Fi is spotty in the location you want to place the camera, you may experience lag or connectivity issues.
- Best Features Locked Behind Subscription: While the camera works without Cam Plus, the most powerful features like advanced AI detection are tied to the monthly subscription. This is a common model but is still a recurring cost to consider.
- Past Security Concerns: It’s important to acknowledge that Wyze has faced scrutiny over security vulnerabilities in the past. The company has since taken significant steps to improve its security posture, including participating in a bug bounty program and being more transparent, but it’s a factor for some users. The PAA question about lawsuits often relates to these past events.
Setting Up Your Wyze v4 Camera: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
One of the best things about Wyze products is how incredibly easy they are to set up. You don’t need to be a tech expert to get your Wyze Cam v4 up and running in minutes. Here’s a quick guide to get you started.
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Unbox and Power Up: Take the camera, USB cable, and power adapter out of the box. If you have a microSD card, insert it into the slot on the bottom of the camera now. Plug the camera into a power outlet.
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Download the Wyze App: Go to the App Store (for iOS) or Google Play Store (for Android) and download the official Wyze app. Create an account or log in if you already have one.
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Add Your New Camera: In the Wyze app, tap the ‘+’ sign in the top left corner, then select “Add Device.” Choose “Cameras” and then select “Wyze Cam v4” from the list.
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Connect to Wi-Fi: The app will guide you through the connection process. You’ll press the SETUP button on the bottom of the camera until it says “Ready to connect.” Then, you’ll select your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and enter the password.
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Scan the QR Code: The app will display a QR code on your phone’s screen. Hold your phone about 5-8 inches in front of the camera lens. The camera will scan the code and, once successful, will say “QR code scanned, please wait.” Within a minute, it will announce “Setup completed.”
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Name and Mount Your Camera: Give your camera a name (e.g., “Front Porch” or “Living Room”). You can now place the camera on a flat surface using its magnetic base or mount it to a wall or ceiling with the included mounting hardware. That’s it! You’re ready to start monitoring.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Wyze Cam 4
We’ve gathered some of the most common questions people ask about the Wyze Cam v4 to give you clear, straightforward answers.
Is Wyze Cam v4 wired or wireless?
The Wyze Cam v4 is a wired camera. It needs to be plugged into a standard power outlet to operate. It connects to your network wirelessly via Wi-Fi, but it is not battery-powered. This ensures it can provide reliable, 24/7 surveillance without you ever having to worry about recharging batteries.
Can you use Wyze v4 without a subscription?
Yes, absolutely. Without any subscription, the Wyze Cam v4 provides 24/7 live streaming, motion and sound notifications, and the ability to record continuously or on a motion-activated basis to a local microSD card (sold separately). You get the core functionality without any monthly fees. The Cam Plus subscription adds cloud storage and advanced AI detection features.
What is the lawsuit against Wyze cameras?
This question generally refers to past class-action lawsuits related to security vulnerabilities that were discovered in some of Wyze’s older cameras. The lawsuits alleged that the company did not adequately address or disclose these issues in a timely manner. Since then, Wyze has publicly committed to improving its security practices, including working with third-party security researchers and enhancing its device security.
Does Wyze v4 record sound?
Yes, it does. The Wyze Cam v4 has a built-in microphone to capture audio along with video. It also features a speaker for two-way communication, allowing you to listen and talk back through the camera via the Wyze app.
Will Wyze work without internet?
For initial setup and remote viewing, the Wyze Cam v4 requires an internet connection. However, if you have a microSD card installed and have it set to continuous recording, it will continue to record footage even if your internet connection goes down. You just won’t be able to view the live stream or receive notifications until the internet is restored.
What app does Wyze Cam v4 use?
The Wyze Cam v4 uses the official Wyze app, which is available for free on both iOS and Android devices. This single app is the command center for all your Wyze products, allowing you to view live streams, manage settings, and review recorded footage.
Final Verdict: Is the Wyze Cam v4 the Right Choice for You?
After weeks of testing and analysis, the answer is a resounding yes. The Wyze Cam v4 is an absolutely phenomenal piece of technology that delivers a level of quality and a suite of features that are simply unheard of at its price point. The jump to 2.5K resolution provides meaningful detail, and the enhanced color night vision is so effective it feels like magic. It’s an easy-to-use, versatile, and powerful security tool.
This camera is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to improve their home security without a massive investment. It’s ideal for homeowners, renters, small business owners, and even tech enthusiasts who love getting maximum bang for their buck. While the reliance on a subscription for its best AI features is a consideration, the low cost of both the camera and the service still represents incredible value.
If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance, and shockingly affordable security camera, your search is over. The Wyze Cam v4 isn’t just a good budget camera; it’s a great camera, period. We can’t recommend it enough.
Ready to see the difference for yourself? Check the latest price for the Wyze Cam v4 on Amazon today!
