You can turn Wyze Cams into a Wyze baby monitor and in this post is a review of all Wyze cam as a baby monitor. I have reviewed all the models; Wyze Cam v3, Wyze Cam v2, Wyze Cam Pan 1080p, and the original Wyze Cam that is no longer available for sale.
As part of this 2022 update, we will focus our review on the latest release, the Wyze Cam V3 that comes in different variations.
Wyze Cam V3 Baby Monitor (Wyze Cam V3 as Baby Monitor)
Wyze Cam V3 is the latest addition to Wyze’s series of security cameras and you can turn this V3 version into a baby monitor. As a baby monitor, you can stream videos of your baby right to your phone using the Wyze app available for Android and iPhones. Wyze Cam v3 captures 12-second alert videos every five minutes when motion or sound is detected. It is therefore motion-activated, similar to Blink and other security cameras.
You can also pair Wyze Cam v3 baby monitor with Echo Show for continuous streaming. Aside from the possibility of integrating with Alexa Home, Wyze Cam v3 also records to a local SD storage and you can read hundreds of positive reviews that parents have about this baby monitor. You can also check out these baby monitors with playback and recording feature.
WYZE Cam v3 with Color Night Vision, Wired 1080p HD Indoor/Outdoor Video Camera, 2-Way Audio, Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT
$29.98 in stock
Features
- Color night vision: An all-new Starlight Sensor records night time video in full, vivid color. The Starlight Sensor can see full color in environments up to 25x darker than traditional video cameras and the new f/1.6 aperture captures 2x more light.
- Indoor/Outdoor: Wyze Cam v3 is a wired video camera with an IP65 rating so you can confidently install it outside in the rain or inside in the kids’ room. Wyze Outdoor Power Adapter (sold separately) required for outdoor use. Phone Compatibility - Android 5.0+, iOS 9.0+.
- Motion & Sound detection: Wyze Cam records video when motion or sound is detected and sends an alert straight to your phone. Motion Detection Zones and custom settings allow you to adjust the sensitivity of detection or turn it off completely.
- 24/7 Continuous Recording: Continuous video recording with a 32GB MicroSD card (sold separately). Just insert the MicroSD into the base of the Wyze Cam and you’re all set.
- IFTTT certified connect all of your different apps and devices. When you sign up for a free account, you can enable your apps and devices to work together.
You’ll also love the automatic night vision mode that detects low-light conditions and transitions easily to night vision mode. The night vision mode of the monitor is very clear, much more improved compared to the earlier versions of Wyze Cam. The clarity of the black and white images on the night vision mode is so good and you can see minor details about your baby on the crib.
The viewing angle of very decent. This Wyze Cam V3 can pan 130º diagonally and 110º horizontally which gives you a wide-enough viewing area of your baby’s nursery. The camera can be swiveled and adjusted until you get the best viewing angle of your baby’s crib.
Wyze Cam v3 is also very easy to mount on your baby’s nursery. It comes with a magnetic base enabling you to mount it on any flat surface or on the wall using a screw that is included in the package.
Like other security cameras, Wyze Cam v3 has a motion and sound-detection feature that creates 12-seconds video clips every time it detects motion or sound on the set detection zone. You can easily adjust the detection zone around to be limited to your baby and baby’s crib so you don’t get false alarms.
Wyze Cam v3 1080p HD Indoor/Outdoor Video Camera with Color Night Viewing, 2-Way Audio, Compatible with Alexa & The Google Assistant and IFTTT with Wyze Cam Plus 3 Month Subscription
Features
- Cam Plus records unlimited motion whenever it’s detected so you capture the full story
- Wyze Cams come with motion detection alerts, but they can’t tell a tree from a person. Cam Plus gives you the option to only receive alerts when a person is detected
- With Cam Plus, your Wyze Cam doesn’t need any downtime between recordings, and will notify you as soon as it detects sound or motion
- Wyze Cams can only alert you if they detect sound or motion. Cam Plus can notify you when a package is spotted in an Event Video of your front door or porch
- Wyze Cams are smart, but they can’t recognize a car by themselves. Cam Plus can alert you when a vehicle is detected in an Event Video
Wyze Cam v3 1080p HD Indoor/Outdoor Video Camera with Color Night Viewing, 2-Way Audio, Compatible with Alexa & The Google Assistant and IFTTT with Wyze 32GB MicroSDHC Card Class 10
Features
- 24/7 Home Security: Record 24/7 continuous security footage, even if Wi-Fi connection is interrupted. Scrub through footage in a monthly calendar view to painlessly access video recordings from any day of the month.
- Indoor/Outdoor: Wyze Cam v3 is a wired video camera with an IP65 rating so you can confidently install it outside in the rain or inside in the kids’ room. Wyze Outdoor Power Adapter (sold separately) required for outdoor use. Phone Compatibility - Android 5.0+, iOS 9.0+.
- Motion & Sound Detection: Wyze Cam records video when motion or sound is detected and sends an alert straight to your phone. Motion Detection Zones and custom settings allow you to adjust the sensitivity of detection or turn it off completely.
- Color Night Vision: An all-new Starlight Sensor records night time video in full, vivid color. The Starlight Sensor can see full color in environments up to 25x darker than traditional video cameras and the new f/1.6 aperture captures 2x more light.
- Works with Alexa: Just say “Alexa, show me the “X” cam” to pull up live video feeds on compatible Alexa Show and screen devices from your Wyze Cam v3. With Cam Plus, you’ll even get notified if a person is detected and can even view all your live Wyze Cam feeds from any internet browser with Wyze Web View.
The V3 comes in four versions shown in the comparison table below;
Wyze Cam Baby Monitor – V2 1080p HD
Like Wyze Cam v3, you can turn your Wyze Cam V2 into a baby monitor, making a Wyze Cam v2 Baby monitor. Wyze Cam v2 baby monitor is similar to V3 above but the V2 uses 15 frames per second (fps) during the day compared to V3’s 20 fps. At night, V2 uses 10 fps compared to V3’s 15 fps.
Aside from the fps speed, Wyze Cam v2 has a 110 degrees viewing angle (diagonal) compared to V3’s 130 degrees viewing angle diagonally.
As earlier said, the Wyze Cam v2 is an upgraded version of V1, so they share a lot of the features. The Wyze Cam v2 entered the market in 2018, and just like its older sibling, its performance is impressive. On Amazon, it is ranked # no.1 in Surveillance & security cameras, with a 4.6 out of 5 ratings by 623 customers. Like V1, It is a 1080p HD indoor camera that can be mounted anywhere thanks to its magnetic base and an adhesive metal plate.
Since it’s an upgrade version of the v1, it was designed to offer better picture clarity due to the 110 degrees field of view and 8 x zoom function for a closer view. It also offers better night vision and a motion tagging function (not in the Cam V1). The Wyze motion tagging technology enables the camera to follow the motion or object and keep it within its field of view. What’s more, you can tell the camera the specific area you want it to monitor for movement and send you an alert. It has also added another feature that the high-end cameras brag about: artificial intelligence with facial recognition.
The camera sends live stream video and audio on the Wyze app on your iOS and Android device that operates using 2.4GHz Wifi. Once it detects motion or sound, it sends you video clip alerts and keeps records on the cloud, which you can access within 14 days for free. You can also insert up to 32 GB microSD into the camera and allow for continuous video recording. We love that you can set motion and sound parameters so that the camera only sends you alerts when it detects motion or sounds like you had set, so you don’t have to watch your app constantly.
Like the V1, you can add multiple cameras with no limit and add other users to your Wyze account to share and manage the cameras from any location in the world so long as they have downloaded the Wyze app on their android or iOS devices.
It also has the feature we all love; Alexa and Google Assistant. So you can say, “Alexa, show me the nursery…” to check on your little one.
Wyze Cam V2 is the second generation security camera by Wyze Cam which was released as an improvement to the original Wyze Cam.
Below are the features:
Brand: Wyze Cam V2 1080p HD
Rating on Amazon: 4.3/5 (11,000 reviews)
Weight: 7.8 pounds
Dimension: 2.2 x 2 x 2 in
Price: $25.98 and $34 with SD card
Power Source: AC
Zoom, Pan: No
Communication: 2-way
Maximum Range: Xft
Wyze Cam Baby Monitor – Original (V1): No longer available
The original Wyze Cam and Wyze Cam V2 are currently the cheapest, AES128-bit encrypted home security cameras (As of December 2021 data from Amazon) that can be turned into baby monitors. We compared Wyze Cam and other Wifi baby monitors and security cameras and it came 10th behind Nanit Plus, Miku baby monitor, Lefun and iBaby M7, among others. When you use Wyze Camera as a baby monitor, you essentially turn the Wyze security camera into a baby cam and can stream videos from your Wyze Camera in the baby nursery to your smartphone.
Wyze Cameras are designed for use as indoor home security cameras but can be turned into baby monitors, outdoor cameras (although not recommended as it is not waterproof), and to monitor pets/dogs or for general security. Some users have actually turned Wyze Cameras into a front door camera/doorbell cam but in this review, we’ll dwell on the use of Wyze Cameras in baby’s nursery as a baby monitor.
The Wyze cam v1 is a discreet indoor camera measuring 2.2 x 2x 2 inches and can be turned into a baby monitor. It comes with a magnetic base for easy installation so as not to damage your walls with screws. It is an indoor camera that can be used as a baby monitor, in your business premises, or for monitoring your property.
This camera offers 1080p HD video that you can live stream to your Wyze app on your Android or Apple mobile device if they use 2.4GHz Wifi. Apart from the video, the camera has a two-way talk function, night vision that enables you to see up to 30 feet in absolute darkness, and voice control with Alexa or Google assistant.
You can add multiple cameras with no limit and record and save video footage for 14 days on the cloud for free. If you wish to have continuous video recording 24/7, Wyze Cam gives you the option of adding 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB micro SD cards (bought separately)to enable continuous monitoring.
Using the Wyze app, you get to manage and view multiple cameras, share your cameras with family and friends of your choice, view alert videos, and record and share photos and videos directly from the app.
Although you can place the camera anywhere with the help of the magnetic base and a flexible 3-axis design, you must connect it to a power source because it does not use batteries. Luckily, it comes with an AC adapter.
Currently, this model has been upgraded to Wyze Cam v2 for better delivery, of course.
The original Wyze Cam original that was released in 2017 is the cheapest of all the three models and has the following features:
Brand: Wyze Cam 1080p HD Camera
Rating: 4.3/5 by over 12k customers
Weight: 7.8 ounces
Dimension: 2.2 x 2 x 2 in
Display Size: App
Power Source: AC
Pan: No
Communication: 2-way
Maximum Range: Xft.
Pros:
- Ridiculously inexpensive pricing ($25.23)
- Great picture quality
- 8X zoom for a closer view
- Excellent night vision
- The Alexa is so cool; you get to stay on top of things with just your voice
- 14 days footage cloud storage with no subscription fee
- App with no camera support limit
- Allows continuous video recording using microSD cards for free
Cons
- The two-way talk requires the other person to mute the camera to listen to you and vice versa
- The set alerts run for just a few seconds, and then there is a cool-down period of five minutes before the next alert.
- Security is not guaranteed
- You cannot bypass cloud storage to just microSD
Wyze Cam Pan Baby Monitor – 1080p HD
Wyze Cam Pan is the upgraded version that combines all functions of Wyze cam and Wyze Cam v2. It was introduced in the market in 2018 has continued the high rating trend, receiving a 4.3 out of 5-star ratings by 21,234 customers on Amazon.
Although it is not big-sized, it is more than twice taller than the Cam v2, measuring 2.36 x 2.36 x 5.02 inches but in many aspects the features are similar.
Wyze Cam Pan is an indoor Wifi camera with a video resolution of 1080p with pan/ tilt and zoom capabilities. Pan, tilt and zoom (PTZ) let you control Wyze Cam Pan remotely from the Wyze app so you can see every angle of your room, on-demand. You can also have the camera monitor your room automatically using the Pan Scan by setting four predefined waypoints. Panning gives a 360° left/right rotation range and tilting a 93° up/down.
11 used from $24.99
Using the Wyze app, you can live stream video and have a two-way talk function day and night. The night vision has six infrared lights as opposed to four in the Cam v2. The camera saves 12-second video clips when it detects motion or sound to the cloud for 14 days free of charge.
Just like the other Wyze cams, you can enable the push notifications to be alerted only when something is detected, and you can record continuously to a microSD card which you purchase separately. It is also voice-controlled with Alexa and Google, and you can have multiple cameras and allow several multiple people to share your cameras.
Wyze Cam Pan 1080p HD is the latest addition to Wyze Cam’s brand of cameras that can be turned into a baby monitor
Brand: Wyze Cam Pan 1080p HD
Reviews: 4.2/5 by over 5k customers
Weight: 8.8 ounces
Dimension: 2.4 x 2.4 x 5 inches
Price: $38
Power Source: AC
Zoom, Pan: Yes
Communication: 2-way
Maximum Range: Xft
Pros:
- Fantastic pricing of $37.98 (as of this writing)
- Wider field of view with pan and tilt features
- Excellent picture quality day and night
- Great for baby monitoring since you can see what your crawling toddler is up to with pan and tilt features
- Facial recognition capability
Cons:
- Limited powering option (just the AC) so monitoring is discontinued if there is a power blackout.
- The app does run on PC or Mac, only on android phones and iOS.
- If using as a baby monitor, the alert is a very short-lived one, which might not wake you up at night.
- The 15 fps makes the recording of moving objects less fluid or have glitches
- Customers wish that they could set a loud and prolonged alert sound so they can be wakened if sleeping.
- Some customers report they sometimes do not get alerts even when the push notification function is enabled.
After going through the overview of the three brands, here is a summary of Wyze Cam’s company.
Wyze Cam Company
Wyze cam company, the owner of the Wyze brand was founded on July 19, 2017, and is incorporated in Seattle in Washington State, US. While Wyze company has its Wyze labs in Washington, it has taken an all-product-components sourcing approach which has basically allowed them to reduce product development costs.
Wyze Cam sources its parts such as camera hardware from off-the-shelf IP cameras and it has grown rapidly since its launch in 2017. Wyze Cam is now available on sale in China, Europe (through Amazon UK and Amazon Germany), Australia, and Canada.
Wyze Cam is currently Amazon Prime-eligible and you can get it shipped and delivered within 24 hours if you are in Amazon Prime countries such as the US and UK. In the US and wondering where to buy Wyze Cam, you can check on your local Walmart store or on Amazon.
Despite its very low price, almost similar to those of audio baby monitors such as the VTech models that sell for less than $20, Wyze Cam has some of the most advanced features you’d want in a baby monitor.
So, why is it so cheap?
To reduce its cost of production by more than 90% when compared to its peers such as Nest, Arlo, Blink, and Ring, Wyze did these two things:
- Adopt existing hardware to effectively reduce a unique product development cost. All the hardware and the hardcoded firmware that run the Wyze Cam and Wyze Cam pan and tilt baby monitor were obtained off the shelf. So no dime to set up the Wyze.
- Incredible execution to sell the Wyze Cam: Wyze Cam is owned and run by former Amazon employees who identified the market gap and ran with it. They went for low margins and high volume model and since their successful launch on October 17, 2017. Within 6 months, the Wyze team managed to sell over 300,000 Wyze Cams.
Is Wyze Cam Baby Monitor safe?
While some reviews have made claims that Wyze Cam uses a third-party IoT service provider called ThroughTek to manage Wyze Camera video transmissions, Wyze has vigorously defended that its data is safe. ThroughTek is headquartered in Taiwan with offices in Japan and China and none in the US. ThroughTek has partnered with several cloud services providers including AWS, Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud, and Aliyum/Alibaba.
The Wyze Cam (original) responded when the claim that a foreign company was managing its data said the data is sent to the AWS servers securely. While this is true, data from the original Wyze cam to AWS are routed through many of its cloud partners such as Linode(US), IBM (US), Vultr/Choopa (Europe), and Aliyum/Alibaba (China) and an NTP server in Russia.
In May 2018, Wyze Cam sent out a report indicating that Wyze Cam v2 video feeds will now be routed to US-based servers by its partner, ThroughTek. Below is a snapshot from a forum about the update:
While Wyze Cam has made the claim that the data is secure, we could not confirm why the data is not sent to s3 buckets of the AWS accounts users create when they set up AWS cloud storage plan with Wyze. One valid reason they stated was the cost of s3 buckets would just be high and a few users would find this feature useful/willing to pay.
Wyze Cam original vs Wyze Cam v2
Similarities
- Both are of similar size
- They record HD video with 1080p resolution
- Both have zoom capability
- Both are indoor cameras
- They have night vision with infrared led lights
- They offer two-way audio communications
- Both have voice control with Alexa and Google Assistant
- They detect motion and sound and send you live stream video on Wyze app
- They send you video alert when motion or noise is detected
- They save video playback to the cloud for 14 days
- They are very inexpensive
- They record continuously if you add microSD card
- They have push notification function, so you only receive alerts when there is motion or sound
Differences
- Wyze v1 is no longer in sale
- V1 has 10fps while V2 has 15 fps
- V2 has motion tagging technology which detects and focuses on the motion while V1 does not
- V2 has a powerful new CMOS sensor, which gives clearer images for both day and night vision.
- V2 has higher sound quality thanks to the Class-K audio power amplifier and a new audio chip that greatly reduces TDD interference and EMI.
- V2 has a matte finish instead of the glossy finish of the V1 to reduce reflection.
Wyze Cam v2 vs Wyze Cam Pan
Similarities
- Both are Wifi based on Android and iOS devices
- They have a two-way talk function
- They have night vision
- Both have artificial intelligence for facial recognition
- They allow live stream on 1080p HD video
- They store footage on the cloud for 14 days for free
- They allow storage on microSD for continuous video recording
- They allow the addition of multiple cameras with no limit
- They send 12-second video alert when they detect motion and sound
- Both allow voice control with Alexa and Google assistant
Differences
- The Wyze Cam Pan is great for monitoring across an entire room because the motor enables you to pan and tilt the lens to get a 360° left/right and 93° up/down viewing range. On the other hand, Wyze Cam is great for viewing a particular spot like the front door, for example.
- While both cameras have great picture quality, Wyze Cam has a noticeably better dynamic range.
- Wyze Cam Pan has 6 infrared led lights while Wyze cam has 4. This explains the difference in the quality of night vision.
- Pan has better low light performance when IR is off while Cam is better with IR on as it has a wider beam allowing more to be seen at night
- Wyze Cam Pan has a Pan Scan mode that checks the camera’s surroundings by rotating to preset positions every 10 seconds
- Wyze Pan has a 1/4″-20 threaded screw hole in the base that allows it to be mounted on a tripod or mount while Cam comes with a magnetic base only.
- Wyze Pan camera has a 120-degree wide-angle lens and CMOS sensor while the Cam has a 110-degree wide-angle lens
- Wyze Pan uses way more power than Wyze Cam
Here Is A Video of Wyze Cam V2 as Baby Monitor
Wyze Cam User Guide
Can Wyze Cam get hacked?
Wyze Cam is a wi-fi security camera that sends its data to AWS cloud (storage provider) through a third-party IoT services (transmission) provider. The data is sent securely using AES-128 bit encryption that requires two-factor authentication. The Two-factor authentication feature is currently available to Wyze Cam v2 and Wyze Cam Pan.
In brief, Wyze Cam can be hacked as it uses an advanced encryption standard but not the latest one, AES-256. This makes it vulnerable as hackers have been able to get access to 128-bit encrypted data before as you may have heard of Nest Cam Indoor camera hacking. However, I have provided some tips that you can take to be safe below. As I always tell our readers here at M, let the security start with you and for that to happen, start by making sure the home security network is secure and all passwords are strong and safely stored in an encrypted medium.
Wyze Cam uses AES-128 bit encryption which is the second-best encryption standard available in the market in 2019. While we can just believe (without fully verifying that a third party such as ThroughTrek is not eavesdropping), it is important to note that Wyze Cam’s aim as a brand is to develop cheap, mass-market cams. This can come at a cost but so are all the wifi baby monitors that do not use chip encryption or 256-bit encryption. Other security cameras that use 128-bit encryption standards are Nest Cams.
To conclude, Wyze Cam is not the most secure wifi security monitor in the market but you can follow the following steps to ensure your data cannot be randomly accessed:
- Use WPA or WPA2 and not WEP
- Change the device default password
- Ensure you are using a home, secured wifi network
Wyze Cam Firmware (Updating, Download & Alternatives)
Wyze Cam uses OpenIPC firmware which is an open firmware extension for Wyze cameras. To get the OpenIPC firmware, you need to obtain the correctly configured SD card and do not require wifi or QR code. With OpenIPC, you can now have OpenIPC comes out of the box with RTSP, SSH, Telnet, NFS, and a web interface to manage it all. My favorite of all the features is the RTSP.
“OpenIPC started out of the necessity to connect cheap off-the-shelf IP cameras with existing professional VMS systems and installations. “
You can, however, choose to go with the default Wyze Cam firmware which you can download on Wyze Cam website here. By opting to go with the default Wyze cam, Wyze Cam v2, and Wyze Cam Pan firmware you leave the Wyze cam firmware alternatives which may pose a security risk (especially if you don’t follow all the required steps correctly).
Is Wyze Cam Baby Monitor waterproof?
One of the biggest differences between the outdoor security cameras and Wyze Cam, Wyze Cam v2 and Wyze Cam pan is that all the three Wyze Cam brands are not waterproof. Nest outdoor and Arlo outdoor cameras are waterproof and do well at extreme temperature conditions, unlike Wyze Cams which is not waterproof. Again, Wyze Cams are not rated for use outdoors. You can, however, get Wyze Cam waterproof case but the case is only available only to Wyze Cam and Wyze Cam 2.
Can Wyze Cam Baby Monitor records without Wifi?
Wyze Cam can record to the SD card if you already set up the camera to allow Continous Video Recording (CVD) by plugging in the microSD card which supports live recording. It can record 24/7 once it’s set up and you can rely on it even you lose connection.
Traditional wifi-dependent cameras such as Arlo baby do not record when there is no wifi because it does not support micro-SD based Continous Video Recording. Arlo cameras with a base station are however able to record without wifi. The Arlo security cameras with a base station and can record without the internet are Arlo Pro, Arlo Pro 2, and Arlo Ultra 4K.
Wyze Cam Power Source & Requirements – Batteries, Solar & AC
There has been a lot of anticipation that Wyze cam would release Wyze cams powered by a battery. An update posted on Wyze’s website in November 2018 indicated that Wyze are still looking into a Wyze cam battery and designing Wyze Cam with or using battery power.
All the current models of Wyze Cam are powered by AC and need to be plugged in to record and transmit the video of your baby to your app or to record it to the microSD card. This is one of the reasons why Wyze Cam cannot be used outdoors as it is not powered by batteries and you won’t find AC plugs outdoors.
For those excited about a Wyze Cam powered by solar power, it is too early in July 2019 and Wyze Cam are yet to release solar-powered Wyze cam nor have there been reports of Wyze Cam using solar power. Someone has however managed to build a solar-powered Wyze cam by purchasing a few pieces of equipment on Amazon such as a Wyze Cam solar panel. You can follow how he was able to do it on the Wyze forums here.
Wyze Cam Google Home Hub Compatibility
In July 2019, Wyze Cam joined a list of Google-approved baby monitors and security cameras. Approved cameras such as Arlo, Kasa Cam and now Wyze Cam are compatible with the Google Home Hub and all you need to do is integrate it and get the Google Assistant to assist you to monitor your baby.
The video below shows how you can stream your baby video footage on Google Home hub:
You should note that only Wyze Cam v2 and Wyze Cam pan are the only Google Home compatible Wyze brands.
Here is how you can enhance your smart home with Wyze Cam devices:
With Google Assistant, you can use voice commands to control smart home features and devices such as the Wyze Cam v2, Wyze Cam pan, and the Wyze Bulbs. Video footage from the two Wyze Cam brands can be streamed on devices with inbuilt Chromecast or using the Chromecast that plugs into smart tv. You should, however, note that unlike Nest and Arlo, Wyze does not currently support streaming of footage to Google Home App.
Control your Wyze Bulbs with Google Assistant or stream your Wyze Cams through your Google Home Hub, Smart device with built-in Chromecast, or even a standard screen with a Chromecast dongle. At this time, the Google Assistant integration does not support camera streaming into the Google Home App.
Wyze Cam v2 and Wyze Cam Pan are currently two of Motherhood HQ’s picks for Google Home compatible cameras.
Streaming Wyze Cam Videos To Phone, TV (Chromecast), PC or Mac
As of this publication, you can only stream Wyze cam footage to your smartphone Wyze App and to your Google Home and Alexa Home compatible devices. You can also stream Wyze cam videos to devices with inbuilt Chromecast or you can purchase the external Chromecast and connect it to your Wyze cam to smart tv and start streaming to your tv.
Unfortunately, it is currently impossible to stream Wyze cam footage to PC or Mac devices but with a Wyze firmware alternative such as OpenIPC and apps such as TinyCam you can aces Wyze cam footage on PC and Mac devices as well. OpenIPC, open-source firmware for off-the-shelf IP cameras such as Wyze Cam has developed a feature that allows you to access Real-Time Streaming Protocol feature (RTSP). You should, however, note that since June 2019, you can activate RTSP feature on the app as the Wyze App has been upgraded. RTSP will allow you to stream Wyze live footage across multiple devices simultaneously but this has actually been a possibility since April 2019. A Wyze App update (v 2.3) enabled RTSP and Two-factor authentication. As of this publication in July 2019, Wyze cam does not currently integrate with Smartthings.
Video Recording from Wyze Cam to Google Drive
Wyze does not currently allow you to save video recordings on any file storing location such as Google Drive. Some users have however found a way to sore their data to the cloud using apps such as TinyCam which can allow you to not just store data on the cloud and also stream to browser or to TV. You can read how to use TinyCam here.
Wyze Cam Pan
In 2018, Wyze Cam had received customer feedback to add the pan and tilt capabilities to the original Wyze Cam and they went ahead and launched a Wyze Cam model with pan and tilt feature. It cost just $10 more than the original Wyze Cam v2. The dimensions of Wyze Cam Pan, 5.02″ x 2.36″ x 2.36″ are significantly higher than Wyze Cam v1 and v2 which measures 2.2″ x 1.97″ x 1.97″
On June 12, 2019, Wyze Cam updated the original Wyze Cam and now Wyze Cam is compatible with Google Home and Alexa Home.
The latest Wyze Cam weights just 91 grams compared to other cameras that are made of heavy metal and a magnetic base such as Nest and Amazon Cloud Cam.
Unlike traditional baby monitor brands such as Motorola, VTech or Samsung, Wyze cam did two things that allowed it to cut its price by more than 90%.
In July 2019, Wyze Cam had an update and the video below describes the additional features that you with Wyze Cam:
In brief below are some of the recent updates that make Wyze Cam an undeniable leader in the webcam baby monitor space:
- Integration with Google Home and Alexa
- Multi-screen viewing
- Person detection
Unlike other security cameras such as Nest that provide snapshots of events, Wyze Cameras stores generic stock photo and finding photos for evidence can be quite a hassle. To get to an event, you, therefore, need to watch the entire video clips to find the single clip you want.
Motion triggered recording lasts for only 12 seconds but you can make the setting to record on demand which can last as long as there is space.
Wyze Cam Baby Monitor Motion Tagging
Wyze Cam v2 and Wyze Cam pan have an additional motion tagging feature. Motion tagging feature essentially detects any moving object and creates a small box around where movement is detected and it follows the object until it is out of Wyze recording view. Unlike Nest which has 30 frames per second recording speed, essentially double the Wyze Cam’s 15 fps rate, Wyze Cam’s pictures can get pixelated and lose focus as it gets tracked.
Wyze Cam Cloud storage:
When you purchase any Wyze Cameras, you get 14 days of free cloud storage and your video footage will be stored with AWS. You can, however, opt for local storage by purchasing a microSD card or a hard drive. Compared to Arlo which offers 7 days of cloud storage and Nest with offers only three hours of free cloud storage Wyze cams storage plan is very cheap. It is even cheaper than Ring, the security cameras that offer cheaper plans than Arlo and Nest. Ring has a free plan and the paid plan allows you to access up to 60 days of cloud storage for just $3 per month.
Wyze Cam Homekit
As of July 2019, Wyze Cam does not currently integrate with Apple Homekit. In July 2019, Wyze Cam managed to integrate with Google Home after it had already integrated with Alexa Home. Below is an update from Wyze Cam associate who highlights that Wyze would like to have Wyze cams integrated with Apple’s Homekit and are currently working to get this done.
Below is the snapshot of Wyze’s associate response to a question regarding whether Wyze Cam integrates with Apple Homekit smartphone other than Google Home and Alexa.
Wyze Cam Motion Zones
Wyze Cam pan introduced motion zones aimed at reducing false alarms. One way of reducing false alerts is setting the camera to remove alerts when you are home. You can indicate the times you are at home. You can create the schedule using IFTTT, a free web-based service to create chains of simple conditional statements, called applets
Wyze Cam Mount Options: Window, Wall, Mounting kit & Tripod mount
Wyze Cam Pan has a tripod mount which makes it easy to mount it. All you need is a tripod mountable screw. You screw the tripod into the Wyze cam and you’re all set. Wyze Cam v2 and Wyze Cam pan also have magnetic bases similar to Logitech and Nest that allow you to install them on any metal surface.
When you purchase Wyze Cam, it comes with 3M adhesive tape that to install on a wooden surface, glass surfaces such as window, or other non-metal surfaces in your baby’s nursery. You will find the Wyze cam mounting kit on the packaging that comes with the camera.
Aside from the mounting kit that comes with your Wyze cam, you can also purchase Wyze Cam wall mounting bracket that comes with a protective case. The protective case will allow you to use Wyze Cam as an outdoor security camera. You can check my favorite Wyze cam wall mounting kit for Wyze cam v1 and v2 on Amazon here.
Wyze MaxDrive
MaxDrive is a personal cloud device that was set to be released by Wyze Cam before its cancellation. It had been advertised as a backup of footage from your Wyze Cam and files from your devices (phone, tablet, or PC) and access the data from any location.
As of this update in July 2020, there hasn’t been any update released by Wyze company regarding the release of Wyze MaxDrive. In April 2019, it released the following statement:
We’ve got some unfortunate news for those that were interested in MaxDrive. MaxDrive is being delayed from the targeted Q2 release date and we are currently uncertain of how long the delay will be.
As many of you know, at Wyze we focus on building great products efficiently. To do this, we leverage resources from global partners when possible.
Our partner for MaxDrive has faced an unexpected delay that requires them to shift their resources.
We’ll continue to work on features that will allow you to store videos locally to a NAS device and keep you updated as the project develops with MaxDrive or a new solution.
Wyze Cam Statement on delayed Wyze MaxDrive
The future release date of Wyze MaxDrive (if there will be) has not been announced by Wyze.
How it was to work?
For Wyze Cam footage, you link your Wyze Cam using the Wyze app, and you will be able to view it as Playback through the Wyze App.
You use MaxDrive mobile app (Android or iOS) to back up Personal files (Pictures, Video, Music, and Documents) from your phones or tablet.
For computer backup for your files, you use the MaxDrive desktop app (for PC and Mac).
MaxDrive specs?
Enclosure Specs
Internet Connectivity: Gigabit Ethernet Port x1
Drive Connection: SATA 3.0 x1
Processor: Marvell ARMADA Dual-core 1.0 GHz
RAM: 512MB
Internal Drive
Supports up to 12TB drives
Supports 2.5″ & 3.5″ SATA 3.0 HDD & SSD internal drives
What you need to know before getting started:
MaxDrive only supports:
- Wyze Cam v2
- Wyze Cam Pan
Wyze Cam backup requires a microSD card to be in the selected camera.
MaxDrive does not come with an internal drive, so you need to buy one for it.
Wyze Cam Chromecast
Chromecast is a large thumb drive-sized dongle that plugs into a smart television HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port. It allows you to stream media from your computer or mobile device through your home Wifi network and onto your TV screen.
Since Wyze started working with Google Assistant, users can stream their cameras into any smart devices with a built-in Chrome cast or on any screen connected to a Chromecast dongle.
Your Android phone or iOS acts the remote for controlling and selecting the Wyze Cam footage you see and hear on your TV screen or any other screen provided you have Wifi.
Is Wyze Cam waterproof?
No, Wyze Cam is not waterproof that is why it is only for indoor use
Can Wyze Cam record without Wifi?
Yes, but for optimal monitoring, you need Wifi connection. You can use a Wifi connection to set up and configure your Wyze Cam in the Wyze app. Once the camera is configured and you have inserted the microSD card, turn the local recording to microSD card on. The camera will record continuously, even without Wifi.
However, with the Wyze Cam working offline, you will not be able to connect to the camera from your Wyze app. This means you will also not view or stream or receive any notification. The camera also will not be able to save any alerts to the cloud, and your sound and motion monitoring will be compromised.
To view the recorded footage, you can connect back the Wifi network the camera was set up in and use the playback feature in the Wyze app, or remove the microSD card from your Wyze Cam to view the videos in mp4 format on a computer.
When you reinsert the microSD card to your Wyze Cam, it will resume continuous recording. When the space is almost full, the camera will overwrite the oldest footage on file.
So although the camera can record offline, you need Wifi for optimal monitoring.
Wyze Cam power requirements
Wyze Cam uses 5V 1A DC power, and it comes with a 6 foot micro USB cable and 110V wall outlet plug.
How to view Wyze recordings
Wyze recordings are done on the cloud and the Micro SD card inserted into the camera. If you check at the bottom when your Wyze app is open, there is a tab for Notifications. Here you get all the alerts that are saved in the cloud.
To view recording from SD, go to the Devices tab and click on the camera, then the View Playback button at the bottom.
The timeline slider is located just below the video.
Tap and drag the timeline to view recorded video from any point in time.
Alternatively, you can tap the date button to select a specific date in the calendar view.
The times with available video footage are highlighted in color on the timeline.
You can zoom and pinch on the timeline to change the scale of the timeline to help you select a specific point in time easily. This is particularly helpful if you have 1-minute increments based on the Record events only setting.
You can use the < and > buttons to move to the previous or next event in the timeline. This is helpful when the camera is set to Record events only.
Wyze Cam Alexa
It is possible to connect your Wyze Cam to Alexa and utilize the Amazon Alexa virtual assistant and the Echo Show tablet that can make it very easy to monitor your baby. See the video below describing how Wyze Cam can be connected to Alexa:
Wyze Cam FAQs
Yes. You can use any of the three brands of Wyze Cam baby monitors as a baby monitor. Follow the instructions given in this article. For Google Home Hub and Alexa compatible monitor, pick the Wyze Cam Pan 1080p HD camera above.
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Hi there! I am Ashley Davis, a mom of three kids and the editor here at Motherhoodhq.com. I have been a parent since 2011 and have been doing full-time consulting as a baby sleep expert since 2019. When I am not researching or testing the next baby gear hitting the market, you’ll find me teaching my toddlers a trick or two – especially over the last few months with the lockdown. I hope you’ll find my guides and reviews helpful as you make your next purchase decision. If you have any questions, you can reach me at ashley.d@motherhoodhq.com.
