Customer Ratings & Reviews

Great outdoor camera, has a good view angle and super easy to set up

SimpliSafe has a good reputation for an easy user experience and the Outdoor Camera Series 2 continues that reputation. The camera comes attractively packaged with everything needed to get started (necessary mounting hardware, 16ft USB power cable, power supply, battery). Like most things these days you need to scan a QR code to get the full installation instructions. One mounting feature I want to highlight is that the camera uses a powerful magnet that holds the camera onto a curved mount. In this way the camera can very quickly and easily be oriented in any possible direction, and also the camera can easily be removed without having to unscrew or detach anything. It just lifts off the magnet mount. Curiously, there is a 1/4-20 threaded hole on the bottom of the camera, presumably for a more semi-permanent installation, but there is no hardware for that or anything in the instructions. As mentioned, the camera comes with a battery that SimpliSafe says can last up to 3 months depending on use habits. It also comes with a power cable that is mandatory for certain SimpliSafe subscription plans. Setup using the SimpliSafe app is painless and straightforward. The camera provides a good, clear picture and the night vision video is also pretty good. Night vision can be automatic or turned off, and there is also a spotlight that can be activated by motion.

The best camera i have ever gotten and the best security camera

Very good camera. Glad the lights were added to the new version, however, if this was solar powered it would be five stars

I like the camera, just wish that it would have history without purchasing a plan.

Great item, easy to install Simply safe is easy to setup

great use it every day and it works well. i would very highly recommended it.

Fantastic setup to offer security for your home. Love the flexibility this offers

I’ve been using the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Series 2 for just about a week now, and I wanted to share my honest thoughts. I got this because I wanted something reliable to keep an eye on the outside of my house, especially since I already use the SimpliSafe home security system. So far, it’s been a good addition, but it definitely comes with some things to keep in mind. First off, the camera feels really well made. It’s compact but solid, and I like that it doesn’t look too bulky or “techy” on my porch. The white finish is clean and modern, and the magnetic mount makes it super easy to position. I was able to find the right angle quickly, and once it’s there, it holds steady. I’m using the power cable that comes with it, so it’s plugged in all the time, which I appreciate because I don’t have to worry about charging batteries. If you want to get the most out of it with features like Active Guard monitoring, plugging it in is a must. Setup was easier than I expected, especially since I already had the SimpliSafe system. The app guided me through pairing the camera in just a few minutes. It lets you customize motion detection zones and adjust settings like night vision and mic sensitivity, which is great. I will say some of the cooler features like AI person detection and live monitoring only work if you’re paying for the higher-tier monitoring plan. That adds a monthly cost, but for me, knowing someone is actively watching if something happens makes it worth it. The camera still works without that plan, but it’s more basic. Video quality is definitely a strong point. During the day, the camera gives me clear, sharp 1080p HD footage with a wide 140-degree field of view. That covers my front porch and part of the driveway nicely. The digital zoom works well enough to see faces or license plates without losing too much clarity, which has already come in handy more than once. I like that I can check live video or recorded clips through the app anytime, which means I don’t have to be glued to my phone all day to stay on top of things. The night vision surprised me in a good way. The camera has a built-in spotlight that comes on when it detects motion, lighting up the area in color instead of the usual grainy black and white you see with most outdoor cams. It’s pretty bright, which might annoy neighbors a little, but honestly, that’s a good thing for security. If I want, I can switch it to infrared mode and still get clear black and white images up to about 30 feet away without the spotlight triggering. Having those options is nice depending on how you want to use it. One feature I didn’t expect to care about but ended up really liking is the smart motion detection. The AI can tell the difference between a person and things like cars, animals, or even trees moving in the wind. That means I’m not constantly getting alerts for every little thing, which has been a big relief. When the camera does notify me, it usually means there’s actually someone there, so I can check the app right away without wondering if it’s a false alarm. The Active Guard Outdoor Protection is what really sets this camera apart. When the camera spots a person, it sends the footage to live monitoring agents who can speak through the camera’s speaker and even set off a loud siren if necessary. I tried out the two-way audio feature and was impressed with how clear it sounded. I could easily talk to someone on my porch through the app, and they heard me without any trouble. Having trained people on the other end ready to respond gives me a lot of peace of mind, especially since I’m not always home to watch things myself. Because I’m using the power cable, battery life isn’t something I worry about. SimpliSafe says the battery lasts three to six months on moderate use if you go wireless, but I like the idea of it being plugged in constantly. If you go battery-only, keep in mind you’ll need to charge it regularly, especially if the camera detects a lot of motion during the day or night. I will say this isn’t a “set it and forget it” kind of camera. To really get the most from it, you have to be willing to invest in the monitoring plan and keep it plugged in. Without those, it’s still a decent camera but you lose some of the features that make it stand out. There is also some initial setup to do if you want to avoid getting overwhelmed by alerts. You’ll want to spend a bit of time customizing motion zones and notification preferences. The app itself is straightforward and easy to use once you get used to it. It has a clean design, and I like that I can check live video or recorded clips whenever I want. I appreciate being able to set specific motion zones so I’m not getting alerts for cars passing by on the street or animals walking near the camera. The ability to adjust night vision modes and mic sensitivity is also a nice touch. After using it for a week, I feel like my home is a little safer. I’m more aware of what’s happening outside without getting bombarded with alerts that turn out to be nothing. The setup was easier than I thought, the camera feels sturdy, and the app helps me keep things simple without making me feel like I have to be a tech expert. The camera isn’t perfect. The spotlight is bright enough to potentially annoy neighbors, and some of the best features require a monthly fee. But for me, the combination of good video quality, smart AI detection, and the live monitoring option makes it worth it. I like knowing that if something happens, there’s someone else ready to respond. If you already have the SimpliSafe system or are planning to get one, the Outdoor Camera Series 2 is a solid choice. It integrates well, gives you good coverage, and adds some smart features that make it more than just a basic security cam. If you’re looking for a simple camera without extra fees or monitoring, this might not be the best fit because you won’t get the full benefits. But if you want a smart outdoor camera with professional monitoring available, it’s worth the investment. Overall, after just a week, I’m glad I bought it. It’s already changed the way I watch over my property, and I feel more confident about my home’s security. The balance of quality, features, and ease of use makes it one of the better outdoor cameras I’ve tried. I plan to keep it as part of my security setup going forward.

Works great! Great addition to existing Simplisafe System.

Aye this works pretty good! Keeps my house safe as ever!

Only bad thing is the battery runs out fast, even on the low settings. Other than that it’s good camera.

Similar to all the SimpliSafe products I have used, this one is top quality and built with a solid design that is well thought out. Even the packaging is impressive as it ensures the product is protected very well and gets to you in perfect condition. This camera comes with dual powering options, either battery or utilizing the included 120 vac adapter and cable to use household electric power. I chose the battery option because I have another camera and have found the battery to last over 3 months and it is easy and fast to recharge. If you do elect to use the wired power, there are cable clamps included. However, utilizing the battery and WiFi connectivity, I have a completely wireless setup. Once you decide on the power method, you install the SimpliSafe app and the app will guide you 100% through the setup of the camera and also the actual physical installation. The unit does come with a magnetic-mount-ball. It is simple to find a good location and screw the base of the mount to the wall. The ball will attach to the base and you twist it till you hear a click and 'bingo' you are installed. The camera itself has a magnetic concave area which will attach to the ball. Utilizing a very clever method of moving the camera over the ball, you can achieve the exact direction/angle you need. One point of improvement for SimpliSafe is to come up with a better included method to attach to a stucco wall. The app says to use the same included screws and anchors for sheetrock as for a stucco wall and through multiple experiences, I know this does not work. Stucco walls require a screw-in anchor not an insert type anchor for better hold. The problem is when you turn the ball on top of the mount, before it clicks in place it will loosen the tiny anchors. I actually add a dab of 2-part epoxy on the screw-in anchors which ensures the mount will never fail. The wireless connection distance is excellent. I already have a 10 device SimpliSafe system so I utilized my existing app and just added the new camera, it is the most intuitive and simplified process of any security systems I have ever used; and I have installed 5 different brand systems over the years. The Series 2 cameras have added AI functions that allow the camera to actually identify a threat and speak to the intruder in real time - wow; a tip of the cap to the SimpliSafe engineers for an incredible security function. This camera has 2-way audio and a very loud siren. It also allows a 10x zoom and I did find the videos crystal clear on my cell phone. This camera is on the back of the house so I didn't have to worry about notifications from passing vehicles, however you can adjust the sensitivity to reduce unnecessary notifications (and/or the camera angle as well, can be adjusted easily to accomplish this. You can also setup 'activity zones' which I did. This is fantastic technology and I highly recommend this great SimpliSafe Series 2 camera.

[PROS] Straightforward Setup: Instructions for getting the outdoor camera installed are found within the box as well as the app. Although I've used the app for years to add devices, the process would still be easy for someone new. It's all a matter of syncing the camera with the app through an easy step by step process once you've placed the camera in your desired spot. Ease of Transition: First generation parts and accessories are mostly able to be used. The battery and magnetic mount are both the same. Additionally, the charging port continues to use the micro usb standard. Quick Response Times: When it comes to checking livestream footage, the Outdoor Camera Series 2 works fast. I'm able to get a clear view of the perimeter within 5 seconds. It's not instantaneously, but it works well enough to retrieve a live feed when needed. Improved Audio: The audio quality of this camera is great. While testing, I was able to hear the outside environment clearly while having a decent conversation exchange. Also, the siren is loud enough to notify others if unwanted activity is occurring. Proper Detection: While executing some tests, the camera was able to flag human faces and report back its findings. Even at night, it was able to pick up my face without issue. However, I would suggest having the camera next to a decent light source to enhance visibility. [CONS] Subpar Battery: Battery is stated to last up to three months. I know its not a guarantee, but this camera is tracking similarly to the previous generation cameras that I also own. I usually have to replace the batteries once a month which is not terrible, but it's 1/3 of a best case scenario and there's very light foot traffic in where its placed. Sharper Resolution: 1080p has become the default resolution for basic security cameras. However, I would greatly prefer if the camera could achieve a 1440p image quality. This would help in determining better facial details and pulling information such as license plates. [CONCLUSION] As an existing owner of the first gen, I can definitely recommend the Gen 2 camera. It adds an additional layer of protection with its AI detection and improved microphone quality. Its a sure win in my book.

I’ve had a SimpliSafe system for quite a while now, and while it performed basic functions well like alerting when doors were opened based off sensors, and allowing for viewing of the camera, there was a substantial delay between when motion occurred and when the recording actually happened. This meant we would often see delivery drivers walking away from the house but never up to the house, and there were many times when I was able to quickly walk up to my front door, unlock and enter the house without any motion recording ever occurring. I’ve previously tried various sensitivity settings to no avail, so I was excited to see a second gen camera released. I’m happy to say that this version of the SimpliSafe camera is a significant improvement over the original, in addition to some of the AI features for identification, the most important improvement is it starts recording motion much earlier. I finally can see people walking up to the door instead of just away from the door. This version also includes a long cable to optionally hardwire the camera into an outlet. My one complaint is they didn’t upgrade the micro-USB system for the unit or the battery to USB-C. I am considering buying a solar panel to run the camera to and see how well the “always-on” version works. SimpliSafe does require a separately sold base station and keypad, but this camera is a great addition, especially if you’ve only got version 1 currently, This new camera takes the SimpliSafe product from an overall partial recommend to a full recommend.

It seems to be doing the job. I already have a Simplisafe system and got this latest revision of their exterior camera. In the box you get the camera (which now has a weird chin), the battery, a power adapter, a really really long power cable apparently rated for outdoor use, and you get a tiny cable to charge the battery. It also comes with the magnetic mount (same as the one on the older cameras), and also some wire management stuff for that long power cable. The camera doesn't need the power cable to operate, but the doc says that its preferred to be plugged in for it to be able to use all its features. I wanted to mount this outside, but the only electric outlet was on the inside of the garage. So I decided to drill a hole for the cable to pass through, this is where I realized that the micro USB end (the one that plugs into the camera), is at a 90 degree angle. This means that you need a much bigger hole to fish it through, than the actual cable thickness, since its not just the tiny micro USB port, but the whole housing at a right angle that needs to be fished through. I was able to do it eventually (and then filled in the hole). The installation post this was pretty standard, on the app you add the camera, press a button on the back of the camera for a second, and the setup auto detects. Post installation it downloaded a software update automatically which took some time. And after this I was able to view the livestream, but strangely there were no notifications showing up. Nothing in the timeline in the app, but the camera is clearly connected since live stream works. But next morning, suddenly notifications started working automagically. The video and audio quality are both great, and now its able to detect motion from easily 10' away and I get notifications on my phone promptly. Weird quirks aside, it seems like a great security camera.

The Simplisafe Series 2 outdoor camera is a new model meant for the latest version of the Simplisafe home security systems. It charges up with a USB cable before you install it with the Simplisafe app, and the process was fairly easy. The app has settings for using the camera similar to most security cameras like sensitivity and an image grid to avoid detecting motion in parts of what the camera sees. You can also screen out everything but people, time will tell how accurate that feature is. It's a sturdy camera with the ability to use a removable rechargeable battery, or connect it with an outdoor AC adapter which is really like a typical USB brick with a long cable and a water-resistant connection at the camera itself. The image is sharp and clear in the day time and reasonable clear in the dark but black and white of course. The notifications of motion detected come pretty quickly too with fast home internet. The one drawback is--with something in this price bracket it should have a mount included more suitable for outdoor use. The magnetic mount is small, and the lower part of the camera prevents you from using much of a downward angle. It does have a threaded standard camera mount hole though, so you can improvise with some other mounts.

Im boycotting Best Buy until you all deliver all appliances with no damage. Then it will probably take a year or more to let it go.

This product will not connect to my wifi for some reason. All the other Simplisafe products worked right out of the box, no problems, but this one I just can't get to work.

So I received my SimpliSafe Outdoor Security Camera a week ago and I couldn't be more excited. I installed a SimpliSafe system in my office building at work, so I kinda knew what to expect. This company is great. Now, I’ve been using SimpliSafe for about 8 years now, so I have come to love the products they produce for quite some time now and how easy their home security systems are to use, as well as their entire ecosystem of devices that all work seamlessly with one another. UNBOXING * Outdoor Security Camera * 6” Charging Cable * Outdoor Power Cord * Power Adapter * Magnetic Mount * Rechargeable Battery * Installation Hardware SETUP Now before attempting to install this camera outside, it is recommended that you charge it fully. Now depending on where the charging status is on the camera when you get it, it can/may take up to 6 hours to fully charge this camera before installation. Also please not that in order for this outdoor camera to work, you must already have a SimpliSafe Home Security System Installed beforehand; that way you once you have fully charged this camera, you can add it as an additional device to the keypad, which you should already have, if you have your SimpliSafe Home Security System already in place. Just make sure theHome Security System is at least a Gen 3 Security System. The Wireless Outdoor Camera is just as easy to get connected. Using the app, add the camera like you would any other device and find the perfect spot for it to be mounted. Since it had been raining non-stop here for the last week, I've not had a chance to mount this camera outside my door yet, but it is connected and up and running. You will have to keep an eye on this camera as it will need to be charged periodically, but the you can possibly minimize how much you have to charge it by turning off the or adjusting motion sensor settings and activity zones. Because of the easy installation for myself, that means it doesn't take a rocket scientist to install it nor does it take a long time. I pretty much had this camera up and running in about 15 minutes after it was fully charged. The camera records 1080P. It would have been nice to have 4K, however, that is not a deal breaker because 1080P is still really good video quality in my book. I also like that you can view these cameras and what may or may not be happening at your home while you're away from practically anywhere in the world. Great camera with great video quality, and easy maneuverability with the Magnetic Mount. Great addition to add to your home if you’re already invested in SimpliSafe and their amazing line of home security products.