SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera Review

Key Features

The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera is definitely a good-looking device. The camera itself is a white cylinder with a black face. It rests on a black, rounded mount with a unique look that is sleek and modern. If you have a Series 2 model, there will also be a small white block attached to the bottom of the camera which is the built-in 90dB speaker.

Of course, looks are great, but this camera is more than just a pretty face. It comes with several outstanding features.

Outdoor Rated

Let’s start with the most important feature of this camera: its ability to work outdoors. The outdoor camera mounts on an outdoor surface and works great as-is. More importantly, both versions of this camera are outdoor rated at IP65. That means it is completely dust-tight and can withstand low-pressure water jets (think heavy rain). We tested that claim by spraying our garden hose at it and we can confirm it survived.

In addition, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera works in temperatures ranging from minus four degrees to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Most outdoor cameras only work in temperatures up to 104 degrees. For instance, when we tested the Nest Cam Outdoor, we needed to bring it inside a few times during our southern summertime heat waves. We never needed to do that with the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera.

Built-in Siren

Both versions of the SimpliSafe outdoor camera come with a built-in siren but the Series 2 features a louder one. The original has an 80dB siren while the Series 2 has a 90dB siren. That means the Series 2 is as loud as a motorcycle while the original is more like a vacuum cleaner.

We liked that we could choose how we used the built-in siren. We set it up to go off any time the camera detected motion, which made it handy for scaring off any potential intruders. We could have set it to silent mode too. Sometimes we want to capture what’s happening on our front porch without letting anyone know we’re filming.

Image Quality

When it comes to image quality, both SimpliSafe Outdoor Cameras have the same capabilities. They feature 1080p HD video resolution. That’s the industry standard these days. There are some great cameras out there with resolution as high as 4K, such as the Arlo Ultra, but 1080p HD provides crystal clear images, and we don’t need a 4K screen to see them. Plus, the 1080p HD in the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera still provided a clear image even when using its 10x digital zoom.

The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera also offers a 140-degree field of view. We expect our cameras to see at least 110 degrees but we never complain if we have more. With outdoor cameras, a wider field of view means we need fewer cameras to capture our front yard and driveway. When we tested the Blink Camera, we needed one for our driveway and one for our front yard whereas the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera’s wider field of view could see both in one shot.

Night Vision

We expect our security cameras to work just as well at night as they do during the day. After all, according to the latest FBI statistics, 39 percent of all burglaries happen in the dark.1 That’s why SimpliSafe offers an overnight Active Guard Outdoor Protection plan so it can protect you at night when you’re less likely to be ready to respond to a threat.

To make the most of your nighttime protection, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera includes a built-in spotlight that turns on the moment it detects any motion. And we didn’t just have night vision; we had full-color night vision plus HDR. For those who don’t know, HDR stands for high dynamic range. Cameras with HDR technology actually take three pictures at once, which together provide more detail in darker and lighter areas than a single image.2 The most effective part of HDR for security purposes is the way it reduces glare. That’s how we could still identify our face even when wearing glasses that reflected the spotlight right back in the camera’s lens. Check it out below.

Two-way Audio

We’re not always looking to scare people off with a siren. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to have a chat with whoever happens to be on our doorstep. Luckily, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera comes with two-way audio, another feature we’re always looking for in security cams. Last week, we were able to ask our mail person about two-day shipping without even getting out of bed.

Two-way talk with the Series 2 goes a step further. Instead of us needing to talk to anyone approaching our home, we had SimpliSafe’s monitoring agents figure out what was going on for us. Then, they could respond appropriately. When the camera saw someone it didn’t recognize, a monitoring agent would pull up the two-way talk and ask who they were and what they were doing at our home. If the trespasser didn’t adequately explain themselves, the agent would sound the Series 2’s alarm, contact us, and dispatch police officers to our home.

Smart Detection

The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera let us set up custom detection zones so we captured only what we needed to. Even better, the camera uses artificial intelligence to differentiate between people, animals, and vehicles. That cut down on the number of false alarms we were getting from our neighbor’s wandering dachshund. Was this feature always accurate? Unfortunately not. But we didn’t experience too many false alarms during our tests.

With the Series 2, it could recognize people who regularly visited our house. That way, it knew when a trespasser was on our property instead of the mail person who drops off packages almost daily. Before testing this camera, we had only seen this feature when testing Nest Cams. This AI detection is why it’s a required piece of equipment for SimpliSafe’s Outdoor Active Guard Protection.

Smart Platform Integration

The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera works with both Google Assistant and Alexa. In fact, the entire SimpliSafe security system does. That meant we were able to activate the camera and change settings using only our voices. Although that’s about the extent of SimpliSafe’s smart home capabilities.

When we compared it to our experience with Vivint, we were underwhelmed. With Vivint, we could use the Outdoor Camera Pro detecting people as a trigger for other smart home devices in our home. For instance, we set up our living room lights to turn on whenever it detected someone so if it was a criminal planning a break-in, they would think someone was home.

Security System Integration

One of the best things about SimpliSafe’s new outdoor camera is simply that it’s from SimpliSafe. As a result, it integrates seamlessly with all of SimpliSafe’s other security products, including cameras, entry sensors, and keypads. All we had to do was install the camera, and our SimpliSafe system detected it immediately.

Since it integrated with the rest of our equipment, we could do things like making it record footage anytime our entry sensor identified someone opening our front door. It also enabled video verification on the Core, Pro, and Pro Plus monitoring plan. That means monitoring agents could verify a crime was taking place before dispatching police officers so that the police could respond quicker since many police stations prioritize verified alarms.

When we ran a simulated break-in, we saw this practice in action with SimpliSafe’s monitoring agents immediately knowing what was happening at our home. Of course, we called off the alarm before the police arrived.

Battery Powered

The SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera is wireless, meaning it runs on battery power. Luckily that battery can last between three and six months between charges, depending on usage. When we did need to charge it, it was simply a matter of plugging it into a wall outlet and leaving it there for five hours. That’s pretty good, especially when compared to the eight hours required to charge batteries on Ring security cameras. For those who don’t want to leave their cameras off, even for five hours, SimpliSafe sells a backup battery you can slip in while you’re charging the primary battery. You can even eliminate charging altogether by investing in one of the company’s solar chargers. Not every security company out there offers a solar option for its cameras. The abode security system doesn’t come with one, for instance. We always like it when companies push the boundaries to make life just a little easier.

Wi-Fi

One of the nicer features of the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera is that it includes two Wi-Fi antennas. That meant we could position it on the opposite end of the house from the router and still get a strong connection. Nothing frustrates us more than having to spend money on an antenna booster to make sure all our videos make it safely to the cloud. We loved the fact that we got that kind of coverage without having to buy additional equipment. That goes for both versions of the camera.

DIY Setup

We had no trouble setting up our SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera. It took all of around five minutes, and most of that time was spent deciding where to place it. As we note in our guide to installing video cameras, it’s always best to place cameras out of easy reach so no one can tamper with them. Of course, that meant pulling the ladder out of the garage, which added a couple of minutes to our installation time. Luckily, though, all we had to do was screw the mount on. The camera itself attaches to the mount using magnets, so all we had to do was stick it on. Those magnets also made it an easy matter to adjust the camera so we could get just the right view of our front yard.

Storage Options

As with all SimpliSafe cameras, cloud storage is the only option to record videos. That’s a little disappointing. We like having local storage options so we don’t have to purchase a storage plan if we don’t want to. That’s what we did when we tested Lorex cameras to avoid monthly fees entirely.

Still, SimpliSafe’s cloud storage isn’t bad price-wise. They charge $9.99 for unlimited recordings on up to ten cameras with videos stored for up to 30 days. You can see more on pricing below. SimpliSafe cameras don’t support continuous recording, but we prefer cameras that only record events otherwise reviewing footage ends up taking too much of our time.

SimpliSafe Outdoor Price

SimpliSafe prices its outdoor camera at $199.99. That’s $50 more than their Wireless Indoor Camera, but this is a hardier and smarter camera, engineered specifically for outdoor use. In fact, as outdoor cameras go, the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera is right in the middle of the price spectrum. Arlo Pro cameras cost $20 less, and Ring’s Spotlight Cam costs $229.99.

Of course, there are savings to be had if you bundle your camera with other SimpliSafe products. There’s no discount specifically for the outdoor camera, but if you buy a camera as part of a security system package, it’ll be discounted by at least 20 percent. Sometimes SimpliSafe’s sales reach as high as 70 percent off for new systems.

Finally, you should know that the SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera comes with a 60-day return policy. That includes free return shipping. Basically, you can give the camera a try for two whole months without risk. That’s pretty generous. Most companies’ satisfaction guarantees max out at 30 days or less. And there’s a one year warranty that comes with all SimpliSafe equipment that can be extended to a lifetime warranty with the purchase of a qualifying monitoring plan.

Monitoring

SimpliSafe’s monitoring plans can be a bit confusing, but it’s worth taking the time to understand them before you commit to buying a camera.

First, you can use the camera in a limited capacity for free. Obviously, the free plan doesn’t include any professional monitoring or video storage. However, it does provide real-time alerts, and you can use your app to view the live feed. In addition, you can control your camera using your mobile device, and the app includes a system timeline that describes the last seven days of activity. That’s more than we got when we tested abode’s free plan which only included a live view and basic notifications.

If you want to add just storage, you need to sign up for the self-monitoring plan that supports up to ten cameras. SimpliSafe no longer offers a single camera plan.

All that said, SimpliSafe focuses its efforts on its 24/7 professional monitoring plans and we always recommend them. The reason is simple: unless you’re a superhero, you can’t possibly monitor your security system all the time. With monitoring plans, you don’t have to. Any time there’s an alert, SimpliSafe will check in on you and your system. Then, if something’s wrong, they’ll dispatch emergency personnel.

But, SimpliSafe has four different monitoring plans, so picking the right one can get confusing. Let’s start with clearing up that confusion by comparing each plan side-by-side then we’ll explain how to figure out which one is right for you.

SimpliSafe Monitoring Plans and Prices

First of all, the Standard Monitoring plan doesn’t add anything to SimpliSafe’s Outdoor Camera. That’s not to say it’s a bad choice if you want an affordable plan for your SimpliSafe system, but it only works with the sensors.

Moving on from there, the Core plan and above includes the same cloud storage in the Self-Monitoring plan. But, it also enables video-verified alarms which means when a SimpliSafe agent gets an alert from your system, they can use the live feed from your cameras to see what’s going on. With that extra information, they can dispatch appropriate emergency personnel who will respond faster since it’s a verified alarm. They’ll also check the live feed of the Smart Alarm Wireless Camera and use the two-way talk to walk you through emergencies.

The Pro and Pro Plus plans are where the Outdoor Camera really comes into play though. They activate what SimpliSafe calls Active Guard Outdoor Protection. It requires the Outdoor Camera Series 2 since it uses that camera’s AI capabilities to notify SimpliSafe monitoring agents of any potential threats i.e. people it doesn’t recognize. Then, the monitoring agent can use the camera’s live feed and two-way talk to get trespassers to leave.

Video Review

The Bottom Line

Taking everything into account, we think the new SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera is a great buy. For just $199.99, we got an IP65 rated device that delivered excellent video quality, rain or shine, day or night. The 140-degree field of view isn’t the widest on the market, but it’s far from the smallest. Plus, the new AI threat detection capabilities paired with Active Guard Outdoor Protection made us feel safe at all times.

That said, we don’t think upgrading from the base Outdoor Camera is worth it unless you fully intend to upgrade your monitoring plan to the Pro or Pro Plus plan as well. The base model is still a high-quality camera even by today’s standards. It meets the same specs as the Series 2 aside from a slightly quieter siren. And it still integrates well into SimpliSafe’s current security system. We recommend the Core plan to most people anyways which gives video verified alarms so SimpliSafe’s monitoring team still makes use of the Outdoor Camera.

Looking for more options for outdoor cameras? Check out our list of the best outdoor security cameras, the best wireless outdoor security cameras, and the best outdoor security systems.