If you take your home security seriously, you would want to include a spy camera in the arsenal of protective equipment. Spy cameras best serve their purpose when wireless because you can easily hide them. However, wireless spy cameras work on batteries that need to recharging.
You need to ensure that the battery life of your mini spy camera lasts for a considerable time. If you want an effective wireless mini spy camera, you should look for one with long battery life.
So, in this article, we will review the eight best mini spy cameras with long battery lives.
How We Chose Our Top Picks
We chose our top picks based on overall customer reviews. We ensured that all the cameras had long-lasting battery life. We also ensured that the cameras were long-lasting.
At the high end of our budget, we looked at features such as infrared vision, weather resistance, and motion detection.
We also focused on the usability of the camera. We only chose cameras that were easy to hide. Finally, we were left with the eight best spy cameras we reviewed below.
1. Fuvision Spy Camera
What We Like
If you want to spy on your kid's nanny or anyone you don't trust at home, this covert hidden camera is the one. Fuvision is a wireless surveillance camera hidden in a photo frame with built-in Wi-Fi that allows you to stream videos through its app.
The camera behind the frame has a 15-degree downward viewing lens, integrated with PIR motion detection and 'No Glow' Night vision that gives coverage of up to 20 feet at night. The rechargeable battery claims to last for a year with 30 hours of nonstop working.
What You Should Know
The Fuvision surveillance camera does not work on a 5GHz network so make sure you connect it to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. It is also advisable to keep the router in the same room as the camera for a smooth and flawless experience.
2. Sirgawain Hidden Pen Spy Camera
What We Like
Do you suck at taking important notes during a lecture or a business meeting? If yes, then Sirgawain wireless pen hidden camera is all you need. Its discrete and portable design makes it easier to record important events with just a few clicks.
This 2-in-1 spy pen can write and record 90 degrees angle videos in HD 1080P quality. You can record up to 70 mins long video and view it by connecting the pen or SD card to your PC or Mac. The spy pen comes with five extra inks, a card reader, a USB cable, and a cleaning cloth for a durable experience.
What You Should Know
The pen needs charging before use, but if you fail to do so, it will only write and not record. It automatically overwrites the old footage as soon as the 70 mins recording time is completed. So, if you have a crucial event saved in your spy camera, ensure to transfer the recording to your PC and then record another one.
3. Relohas Hidden Camera
What We Like
Did you ever imagine that something as small as a 0.79 inch, 1.41oz cube could be used as a camera that possesses the ability of 24 hours loop recording in HD 1080P? It's hard to believe, isn't it?
Let me enlighten you about it a bit more. This little Reholas hidden surveillance camera is wireless, works with and without Wi-Fi, comes with a built-in 800mAh rechargeable battery, takes videos at 140-degree wide angles, and is integrated with Motion Detection and Night Vision functionalities.
This tiny nanny camera is unnoticeable and very easy to use. Just Hang or stick it anywhere, take it with you, or leave it at home with or without Wi-Fi, and it will still work.
You would only need to set one of the four modes, and it will keep an eye on the intruders or anyone you want to keep tabs on in your absence. Remotely monitor it through the app or by inserting its SD Card into your PC.
Also, here are the four amazing modes in this covert spy camera that make your life much easier:
1. Full-time recording mode (Requires Wi-Fi connectivity)
2. Timed Recording Mode (Records within a preset period)
3. Motion Detection Mode (Records when there's any activity)
4. Phone Recording Mode (Record a video from your app)
What You Should Know
While it has many advanced features, monitoring its battery is going to be a challenge for you. There's no way to find out when your camera needs to be recharged unless it dies out. The user guide may also not be very easy to comprehend, so you might face a bit of difficulty setting the whole thing up for the first time.
4. Sirgawain Mini Spy Camera With Night Vision and Motion Detector
What We Like
As the name suggests, this Sirgawain model comes with night vision and motion detection functionalities. It not only captures video in HD but also captures pictures in 12MP with a 140-degree wide-angle lens. Also, night vision itself is not the only enhancement.
It reaches 16" with six invisible LEDs, making it a massive upgrade to the Sirgawain camera products. The covert surveillance camera in a pen can be used for personal or commercial use.
It is powered by a battery, offers 60 mins of continuous recording, and can record for 24 hours while being charged. With the added features, you can now decide between the basic and the motion detection modes. On top of that, you must have noticed that Sirgawain products come with a bunch of accessories. So in this upgrade, the new accessories are a USB and TV Cable, Neck Lanyard, and a fastening clip providing 360-degree rotation coverage.
What You Should Know
The negatives for this upgraded covert camera are somewhat the same as the previous model. You need to charge it before use to avail of the 60 mins run time. It can also be used 24/7 while charging.
Since the camera does not require Wi-Fi to work, you would need to transfer the recorded files to your PC from the SD card because there is still no application available for this upgrade.
5. Alpha Tech Spy Camera
What We Like
We have seen spy cameras disguised in photo frames, remote controllers, and mere pens. Alpha Tech has also introduced a nanny camera disguised as a Charger. So, if you want to be more discreet, this is also a good option to consider.
This Wi-Fi security camera is the easiest one to set up. Just plug it into a socket, download the TuyaSmart app, connect it to your Wi-Fi network, and voila! Your camera is good to go!
It provides Live video streaming in HD 1080P and sends push notifications when a motion is triggered. Moreover, Alpha Tech takes your privacy seriously and claims to protect it from unauthorized users accessing your sensitive data.
What You Should Know
Keep in mind that the alpha tech hidden camera only connects to a 2.4G Wi-Fi network, and there is no sound recording feature available.
6. Blink Indoor Security Camera
What We Like
The Blink Indoor Security Cam tops the list when we talk about the best spy cameras. However, it may not be the best spy camera in terms of "mini," but it is still worth mentioning.
Blink Camera is a small wireless camera. So, you can place or mount it anywhere without undergoing a complicated installation process. Just spend approximately 20 minutes in setup, and your security cameras are up and running!
As we emphasize a lot on the battery life of a camera, it checks this box. The Indoor camera runs on two AA lithium batteries, promising to give two-year-long battery life. Another important feature that cannot be ignored is Motion Detection. It comes into action as soon as it detects any motion and starts filming.
You can also adjust the frame and privacy zones to your liking for motion detection, which is a great feature.
The Blink Camera connects to Wi-Fi and is controlled through the Blink app. This enables you to access videos and live streams from anywhere around the World. It has an HD live view along with Infrared night vision that lets you see everything in pitch-black night straight into your app.
The Indoor comes with two-way audio so you can hear and talk to your loved ones back home. It also works with Alexa, which lets you arm or disarm the cameras using your voice.
What You Should Know
The Blink Indoor has Infrared vision but the video quality at night is ordinary. As for storage, you can get a subscription plan or save the videos locally on Sync Module 2. The only limitation with Sync Module 2 is that it stores the live view and motion clips on the flash drive, and you will need to insert the USB Drive into your pc to see the saved videos. If you get a subscription, the videos are saved on the cloud and can be viewed on the Blink app.
7. Blink Outdoor Security Camera
What We Like
Our outdoor cameras can very often be affected by harsh weather conditions such as rainfall, snow, and sandstorms. That is why we are always concerned about preventing the water from going to the power outlet but worry no more! The Blink Outdoor Camera is here to our rescue!
It is a wireless and weather-resistant outdoor camera that can be easily mounted anywhere without worrying about the power outlet.
The Blink Outdoor has the same functionalities and features as the Blink Indoor Camera. It comes with 2-year powerful battery life, Day and Night HD View, Two-way Audio, Motion Detection with customized motion zones, and Alexa functionalities.
What You Should Know
Since it is powered by a battery, it does not record the video continuously. Unlike hardwired security cameras, it only records when a motion is detected.
You should also know that while recording a video clip, it takes five seconds to break and then resumes. So, if any activity is going on outside your home, it will capture video clips, but with 5 secs break after each 1 min recording.
8. Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera
What We Like
The intriguing features that distinguish it from the Blink Outdoor Camera are its essential spotlight and color night vision that will not let you miss out on imperative details like face and license number at night. Moreover, it has a 130-degree wide-angle view that captures clear and crisp videos in 1080p HD quality.
The Arlo spotlight surveillance wireless camera is weather resistant, promises 1-year battery life, comes with integrated motion detection, and has two-way audio. The wow factor about its storage is the free subscription plan for 30 days. So, you can record your video clips in the cloud for one month straight!
It also works with your smart home devices such as Alexa, Google devices, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple HomeKit.
What You Should Know
Remember that the battery-powered cameras consume more battery with the spotlight and in areas with higher traffic and motion activation. In this case, you may have to change your battery sooner than the expected time.
Mini Spy Camera Buying Guide
You can find hundreds of brands selling mini spy cameras. It can be hard to make the right decision, given that you have many options. Some cameras are also toy-grade and do not last very long. So, we have compiled this buying guide to help you make the right decision.
Type of Spy Cam
The first thing that you need to decide is what type of spy camera you need. We already know you've been searching for a mini spy camera with long battery life. However, there are more ways to categorize spy cameras.
Battery Powered
These are the most common types of spy cams. They function wirelessly without attaching any cord to the power socket. These cameras are also smaller in size and are difficult to detect. However, since they are battery-operated, they need to be recharged often.
These cameras can take the form of everyday objects. They can be in the form of wearable accessories or cosmetics. They are perfect if you want to be sure that no one finds out about your spy camera.
Corded Spy Cameras
These cameras connect to a power source. They can function as a hidden camera if you can disguise the cord well. They do not require regular charging and generally produce better video results compared to battery-powered spy cameras. However, these cameras are easy to detect.
Wearable Spy Camera
Wearable spy cameras are the most coveted form of camera. They take the shape of everyday objects and are very hard to detect. Some wearable spy cameras come with smartwatches that act like LCD screens. This screen shows you what the camera is recording in real time.
Size and Shape of the Camera
You should consider the size and shape of the camera. To properly hide a spy camera, you should ensure that it camouflages perfectly with its environment.
We recommend that you first decide where to place your camera. This will give you an idea about the right size and shape.
Camera Features
Mini spy cameras come with a range of features. These features enhance its usability so you can make the most out of them. Here are a few features that take the spy camera to the next level.
Night Vision
A night vision spy camera captures footage even when it is dark. It is perfect for low-light situations where you don't see much with your own eyes. These cameras use infrared night vision to deliver video in low or no light.
Outdoor Camera
Outdoor spy cameras are weatherproof. They are perfect for installation on your entrance. One type of outdoor camera is a wearable outdoor spy camera that you can carry anywhere you go.
Motion Detection Sensor
A motion detection sensor allows the hidden spy camera to sense motion and start recording. This saves battery, and the battery lasts longer than in other cameras.
HD Video
All good quality spy cameras will deliver High definition videos. This is a must-have feature as the lower-resolution video may make it hard to identify people in the footage.
Battery Life
Some spy cameras have a couple of hours of battery time, while others can last for years. Ensure you get a camera with long-lasting battery life to make the most of it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mini Spy Camera FAQs
You may be wondering if a mini spy camera is right for you.
Before making a purchase, it's natural to have some questions about mini spy cameras.
We've compiled the most frequently asked questions about these covert cameras so that you can make an informed decision. Whether you're looking for a nanny cam or home security camera or just want to keep an eye on your pet while you're away, we have the perfect mini spy camera for you.
How long does the battery last on a spy camera?
The battery life of a spy camera will vary depending on the type of camera and the features that it has. Typically, the battery will last for around two hours when it is in use. However, if the camera is in standby mode, it can last for up to five days.
Which type of spy camera is best?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best type of spy camera depends on the specific needs of the individual. Some factors that will vary from person to person include the level of stealth needed, the size and shape of the camera, and whether or not audio recording is desired.
Some common types of spy cameras include hidden cameras (such as those disguised as everyday objects), miniature cameras, and wireless cameras. It is important to remember that not all spy cameras are created equal; some are much more advanced and difficult to detect than others. How do you hide a spy camera in plain sight?
How do you hide a spy camera in plain sight?
There are a few ways to hide a spy camera in plain sight. One way is to place it inside an object that is commonly found in the home or office, such as a clock, picture frame, or lamp. Another way is to mount it on the ceiling or wall to blend in with the surroundings.
It is possible to hide a spy camera outside, but it takes some creativity. One option is to place the camera inside a fake rock. Another option is to place the camera inside a birdhouse or other type of housing. Just be sure to choose a location that provides a good view of the target area.
Can you spot a hidden camera with your phone?
Yes, your phone can detect hidden cameras. You'll need to download the hidden camera app onto your phone. Once you download the app, follow the instructions, and viola! No more hidden cameras.
What Option of the Mini Spy Camera Is Best For You?
We want to thank you for reading our blog post on the best mini spy cameras. We hope this article has helped clarify what type of camera you may want in your home. All of the options we presented can be great choices, and it ultimately comes down to personal preference. Thank you again for reading, and we hope this article was helpful!
Here is the list of items reviewed:
2. Sirgawain Hidden Pen Spy camera
4. Sirgawain Mini Spy Camera With Night Vision and Motion Detector
6. Blink Indoor Security Camera
