The best spy cameras
Spy Camera – Buying and Comparison Guide in 2022
The spy camera is nothing more than a small camera, autonomous in its operation, and that we can place discreetly wherever we want to control what is happening. They are complete teams with a quality recording system that makes everything easier. Among these models, we have the Amyway Pen camera, which is hidden in a pen, so it can go unnoticed. In addition, it incorporates an internal memory of 32 GB. For its part, the Igzyz WiFi USB is a camera integrated into a charger, which to work you just have to connect it to a power outlet. It also offers an app to control its functions easily.
Opinions on the best spy cameras
When buying a spy camera, there are many models that we have within our reach. We have analyzed many of them to make it easier for you to find which is the best spy camera, according to what you need, offering you a list where we have some of the best spy cameras of 2022. Products with all kinds of designs and prices, so that you can choose the ideal model even easier for you.
Mini spy camera
Amyway Pen
This mini spy camera is capable of taking high definition photos of 2560 x 1440p, to provide high quality JPG images. It can also record videos in 1920 x 1080p HD AVI format at a rate of 30 fps. Also, it has motion detection function, so it starts recording automatically.
The camera is built into a pen, so it’s very discreet. However, it is worth mentioning that it really works for writing and comes with 5 inks so you won’t have to spend extra for a long time. For this reason, many consider it the best spy camera today.
It has an internal slot with a 32 GB micro SD card, enough to store a large number of photos. As if that were not enough, it is very easy to use, you just have to press the button located on the top of the pen when you want to turn the camera on or off.
If you want to buy a camera that you can easily hide anywhere and get good results, we recommend you thoroughly review the features of this model.
Pros
Discretion: It is one of the most discreet, since it is incorporated in a pen, so you can record and take photos without anyone noticing.
Storage: It has a 32 GB micro SD card slot, which is enough space to record thousands of photos.
Inks: The pen really works to write and comes with 5 inks so you can use it for a long time.
Cons
Battery: The battery discharges automatically if you keep the camera off for a long time, so please recharge it before use.
Wi-Fi spy camera
Igzyz Wi-Fi USB
It is a WiFi spy camera that through your home network allows you to activate the alarm mode. In this way, it is able to send a notification to your smartphone when it detects any type of movement. In this sense, it offers the possibility of viewing live video, which favors practicality.
It also has a free application for smart phones, appropriate to control and configure the camera in a practical way. When it comes to resolution, it allows you to select between a 4K or 1080p live stream, while the recordings on the card are made in 1080p or 640p, depending on your preference.
On the other hand, it has compact dimensions of only 4.6 x 2.9 x 6.2 cm and has a design hidden from the naked eye, since the camera is integrated into a wall charger, which increases its functionality..
If you are wondering which is the best brand of spy cameras, then this model might interest you. Let us know its positive and negative aspects before selecting one.
Pros
Application: Offers easy configuration through a smartphone application, which increases practicality.
Compatibility: Provides support for SD cards up to 256 GB, enough to record a large number of videos.
Design: It is a USB charger with an integrated camera, which goes unnoticed in any room for greater discretion.
Cons
Night: Night mode might not be very efficient in completely dark spaces, which can be a disadvantage compared to other models.
car spy camera
Uyikoo TM-CK-Z
It is a car spy camera that has an innovative keychain design, which allows you to always carry it with you along with your car or house keys. Similarly, you can leave it on a table without attracting too much attention, thus increasing functionality.
On the other hand, it is capable of recording video with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and offers an image of more than 12 million pixels to observe what is happening in the environment in greater detail. Also, it has a mini voice recorder to listen to the video or record only audio.
It is important to highlight the night vision function, made up of infrared lights that can provide clearer videos at night or in low-light environments, which increases versatility.
An efficient spy camera must be discreet and functional, as is the case with this model. Let’s review its most relevant features in depth before making a decision.
Pros
Night: Provides a highly efficient night vision function, capable of displaying clear images in dark places.
Versatility: You can take photos, record videos and record audio, making it one of the most versatile models.
Design: It has a car keychain design, so it can go unnoticed in any circumstance.
Cons
Capacity: This device does not allow you to record long videos, since it is compatible with memory cards that have a maximum capacity of 32 GB.
micro spy camera
Tackly Mini
This is a micro spy camera that has a circular design of only 4.4 cm in diameter and 2.4 cm in height. For this reason, it is possible to place it in small spaces without attracting attention. It is important to note that it incorporates a wide-angle lens to offer a 160 ° view.
On the other hand, it has a sensor with an alarm, which automatically sends you a notification to your smartphone when it detects movement in the image. In this sense, it is possible to control it in a simple way, thanks to the fact that it offers a remote WiFi connection for greater functionality.
Also, it has a resolution of 1080p and offers night vision for greater versatility. Regarding the installation, it includes a magnetic mount that allows you to fix the camera on any metallic surface in your home or office, which makes it easier to install.
If you are looking for one of the cheapest spy cameras, it is recommended that you get to know this model thoroughly before making the purchase, since it has an affordable price.
Pros
Detector: It has a detector that sends you a notification to your phone in case of registering movement in the place.
Magnetic: Offers a magnetic mount that gives you quick and easy installation.
Size: It measures 2.4 x 4.4 cm, so it is a small device that does not attract attention.
Cons
Autonomy: It has a maximum autonomy of approximately 25 minutes. However, it can work for a long time if it is connected to power.
Camouflaged WiFi spy camera
FTDLCD 1080P
It is a camouflaged WiFi spy camera that is integrated into the structure of a table clock, so it can go unnoticed in space. As far as the image is concerned, it offers 1080p resolution and also has a night vision function, which can show dark spaces in a range of 10 meters.
It is important to note that this spy camera works through a home WiFi network, which allows you to see the live capture anytime, anywhere. It also works through the Tuya application, designed to control the camera and view the recordings.
On the other hand, it offers support for micro TF cards up to 128 GB. In this sense, once it is full, the camera overwrites the first recording so as not to stop its operation. As if that were not enough, it offers an attractive and modern design.
A high-quality spy camera must offer high technology and great versatility, like this model. Let’s take a closer look at its most important pros and cons.
Pros
Application: It works through the Tuya application, which allows you to control the device, view live video and review previous recordings.
Battery: It has a 3000 mAh rechargeable battery, so it offers you wireless operation.
Image: You can display images with HD quality, so that you can see what is happening in the room in detail.
Cons
Sound: Video sound may not be of optimal quality, which could put this camera at a disadvantage compared to others.
spy camera watch
Uyikoo TM Z CC N10
This camera stands out because it is integrated into a small desktop clock that measures only 10 cm long, 3.6 cm high and 4.4 cm deep. Therefore, it is a small device that can be placed anywhere in the house without attracting attention. Plus, it’s nice to know that it actually works as an alarm clock with large, easy-to-read numbers.
It incorporates WiFi technology so you can connect it to the internet and view images in real time from any smart mobile device. In this sense, it offers a high-performance 1080p HD resolution and has a lens with a 140 ° vision capacity to cover a wide space.
Regarding the capacity, it supports a micro SD card of up to 128 GB. Also, it is worth mentioning that this spy camera clock works directly connected to the household electrical current, but it also comes with a battery for wireless use.
When comparing hidden cameras, it is important to take into account all the features of each option. Let’s see the pros and cons of this model.
Pros
Alarm clock: This camera comes with a built-in alarm clock, so you can use it twice at the same time.
Access: Stored videos can be accessed directly in the app, so there is no need to remove the SD card.
Autonomy: You can record continuously even while charging and is compatible with cards up to 128 GB.
Cons
WiFi: It only supports 2.4 GHz WiFi network, which would be inconvenient if you have 5 GHz technology at home.
wireless spy camera
Igzyz IQ05R
This is one of the cheapest spy cameras on this list, but it has everything you need to deliver high performance. It is capable of transmitting live video in HD 1080p and 4K resolution, providing sharp, realistic and high-quality images. However, it is very compact, so you can easily install it in your clothes or backpack, but also in a flower pot, on a desk, etc.
This wireless spy camera can be easily connected to the 2.4 GHz WiFi network, to view the images remotely in real time. In this sense, you just have to install the application on your mobile and follow the steps.
On the other hand, it is good to know that it supports SD cards from 2 to 256 GB and can record continuously. In case the memory is full, it automatically overwrites the oldest file.
This could be the best value for money spy camera in this selection, but it is necessary to thoroughly review the positive and negative characteristics of the product before making a decision.
Pros
Size: Thanks to its compact size, you can install this camera anywhere, even in a pocket of your clothes.
Battery: It incorporates a 2200 mAh battery, which offers a range of 7 continuous hours with a full charge.
Users: The camera supports different users through the Share function, so images can be accessed by multiple family members.
Cons
Configuration: It is necessary to configure the camera after turning it on, since it does not save the parameters selected last time.
glasses with spy camera
Uyikoo TM GC 01
This mini camera has been cleverly integrated into conventional looking glasses, so you can record everything you see like a true spy. In this case, you can take photos in JPEG format and AVI videos, with Full HD 1920 x 1080p resolution. For this reason, it provides clear images that you can review later and even use as evidence depending on the need.
It is worth mentioning that these spy camera glasses are very easy to use, you just have to place the Micro SD card between the leg and the hinge and press a button located inside one of the arms.
The package comes with a 16GB card, but you can purchase up to 32GB separately for more storage. On the other hand, it is good to point out that the rechargeable battery has an autonomy of approximately 1 hour.
This is one of the most interesting options. However, it is good to analyze in detail the pros and cons of the product before making the purchase.
Pros
Practicality: The camera is integrated into a pair of glasses, so you can record indoors and outdoors without using your hands.
Resolution: It is capable of recording AVI files in Full HD 1920 x 1080p quality, so it offers sharp images.
Card: Includes a 16 GB Micro SD card to store up to 4 hours of video.
Cons
Legs: The legs of the glasses are thicker than conventional ones, so they can cause curiosity to other people.
spy camera button
Banglin 1080P
It is a button spy camera that allows you to select between two types of resolutions, 720p and 1080p, so you can record content in high definition at a speed of 30 fps in AVI format. It also serves to take photos and offers a motion detection function for added convenience.
It is specially designed to hide it in clothing, so it has 3 buttons of different designs to combine with different jackets. However, you can adjust other buttons to camouflage the camera according to your clothing style. On the other hand, it is good to know that it comes with a remote control that works on the 2.4 GHz frequency.
It incorporates a 64 GB Micro SD card, so you can store videos of up to 50 minutes. In addition, it is compatible with Micro SDHC CLASS 10 technology to increase memory capacity.
A hidden camera in a button of your clothes can be a good option to obtain exclusive images that you can later use for your benefit. Let’s review the details of this model.
Pros
Discretion: It is one of the most discreet, since it is specially designed to be installed behind clothing.
Remote: Bring a remote control that allows you to control the functions of the camera without anyone suspecting.
Buttons: It comes with 3 buttons of different styles so you can use the one that best suits your clothes.
Cons
Glue: The package does not include the glue to adhere the button to the lens, so you must purchase it separately.
Guide to buying a spy camera
Spy cameras have gone from being staples of suspense movies to becoming cheap and accessible to everyone. Something that expands our options when it comes to keeping an eye where we normally are not and it is necessary to monitor. For the best help, check out our guide to buying the best spy camera and find out what you should look for when buying one of these products.
Shopping guide
Image quality and taking of it
As the first element of our guide, we are going to talk about the image quality of the camera. The evolution of devices has made it easy to have adequate qualities, so that the lowest level is HD Ready quality, equivalent to 720P resolution. This is what we find in the cheapest spy cameras and it should be the minimum required to obtain quality images.
However, Full HD resolution spy cameras are becoming more and more common on the market. Its 1080P resolution gives higher quality to the image and allows you to see everything more clearly. As for the 4K models, although they are already available, they require a lot of storage and a network connection, if they are WiFi. An option available but that today is not worth it considering how much it costs to access it and what it offers us.
Regarding the image taking, the spy camera should have a wide-angle lens, which makes it easy to take images in a wide range from where we place the product. A task in which the device should also have infrared lights, with which to maintain the quality of these recordings even when the light circumstances are poor in the place where we mount the camera.
device autonomy
Another key aspect when looking at the models of any comparison of spy cameras has to do with the autonomy of the device. A section that is distributed in two different aspects: the storage capacity of the camera and the capacity of its battery. Both are key when looking for a good and cheap spy camera.
Starting with storage, it is usual for the camera to include internal memory or a card port. It is key to adjust this capacity to what we are going to record, although some product options also help, such as the recording system by prior activation, the motion detection system or the “recycling” of space, which eliminates what has already been recorded to store new contents. Anyway, if you want the maximum space, WiFi models with cloud storage are the solution.
Regarding autonomy, it depends on the complexity of the camera and its size. The smaller it is and the more functions it has, the less the battery will last. And that’s assuming you carry it, since some spy cameras must be plugged directly into the power. Therefore, it is key again that we value our needs, to adjust the camera to what we need.
Chamber size and design
As a final aspect, it is time to talk about the measurements, dimensions and characteristics of the camera. Something key in a product such as a spy camera and in which we are going to have all kinds of functions, in order to choose the one that best suits our needs.
Today, spy cameras come in all kinds of sizes. An offer that ranges from the conventional size of a webcam to the smallest models, which are barely a couple of centimeters on each side and one centimeter deep, in the size of a postage stamp. So, in terms of size and weight, the options available to facilitate concealment are considerable.
The same goes for the appearance and exterior design of the cameras. A look at what the market offers us reveals hidden spy cameras in Bluetooth speakers, pens, flash drives or mobile chargers, not forgetting car keyrings or those included in identification cards. Many of these elements are even functional, to give even more of a hit. So hiding the camera is as easy as choosing the design that best fits the area to be controlled.
Frequently asked questions
Q1: Where to hide a spy camera?
Well, it all depends on the type of camera and its characteristics. Some cameras are fully self-contained, so they can be placed anywhere, as opposed to plugged-in cameras, which must necessarily be close to a power source. On the other hand, the installation also depends on the chosen design, since some are in the form of a flash drive, webcam or speaker, which requires placing them where they do not attract too much attention or do not clash with the environment in which they are found.
Q2: How to use a spy camera?
The process of using a spy camera depends on your approach. In the models that have recording, it will be necessary to place the camera in a place where it can record whatever is necessary, having to retrieve it later to view the stored images. In the case of WiFi or IP cameras, we will have to follow the same process, although we will have the advantage of being able to access the recordings directly from our mobile or PC, through a browser or the corresponding app.
Q3: How to make a wireless spy camera?
To create a spy camera, we are going to need a camera, software, and data storage. As a camera we can use an old webcam, a mobile or even a camera for Raspberry, being a very popular option. As software, there are many on the net available like iSpy. And as storage, we can choose memory cards or WiFi connectivity, for which we will need the corresponding connector. In any case, due to the complexity and cost of the process, it will always be better to resort to a ready-to-use solution, such as the spy cameras that we have on the market.
Q4: How to make a mini spy camera with a cell phone?
Converting an old mobile into a spy camera is as easy as downloading the appropriate app for it. Among them we have Wardercam, Alfred or AVS. These apps have a double operating system, so they can be used in surveillance or spectator mode depending on what is necessary. Once the app is installed, it will be necessary to configure it, place the mobile where we are interested, plug it into the current or a power bank to improve autonomy and monitor what is necessary. Depending on the chosen app, it is convenient to add a large memory card to the mobile, so that it has more space to record video.
Q5: How to detect a spy camera?
Today it is possible to detect spy cameras through some mobile applications. These applications have an infrared ray detector, which allows us to find the cameras by sweeping the environment with the mobile and checking if there is any signal on the screen. More efficient are the professional solutions, with which to detect this type of cameras. However, except for the most expensive and professional models, the ones we have within our reach have discreet results, according to experts.
