Table of Content
- Storage
- Cori HD Smart Home Security Camera review: Peace of mind on a budget
- Best Home Security Camera Picks
- This very inexpensive camera has a few issues, but it may be good enough for many users.
- Apple
- Step up security affordably with the Momentum Cori HD home security cameras
- Ugreen’s new desktop chargers keep your devices charged fast
Being able to deselect motion detect areas is great if you need to stop motion alerts caused by things like traffic outside of your window. Being on the 4th floor I didn’t have to change this, but it’s nice to see it included. Two cameras come in the box, allowing for multi-room setups or a view outside from a window (they’re not rated as dedicated outdoor cameras). The cameras aren’t battery operated and require a wall outlet, and connect to the units via micro-USB . Each wire is generously long and will reach most nearby outlets, and the cameras themselves can either sit on a flat surface or mount to a wall with adhesive pads. The cameras swivel freely on their base and can be set at just about any angle, and with a wide 110-degree view, you shouldn’t have a problem covering any area.
Even if those are nitpicky complaints, there are other reasons to pause before purchasing the Momentum Cori. Only after pairing the Cori on an iPhone could I access the camera, its videos and its settings on an Android phone. A Momentum spokesperson said they have never heard of this problem. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. Going the wired route also tends to save you a few bucks over their wireless counterparts, which may come in handy depending on how many cameras you’re hoping to sprinkle throughout your home.
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You can talk to family members, pets or warn intruders in real time. The cameras will also automatically switch into Night Vision when the lights go out. You can clearly see me on camera #2 leaning against the wall in total darkness on the other side of the room. The microphone is in the front of the camera, and the speaker is on the back. An uncovered, spring-loaded SD slot on the side accommodates a class-4 microSD card of up to 128GB (which you'll need to buy separately).
You can buy the dual-camera package from Momentum’s websitefor $59.99. Other cameras are available as well, such as an outdoor camera/floodlight combo for $179.99 and garage door controller with built-in camera for $99.95. At present, you can use Google to turn on the camera; you will soon also be able to turn the device off via Google. The Live View auto-rotates quickly between horizontal and vertical orientations. The app has the controls for two-way audio, plus icons for taking a snapshot or recording video from the Live View.
Cori HD Smart Home Security Camera review: Peace of mind on a budget
As it turns out, that happens to be the biggest pro of these types of cameras. You won’t have to worry about having to recharge or replace a battery in order to keep these cameras monitoring your space. With some cameras, a hard wired connection allows for 24/7 recording capabilities, like you’ll find with the Nest Doorbell Wired (second-gen). Wired security cameras will constantly have a power source and will provide 24/7 surveillance thanks to that.
But these days, with apps and do-it-yourself mounting hardware, smart security cameras are becoming the status quo. And, you no longer have to spend big bucks to get a good home security camera. Even some of big name brands like Nestand Netgear Arlo Pro 2will only cost you somewhere between $200 and $400. In the Activity list, recorded videos are identified by small square thumbnails, the name of the camera, and the day and time of the recording.
Best Home Security Camera Picks
The image was sharp with rich colors in my tests, there was no fisheye distortion, and night vision provided strong illumination with strong contrast. When you’re viewing the live feed, you can mute the sound or activate privacy mode—which blacks out the image—by pressing the appropriate icon above the streaming pane. Buttons at the bottom this screen activate the camera’s microphone, manually record video, snap a screenshot of the live feed, or take a shortcut to your video-clip library.
But this device also produces pretty good daylight video that's easy to access and save. The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
You’ll occasionally see artifacts in the picture, especially in less than ideal lighting, but it doesn’t compromise the overall viewing experience. There’s also about a full second delay in live streams, which again is irrelevant overall. You have control over resolution and the sensitivity of both motion and sound triggers as well.
Tapping the still image on the dashboard lets you see the live-streamed video from the camera. There are also buttons for starting two-way audio, manually recording, taking a snapshot and viewing past activity. You can turn the camera on or off remotely, mute the speaker or set other settings like WiFi and motion zones from the gear icon. The Cori uses infrared LED lighting to provide up to 25 feet of black-and-white night vision. It has motion and sound sensors, a 2.4GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi radio, and a microphone and speaker for two-way audio.
We were impressed with the Cori cameras’ functionality and practicality. These cameras are not the highest tech devices with all the bells and whistles, but they absolutely work as advertised. So many lower-tier tech devices try to pack in as many features as possible, with some of the features not working as advertised. The Momentum Cori HD Home Security Cameras are affordable and reliable devices. They perform the basic functions well without trying to be overly ambitious. PCMag is obsessed with culture and tech, offering smart, spirited coverage of the products and innovations that shape our connected lives and the digital trends that keep us talking.
There were long delays each time the app had to connect to the camera or my network, during which it wasn’t clear if anything was happening at all. Then when the app and voice prompt indicated the setup was successful, I went to access the live stream only to be told there was no camera available. If you want entry-level home security cameras that work the way they’re supposed to and high-tech features are not your priority, you should buy the Momentum HD Home Security Cameras. The Momentum Cori HD home security cameras don’t appear to be made of cheap or flimsy materials.
I never ran into serious issues while using the cameras and was always confident in their reliability. For both security and keeping an eye on a new pet, the two cameras were all that I needed. The mobile app for Android and iOS is fairly sparse but does the job.
Regardless of which type of wired connection you end up with, the concept is the same. Your camera will have a constant power source to draw from as it works to provide a steady surveillance of your home. A decent image, motion zones, and a well-designed app in what is basically a $30 camera are to be celebrated. Still, I was troubled by the fact that one of my two cameras was unusable, and the setup process was overlong.
You can also filter the list view by camera and the kind of alert. Unfortunately, the square thumbnails give no indication of the triggering motion. Wired security cameras are most commonly suited for indoor applications, where you don’t have to worry nearly as much about placement since outlets are likely to be plentiful.
