Abode Cam 2

The $34.99 Abode Cam 2 might be small and inexpensive, but it doesn’t skimp on features. Designed for either indoor or outdoor use, it delivers sharp 1080p video and offers color night vision and intelligent alerts. You can integrate the Cam 2 into an existing Abode home security system and control it with Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, though it doesn't offer any local storage and some of its features require a subscription. While the Cam 2 is a strong choice if you already have an Abode security system, our Editors' Choice winner for affordable security cameras, the Wyze Cam V3, offers a few more features and includes local storage for the same price.  

A Durable, Cloud-First Design

At 1.9 inches all around, the cube-shaped Abode Cam 2 is just a tad smaller than the Wyze Cam V3 (2.2 by 2.0 by 2.0 inches) but has the same basic design. The white enclosure has an IP65 weatherproof rating, which means it's suitable for outdoor use and can withstand the elements. You can place the camera on a flat surface or mount it on a wall or ceiling, and its hinged base lets you easily tilt and swivel its position.

The front of the enclosure is glossy black and houses a 1080p camera that captures video at 30fps and has a 121-degree horizontal field of view. It also has four infrared LEDs for night vision, as well as a microphone. The Abode Cam 2 captures color night video using whatever ambient light is available, but if there’s not enough light, it uses those infrared LEDs to deliver black-and-white night footage.

The back of the camera contains a speaker, a mini USB power jack, a status LED, and a reset button. Under the hood is a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio for connecting the camera to your home network without the need for a hub. You can also connect it to an existing Abode home security system. Aside from the camera, you get a 6-foot USB power cable, a USB power adapter, a pairing guide, and mounting hardware in the box.

The Abode Cam 2 works with Alexa and Google voice commands, but it doesn’t support Apple HomeKit or IFTTT applets. It will, however, work with IFTTT when you integrate it into an Abode security system. The camera doesn’t offer local storage for event-triggered videos like the Wyze Cam V3 and the Eufy Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt P24 do. Instead, it stores video in the cloud and requires you to pay for a subscription to access it. Abode also locks the the Person Detection feature, which identifies human motion in videos, behind a subscription. 

The Abode Standard plan goes for $6 per month and gives you 10 days of event triggered recorded video and an event timeline for a single camera. For an additional $9 per month, you get 24/7 recording and support for an unlimited number of cameras. If you have an Abode home security system, you can subscribe to the $20 per month Pro plan and get professional monitoring and access to 10 days of cloud video with an event timeline. For an additional $9 per month, you get 24/7 recording and support for an unlimited number of cameras.

App-Based Camera Controls

The Abode Cam 2 uses the same mobile app for Android and iOS devices as the Abode iota All-In-One Home Security Kit and the Abode Smart Security Kit. The camera appears on the dashboard screen in a panel with a still image of the camera view and the name of the device. Tap the panel to launch a live stream and turn your phone sideways to view it in full screen. Below the video panel are Sound (mute), Talk (two-way audio), Image (snapshot), and Video (manual recording) buttons, and below those are thumbnails for video clips stored in the cloud. Tap any clip to play it, share it, or delete it.

A gear icon in the upper right corner takes you to the Settings screen where you can turn the camera on and off; adjust the length of video clips (1 to 30 seconds); enable Pre-Roll (which captures a few seconds of video before a motion trigger); set detection zones; configure motion settings; and adjust microphone and speaker volume levels. Here you can also configure Wi-Fi settings and edit the camera name.

Simple Setup and Reliable Operation

Setting up the Abode Cam 2 was fast and easy in testing. I downloaded the Abode mobile app, created an account, and tapped the Add Camera button on the Dashboard screen. I tapped I Have a Camera, selected the Abode Cam 2, and followed the on-screen instructions for connecting the USB cable and powering up the camera. When the camera said Ready to Connect, I entered my network SSID and password and used the camera to scan the QR code that appeared on my phone. After I got the Setup Complete prompt, I gave the camera a name and updated the firmware to complete the installation.

The Abode Cam 2 performed well in testing. Daytime video appeared sharp and colorful, with no noticeable barrel or pincushion distortion. Color night video also looked sharp, but colors weren't nearly as vivid as what you get in daylight or a fully illuminated room. However, with little or no light, the camera provided crisp, well-lit black-and-white video. 

Motion alerts arrived instantly and the camera correctly identified people. Two-way audio came through loud and clear, and I had no trouble streaming video on an Amazon Echo Show using Alexa voice commands.

An Affordable Security Camera for Abode System Owners

Whether you’re adding it to an existing Abode home security system or using it as a standalone security camera, the Abode Cam 2 offers a generous assortment of features at an affordable price. It has a weatherproof enclosure that lets you use it outdoors in the elements, it can capture nighttime video in color, and it tells you whether detected motion events are caused by a person. That said, you have to pay to use the Person Detection feature and to view event-triggered video. If you don't already have an Abode security system, or you want to store your video locally for free, we recommend Wyze Cam V3. It also works outdoors, integrates with lots of third-party smart devices, and sports a built-in siren, earning it our Editors' Choice award for affordable home security cameras.