Shortlist and buying guide · the ranked board is on its way
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What to look for
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Models worth comparing
From manufacturers' specifications and published UK reviews, read on 6 October 2026. Not tested by us. In no particular order: these are not ranked, and we do not say which is best until the customer ratings are in.
Budget
Tapo C120
Anyone wanting an inexpensive wired camera for indoors or a sheltered outdoor spot, with recording to a memory card and no compulsory plan.
Records 2K (2560 x 1440) video, with a starlight sensor and spotlights for colour night vision
IP66 rated, so it can be mounted inside or outdoors
Tells people, pets and vehicles apart and can listen for sounds such as glass breaking
Watch out for: It needs a constant USB-C power lead, so placement depends on reaching a socket, and it lacks Apple HomeKit and Matter support.
People who want very detailed outdoor footage plus tracking and zoom from one camera, with recordings kept at home rather than in the cloud.
Three lenses: a fixed 4K camera plus a pan-and-tilt turret with two 2K lenses
32GB of built-in storage, expandable by microSD up to 256GB
Replaceable 10,000mAh battery with a detachable solar panel
Watch out for: It is large and obviously a security camera, setting up zones across several cameras is fiddly, and saved clips are not kept at true 4K.
We are gathering the customer ratings this board needs from UK shops. When they are in, the ranked list replaces this guide at the same address, scored the way every board is: star ratings weighed by how many people left them. How we score.