When it comes to safety and peace of mind for outbuildings, larger properties or even all the different entries for your home, a good outdoor security camera can be a huge time-saver and life-saver. And they can do more than just monitor. Outdoor cams offer a lot of different assets, depending on the models. You can get ones with floodlights, sirens and plenty of other features. However, the top challenge is probably powering the thing: If there's no outlet nearby -- and most outdoor cameras aren't near one -- it can seem like you have to switch out the batteries every couple months. And that's where the solar powered security camera comes in.

Get ready to put those solar panels to good use. Solar-powered security cameras can mean a lot more practicality for outdoor cams that otherwise require complicated hardwiring (as anyone who's tried to discreetly conceal wires behind siding knows) or frequent battery changes. But not every camera includes solar panels. In fact, our favorite outdoor security cameras -- especially those from major brands -- are frequently sold separately from panels, even if they are compatible with them.

While we're still in the process of testing specialized solar-powered cameras, we have tested a wide variety of cameras that can optionally be used with solar panels. These are our favorite outdoor cams that work with solar panels.

Read more: Home Security Buying Guide

How we test solar-powered security cams

Home security cameras are tricky devices to test, because how good they are doesn't just come down to how their numbers stack up against the competition's. We do look for better resolution, wider field of view and the presence of features we consider must-haves in 2022, like two-way talk, night vision and options for cloud storage. Then we add in extra goodies, like smart notifications or a built-in siren or spotlight, and hold up that whole package against its retail price. If the features are really strong for the price, we'll recommend a camera more highly.

But we also test out cameras carefully, making sure all the features work well. Smart notifications aren't helpful if they arrive 20 seconds late; a siren isn't useful if it's barely audible. Some cameras disconnect too often, and some apps are difficult to understand or navigate. This experiential side of things is where our recommendations become more personal and in many ways more useful. Anyone can line up the specs of different products, but we're putting our hands on these cameras for a week or more to see how it actually feels to install and use them.

In the case of solar-powered home security cameras, we've tested each of these devices extensively -- but not necessarily with their solar panels. We plan to fill out this article in the coming months, adding more cameras with built-in solar panels and testing the performance of the solar panels themselves on a more granular level, so be sure to check back often to see more recommendations.

If you want to read more about our review process, check out our in-depth article on how we test home security cameras and video doorbells.

Solar-Powered Security Cams Compared

Our Picks	Arlo Pro 4 (w/ solar panel)	Ring Stick Up Cam (w/ solar panel)
Price	$240	$149
Resolution	2K	1080p
Field of View	160-degrees	115-degrees
Setup	Wireless, indoor/outdoor	Plug-in and battery versions, camera itself can be indoor/outdoor
Extra Features	Live streaming, two-way talk, night vision, weather resistance	Live streaming, quick alerts, night vision, two-way talk, privacy zones and motion detection zones, integration with Amazon Alexa
Review Score	8.5	8

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