Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera Review

When it comes to home security, you want the best out there. With so many options on the market, each promising the moon – how can you know which is right?

To help your decision, today we’re evaluating the Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera. Amazon has now entered the home security business and, according to tester feedback, has created a camera that is convenient, easy to set up, and provides quality video.

Even still, not everyone had a great experience. Some testers disliked the limited features outside of a subscription plan, some thought the camera app was buggy, and others expected continuous recording instead of short clips.

Are these issues real deal-breakers? Let’s take a closer look at the Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera and find out.

Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera: The Details

Specs

• Product Dimensions: 4 x 2.75 inches.
• Product Weight: 5 ounces.
• Product Type: Security camera.
• Compatible with Amazon Alexa? Yes.

How Does It Work

The installation and set-up process for the Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera is rather easy. It only takes about five minutes.

To begin, first, download the Amazon Cloud Cam app to your Android smartphone or iPhone. Log in to your Amazon account or create one if you haven’t already.

Then, plug in the camera, setting the base on a flat surface within range of a wall outlet. The camera also comes with mounting hardware, should you need to attach it to a wall.

Next, open the app and press the ‘add camera’ icon. The app will lead you through syncing process between the device and app.

After that, select the “camera is in pairing mode” icon and ensure the Bluetooth on your phone is enabled. The app will pick up the camera – and then it’s all set up!

When the camera first arrives, you receive a free 30-day trial to all the camera’s advanced features, including the set-up of detection zones and instant alerts when someone is within range.

Detection zones allow you to focus on certain areas versus others, while the alerts can be sent to any device, anywhere, if customized. For example, you can have alerts pop up when an event occurs or just once daily. You can also change the sensitivity of the motion detector.

For added privacy, the camera can be programmed to turn off anytime your phone is at home and turn back on when you leave the house.

Additionally, you can set the camera to work with your Amazon Alexa. Ask Alexa to show you the video feed from a certain area and she will, so long as you give each camera a specific name.

Amazon: The Brand

If you haven’t heard of Amazon by now, you might be living under a rock. The e-commerce company was founded in 1994 by Jeff Bezos in Bellevue, Washington.

It started off as a place to buy books, but has since transformed into a marketplace to buy and sell just about anything.

They have even begun to sell their own brand of products, which include electronics, bedding, and computers, as well as services like Amazon Publishing and Amazon Studios.

Along with Google, Facebook, and Apple, Amazon is considered one of the “Big Four” technology companies of this decade.

Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera Review

The Positives

Easy to Set Up

Whether or not you’re savvy about installing electronics, setting up the Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera is very simple.

Most of the installation is done through the app. Simply arrange the camera(s) in your preferred areas and follow the prompts within the app. When setting up the camera, Amazon also includes a wall mount to make placement all the easier.

From there, you can enable customized features, tailoring its video feed to your specific needs. In less than ten minutes, you can have a safer view of your home.

It doesn’t take a long time to figure out how to set-up this device. So if you’re new to tech or are easily frustrated by it – not to worry. Amazon takes a lot of the fuss out of the set-up process.

Convenient

What’s more convenient than a security camera you can operate from your phone? With the help of the app, you’re alerted when someone is near (or in) your home who shouldn’t be.

This allows you to take the necessary steps to ensure they’re caught or barred from entering in the future. Aside from installing the camera, there’s no extra work needed to establish a safer home environment.

As a bonus, should you ever need to change anything on the camera or just want to view what’s going on, you can enter the app and control every feature from there. From the app, you can also live-stream via Amazon, switch off the audio, or turn off the infrared light.

Additional features like automatic settings and movement detection make this camera all the more convenient. And with the inclusion of Amazon Alexa, chances are, you’ll never have to lift a finger.

Customizable

The Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera is also entirely customizable.

If there are certain areas in your home that need greater focus, surveillance, or alert sensitivity, you can arrange this with a few setting adjustments. Want to heighten security on the front porch? The Amazon Cloud Cam makes it easy.

If you want alerts once a day or every time it notes unusual activity, you can choose that in the app. It all depends on your specific preferences.

With this camera, you can set it up to work with your specific preferences, making for a more personal experience overall.

Free Storage

Amazon also offers free storage. While there are paid subscription plans that offer a range of features, there’s no fee involved with Amazon’s capacity to store 24 hours’ worth of footage.

You can look over the events of each day and even export the footage to your computer, external hard drive, or cloud service.

While paying for a subscription does offer extra benefits, the free option still provides you with day-to-day footage.

Video Feed Quality

Customers noted that the video quality on this camera was great, giving users a clear view of whatever was happening in or around their home.

Even in low lighting, testers pointed out that this 1080p HD camera continued to provide great video quality. This includes the audio too; users were always able to get clear sound from the video ensuring nothing goes unnoticed.

When night falls, the Amazon Security Camera continues to provide a clear feed thanks to its night vision feature. This is set to be automatic, so you won’t have to lift a finger when things go dark.

Testers have also noted the night vision on this camera to be of good quality so you won’t have to worry about missing any nighttime action. At night is usually when trouble strikes, and this camera ensures it’ll be ready to defend.

The Negatives

Subscription Service

What was the biggest complaint about this security camera? Testers disliked the subscription service. You have to pay in order to access certain features.

Without the Amazon Cloud paid subscription, you cannot establish specific detection zones for the camera to focus on and you can’t receive personal alerts.

While the subscription service is not too expensive, testers still expected these abilities to be free.

No Continuous Recording

Since the Cloud Cam only takes short clips and doesn’t record continuously, the camera may skip certain events and miss activity within your home.

These ‘blind spots’ could be problematic, especially if your phone doesn’t receive motion-detection alerts. A few testers had issues with this and hoped that, as Amazon updated the camera, this feature would be modified.

It wasn’t a major complaint, so it may not be an issue for you, but it’s worth noting ahead of time.

Buggy

A couple of testers also discovered bugs within the app and camera itself. The camera would need to be re-synced to the app, would stop working suddenly, or the app would close out on its own.

This only happened to a few people, so you may never encounter the problem. As such, it could be a result of user error, a poor connection, or a few bad eggs in the manufacturing process.

Privacy Concerns

While Amazon is a reputable brand, they have been under fire before from customers. Specifically in relation to privacy concerns on their other devices.

Due to previous concerns, owning an actual Amazon camera in your home could cause some users to raise their eyebrows.

Some might be wary and to combat this,  Amazon has included features like ‘mute’ to ensure user privacy and help return the brand to a more trustworthy status.

This video shows what the Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera looks like out of the box.

Overall Verdict

After going over all the positives and negatives, we do recommend the Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera.

With the easy installation process, the convenience of operating everything from your phone or smart device, and the ability to customize features, there are very few negative aspects to this camera.

If you are willing to pay the subscription fee for the extra services, it becomes even more useful. The only question is: Do you want Amazon to be in charge of your security?

This was a privacy issue a few testers noted, but most seemed able to put aside these concerns due to the high functionality of the camera.

Where to Buy the Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera

Amazon has become a household name. Not only does Amazon have one of the most popular online marketplaces, but they’ve also become a brand to watch in tech thanks to the success of Amazon Alexa.

Since Alexa, Amazon has branched out into an array of niches from home decor to furniture. And while you’re sure to find their products on their site, their success and popularity mean that’s not the only place you’ll find their items.

You can find the Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera both in-store and online, and you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• Best Buy (from $119)
• Smarthome (from $119)
• Adorama (from $119)

And of course, you can grab yourself an Amazon Cloud Cam Security Camera on Amazon.

That’s the end of our Amazon Cloud Cam review. Tempted to give this security camera a try?