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The best wireless security cameras give you peace of mind when you travel
Summer is the perfect time to take a well-deserved vacation. But it’s a crazy world out there. A wireless security camera can give you some peace of mind while you’re away from home by letting you keep an eye on things from anywhere in the world.
But what kind of features should you look for when shopping for a wireless security camera? Ideally you’ll have high-resolution video, night vision, motion detection with customizable real-time alerts. You’ll also want to be able to view live video feeds from your smartphone.
We’ve gathered some of the best wireless security cameras you can choose from ahead of your summer travel plans. There are options from brands like Blink and Nest at different price points, each with their own unique set of features and options.
What is the best wireless security camera?
Best wireless security camera: Arlo Pro 5S 2K security camera
Best pan-and-tilt wireless security camera: Lorex Pan & Tilt Indoor Security Camera
Best 4K resolution wireless security camera: Reolink Argus 4 Pro
Best compact wireless security camera: Blink Indoor (3rd Gen)
Best wireless security camera for object detection: Google Nest indoor/outdoor cam (2nd Gen)
Best wireless security camera: Arlo Pro 5S 2K security camera
Our favorite wireless home security camera is the Arlo Pro 5S 2K. With its 2K HDR video quality and 12x zoom, it can capture every detail you need for a clear picture of what’s going on at home. This easy to set up camera includes color night vision for full-color footage eat night nights. It also has an integrated spotlight for better visibility that can also act as a deterrent for any unwelcome guests you may have hanging about.
It also has a wide 160° field of view so you can see more of your property. Plus, with the Arlo Secure Plan trial, you’ll have access to premium features like 30-day video cloud storage, advanced detection for people, packages, and vehicles and 24/7 emergency response. This will cost an additional fee, but it’s well worth it for all of the features you can benefit from with the paid service.
All in all, this is an excellent wireless security camera with everything you need to make sure everything’s all good when you’re home or away.
Best pan-and-tilt wireless security camera: Lorex Pan & Tilt Indoor Security Camera
Want a great indoor cam with unparalleled pan-and-tilt features so you can see everything without multiple cameras? This Lorex option has you covered. It can swivel left, right, up and down and includes great digital zoom so nothing has to escape your sight. It also has a night vision range of 32 feet.
Outside of its visual range, this Lorex camera doesn’t skimp on essential features. It offers two-way audio so you can communicate with anyone near the camera. Plus, like many of its competitors, it includes decent object detection for people and animals.
With its 2K resolution, this unit captures more detail than many competitors in this price range as well. Plus, it’s compatible with both Google Assistant and Alexa, so if you have a smart home setup, you can have your smart assistant move the camera around for you when you’re ready to see the rest of your home, inside and out, when you check in for the day.
Best 4K resolution wireless security camera: Reolink Argus 4 Pro
This wireless security camera is the best option if you want crystal clear 4K video, plus viewing angles and a generous 180-degree field of view. Plus, thanks to Reolink’s ColorX technology, you can see what’s going on with vibrant, full-color vision both day and night, even in complete darkness.
It also features a rechargeable battery that charges fully in just 10 minutes and can be paired with a compatible 6W solar panel for non-stop, 24-hour surveillance if you’d prefer to keep it outdoors instead of inside.
Installing the Argus 4 Pro is a breeze too, and with its built-in two-way audio and remote access via the Reolink app, you’ll have communication capabilities right out of the box. You’re paying extra for the high quality video feed, but it’s well worth it if you want to be able to see everything with clarity.
Best compact wireless security camera: Blink Indoor (3rd Gen)
This wireless Blink camera packs a punch when it comes to features and performance. It’s also super easy to move around and reposition due to its compact size and unique square shape.
With the Blink Indoor camera, you can keep a watchful eye on your surroundings thanks to its live video streaming, two-way audio and night vision for round-the-clock monitoring.
It’s even better if you have a Blink video doorbell, as it can deliver chime notifications and alerts directly from the camera. That means you can extend your coverage to larger areas of your home without additional full-sized devices. Plus, it can run for up to two years on just two AA lithium batteries.
It’s a full-featured camera in a small package that works even better when you pair it with other Blink devices, but it stands tall on its own. Keep in mind that you will need to purchase the Blink Sync Module 2, which comes at an additional fee.
Best wireless security camera for object detection: Google Nest indoor/outdoor cam (2nd Gen)
Some wireless cameras send you notifications for just about anything that moves outside. This Google Nest cam has absolutely fantastic object detection capabilities that’ll make sure you aren’t bothered every five minutes unless there’s something actually going on that you need to know about.
It’s also super easy to set up. Whether you choose to place it indoors or outdoors, the camera’s magnetic connection makes it easy to snap onto its included mount and go about your business. Remove it for recharging whenever you need, and put it back up when it’s time to monitor again.
Outside of its great detection features it boasts HD video quality, night vision and two-way audio. Plus, Google offers a generous video storage package that includes up to 3 hours of cloud storage at no additional cost, which is somewhat rare these days.
CBS News
Frito-Lay recalls Lay’s Classic Potato Chips over undisclosed ingredient
Frito-Lay is recalling a limited number of 13 oz. bags of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips after being alerted by a consumer contact that the product may contain undeclared milk.
The bags of chips affected by recall were distributed to certain retail stores and e-commerce distributors in Oregon and Washington and were available for sale beginning Nov. 3, 2024.
“Those with an allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the recalled product,” the Food and Drug Administration said in the recall notice posted Thursday.
No allergic reactions related to the recall have been reported, according to the recall. Additionally, no other Lay’s products, flavors, sizes or variety packs are affected.
The recalled chips include Lay’s Classic Potato Chips, in flexible 13 oz. (368.5 grams) bags with UPC code 28400 31041, a “Guaranteed Fresh” date of 11 Feb 2025, and one of either two manufacturing codes: 6462307xx or 6463307xx.
General guidelines from the FDA advise consumers who have purchased any recalled food to dispose of the product or return it to the retailer for a full refund.
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What to know about DA Fani Willis’ removal from Trump case
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What is the debt ceiling? Here’s why Trump wants Congress to abolish it before he takes office
Washington — President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect JD Vance and billionaire Elon Musk blew up a GOP-backed deal to fund federal agencies into March, raising the pressure on Republican congressional leaders to craft a plan to avert a government shutdown just before the holidays.
In a statement Wednesday, Trump and Vance lambasted the agreement for including provisions favored by Democrats. But the incoming president and vice president also added a new, significant wrinkle to negotiations when they urged Congress to raise or abolish the debt ceiling now, instead of next year.
“Increasing the debt ceiling is not great but we’d rather do it on Biden’s watch,” Trump and Vance said in their statement. “If Democrats won’t cooperate on the debt ceiling now, what makes anyone think they would do it in June during our administration? Let’s have this debate now.”
What is the debt ceiling?
Set by Congress, the debt ceiling, or limit, is the maximum amount of money the U.S. Treasury is authorized to borrow to pay debts incurred by the federal government. Lifting the debt ceiling does not authorize new spending, but instead lets the government spend money on obligations that Congress has already been approved.
Failing to address the debt ceiling could lead the U.S. to default on its debt, which would have devastating effects on the economy. The government has never defaulted, and the Treasury typically uses accounting moves, known as “extraordinary measures,” to delay breaching the debt ceiling.
While raising the debt ceiling used to be routine, legislation addressing it has in recent years been used as leverage to force policy concessions and fuel debates over government spending.
Congress last addressed the debt ceiling in June 2023 as part of a legislative package negotiated by President Biden and then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. That deal suspended the debt ceiling through Jan., 1, 2025, ensuring any fight over it would take place after the 2024 elections.
The Treasury Department will likely implement extraordinary measures to stave off a default in the new year. It will also announce an “X date,” the estimated point at which the government will no longer be able to pay its obligations. The Economic Policy Innovation Center, a conservative think tank, projected in an analysis released Monday that it’s possible the debt limit will be reached by June 16.
While the Treasury Department’s use of extraordinary measures would give Congress more time to address the debt ceiling, Trump is now urging lawmakers to take action now, before he takes office.
Why does Trump want to raise the debt ceiling?
The president-elect will come into office with a legislative to-do list that includes securing the border and extending provisions of his signature Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which was enacted in 2017 and overhauled the tax code. But a fight over the debt ceiling could complicate efforts by the Republican-led House and Senate to focus on those legislative initiatives and pass them quickly.
Trump is urging lawmakers to eliminate the debt ceiling altogether, a position that some prominent Democrats have endorsed in the past.
“Number one, the debt ceiling should be thrown out entirely,” Trump said in a phone interview Thursday with CBS News’ Robert Costa. “Number two, a lot of the different things they thought they’d receive [in a recently proposed spending deal] are now going to be thrown out, 100 percent. And we’ll see what happens. We’ll see whether or not we have a closure during the Biden administration. But if it’s going to take place, it’s going to take place during Biden, not during Trump.”
Trump separately told ABC News that “there won’t be anything approved unless the debt ceiling is done with,” indicating any spending deal to prevent a shutdown must address the debt limit.
“If we don’t get it, then we’re going to have a shutdown, but it’ll be a Biden shutdown, because shutdowns only [injure] the person who’s president,” he told ABC News.
Whether Republicans and Democrats would go along with such a plan, though, is far from clear. GOP lawmakers in both chambers have opposed raising the debt ceiling without spending reforms, and debates over the debt limit often give way to broader fights over the federal budget, which conservatives in Congress have said is bloated and should be reduced. Plus, Democrats still control the Senate and the White House.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Wednesday that shutting down the government would harm families and endanger services Americans rely on.
“Republicans need to stop playing politics with this bipartisan agreement or they will hurt hardworking Americans and create instability across the country,” she said. “President-elect Trump and Vice President-elect Vance ordered Republicans to shut down the government and they are threatening to do just that — while undermining communities recovering from disasters, farmers and ranchers, and community health centers.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries suggested Democrats would not go along with a plan pushed by Republicans to raise the debt limit.
“GOP extremists want House Democrats to raise the debt ceiling so that House Republicans can lower the amount of your Social Security check. Hard pass,” the New York Democrat wrote on the social media platform Bluesky.
Jeffries also told reporters “the debt limit issue and discussion is premature at best.”