Best cheap outdoor security cameras

Top pick: Blink Outdoor 4 — the cheapest way into a name-brand outdoor camera that just works. Battery-powered, no wiring, motion alerts and night vision, and it's the one I'd put on a porch or fence first.

Who the others suit:

• Tapo C402 Kit (solar) — best for a spot with sun and no outlet; the panel keeps it charged and it has a microSD slot so there's no subscription.
• Tapo C500 / C216 — cheapest pan-and-tilt options if you want to sweep a yard or driveway from an app.
• ANNKE C800 — for someone who can run a cable and wants sharp 4K detail on a fixed view.
• Blink Outdoor 2K+ — a step up in resolution if you're staying in the Blink app.
• Tapo C560WS / C660 Kit — the premium end: 4K, pan/tilt, solar on the C660.

Skip the dual-lens Tapo C246D if you mainly want outdoor coverage — it's built for indoor/outdoor hybrid use.