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SimpliSafe adds camera to home security system

SimpliSafe will expand its home security options with the addition of a wireless camera to its offerings.

Ashlee Clark Thompson Associate Editor
Ashlee spent time as a newspaper reporter, AmeriCorps VISTA and an employee at a healthcare company before she landed at CNET. She loves to eat, write and watch "Golden Girls" (preferably all three at the same time). The first two hobbies help her out as an appliance reviewer. The last one makes her an asset to trivia teams. Ashlee also created the blog, AshleeEats.com, where she writes about casual dining in Louisville, Kentucky.
Ashlee Clark Thompson
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The SimpliSafe Camera will become available in February or March of 2016.

Ry Crist/CNET

When we first reviewed the SimpliSafe home security system, we liked the easy-to-install package enough to give it a Editors' Choice award. But one knock against SimpliSafe was the company's lack of a camera in its security offerings. This year, SimpliSafe will address that need with the addition of a wireless camera to its lineup of home security products.

SimpliSafe displayed its new camera Tuesday at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The camera is currently in beta testing, but is set for release in February or March. The final price hasn't been set, but SimpliSafe estimates that the camera will cost around $200, which is comparable to other security cameras such as the Nest Cam and the Samsung SmartCam HD Pro. But monitoring will cost an additional monthly fee that starts at $15.

The SimpliSafe camera looks similar to other models we've seen. The lens is mounted on a rectangular body that hovers slightly above where it sits. It's pretty light, too -- about as heavy as a deck of cards. I'll be eager to see if the SimpliSafe camera will be as praise-worthy as the company's previous products.

The high-tech home security gadgets of CES 2016 (pictures)

See all photos

Features

  • Stainless steel privacy shutter if you don't want to record activity while you're home
  • 720p HD recording
  • 120-degree diagonal view
  • Two-way audio
  • Heat signature motion detection
  • Auto night vision

Want more CES coverage? Check out CNET's coverage here.