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Article updated on March 13, 2023 at 8:33 AM PDT

Wyze Cam Pan v2 Review: One of the Best Indoor Cameras

Few cameras, if any, can compare to the Cam Pan v2's value, though the newest indoor cam from Wyze could give it a run for its money.

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Written by 
David Priest
David Anders
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement
David Priest Former editor
David Priest is an award-winning writer and editor who formerly covered home security for CNET.
David Anders Senior Writer
David Anders is a senior writer for CNET covering broadband providers, smart home devices and security products. Prior to joining CNET, David built his industry expertise writing for the broadband marketplace Allconnect. In his 5 plus years covering broadband, David's work has been referenced by a variety of sources including ArcGIS, DIRECTV and more. David is from and currently resides in the Charlotte area with his wife, son and two cats.
Expertise Broadband providers, Home internet, Security Cameras
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CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.

9.2/ 10
SCORE

Wyze Cam Pan v2

Pros

  • Low price
  • Free storage
  • Affordable subscription
  • Fantastic app experience

Cons

  • Nothing but minor nitpicks

Disclaimer: We aren't recommending that consumers purchase Wyze products at this time. Over the past several years, Wyze has suffered from repeated data leaks and security breaches, including a 2019 user data leak, exposed databases in 2022, and exposed video files that same year. More recently, Wyze has seen both 2023 and 2024 security flaws that let at least 13,000 people see through other Wyze security cams owned by unrelated users.

Currently, Wyze's forum report on the latest breach includes an update from February 19, 2024: "Our engineering team has added a new layer of verification between users and event videos to prevent this from happening again. We've also removed the client library and will not be using caching until we can find a new client library and stress test it for extreme scenarios like we saw on Friday."

This response is a start, but Wyze has repeatedly struggled to reliably update its approach to security and meaningfully communicate with its users. While we have seen security companies bounce back from security problems in the past, we haven't seen this kind of improvement from Wyze yet. So we are not endorsing their products or any services where you need to create a Wyze account with your personal info. 

We'll keep you updated on Wyze's security and privacy if our recommendations change. If you're looking for security brands that have made notable security improvements or have good privacy track records, we can recommend products from Ring, Google's Nest, Blink, and Arlo.

Still a good buy, but there's a newer model

The Wyze Cam Pan v2 received one of our highest review scores of any home security camera for a number of reasons. Along with 360-degree pan capabilities, 1080p resolution and two-way audio, the indoor cam comes with free cloud storage, a user-friendly app and a budget-friendly price of just $44. (Note it's out of stock at Wyze, and Amazon and Best Buy list it for $50.) 

You'll find those features on the latest indoor camera from Wyze, the Cam Pan v3. This newer, slightly cheaper ($34), slightly more capable model (it's rated IP65 weather-proof for outdoor use), is available now and may be a better option than the Cam Pan v2. We haven't tested it out yet, however, so for now the second-generation cam reigns as one of our highest rated and recommended indoor cameras. You can read our full review, originally published Dec. 21, 2021, below.

Wyze Cam Pan v2 review

Indoor security cameras have always seemed less useful than outdoor cameras. It's a two-sided problem: Outdoor cameras usually cover easier-to-monitor areas (like a single entryway or driveway) and they often come with better features, like built-in spotlights, higher resolutions, motion zones and more.

The $44 Wyze Cam Pan v2 flips the script: It's an indoor camera that outpaces many outdoor devices from major developers -- and it's fully up to the task of monitoring complex indoor spaces from just about any angle. Next to its competition, the Wyze Cam Pan is cheap, smart and a breeze to set up and use. The panning and tilting functions allow the device to effectively cover a whole room and a few extra touches make it genuinely useful in nearly every scenario I can imagine.

In short, this is the best indoor cam on the market for the vast majority of people.

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The Wyze Cam can swivel, so I used it to monitor two rooms connected by an interior window.

David Priest/CNET

What Wyze offers

The Wyze Cam Pan v2 is a straightforward device. You can set it up like any other indoor camera, live stream 1080p video from it, talk with people while you're away from home using two-way audio and set up motion and sound alerts. What the Pan camera provides above Wyze's other offerings is mobility. Via the app, you can spin the camera 360 degrees and tilt it up and down, capturing a 96-degree vertical view. What's more, you can set it to automatically follow motion around a room and to periodically scan the room when it isn't following someone.

Even if you don't subscribe to a monthly service, Wyze will store 12-second event clips for 14 days (though the 5-minute cooldown between these clips limits the security value), along with motion alerts, sound alerts and alarm alerts. These are triggered, for instance, if your smoke alarm sounds while you're away. You can also use local storage and 24/7 recording with the microSD card slot.

If you pay the $2-a-month per camera fee (which you can find discounted fairly often), you'll get a bunch of extra goodies including person, animal, package and vehicle alerts, unlimited event video length and no cooldown period.

In my experience testing the camera over the course of a week, it performed all of these actions nearly flawlessly. It followed me around the room and even tracked multiple people at once. It scanned back and forth if I set it to do so. It sent notifications promptly and reliably. Looking back over past recordings was quick and simple. In short, it worked as advertised.

All in all, this panning, tilting camera brings a load of smarts to the countertop. How does its price stack up against the competition?

Wyze wins value

Wyze continues to wow with its low prices. No, $50 isn't quite as affordable as the cameras that put the company on the map -- Wyze was forced to raise those prices amid chip shortages in the first half of 2021. But $44 for an indoor camera is a solid deal -- only $9 more than Blink's uber-cheap Mini camera and $56 less than more feature-rich alternatives from Google Nest and Arlo.

What sets apart the Wyze Cam Pan is the movement that gave it its name. Few major developers offer cameras that can do this and even fewer at Wyze's price. The closest devices to Wyze's are TP Link's Kasa Spot Pan and Tilt camera and Eufy's Indoor Cam 2k Pan and Tilt.

Prices are variable, but these three cameras usually sit within a couple bucks of each other, orbiting $50. Eufy's camera has better resolution, but otherwise Wyze beats both competitors with its free storage features and cheaper monthly subscription. Plus, Wyze's app is one of the most approachable for newcomers to the home security camera game.

Are there any flaws?

I was impressed with Wyze's performance across the board -- and its value is practically unbeatable -- but a few minor hiccups marred an otherwise great experience. First, the original camera I set up and began to review completely died two days into testing. I did a little research and discovered that the first version of the Wyze Cam Pan sometimes got its wires literally twisted, which could lead to a frayed power line. (Wyze didn't respond to a question about this problem with the older device.) I took the device apart to see if something similar had happened, but didn't find any obvious reason for the defect. Wyze's representatives seemed just as stumped as I did.

img-7327

I opened up my malfunctioning device and didn't find any obvious issues, like wires frayed from rotation; it appeared to just be a bad unit. (Don't open up your device if you're looking to get it replaced.)

David Priest/CNET

Before I spoke to Wyze's representatives, I contacted Wyze support and described what had happened as any regular customer would have, just to see how they'd respond to my situation. The technician on the phone immediately sent the form to replace the camera free of charge.

These things occasionally happen and Wyze was responsive in replacing the device, so I don't think the bad unit is representative in any way -- but I do need to report the experience. The second unit I tested had no such problems.

My other criticisms are slightly nitpicky; honestly, they're mainly features I'd love to see added in the future. First, the camera can pick up loud sounds and alert you to them, but it won't swivel to face the source of the sounds unless you have it scanning the room already. Second, the camera is so good at following you around while you're walking that the effect can be slightly creepy. I wish there were an obvious privacy screen of some sort -- like Arlo's indoor camera has -- to let you know when you're being recorded and when you're not. Finally, while Wyze's design isn't offensive by any means, it's no Nest Indoor Cam (you know, the one with the wooden base). I'd love to see more design options to fit in with different decors.

Who should buy Wyze?

At the end of reviews, I often rack my brain to think of different kinds of people for whom a particular product might be genuinely useful -- the best option to meet their needs. For Wyze, no brain-racking is required.

If you're hoping to monitor your house while you're traveling, check on the dog while you're at work, say hello to the kids and the sitter

9.2/ 10
SCORE

Wyze Cam Pan v2

Pros

  • Low price
  • Free storage
  • Affordable subscription
  • Fantastic app experience

Cons

  • Nothing but minor nitpicks
while you're on a date or pretty much any other activity you'd want an indoor cam for, Wyze is certainly the best option for the price. And it's often the best option, period.