Guides, comparisons and ideas for turning the phone in your drawer into a security camera, baby monitor, pet camera and more.
Matter 1.5 added camera support in November 2025, but as of October 2026 only Samsung SmartThings has actually turned it on — here's what to check before buying a "Matter" camera.
No — most homes don't need a 4K security camera. Pixel density at the actual distance to your door, not the resolution printed on the box, determines whether footage can identify a face.
Most wired and plug-in security cameras stop the instant the power fails. Here's what 2024-2025 outage data shows, and what actually keeps a camera recording when the grid goes down.
No, click-to-cancel isn't federal law in 2026 — the FTC's rule was vacated in 2025 and its replacement is still being written, so canceling a security camera subscription depends on your state.
Federal law allows one-party consent to record audio, but 11 states require everyone's consent — here's what that means for your doorbell or security camera in 2026.
Most homes need four to eight cameras for full coverage, but the average camera-owning household has just 2.21 devices — here's how to close that gap without overspending.
Most homeowners and renters policies do cover a stolen security camera as a theft loss — but off-premises caps, vacancy clauses, and your deductible can shrink what you actually collect in 2026.
Cold weather doesn't just shorten security camera battery life — Ring, Nest, and Arlo all confirm their batteries stop charging entirely below freezing, which can leave a porch or driveway camera dark for days.
Yes — a timestamped move-in and move-out video is the strongest protection you have for your security deposit. Here's what verified 2024–2026 data shows about deposit disputes, plus exactly what to film and why.
A 24/7 security camera can use 30–400 GB a month — enough to eat into a home data cap. Here's what current bandwidth and broadband-usage data actually show, and how to cut usage without losing coverage.
HOAs now govern nearly a third of U.S. housing, and camera disputes are common. Here's what California, Texas, and Florida law actually allow, where the real privacy line sits, and a no-installation way to monitor your own entryway.
After a Madrid Airbnb guest found a camera pointed at the bed, here's exactly what Airbnb and Vrbo allow, what state law criminalizes, and how to monitor a rental property the right way.
Summer is peak moving season, and a huge share of new renters are unpacking in a home with zero security in place. Here's how to lock down a rental without drilling a hole or losing your deposit — including turning an old phone into a camera.
Insurers reserve their biggest discounts for professionally monitored alarms, not standalone cameras — but footage still speeds up claims and helps after a break-in. Here's what to actually ask your insurer before you buy anything.
Real home security isn't one gadget — it's five layers that work together. Here's how to build all of them, including one layer that costs nothing but an old phone you already own.
Worried a phone can't record around the clock? Here is how to run an old phone as a 24/7 security camera — reliably, without overheating or a dead battery.
Placement is the difference between useful footage and a wall of blur. The six spots that matter most.
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