In 2023, WiFi isn’t quite as simple as it used to be – the 2.4GHz band used to be the standard across the board, however 5GHz has become increasingly common thanks to the increased speeds it offers, making it a popular option for gamers and movie buffs.
Flexible options to suit everyone’s needs is great, but not all devices support both 2.4GHz and 5GHz compatibility, and that includes a number of outdoor security cameras. That’s why today, we’re going to take a look at some of the best outdoor security cameras which are compatible with 5GHz Wi-Fi, as well as some of the benefits and drawbacks of using this band for security cameras.
Our Favourite 5GHz Outdoor Cameras
1. Reolink Argus 3 Pro
I’ve written an in-depth article on this great little thing in an in-depth article already, but here’s the Cliffsnotes – The Argus 3 Pro is an inexpensive 2k outdoor security camera, which is compatible with both 2.4 and 5GHz wireless connections. It’s one of the most popular products viewers of my site go on to buy, and for good reason – despite being a scratch over £100, it’s highly capable and comes packed with features even far more expensive competitors don’t offer.
Thanks to some clever tech, you can also record in colour at night, just don’t expect the clarity to be quite as stellar at a distance as it is during the day. It’s also got your standard two way audio and live-stream access via smartphone as well.
2. Reolink Spotlight Camera
You might be starting to see a recurring theme here… Yes, it turns out Reolink is really capitalising on the 5GHz smart device niche. If the Argus 3 Pro doesn’t quite suit your needs, the spotlight camera is a great alternative. It’s got an extra Megapixel over the Argus, and comes with the ability to record up to 355 degrees horizontally thanks to it’s remote pan feature. This basically means you can move the camera left and right remotely to change the area you are recording.
It’s actually a dual band camera, meaning you can connect it via either 5GHz or 2.4GHz for maximum compatibility. Finally, it’s also got 3x zoom (optical) which is much better than digital for recording clearly from a distance. At a very similar price point to our first pick, this is a very strong contender for the best camera that supports 5GHz WiFi connectivity.
3. Imou 2.5K Wireless Security Camera
We couldn’t let Reolink get a home run, so here’s a great pick from an alternative brand. Imou is a considerably less well known brand, but they are starting to make waves for their line of high quality yet very affordable security products, and the 2.5k is no exception.
Despite its small stature, Imou have crammed a mammoth 6000mah rechargeable battery and an impressive camera into this package, making an all-round impressive alternative if you are ideally looking to get change back from £100. It’s still got a 4MP camera just like the Argus 3 Pro, but lacks a few premium features like physical panning and optical zoom.
There you have it: 3 great, inexpensive options for 5GHz homes. Sadly there is not a huge array of product offerings which support dual band WiFi just yet, but we’re expecting this to slowly become a trend over the next few years.
The Benefits of 5GHz WiFi for Security Cameras
Opting to use 5GHz over 2.4GHz has a couple of major benefits, but it isn’t all plain sailing. Firstly, this band can allow for smoother high resolution streaming from the cameras. When you’re monitoring a camera feed live over a wireless internet connection, it can be laggy, but this is less apparent when on a 5GHz connection compared to 2.4GHz. Having this improved clarity and smoothness can be super useful in the even where you receive an alert to your smartphone and want to see exactly what is going on outside.
5GHz also has far more available channels than 2.4, so if you live in a densely populated area with a lot of overlap such as in a block of flats, it can be easier to get an improved speed. For more details on this, check out a more in depth discussion on the topic here.
There is one main notable downside to 5GHz outdoor security cameras though, which is definitely worth bearing in mind. Don’t fret though, there are a couple of workarounds which are fairly painless to implement
The Drawbacks of 5GHz for Wireless Cameras
Here’s the main downside – you aren’t going to like this one, detached house owners. 5GHz is fast, yes, but it also comes with the downside of a reduced effective range – generally speaking, the higher the frequency, the shorter the range. You may have even noticed some rooms inside your house have a poor internet connection, so you can imagine how bad it could be for outdoor security cameras when compared to the better range offered by 2.4GHz.
Don’t worry though, this can be easily rectified by either getting an upgraded router which has a wider range, or alternatively invest in a good WiFi extender such as the ______. Another inexpensive option which can work is to move the location of your router so that there isn’t as much distance between it and your security cameras.
Does 5GHz Wifi Work Outside?
Yes, 5GHz WiFi can be connected to outside – it’s a common misconception that the frequency simply will not pass through walls, but in reality it can still be done – what is important to consider is that the connection is likely to be worsened when passing through a wall when compared to 2.4GHz, so bear in mind the strong possibility that you may need to invest in a WiFi booster as well as a camera, depending on the size of your property and how far away you plan on positioning your surveillance devices.