Netatmo Smart Outdoor Camera Review: Free Local Recording, a Floodlight and a 105 dB Siren
An IP65 outdoor camera with person, animal and vehicle detection and no subscription, working with HomeKit, Alexa and Google Home.
The Netatmo Smart Outdoor Camera takes the opposite approach to most outdoor cameras: everything it does works without a subscription. A microSD card is included, and event history, continuous history and offline recording are all supported locally, as are person, animal and vehicle detection. It combines a 1080p camera with a floodlight and a 105 dB siren in an IP65 body, and it works with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant and IFTTT. The limitations are resolution and coverage: 1080p only, and a narrow 100 degree diagonal view.
- Subscription-free security
- Apple HomeKit homes
- Replacing an outdoor light
- Doorways and specific approaches
Pros
- No subscription required for any feature
- MicroSD card included, with local event, 24/7 and offline recording
- Person, animal and vehicle detection at no extra cost
- Built-in floodlight and a 105 dB siren
- Works with Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant and IFTTT
- IP65 weather resistance
- Customizable motion zones
- Two year warranty
Cons
- 1080p only, with no 2K or 4K
- Narrow 100 degree diagonal field of view
- Black and white night vision only, with no color mode
- Mains wired with no battery backup during a power cut
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only, with no Ethernet
- No Samsung SmartThings support
- HDR, RTSP, privacy zones and familiar face detection are not documented
Who is the Netatmo Smart Outdoor Camera for?
It suits anyone tired of the camera subscription model. The detections that other brands charge monthly for, distinguishing a person from a car or an animal, are included here and processed without a plan, and the recordings go to a microSD card that comes in the box. It replaces an outdoor light fixture, so it needs mains wiring at the mounting point, and it fits any ecosystem: Apple HomeKit support is native, alongside Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant and IFTTT.
What it does well
Storage and alerts are the strong suit. Event clips, 24/7 history and recordings made while the internet is down all work locally, so the camera keeps doing its job during an outage instead of going blind. Person, animal and vehicle detection filter the alerts so a passing cat does not wake you, and customizable motion zones narrow the watched area further. The built-in floodlight doubles as the security light for the area, the 105 dB siren is loud enough to be a real deterrent, and the IP65 rating covers dust and water jets. Two years of warranty is longer than most cameras offer.
What to know before you buy
Video is 1080p, with no 2K or 4K option, and the field of view is 100 degrees diagonal, which is narrow for outdoors: it watches a door or a path rather than a whole garden, so plan the position carefully or expect blind spots. Night vision is black and white infrared only, with no color night mode. There is no battery, so it stops during a power cut, and no solar option. Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only, with no Ethernet. SmartThings is not supported, and several features are undocumented for this model, including HDR, RTSP, privacy zones and familiar face recognition.
Is the Netatmo Smart Outdoor Camera worth it?
Its price is high for a 1080p camera, and that is the wrong way to read it: what you are buying is the absence of a subscription, plus a floodlight and a siren in the same fitting. Over a few years, a cheaper camera with a monthly plan costs more. Buy it if you want local recording, HomeKit support and smart detection with no recurring fee, and skip it if you need a wide field of view or higher resolution.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Netatmo Smart Outdoor Camera need a subscription?
No. Recording to the included microSD card, event history, 24/7 history and person, animal and vehicle detection all work without any plan.
Does it work with Apple HomeKit?
Yes, along with Google Home, Alexa, Home Assistant and IFTTT. Samsung SmartThings is not supported.
How wide is the view?
100 degrees diagonal, which is narrower than most outdoor cameras, so it suits a specific approach or doorway rather than a whole garden.
Does it keep recording if the internet drops?
Yes. Offline event recording is supported to the local card. It does need mains power, though, so a power cut stops it.
Is there a light and an alarm built in?
Yes. It includes a floodlight and a 105 dB siren, so it can replace an existing outdoor light fitting.









