The original Wyze Cam Floodlight is getting a refresh, with the new version landing with greatly improved resolution, brighter floodlights, a wider field of view, and an “ambient” lighting mode that casts a continuous low-level glow over the monitored area.
Available now for a “limited-time” price of $53.99 plus shipping (the standard price will be $83.99, plus shipping), the Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 comes three years after the release of the manufacturer’s first floodlight cam, a hardwired model that bunded a 1080p Wyze Cam v3 with a pair of LED floodlights.
Available in both black and white flavors, the Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 is still hardwired, but it replaces the original’s bundled Wyze Cam v3 with an integrated 2K (2312 x 1304 pixels) camera, a substantial upgrade over the first floodlight’s full-HD resolution.
This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best home security cameras.
Meanwhile, the adjustable LED floodlights on the second-gen floodlight can emit a combined 2,800 lumens, compared to 2,600 lumens for the first Wyze Cam Floodlight. The LEDs on the new floodlights are tuned to a cool 5,000 Kelvin, same as the original.
The Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 also boasts an improved 160-degree field of view, versus 130 degrees for its predecessor. That said, the original Cam Floodlight allowed you to boost its coverage area by adding a second Wyze Cam v3; that option isn’t available for the newer floodlight.
The IP65-rated Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 offers 2K video resolution and up to 2,800 lumens of brightness.
Wyze
Another change with the Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 is its “ambient” light mode, which lets the floodlight illuminate an area by emitting a continual “low-level” glow. When the cam detects motion, the LEDs will ramp up to full brightness.
Finally, a new “access point” Wi-Fi setup process allows you to wirelessly pair the floodlight with the Wyze app, meaning no need to scan a QR code (which might necessitate climbing a ladder, if you don’t do it while you’re already up there wiring the camera).
The Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 has the same IP65 rating as the original, meaning it’s dust-tight and resistant to water jets.
Other features carried over from the original Wyze Cam Floodlight include an integrated 105dB siren, color night vision, 270-degree PIR motion detection, and two-way audio. The camera also works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT.
As with the first-generation Wyze Cam Floodlight, the new version allows for 24/7 local video storage, supporting microSD cards up to 256GB in capacity.
Another option is Wyze’s Cam Plus subscription plan, which offers 14 days of rolling cloud-based video storage, along with AI-powered person, package, vehicle, and pet detection; plus, the ability to view cam activity in a browser via Wyze’s Web View feature.
Wyze Cam Plus costs $2.99 a month for a single camera, or $9.99/month for unlimited cams.
Besides the new Wyze Cam Floodlight v2, Wyze also offers the step-up Cam Floodlight Pro, which ups the ante with 2.5K resolution, up to 3,000 lumens of illumination, a 180-degree FOV, and dual-band Wi-Fi support (the Cam Floodlight v1 and v2 only support the 2.4GHz wireless band).
The $150 Wyze Cam Floodlight Pro was released last May.
We’ll have a full review of the Wyze Cam Floodlight v2 once we’ve tested out a review unit.
Author: Ben Patterson, Senior Writer, TechHive
Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he has covered everything from smart speakers and soundbars to smart lights and security cameras. Ben's articles have also appeared in PC Magazine, TIME, Wired, CNET, Men's Fitness, Mobile Magazine, and more. Ben holds a master's degree in English literature.