Whether you’re looking for your first security camera or replacing an older one, one thing’s for sure: it’s hard to go wrong with a Wyze Cam. The original Wyze Cam has proven so popular that they keep releasing new models, each claiming to offer significant improvements over the last.
Their latest entry on this list is the Wyze Cam v3 Pro, an upgraded version of its highly capable predecessor, the Wyze Cam v3. But do its enhanced features justify its higher price point?
This article compares the Wyze Cam v3 Pro and the Wyze Cam v3 to help you decide which is the right security camera for you. Let’s get started!
~~~ Check Price: Wyze Cam v3 Pro ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Wyze Cam v3 ~~~
Video Resolution
This is one of the most significant differences between the two models. While the Wyze Cam v3’s video resolution comes at a respectable 1080p, the Wyze Cam v3 Pro takes it up a notch and gives you a stunning 2K resolution. This enhanced video quality means you’ll be able to detect even more details in the footage it captures.
Now, it’s important to note that the new lens on the v3 Pro comes at a bit of a price. It does seem to reduce the Wyze camera’s field of view, but not by much. The v3 Pro only has a field of view of 116 degrees, while the v3 boasts 130 degrees. However, this will likely be an insignificant change in most cases unless you need to keep an eye on that extra space.
The upgrade from 1080p to 2K means you get significantly better video quality with the Wyze v3 Pro. This doesn’t mean that the v3’s 1080p resolution is terrible – you’ll certainly still be able to see what you need to see! But you’ll see more with the v3 Pro. And if you’re buying a security camera to help protect your home, sometimes the smallest details can make the biggest difference.
Video Resolution Winner: Wyze Cam v3 Pro
Night Vision
While you may check your camera’s footage occasionally during the day, many people get one to help them keep an eye on things at night. So, does the Wyze Cam v3 Pro’s enhanced video resolution also mean significantly better night vision? Let’s take a look.
We’ll begin with their similarities. The Wyze Cam v3 and Pro versions come with night vision capabilities, with each having a frame rate of 15 fps. And while they both offer full-color night vision, they require low-light conditions. Otherwise, you’ll see everything in black and white with each Wyze camera.
Now for the differences! Of course, the v3 Pro’s 2K resolution will give you more details at night, but this may only be true under certain conditions. The Starlight sensor color night vision seems to be better on the Wyze Cam v3 when capturing a standard nighttime video. However, in shorter distances, at least, this can be overcome with the v3 Pro’s built-in spotlight.
Indeed, the fact that the v3 Pro comes with a built-in spotlight is a nice feature missing from the v3. This 80-lumen spotlight not only helps you activate the full-color night vision and see more detail in your videos but can also act as a deterrent for unwanted guests. No one will want to stick around when they’re suddenly caught in the spotlight!
Though the built-in spotlight is nice, you can purchase a spotlight kit for your Wyze Cam v3 and reap the same benefits. So, since the v3 has better night vision overall, it is our pick for the better night vision camera.
Night Vision Winner: Wyze Cam v3
Audio
Now that we’ve gone over how well these cameras will let you see your visitors, let’s consider how well they’ll allow you to interact with them. Fortunately, it’s hard to go wrong with either model regarding audio.
Both cameras have simultaneous two-way talk capabilities, thanks to their built-in speakers and microphones. You can easily interact with others through the camera, whether speaking with guests or yelling at trespassers. Both cameras come with sirens, which can go a long way in scaring someone off your property.
The only real difference between the Wyze Cam v3 and v3 Pro regarding sound is a slight bump in quality. The v3 Pro has noise and echo cancellation capabilities, giving you a much cleaner sound than the v3. Not only that, but it also features a louder siren at 89 decibels versus the v3’s 80 decibels.
While the differences may be minor, it’s safe to say that the Wyze Cam v3 Pro has better audio capabilities than the v3. So, we’ll give it the edge in this department – but just barely.
Audio Winner: Wyze Cam v3 Pro
User Interface
Since each device uses the same Wyze app (available for Android and iOS), you can access many of the same settings and features. However, the Wyze Cam v3 Pro has a brand-new redesigned user interface (UI) that is much more user-friendly.
For example, with the v3 Pro, you can easily access recorded events from the cloud while in live view. With the Wyze Cam v3, on the other hand, it’s a bit more work. You must leave the live view screen and head to the separate events tab to get to these same recordings. It’s not going to add a ton of extra time to your day, but if you have the choice, why not go for the simpler option?
Another significant change to the UI from the v3 to the v3 Pro is the addition of something that Wyze calls Smart Focus. While the simplified event navigation is nice, this is perhaps the real highlight of the new UI.
When you activate the Smart Focus feature, your Wyze Cam v3 Pro will zoom in on guests during video playback. Fortunately, this doesn’t come at the expense of missing out on the full video, as you can still see everything through a smaller window in the corner of your screen. It’s similar to a picture-in-picture mode.
The nice thing about Smart Focus is that it zooms in on the motion, which gives you a better look at the people who come around your home. And if you’re looking to buy a smart camera like this for security reasons, this can be a handy feature.
As you can see, Wyze has made some excellent UI upgrades from the Wyze Cam v3 to the Wyze Cam v3 Pro. And for that reason, the v3 Pro is undoubtedly the winner of this category.
User Interface Winner: Wyze Cam v3 Pro
Subscriptions
One thing about the Wyze Cam v3 and v3 Pro, as well as many other smart security camera models, is that they require a subscription to unlock their full capabilities. However, the subscriptions work a bit differently for these models.
Let’s start with the Wyze Cam v3. With this model, you can sign up for either the Cam Plus Lite or Cam Plus plan. And there are some significant differences between the two.
The Cam Plus Lite plan will give you motion-, sound-, smoke-, CO-sound-triggered alerts, and person detection capabilities. It will also save event videos in the cloud, though they are only 12 seconds long.
And you’ll also have to deal with a 5-minute cooldown between recordings, which isn’t exactly ideal either. But it’s hard to be too picky at the price point of “Name Your Price” (which, for many people, probably comes out to $0).
On the other hand, if you opt for the Wyze Cam Plus subscription plan, you’ll get everything you get with the Lite and then some. In addition to the features mentioned above, it includes 2x and 4x event fast-forwarding, package, vehicle, and pet detection, the Wyze web view, and even exclusive subscriber discounts.
Plus, you’ll get unlimited event video length and back-to-back recordings. And you can get it all for roughly the price of a cup of coffee per month.
The big difference between the two cams regarding subscriptions is that the Cam Plus Lite package isn’t available for the Wyze Cam v3 Pro. They claim this is due to its onboard Edge AI, which can give you almost instantaneous person detection since it doesn’t rely on the cloud.
However, this means you’re still missing out on the other features that come with a just-about-free Cam Lite subscription, like the ability to view a recorded video (you’ll only get a thumbnail of any detected activity without it). Of course, you can bypass the cloud entirely and use an SD card to record video locally, but it would be nice to have the cloud option without having to pay for it with the Cam Plus plan.
Even though it’s a small fee, it would be nice if the Cam Lite plan was available to those with a Wyze Cam v3 Pro. But since it isn’t, we’ll say that the v3 has the better options here.
Subscriptions Winner: Wyze Cam v3
Wyze Cam v3 Pro vs Wyze Cam v3: Which Should I Choose?
Ultimately, it comes down to which home security smart cam better fits your needs and preferences. If you’re looking for superior video resolution, audio, and user interface, then the Wyze Cam v3 Pro would be the better choice.
Alternatively, if you prefer a slightly better night vision camera and subscription options, then the Wyze Cam v3 may be the right fit.
And if you dislike both because you were looking for an alternative style (such as a floodlight cam), try one of these!
But if you want our overall pick, we’d have to give it to the Wyze v3 Pro. Wyze gave it some serious upgrades over the v3 model, making it a more impressive home security camera. And the best part? It doesn’t even cost that much more than the v3!
So, now that you know the difference, what are you waiting for? Get out there and get your new Wyze device today!
Further Comparisons
To see how the Wyze Cam v3 Pro stacks up against other competitors, here’s some additional reading:
