What is The Best Trail Camera That Sends Pictures to Your Phone?
Technology keeps evolving and with the evolution of trail cameras, surveillance has never been more convenient. With Cellular and Wi-Fi trail cameras, the hassle of frequently vising your trail camera is gone. There are so many cellular and Wi-Fi cameras on the market; so, what is the best trail camera that sends pictures to your phone?
The best trail camera that sends pictures to your phone is the Reconyx Hyperfire 2 cellular Trail camera.
Trail cameras that can send pictures to your phone come in two variables; Wi-Fi and Cellular trail cameras and they both have their advantages and disadvantages. In the rest of this article, we will provide you with useful information about cellular and Wi-Fi trail cameras. Let’s begin!
Bst Trail Cameras That Can Send Photos to Your Phone
Best overall – Reconyx Hyperfire
The Reconyx Hyperfire trail camera is the hottest trail camera on the list. It can capture images with a resolution of 1080p and videos with a resolution of 720p. It features a super-fast trigger speed of 0.2 seconds and no-glow covert infrared flash with an incredible range of 120ft. It means it can take pictures at night without spooking out animals or being easily spotted by humans.
The Reconyx Hyperfire connects automatically to the Verizon 4G for sending pictures to your phone. The pictures from the camera can be accessed anywhere through the app (which is available on both android and IOS) or sent to your email. With the app, custom cellular plans can be made to manage your pictures and the settings of the camera.
The camera can also accept up to 512GB memory card which is quite massive. Passcode protection protects your camera and data from thieves.
You can check out the Reconyx Hyperfire on Amazon.
Best on a budget – Campark T80 trail camera
The Campark T80 trail camera is one of the best budget wireless trail cameras that can allow you to send images and videos directly to your phone. The camera comes with a 20MP sensor that can take clear and sharp images with a resolution of up to 1286 pixels. It features a built-in Wi-Fi and app function that allows you to adjust the camera angle and to view images from the camera anywhere and anytime.
It has an IP66 waterproof case that will protect it from various harsh weathers, allowing your camera to last for a long time. It also has a trigger distance of 65ft which will allow you to take shots that are quite distant from the camera.
The trail camera is also equipped with an IR flash 36 pc 850nm infrared LEDS giving you the ability to capture black and white images without missing any action in the night. If you want a trail camera that can connect to your phone and that’s not expensive, you can get this sturdy camera.
You can check out the Campark T80 trail camera on Amazon.
Other Great Trail Cameras That Can Send Photos to Your Phone
Covert Blackhawk 20 LTE
The Covert Blackhawk 20 LTE features a 4G/LTE Quectel EC25-v module, which lets you use the camera with Verizon 4G towers. This will allow you to stay connected to the camera with your phone through its dedicated app which means you can check out images as well as videos on the camera and also change the setting of the camera anywhere regardless of the time.
The Blackhawk comes with a camera sensor of 20MP for taking crisp pictures and videos. It can detect wildlife from up to 90ft letting you take images and videos from a long distance. The speed of the camera’s picture trigger is 0.83s, while that of its video speed is 3.04s. Both trigger speeds are quite decent compared to some other cameras. It has a wide viewing angle of 64 degrees which is impressive.
The camera is GPS-enabled and this feature allows you to track and locate your camera with ease. The camera can send 5 seconds of video with audio directly to your phone. It also has a low glow infrared flash for taking pictures and videos at night. Overall, the cover Blackhawk is a reliable camera with a good wireless connection useful for both wildlife watching/hunting and security.
You can check out the Covert Blackhawk 20 LTE on Amazon.
Muddy MUD-VRZ Cellular Trail Camera
The Muddy MUD-VRZ is a 4G trail camera that has an upgraded service and server where your images and videos are stored. It is equipped with a 16MP sensor camera that allows you to take good pictures even in dim light. The sensor can record videos with a resolution up to 1080p, making your videos detailed. The detection range of the trail camera is 70ft. Its trigger speed is 0.1 which is quite impressive.
It also powerful LED emitters that can help you in taking black and white images at night. The night flash range of the infrared LED is 24.4 meters.
This trail camera comes with an internal storage of 32GB but it does not support a memory card in case you wish to expand its memory. You don’t have to worry too much since it sends the media files directly to your phone. The Muddy Verizon cellular camera is a compact camera with a lot of features guaranteed to help capture the best pictures.
You can check out the Muddy MUD-VRZ on eBay
Moultrie Mobile XA-7000i Cellular Trail camera
The Moultrie Mobile 7000i is equipped with a 20MP camera for taking detailed and raw pictures and also record HD videos with a resolution of 1080p. It has a good detection and flash range of 80ft. The XA-7000i features the ILLUMI-NIGHT 2 sensor which can take one of the best night time pictures with a good brightness level. The flash produced from the infrared LED is invisible thus preventing animals from being startled and humans from easily noticing it.
It has a decent trigger speed of 0.3 seconds. The stored images can be accessed anywhere, either through the app on your smartphone or through their website with your computer. It connects to the internet through AT&T 4G which can still send pictures to your phone even with a signal strength of 5%. The plans offered by AT&T network are quite reasonable, allowing you to connect to their network without any activation or contract fee.
You can check out the Moultrie Mobile XA-7000i Cellular Trail Camera on Amazon.
Fusion Wireless Trail camera
The Fusion wireless trail camera features a 26MP camera sensor which is one of the best sensors on this list. It has internal and external antennas that enable it to have a good network reception. It also features matrix advance blur reduction making your camera look good with editing it. The trail camera has different versions for different networks like Verizon, AT&T, and others. The networks allow you to store your images on their server for a reasonable price.
It also has one of the best camouflage designs for stealth operation. If you are not satisfied with the cloud storage, you can also use a memory card with it. The memory card slot can support a memory card up to 32GB. A QR code can be scanned to set-up the camera easily. It has a trigger speed of 0.8 seconds and a detection rage of 80ft. It is equipped with four power infrared emitters letting you take the best images at night.
You can check out the Fusion wireless Trail camera on Amazon.
Spypoint Link Micro
The Spypoint Link Micro is one of the smallest cameras you can find in the market. The camera’s software is so good that it comes with AI recognition to easily identify targets. It is equipped with a 10MP sensor for taking images and videos with decent quality. It also has a detection and flash range of 90ft which is quite impressive for a small camera. It supports a memory card of up to 32GB.
The trigger speed of the Skypoint Link Micro is 0.5 seconds. It works with a major cellular, giving you the freedom to choose your best network. This trail camera can be configured easily with the mobile app. It has a camera sensor of 10MP, which can take good images and shoot videos with a resolution of 480P which are reasonable outputs for its price. It can connect automatically to AT&T 4G cellular network which will allow it to send images at a faster speed.
You can check out the Spypoint Link Micro on Amazon.
Big Foot 3G 105
The Big Foot trail camera comes with a preinstalled simhero card allowing you to connect to the AT&T network. It features a 12MP resolution for taking clear, colored pictures. It connects to a 4G network and sends motion-triggered and time-lapsed images to your email or through MMS. It has a trigger speed of 0.4 seconds. It is equipped with 56 infrared LEDs used for taking clear pictures at night. The flash from the LED has a range of 65ft.
The Big Foot 3G is well protected against wet conditions due to its IP66 rating. It is easy to install and requires about 15 minutes to set up after removing it from the box.
You can check out the Big foot 3G 105 on Amazon.
Cuddeback Cuddelink Dual cell Wireless Game camera
The Cuddeback Cuddelink Dual cell wireless games camera comes with two modes for its operation. The first mode allows you to use the LTE service. The price of this service starts at $10. The second mode lets you check the angles of up to 16 trail cameras at the cost of $10 per month. The camera takes incredible 20MP daylight colored images and night images in black and white. It has an impressive trigger speed of 0.25 seconds. Its recovery speed is also good, allowing you to take another picture within 1 second after the first one.
The Cuddeback Cuddelink Dual also features a dual illumination flash. The no-glow flash which has a range of 50ft and a long-range infrared flash with a range of 100ft. This trail camera has a memory card slot that can take up to 32GB SD card. It can take up to 6D cell batteries making it able to work for a long time.
You can check out the Cuddeback Cuddelink Dual cell wireless Game camera on Amazon.
Browning Defender Wireless Trail Camera
The Browning Defender Wireless camera has plans that allow you to connect up to ten cameras which means that you can enjoy the wild from right in your room. The trail camera features a 20MP camera sensor and can take up to 8 pictures in Burst Mode. The camera sensor can record 1080p videos of between 5 seconds and 2 minutes. The images are also geotagged, making the pictures easier to classify. It features three modes for the Infrared illumination; saves power, has an invisible flash with a range of 80ft, and a long IR range of an incredible 120ft.
The Browning Defender has two versions; one connects to Verizon, and the other connects to the AT&T carrier. This means that you can choose the version with the network you prefer. The detection range of the camera is 80ft. The trigger speed can be adjusted from 0.7 to 0.3 seconds. It also has a security mode that alerts and sends images to you.
You can check out the Browning Defender wireless trail camera on Amazon.
Covert WC Series LTE Cellular Trail Camera
The Covert WC Series has a 32MP lens for capturing crisp pictures and 1080p videos. It features 44 no glow LEDs which produce an incredible infrared flash with a range of 100ft. It has a decent trigger speed of 0.4 seconds. The trail camera is compatible with memory cards up to 32GB. The images include a timestamp and information like moon phase, temperature, date, and time.
The Covert WC has pip-through security that protects it from potential thieves. The camera has an app that allows you to check your pictures and manage the camera settings. The app also has guest access ability. Images can also be viewed on the covert wireless web portal in case you want to use your computer. You can also choose to get the version that either connects to a Verizon or an AT&T cellular network.
You can check out the Covert WC series LTE cellular trail camera on Amazon.
Creative XP 3G Cellular Trail Camera
The Creative XP 3G cellular trail camera can send images to your phone through your email with a 3G cellular network connection. The camera can capture 12MP pictures and record detailed 1080p videos in the day and night. With its infrared flash, it can take night pictures up to a range of 65ft.
This trail camera features a frees simhero that allows you to send 500 free photos. It can support any memory card up to 32GB. It is equipped with a wide dynamic lens that has a PIR angle of 110 degrees. The camera also has a trigger speed of 0.4 seconds.
You can check out the Creative XP 3G cellular Trail camera on Amazon.
Factors to consider when buying Trail Cameras that send photos to your phone?
There are so many factors to consider when purchasing a functional and properly built cellular trail camera. They include:
Resolution
The fact is that we all want trail cameras that can take high-quality pictures. Thus, it is crucial to pay attention to the resolution of the camera you are buying. There’s no point in getting an expensive cellular trail camera only to be receiving poor quality pictures. The higher the camera resolution, the better the picture quality. Make sure that the trail camera has more than 8 megapixels.
Security
Cellular and Wi-Fi trail cameras are more expensive compared to normal trail cameras, so you should go with ones that offer better security. Asides from camouflaging your trail camera and hiding it in a secure location, you can also get trail cameras that come with password protection. This would ensure that whoever steals it will not be able to have access to the data and the information stored on it without authentication. Since you would mostly have little reason to visit your trail camera frequently since the data would be transmitted to your phone, the least you can do is ensure it is secure.
Weather Compatibility and Durability
Trail cameras are usually used for surveillance, security, and outdoor activities like game watching/hunting. This means that the camera would be constantly exposed to different weather conditions. This factor should be considered especially if you are getting a cellular camera that is expensive. The last thing you would want is your camera getting destroyed after a heavy rainstorm. You should consider the effects of temperature, moisture, rain, and even snow would have on the trail camera. Go for trail cameras that are resistant to harsh weather conditions, waterproof cameras, and cameras that are made up of strong materials like polymer plastic. This would pay off in the long run.
Warranty
Cellular and Wi-Fi trail cameras can be quite expensive. This means that you would need to be certain that your investment in the trail cameras would go a long way to give you peace of mind in case of contingencies. Thus, a warranty should be an essential factor to consider when buying either of them. The longer the warranty period a trail camera has, the better.
What Do These Cameras Offer?
Suppose you purchase a trail camera that transmits data to your phone, email, or laptop. In that case, you can view or watch the photos and pictures on your phone without having to visit your trail camera, especially if it is in a dangerous or distant location. With these kinds of trail cameras, you can oversee your trail camera from home. Some cameras even give you the option of managing the camera settings using your phone with an app.
We all understand the hassles of going to visit your trail camera from time to time. It can be exhausting, especially when you are unsure of what to expect in the footage. Sometimes you find some interesting footage, and sometimes you find nothing. However, with trail cameras that send photos to your phone, that hassle is gone.
While Cellular trail cameras are more expensive than Wi-Fi trail cameras, both can send photos to your phone.
Newer and more advanced technologies are being developed for these cameras to make sure that you will have good value for your money and of course, enjoy using your camera. Consider getting one today and you will be happy you did!
Why you need a trail camera that sends pictures to your phone
After setting up your trail camera, you still have to return and check it from time to time to check the pictures and videos stored on the SD card. This can be quite frustrating over time.
However, you wouldn’t have to worry about this if you purchase trail cameras that send pictures to your phone. These can either be wireless trail cameras or cellular ones. With today’s technology, trail cameras can make use of a mobile phone network.
The cameras will send an MMS message or email to your phone, providing you with instant feedback whenever the motion sensor has been triggered in a chosen location.
Cellular Trail Cameras
Cellular trail cameras use cell towers to transmit data to your phone, email, or even laptop.
Advantages of Cellular Trail Cameras
- Unlimited Range
Since Cellular trail cameras utilize the same network of cellular towers that cell phones use, the range is unlimited. This unlimited range allows cellular trail cameras to send photos over a long distance. This can save a lot of time, and it does not matter how inaccessible or distant the trail camera is; it can transmit photos to your phone. This feature can also appeal to homeowners who use cellular trail cameras to monitor their property and will come in handy especially when they are on vacation or away from home.
- Instant Notification
One of the most crucial functions of a cellular trail camera is its ability to send a photo to its owner instantly. Thus, you don’t have to be near your trail camera to know what’s going on. You could be across the globe and still receive photos of sightings from your trail camera.
This is a fascinating and crucial factor as you wouldn’t have to be checking the trail camera frequently except to change the batteries and SD storage. Instant notification also makes it possible for homeowners to detect trespassers in real-time as the trail camera would send pictures as soon as it takes them.
Disadvantages of Cellular Trail Cameras
- Service Charges
Perhaps, one of the major disadvantages of cellular trail cameras is their cost. The fact that they require cell service to function gives it an unlimited range, but this feature comes with a price. The service costs almost as much as the amount you pay for your cell phone service. With cellular trail cameras, a monthly service charge is an unavoidable expense.
- Poor Service Areas
Cellular trail cameras use cell towers to transmit data to your phone. Because of this, they are susceptible to poor networks just like cell phones. Thus, a poor network might limit the transmission of data from your trail camera to your phone.
Wireless Trail Cameras
A wireless trail camera is one that sends pictures to your phone through Wi-Fi. They are really convenient tools for monitoring wildlife in a specific location or your property. However, when buying one, it’s advisable to get one that is best for you as even the cheapest wireless camera may outperform the most expensive one.
Advantages of Wireless Trail Cameras
- No Service Charges
A major advantage of Wi-Fi trail cameras is that they require no service charge since their networks are local and are reserved for the camera owners only. This means that the only expense incurred with a Wi-Fi trail camera is the purchase of the camera itself, unlike the cellular cameras which attract monthly service charges.
Disadvantages of Wireless Trail Cameras
- Limited Range
A Wi-Fi trail camera is actually not as expensive as a cellular trail camera. However, some Wi-Fi cameras have very limited range. Even the best Wi-Fi trail camera cannot have a range of more than 66ft. This limitation prevents the cameras from being able to send photos directly to your phone or computer. Walls and trees can further reduce the range thereby making Wi-Fi trail cameras very unreliable. This however doesn’t mean that they won’t work; they can still serve you if you remotely install them within the range of a network.
- Low Battery Life
Battery life is a very important factor to consider when purchasing trails cameras. Even though your wireless trail camera might be transmitting photos to your phone or laptop, you would still have to visit it to change the batteries from time to time. The frequency of these visits depends on the battery life of a particular brand or model.
