At first sight
Expert assessment
Professionals
Large built-in storage with SD card included Spotlight is surprisingly powerful The app is easy to navigate and effective at capturing motion events
Against
The only upgrade here is the inclusion of an expensive reflector, even more so than the CoreCam. Rather limited battery life
Our verdict
This camera’s “Pro” designation is a bit misleading, as the only new feature is a spotlight, but the Swann CoreCam Pro Spotlight is still a solid camera
Price at time of review
$149.99
Today’s Best Prices: Swann CoreCam Pro 2K Wireless Spotlight Security Camera
Retail price
$149.99
$149.99
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Like the design and feature set of the impressive Swann CoreCam, but want to add a little spotlight to the mix? You’re in luck: The Swann CoreCam Pro Spotlight is identical to the original in every way, save for the aforementioned addition of an integrated LED lighting system.
Identically sized – approximately 2.5 x 2.5 x 3.5 inches (LxWxH) – and just a fraction of an ounce heavier at 7.4 ounces, the unit features the same 6000mAh rechargeable battery and is also equipped with a pre-installed 32GB microSD card for local storage .
This review is part of TechHive’s coverage best home security cameras.
Does Swann CoreCam Pro Spotlight have an IP rating?
Usable both indoors and out, the CoreCam Pro is IP65 waterproof-rated, meaning it’s “dust-proof” and resistant to water sprayed from a nozzle. That said, the IP rating only applies if you don’t leave the CoreCam plugged in all the time, as this would expose some of the electronic inputs. (A USB cable is used to charge the device, but an A/C adapter is not included.)
CoreCam Pro’s small LED spotlight is surprisingly effective at illuminating an area within 30 feet.
A small mounting bracket allows the camera to be attached to a wall or ceiling, or the unit can easily be placed on a shelf—again, provided it’s unplugged—thanks to the bottom-mounted charging port.
What is the video resolution and viewing angle for Swann CoreCam Pro Spotlight?
The camera specs once again stick closely to those of the original CoreCam, offering a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a viewing angle of 100 degrees. Standard infrared night vision is available if you don’t want to use spotlights, while features like two-way audio and a siren are also present.
The spotlight can be set to light up when motion is detected (and when it’s dark, of course) and will stay on for 30, 60, 120, or 300 seconds. The same time limits can be used for recovery time between clips. or you can turn off cooldown altogether.
The CoreCam Pro’s small LED spotlight (Swann doesn’t formally specify its brightness) is surprisingly effective at illuminating an area within 30 feet. I was initially surprised when viewing a video playback that I was looking at a recording lit solely by spotlights rather than ambient lighting. Though slightly dimmer than the overhead lights, the scene displayed accurate color and ample clarity throughout.
How do I setup Swann CoreCam Pro Spotlight?
Setup is simple: just scan a QR code on the back of the camera and perform a few basic steps in the Swann Security app to connect it to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.
The biggest decision you’ll need to make is Swann’s cloud storage service, as there’s a 90-day trial available, though you have to subscribe through the Apple Store in advance. (Android users will presumably face the same problem.)
The Secure+ service offers 60 days of video storage for $3/month or $30/year for one device or $10/month or $100/year for unlimited devices, as well as providing an alert system that can detect pets, cars and parcels. Given the ability to store and stream video locally, this plan doesn’t add much, but it’s definitely an affordable way to add a few more features to the system.
Does Swann CoreCam Pro Spotlight offer local storage?
I didn’t experience the same problem I had on the previous Swann camera with clips appearing on the SD card out of order, and I found the motion detection and recording features to work well overall, with good responsiveness.
The app appears to have been fixed since our last review, although I’ve had a few incidents where the app crashed (usually during settings adjustments) and had to be force quit and restarted.
As with the previous edition of the camera, I found video quality grainy by default; moving the quality setting to medium or high helps a lot.
Support for video-based Alexa and Google Assistant devices is also still standard.
Is the Swann CoreCam Pro Spotlight worth the money?
Swann is asking $20 more for the CoreCam Pro than the $130 asking price for the standard CoreCam, which doesn’t seem egregious to me.
Both cameras remain priced high for this market, but they spill over on features, and those features all work well. If you absolutely don’t need the spotlight, stick with the original CoreCam, but you really can’t go wrong with either model.
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