BEST CELLULAR TRAIL CAMERA

1. CREATIVEXP PRO3 - best wifi trail camera

The people working at CreativeXP came up with the PRO 3 keeping the hunters in mind. CreativeXP is a family-owned business and they were kind enough to include in the pack a free Simhero Card (uses AT&T or T-Mobile cell towers in the US, Rogers in Canada). It comes preloaded with 500 free photos and you can look at their YouTube video to see how you can set it up within 5 minutes.

Talking about its performance, the PRO 3 is a fantastic trail camera. It can take HQ pictures with 12MP and shoot Full-HD 1080P Videos with sound; not many trail cameras can do that so. The PRO3’s wide, dynamic lens comes with a with a 110° PIR angle and a quick 0. 4-sec trigger allowing it to capture 1 to 5 photos per trigger.

This camera comes equipped with 56 black IR LEDs, it captures black-and-white pictures at night but the quality is great and the sensor has a detection range of 65 ft so it is hard to complain. Its 0.4-sec trigger is the slowest on the list so far but 0.1 sec is not much. 

Creative has fantastic customer service and they offer a lifetime warranty which is another plus to an already spectacular piece of tech. The only things wrong with this camera is its average battery life (which is solar panel compatible for compensation) and its inability to connect to Verizon. Other than that, 10 on 10.

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2. SPYPOINT LINK-S - best budget cellular trail camera

SPYPOINT LINK-S is another best cellular trail camera on out list. The Link-S comes free with a sim that operates on AT&T LTE network. You get the sim for free with a free data plan with up to 100 pictures a month. So, you can easily access your photos.

Speaking of pictures, this camera is able to capture images with a resolution of 12 megapixels and also has the capability to shoot videos at 720p.

It has a trigger speed of 0.7 seconds and 42 LEDs flash with an infrared Boost and blur reduction. It takes really good pictures in daylight. The main selling point of this trail camera though is the battery. It uses an onboard lithium battery and deploys the integrated solar panel the combination of which supposedly gives you “infinite” battery.

The solar panel compatibility is absolutely minding-blowing and will save everyone thousands in replacing batteries and not the mention, the time saved. This camera’s casing is fairly sturdy but the antennas on it are a bit flimsy. Also, there seem to be reception issues with it but apparently, using the Spypoint antenna booster helps that.

I really like this camera, especially the idea however, the execution seems rather off. Many people have reported it breaking and its inability to connect to the app and not sending pictures. If Spypoint can fix or address these issues, I would give it a perfect score, Till then, I would consider some other options.

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3. MOULTRIE MOBILE 6000 - best camera for wildlife

Moultrie Mobile 6000 is a great budget option for cellular trail cameras. It offers you all the benefits of a trail camera with 24/7 access via the mobile network.

You can receive pictures, the 16 MP camera capable of taking, directly to your mobile or desktop. The Moultrie 6000 operates on Verizon 4G network which is quite reliable and is a trusted cellular service.

This camera can shoot HD videos at 1280x720 resolution (720p) and also clear photos at night thanks to its Illumi-Night Sensor. The sensors give it a detection range of 80 feet and the trigger speed of this camera is 0.9 seconds which is a bit slow compared to others.

The 850-nanometer low glow infrared flash is good for wildlife but results in a red glow while in use which may not be ideal for home security.

That said, the A-5 has several advantages that make it a good trail camera for first-time users, including ease of setup, multiple trigger delays, and the fact that it's built like a tank. Photos, especially daytime photos, are generally of high quality and each photo is stamped with the date, time and moon phase.

I believe that there are much better options out there, but especially considering this camera for how most of what it offers. It does put that mass to good use to provide you with one of the most durable trail cameras on the market.

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4. SPYPOINT LINK MICRO-V 4G - BEST TRAIL CAMERA FOR SECURITY

Spypoint Link Micro-V is a cellular trail camera that supports 4G which is brilliant has 3G is a bit slow for sending videos and photos. The 4G can work on 2 networks, Verizon or AT&T network which is the most commonly used ones so that is a plus.

You get a pre-activated sim and a month of unlimited storage. Let us now talk about its performance. The Spypoint camera can capture decent pictures with its 10 MP lens and four power-LEDs illuminated by infrared boost technology that helps in producing quality infrared images within 80 feet. There is no video. This camera also uses what is called “Buck Tracking system”.

Basically, this technology helps the camera detect antlers and using their app, you can apply this filter to look at pictures that exclusively have an antler in it. This camera is very compact and runs on 8 AA batteries.

The main selling point of this cellular trail camera is its 4g capabilities which is not the most reliable, going by user experience. So, take it all with a grain of salt.

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5. 3G BIGFOOT  - best cellular trail camera For beginners

This is best-named company out there for a trail camera, hands down! Okay, jokes aside, Bigfoot is a well-known company that makes affordable cellular trail cameras.

The Bigfoot 3g is a great choice for all you beginners out there who want to try out a legit good trail camera without breaking the bank. This camera is able to take 12 MP resolution photos and take 30fps videos and 1080p resolution.

This 3g camera trail comes with a free mobile app that lets you control the settings and also send photos to you. It operates on the AT&T network. It has IR LEDs with no-glow flash that give you a viewing range of 56 feet so you can rest assured about the fact that it is not going to scare away any animals.

That said, the LCD screen is of excellent quality and the infrared LED flash and efficient motion activation combine to do a good job of lighting and capturing relevant images. The setup process is very easy and in case you run into some troubles, Bigfoot’s support team is there to guide you through.

Now, with all that said, I do feel the images it captures are mediocre at best and not very clear. A lot like the infamous bigfoot picture. Low blow? Again, it is a great option for beginners but if you want something very serious and professional, you might want to consider other options.

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6. BROWNING STRIKE FORCE HD PRO X TRAIL

Strike Force HD Pro X is a trail camera that offers you fantastic photos and videos. It offers you some great spec at a price that does not break the bank. This trail camera is capable of taking photos at a resolution of 20 megapixels and record videos at 30FPS at 1080p with sound.

The sensors on this bad boy are solid with an 80ft detection range along with 120 ft. of flash range so it will capture it all in an instant thanks to its 0.2second trigger and 0.6 of recovery time in-between pictures which is lighting fast!

And those pictures will be quite a good quality. Even the night pictures come out looking good with its IR flash. I think this is a best cellular trail camera yet for wildlife.

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7. SPARTAN 4G LTE GO CAM

This entry on our list of cellular trail camera and another contender for the coolest name. If budget is not a problem and you want to get service while out in the wild, this one should be your pick. The Spartan Go cam does have a low overall photo and video resolution, 8 MP and 420p respectively, which is the lowest on our list so far.

Now, with that said, I was actually quite impressed by the picture quality, even in low-light they looked fairly good. As for videos, it can shoot 30-second videos with sound at 420p. A noteworthy thing is that this camera can support only 4G, not 3G. What that means is, if there is no 4g tower around, the cellular network will not work.

The camera will only send photos and not videos, you must subscribe to the premium plans to also have the ability to send videos. In my research, I found very little that is wrong with this camera except for 2 things: the inability to connect using 3G and its battery life can sometimes not seem enough for users. Otherwise, a great product.

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8. CAMPARK T80 WIRELESS TRAIL CAMERA

The next camera on our best cellular trail camera list is from Campark. They are well known in the trail camera circuit for making some really good budget options.

The T80 is not exactly a budget option though as it is priced at a bit higher price than what we would call “budget or “entry-level”. With that said, the price is justified seeing how it offers you features that you would not expect in an entry-level trail camera.

Just capturing something is not good enough, you need quality; the T80 offers you the ability to record videos in super HD (1296p video resolution) and has a 20-megapixel camera. The T80 also has a total of 3 sensors on its body, there is a central PIR sensor along with two additional sensors, one on the left and one on the right of the main sensor.

These sensors, individually, have a detection range of 65 feet so combined, it gives your camera a very impressive 120° detection angle. The trigger speed of this camera is 0.3 seconds.

Coming to the flash, the T80 boasts 36 pc 850 nm low glow infrared LEDs which is great for animals as it will not spook them but trespassers might notice the bright red infrared LEDs in front of the camera when the flash is in use.

T80 comes with built-in app control, Wifi and Bluetooth capabilities. However, using its Wifi drains the battery rather fast. Overall, I really like this camera and it performs well as a wildlife trail camera and also, somewhat, for security purposes.

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9. TOGUARD H85 TRAIL CAMERA

The Toguard H85 is a great budget option that comes loaded with features. The H85 has WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities which is quite a plus point as you can place it in a position that gives a better view but is harder to access and still be able to control it.

The “budget” word, I use it a bit loosely as it is a bit more expensive than an entry-level trail camera but the price is still fairly affordable.

This camera captures fantastic looking pictures, 20MP pictures and HD videos with a resolution of 1296p. It has 3 sensors on its body, 1 is located in the centre with the other 2 being on each side of it.

Combined, these sensors give the camera a detection angle of 120-degrees and has a detection range of 65 ft. It has a trigger speed of 0.3 seconds which is fairly good and what you would expect from a camera of this price range. 

This camera has a low-glow flash which is great for capturing wildlife as it will not scare them away but also causes a bright red glow in front of the camera which can alert thieves and trespassers. This camera is quite similar to the last entry on our list and is a great choice for capturing wildlife.

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10. CAMPARK T85 TRAIL CAMERA

Campark T85 has all the features that you would expect from a trail camera at this range. Just like the other options on our list, it has WiFi/Bluetooth capabilities so you can control it through your smartphone using the free app it comes with, available both on android and IOs.

The T85 takes pictures with a resolution of 20 megapixels and shoots videos in 1296p HD resolution so the camera quality is really good. This cellular trail camera also has adjustable shutter speed and photo+picture mode where it takes a set number of pictures and then records.

It has 3 sensors and these sensors, combined, gives the camera a 120° detection angle with a detection range of 65 or 20 metres. However, all these features are available on all cameras on this list so far. What sets the T85 apart is its no-glow flash with 36pcs infrared LEDs. 

This flash does not disclose the location of the camera even when in use making it a great security camera as well, something that the previous entries cannot claim. That is why I would recommend this trail camera if you are looking for an all-rounder.

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BEST CELLULAR TRAIL CAMERA - Buyer's Guide

1. Scope

Many models have a maximum range between 20 and 25 meters. Keep in mind that cameras often only meet manufacturer specifications under ideal conditions. This means the light, weather, and temperature conditions are great, and you need to place the trail camera in the best possible position if you want to get the maximum range. Therefore, the actual range is often less than the specified maximum value.

2. Connection

Some observation cameras are equipped with the 4G system with a SIM card. A hunting camera is equipped with a SIM card and sends the images to your smartphone, tablet, PC, laptop, or computer as needed. You can connect a trail camera with a WLAN function to your private home network. The device then sends the recorded photos and videos wirelessly to your PC or smartphone. The big drawback for both the 4G and WLAN options is that nature's reception is extremely poor, especially in the woods.

3. Night vision

The biggest difference between black LED wildlife cameras and white LED cameras is the visibility of the flash. If you are using a device with black LEDs, you and other people will not see the flash firing. It is basically invisible to the naked eye. Devices with white LEDs, in turn, produce visible light for humans. In return, white LEDs provide a convincing solution by providing better illumination of the surroundings.

4. Image resolution

Usually image resolution is specified in megapixels. In most cases, it's a good idea to choose a device with a photo resolution of at least 16 megapixels. The optimum image resolution depends in particular on the use you want to make of it. If you use the device on your own land or in your home as a surveillance camera, a model with lower photo quality is often sufficient.

The same is true if you are using a wildlife surveillance camera.  If you want to use the photos further, it is best to look for a model with a higher image resolution. Besides image resolution, there are a few other factors that influence the quality of photos.

Therefore, the hunting camera with the highest number of megapixels does not automatically represent the animal camera with the best image quality.

5. detection system

It is a criterion that will determine the triggering capacity of the camera. Too tight an angle will only be relatively effective. Most devices have a sensor with an angle between 65 and 120 degrees. Note that the angle also has an impact on the detection distance. Thus a sensor with an angle of 90 ° will pick up a detection upto 15 meters. For example, the Blaze video camera uses a sensor with an angle of 65 ° which can detect up to 20m.

6. Battery

If you want to buy a trail camera, it is better to check the operation of the device in advance. Many outdoor wildlife surveillance cameras run on four or eight batteries.  In general, it is necessary to change the batteries after a few weeks. The actual battery life depends on various factors.

The durability of the batteries depends in particular on how often the motion detector detects movement and triggers the camera. It also depends on how many batteries you are using and what settings you have made. In addition to battery operation, some devices allow the use of an AC adapter.

Another alternative to batteries is a solar panel. A solar-powered trail camera is usually equipped with a battery powered by the built-in solar panel or by the sun's rays. 

7. Longevity

Hunting cameras are vulnerable to bad weather and animals, so their longevity can be shortened, so it is better to opt for a waterproof camera with an ultra-resistant box.

Frequently asked questions

1. How far do hunting cameras work?

Most trail cameras have an effective range of around 50 feet although more expensive and better models will extend this effective range to 100 feet or even slightly more. To determine the effective range, we assume that the ideal conditions are met. However, in the real world, the effective range of trail cams depends on a number of factors, some of which are beyond your control, such as the thickness of the undergrowth and the presence of fog or smoke.

2. Can you use a surveillance camera as a security camera?

A victim of its success, the hunting camera was made primarily for hunters and observers of flora and fauna, and its usefulness extended to surveillance of property or farms.

3. Do trail surveillance cameras flash at night?

The purpose of a surveillance camera is to be invisible, moreover it emits neither sound nor light. If your camera is flashing the problem may be due to a connection problem or damaged cables.