Vosker Camera Review 2024 - Forbes Vetted

Oct 15, 2024

These days, there are cameras everywhere, and I’m not talking about the smartphone in your pocket that you consciously pull out to take a snap or a video. I’m talking about surveillance cameras. From video doorbells to home-security camera systems to the devices used by commercial and government entities, we really are pretty much always on camera.

The Vosker solar-powered cellular security camera works in any remote area that has cell service.

That is, we’re always on camera when we’re in a town or city. Farther afield, there’s less chance of a security camera being trained on you. Which also, of course, means there’s less chance for you to set up a security camera that keeps watch over your cabin, your boat, your farm or anything else of value that’s far from population centers. Why? Because of connectivity issues.

Most security cameras connect to a Wi-Fi network which allows them to stay online and to stay connected with your phone, sending you updates and alerts when motion is detected. Without Wi-Fi, a security camera can still be recording, but it offers no real-time service to you.

The Vosker VKX security camera connects via 4G-LTE.

I was pretty excited to test out the Vosker VKX security camera, because it doesn't rely on a Wi-Fi signal to stay connected—this camera is a cellular device, connecting wirelessly via 4G-LTE connectivity. Anywhere there is cell service, this camera can keep watch.

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Resolution: 1080p | Night vision: Infrared | Battery life: Up to 6 months | Waterproof rating: IP65

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Much like a cellphone (if we’re still using that term ever), the VKX comes with a SIM card that designates it as its own individual unit that is able to connect to a cellular network. And this camera isn’t picky: It connects to any carrier’s network; it will choose whichever is strongest in its proximity.

Because the camera does not require a Wi-Fi connection to work, it can be set up in areas that might seem like they’d be off the grid, as many remote areas still have cell service. And don’t worry if you seldom visit your distant piece of property, because the VKX has a large solar panel spread across its top. Provided you power it up fully and then position it within clear view of the sky, this camera should be able to function for up to six months without losing power.

The clarity of the daytime footage and photos is quite good.

The camera records full-color video in 1080p HD by day and in infrared black-and-white in darkness. The clips are limited to 15 seconds in length. It also takes still photos in 1920 x 1080 resolution and can be set to a time-lapse mode.

One of the things I appreciate the most is how the Vosker app makes it quite easy to manage the camera’s settings, including letting me pause the viewing (which they call “snoozing”) with a tap or two. You can shut off the camera’s recording function for as little as 30 minutes or as long as eight hours whenever you’d otherwise be on camera and would prefer not to be.

The Vosker app is easy to use and offers excellent control over the camera.

Getting the camera set up was easy, although the connection took several minutes to be established. If you can download an app and scan a QR code, you can get yourself set up to use the Vosker VKX.

And if you can sink three screws, you can install it easily as well. The mounting arm uses a ball attachments that allows for aiming the camera wherever you want it, and its antennae can be pivoted to get the strongest possible signal.

Once you have your VKX up and running, you can count on it to take snaps whenever it detects motion, and you can record video clips whenever you want via the app.

This camera has some truly unique things going for it, and its Wi-Fi-free, battery-powered status makes it a savvy solution for the monitoring of remote locations, but there are a few issues I need to flag.

First, you get access to the camera for free for seven days after creating an account; after that, you gotta pay. The price is $10 per month for the Basic plan, which allows for up to 500 photo alerts, 10 full HD videos, and seven days worth of history. The Alerted plan doubles each of those stats for $15 per month, and the Elite plan gives you unlimited photo alerts, 4o full HD video clips, and 60 days of stored history for $20 each month.

My next issue is that the infrared images are not that sharp, and I anticipate some pretty critical details being hard to spot, such as a car’s license plate were it in motion.

The infrared images do not live up to the clarity of the color footage during daytime.

And finally, it’s too easy to pop open the camera and simply switch it off or even remove the battery. If someone can reach the camera, they can disable it with great ease. (For the record, I know someone can simply smash any camera and disable it; this camera just makes the deactivation process easier and less destructive.)

Despite the issues I found with the VKX from Vosker, overall I very much recommend this camera for people who need to monitor a location without Wi-Fi and without an easy way to keep a camera powered up.

The fact that it can act so autonomously, doing its work in places other security cameras simply couldn’t, makes it a smart buy for the security-conscious consumer. And if that Basic plan is good enough for you, we’re only talking about $120 a year. If you can put a price on peace of mind, maybe that’s it?

First, I charged the battery and just got to know the hardware, figuring out how to open the camera to access its battery, how the mounting system works and generally how it felt as a piece of hardware. To begin to test this camera, I downloaded the app, signed up for a free seven-day trial, and then set to work testing the visuals.

I closed the blinds and door to my office to plunge the space into relative darkness in order to test the camera’s night-vision chops. The images weren’t as sharp as I would have liked, as noted, but I did manage to get the space quite dark, and I could still make out what I was looking at.

Next, I headed out into the backyard, which was lit by midday sun, and “mounted” (meaning taped, so as not to put holes in the wall) the camera up high. The images taken in bright light were much crisper, with sharp contrast and good color fidelity.

I ended up leaving the VKX sitting on my desk, turned on, for multiple days, now and then checking in to make sure it was still connected and functioning properly, and it always was.

I am a home-security and smart-home expert and have tested the best home-security cameras, including outdoor security cameras, on the market. I’ve been using a home video doorbell for many years. I’ve also tested well over two dozen baby monitors in my time, and they share many of the same features with dedicated security cameras.

Beyond cameras and other tech gear, I also have more than a dozen years of experience testing products in general, including apps, services and even restaurants. I’ve reviewed large vehicles and compact headlamps, emergency radios, smart lights and much more.