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In this article, I’ll compare the new Blink Mini vs Wyze Cam v3 vs Wyze Cam Pan. I’ll include a side-by-side features comparison table so you can get a sense of the similarities and differences between the three cameras at a glance.
Simply want to know what is the same and different between these cameras? Here are the main things:
They are all wired, record in 1080p HD resolution, have two-way audio, and subscription options for full functionality. Wyze Cam v3 has a 130° field of view vs 120° on Wyze Cam Pan and 110° on Blink Mini. Blink records at 30fps vs 20fps on both Wyze cams. The Wyze Cam is IP65-rated for outdoor use; the other two are designed for indoors only.
While Wyze is compatible with Android 5.0+ and iOS 9.0+, Blink requires Android 5.0+, iOS 12.5+, or Fire OS 5.1+.
There are some other noteworthy more technical differences as well. I will cover those below.
A ‘Wyze’ Decision?
In a move that has left a few critics a bit puzzled, Amazon announced an inexpensive new security camera last year. The hot-off-the-press Blink Mini Cam is positioned to compete with two very popular cameras made by Seattle-based Wyze in the smart home security space.
I don’t find it confusing at all. Because of the price point and great quality, I have bought several Wyze Cams over the past couple of years for myself and to give as gifts.
As reported in a recent Forbes magazine article, citing a study by Strategy Analytics, the home security cameras market is poised to surpass a whopping $9.7 billion by 2023.
Wyze has certainly captured a substantial market share in the high stakes home security space, selling over one million units in their first year of business. And that was way back in 2017.
Amazon is no fool.
But what are the differences between the three cameras?
Let’s start by comparing them side by side.
Blink Mini Vs Wyze Cam vs Wyze Cam Pan: Head to Head
The following table illustrates the major technical differences between Blink Mini vs Wyze Cam v3 vs Wyze Cam Pan.
Last update on 05/14/2023 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Blink Mini Explained
The Blink Mini Cam is Amazon’s answer to the Wyze Cam. It features a 110-degree diagonal field of view and will let you record in 1080p HD video at up to 30 frames per second [FPS]. It is more compact in size than the previous Blink cams measuring at 50 mm x 49 mm x 36 mm and weighing 30 grams. One main difference when comparing Blink Mini vs Wyze Cam is that this camera will work indoors only while the Wyze v3 will work outdoors too.
What it will do is integrate nicely with your Amazon smart home, including the Echo Show and your Fire TV devices. I have this set up with my Echo Show’s and I love it: “Alexa, show me my fish tank cam.” (You can see some additional cameras that work with Echo Show, I’ll include a link to another article I wrote at the end of this post.)
In fact, I just bought a second one of these to monitor outside my kitchen window as I have had a coyote come to visit me lately.
My 2ND Blink Mini “Coyote Cam”
Blink Mini comes equipped with a 2-meter micro USB cable and power adapter that requires an electric rating of 00-240V 50/60 HZ 0.15A [standard power]. Free Cloud Storage is typically offered by Amazon on a trial basis, then you either need to purchase a Blink Subscription Plan or you can leverage local storage through Amazon’s Blink Sync Module 2 and a USB Flash Drive.
I’ll add a little Amazon product box here to the Synch Module if you are interested:
- Conveniently control all of your Blink devices right from the Blink Home Monitor app with the Blink Sync Module 2. The Sync Module 2 connects up to 10 of any Blink Indoor, Blink Outdoor, XT2, XT, Video Doorbell and Blink Mini devices (not required for Mini).
Pros:
Cons:
Availability
The Blink Mini Cam is available for now. Amazon typically offers steep discounts on this camera on Prime Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday.
You can get Blink Mini here at Amazon.Wyze Cam v3 Explained
The Wyze Cam v3 is the little engine that could, and it is a fan favorite among smart home enthusiasts. It remains one of the most affordable quality cameras you can buy. Tens of thousands of units have sold. I have bought, set up, and tested several of these cameras myself [for review purposes and given as gifts].
The addition of color night vision and the outdoor rating are perhaps the biggest updates to the new V3 model.
The set-up process is literally a breeze and takes about 10 minutes. The camera is small and light enough that you can stick it virtually anywhere. There are some benefits that make Wyze Cam Pan a worthy upgrade though. I talk about those below.
Pros:
Cons:
Video Review
Reed from Smart Home Solver has an awesome video review of Wyze Cam V3 out on YouTube. I’ll embed it below. Nice work, Reed.
Availability
Wyze Cam v3 is priced to sell and available to purchase today.
You can get it here at Amazon.Wyze Cam Pan Explained
The newer V3 Wyze cam is a better camera so unless you want the panning, tilting and zooming capabilities this camera provides, I would suggest going with V3.
If you are thinking about purchasing the old V2 Wyze Cam to save a few bucks. This camera does have some benefits over that one.
I’ll bet you can guess what the first one is. Yup! The ability for the camera to pan 360 degrees. But it can also tilt and zoom. This is a great benefit as it literally lets you see around the whole room giving you a broader field of view.
The second improvement is better night vision than the old V2 model. The one complaint I used to see out in the forums about the Wyze Cam Gen 2 is that the night vision is just so so. The company solved this with the v3 upgrade. However, the color night vision is now lacking on the Pan model. Still, Wyze Cam Pan does have six LED sensors as opposed to four with the older Wyze Cam.
Third, you get a slightly larger field of view out of the box at 120 degrees as opposed to 110 with the older Wyze Cam. The v3 has the 130 degree field of view though.
Pros:
Cons:
Video Review
Here’s another great video review of the Wyze Cam Pan from Security Dot Org.
Availability
Wyze Cam Pan has been out for a while and is available to order now.
You can check the latest price here at Amazon.What’s In the Box
Blink Mini
- Blink Mini camera
- 1 attached stand
- 2 mounting screws
- 1 USB cable
- 1 Power adapter
Wyze Cam v3
- Wyze Cam v3
- Quick Start Guide
- USB cable
- Power adapter
- Wallplate
- Mounting tape
Wyze Cam Pan
- Wyze Cam Pan x1
- Power adapter x1
- USB cable x1
- Quick Start Guide x1
The Verdict
At the end of the day, all three of these cameras are great buys. If you told me a few years ago, I would be able to buy a sub-$40 video camera that lets you monitor a baby, keep dibs on your dog, or spy on your Nannie with color night vision…I would have said you were smoking the devil’s lettuce.
Well, you know what I mean.
I think Amazon’s addition of this budget option is brilliant and will appeal to Amazon ecosystem subscribers. I am looking forward to testing the differences in Alexa integration too.
The Wyze Cam V3 is clearly the best of the bunch here IF you don’t want the panning capability.
- Color night vision: An all-new Starlight Sensor records night time video in full, vivid color. The Starlight Sensor can see full color in environments up to 25x darker than traditional video cameras and the new f/1.6 aperture captures 2x more light.
Blink Mini Vs Wyze Cam v3 vs Wyze Cam Pan: Your Take
So what do you think about the differences [and similarities] between the Blink Mini vs Wyze Cam v3 vs Wyze Cam Pan?
Do you already own a Wyze Cam? Plan to purchase a Blink Mini?
Please leave me a comment below and let me know – and also your thoughts of choosing one over the other. I look forward to hearing from you!
You Might Also Like
If you enjoyed this post comparing Blink Mini vs Wyze Cam v3 vs Wyze Cam Pan, you might also like some of my other articles about smart homes and home security:
- What Are the Best Echo Show Compatible Cameras?
- Wyze vs Blink, Ring, Netvue & Ezviz: 9 Best Budget Cams!
- How To Use Echo Show as a Baby Monitor
- 3 Best Alexa Compatible Video Doorbells
About the Author
Tim Brennan is a technology blogger and host of the @TecTimmy YouTube channel. He shares insights about smart home tech at oneSmartcrib, home theater systems at UniversalRemoteReviews, and the future of AI in writing at Writeinteractive. A graduate of the Northeastern University School of Journalism, he has written about technology for 30 years. He lives on the ocean in scenic Nahant, Massachusetts.
Please subscribe to my YouTube channel for a fun take on all things tech.
