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Thanks to innovation, gone are the days where we had to climb over hills and move long distances to retrieve photos that may or may not be available. Instead, cellular trail cams came with a breath of fresh air and offered a lasting advantage over ordinary trail cameras. Now, the right question to ask is; what are the best cellular trail cameras in 2022? The answer is in this article in which I share with you the best cellular trail camera reviews.
A Quick Overview
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Best Overall - Editor’s Choice | Best Cellular Trail Camera for the Money | Best Solar Powered Cellular Trail Camera | Best cellular trail camera Verizon | Best cellular trail camera for security |
| Check The Latest Price | Check The Latest Price | Check The Latest Price | Check The Latest Price | Check The Latest Price |
Our Review of the Top 5 Best Cellular Trail Cameras in 2022
Best Overall - Editor’s Choice — Creative XP LTE 4G Cellular Trail Camera
Highlights:
- It comes with 56 no-glow infrared LEDs that ensure precise picture quality without a flashlight
- It can take between 1 to 5 pictures immediately after trigger.
- It has options for solar power or AC power apart from the typical 12 AA batteries.
The Creative XP LTE 4G cellular trail camera stands out in a world of cellular trail cameras. Creative XP has always been exceptional about their trail cameras, and this trail cam is the best wireless trail camera around.
This cellular trail camera shoots in full high definition pictures with a nice 12MP lens which also has a 110 degrees-wide lens coverage and an impressive trigger time of 0.35s. In addition, this trail cam can capture 1 to 5 pictures in a picture burst following a trigger.
This cellular trail camera was designed to perform optimally at night – it has a 65-ft night vision and 56 no-glow IR LEDs that ensure clear photographs are taken.
The creative XP LTE 4G trail cam can be powered with 12 AA batteries and can power the trail cam with a solar panel. This trail camera comes with a 32GB SD card for storing videos and pictures. The pictures and videos captured can be assessed and the settings modified remotely from the trail cam’s accompanying mobile app.
The only drawback to this cellular trail cam is that the kit does not include the 12 AA batteries used in powering it.
Best Cellular Trail Camera for the Money - Tactacam Reveal X
Highlights:
- It has an adjustable motion detection sensitivity from 1 to 9, which can reach 96ft.
- It has a multi-shot mode that can help take up to 5 pictures immediately after the trigger.
- It also has a delay timer and work timer to optimize usage and battery.
The buzz about this cellular trail cam has been on for a while now, and I can ascertain that the hype this camera is getting is worth it, and it is the best cellular trail camera for the money.
The Tactacam Reveal X can be solar-powered or battery-powered, just like the creative XP, and it also has 4G LTE connectivity for fast data transfer. Still, it differs from the creative XP in some other features.
This cellular trail camera has a lens that can take pictures as high as 16MP and videos for 5 to 59s in HD quality. The motion detection sensitivity ranges from 1 to 9, and it can extend as far as 96ft both in the day and night.
Another fantastic feature of the Tactacam X is the work timer and delay timer. You can set this trail camera only to take pictures at a particular time, and you can also set the delay timer for when the camera should start capturing after the motion sensor has been triggered.
Best Solar Powered Cellular Trail Camera - Spypoint Link-S-V
Highlights:
- It comes with a blur reduction and IR boost feature for the clearest of pictures.
- A market high trigger speed of 0.07s that ascertains that nothing is missed.
- It can be programmed remotely via text messaging.
The Spypoint Link-S-V is the best solar-powered cellular trail camera in the market, and for a good reason. This cellular trail cam has its fixed solar panel, which is quite different from other solar cams in that you are required to buy and connect the solar panel differently.
Although its outstanding solar power connectivity feature is incredible, it also has the best trigger speed in the market today- an impressive 0.07s.
One feature that has impressed me is the camera app AI that enables it to identify animals and their species. This feature is perfect for hunters. The camera has an excellent 12MP picture resolution and a blur reduction and IR boost feature that ensures you get good pictures even when the game moves fast. In addition, this cellular trail cam also has a 100ft invisible flash range.
A drawback to this trail cam is the cost of procuring it. The whole kit (includes a security box) costs more than all the trail cameras on this list. However, the cost of procuring a different solar panel to a compatible cellular trail cam is slightly different. However, the price does not take away from the fact that it is the best solar-powered cellular trail camera available.
Best cellular trail camera Verizon - Exodus Render 4G LTE Verizon
Highlights:
- It gives the option of connecting multiple cellular trail cameras on the same Verizon data plan.
- Ability to control the quality of pictures taken from the camera.
- An impressive transmission time of 25s.
Verizon has one of the best network coverage around, and it’s only logical to review the best cellular trail camera Verizon. Many cellular trail cameras use either Verizon or AT&T for connection purposes, while some can use both.
The Exodus render can only connect through the Verizon wireless network. What makes it the best, though? For example, it has a whopping 1 to 9 photo burst mode. The trigger speed stands at 0.4s, and you can take pictures with different qualities ranging from 3MP to 12MP.
The exodus render has a detection range of 70ft and a flash range of 65ft. There is also a provision for picture upload at intervals ranging from 3 hours to 24hours. In addition, with this cellular trail camera, you can run multiple cameras under the same data plan with Verizon.
This trail camera has an impressive data transmission time of 25s for easy data access. It also comes with a 5-year warranty that stamps its authority as the best cellular trail camera Verizon available.
Best cellular trail camera for security - Covert WC Series
Highlights:
- Boast a high picture resolution of 32MP and a 1080p video resolution
- It has an impressive 100ft flash range and maximum silence feature for effective monitoring.
- This trail cam can relay real-time weather conditions through the mobile app.
One important feature with any security cam is high picture resolution for the clearest picture possible, and the best cellular trail camera for security boasts of this feature. The Covert WC Series has a high picture resolution of 32MP, which is the highest cellular trail camera they are offering.
This trail camera also boasts of a 0.4s trigger speed with a flash range reaching 100ft. In addition, this cellular trail cam can take up to 10 pictures with its turbo shot feature. The Covert WC Series has a silence technology that makes it perfect for a security cam.
Another feature that makes it the best cellular trail camera for security is sharing pictures on social media and controlling the camera’s settings from the Covert app.
The Covert WC Series has Verizon and AT&T counterparts that use the individual network coverages, so you can quickly get the one that works best for you.
Quote Box
The effectiveness of cellular trail cams to transmit data is mainly dependent on the cellular network.
Cellular Trail Cams vs. Traditional Trail Cams
Traditional trail cams have always been the go-to for monitoring game and security in the past. They are still relevant today, especially when the site where you mounted the trail cam is easily accessible.
Traditional trail cams also boast some of the best camera features available in the market. In addition, since the data captured won’t be transmitted, there is no holding back on the quality of the trail cam.
The primary disadvantage to traditional trail cams is that an individual has to get to the camera before accessing pictures or videos. This disadvantage limits how far or discreet you can place a camera, reducing access to real-time photos. Fortunately, cellular trail cameras are here to fix this issue.
The best wireless trail cameras have provided an improved way to monitor objects discreetly. However, the significant advantage of cellular trail cams over ordinary trail cams or even trail cams connected to WiFi is the real-time access anywhere there is network coverage.
As long as where the camera is sited has a good network cover then, data is accessible. However, the cellular trail cam also comes with its problems like the monthly or yearly subscription to data plans and the quick exhaustion of batteries. These minor issues can affect the usefulness of a cellular trail cam which is the essence of this cellular trail cam review. So, what are the things to look out for when choosing a cellular trail camera? The answers are next.
How To Choose the Best Cellular Trail Cameras
Detection Range and Angle
Every trail camera has an advertised detection range and an angle that indicates how wide the camera can see at a time. Ideally, it’s normal to want the cellular trail camera with the highest range and angle, and these two features can determine the quality of the picture you get.
The closer the object is to the camera, the clearer the picture and vice versa. It is usually advised to get multiple cameras with superimposed detection ranges that give the best shot. A single trail cam is not bad as long as it shoots the desired pictures and videos.
Night Vision
Trail cams usually do come with night vision which is essential to tracking games. However, night vision is different from day vision. Although the LEDs used for night vision in the best cellular trail cameras in 2022 are advanced, the flash range for night vision can be different from that of the day.
The LEDs and IRs on trail cams work to pick out the object without visible light. Unfortunately, night vision on cellular trail cams is mainly interpreted as black and white photographs, as we usually see in documentaries. The quality of the picture does not decrease with the night vision, though. Therefore, it’s always better to opt for a cellular trail cam with good night vision and flash range.
Shutter Speed and Trigger Speed
This is one area where different manufacturers have tried to outperform each other in the cellular trail camera market. Shutter speed(1) simply refers to how fast the camera can adjust its lens to light to take pictures. While the trigger speed talks about how quickly the camera will go from dormant to active after the sensor has been activated.
These two features are quite different, and individuals should know how each feature matters in different circumstances, especially during daytime or nighttime.
Picture and Video Resolution
Picture and video resolutions are some of the essential features to look out for in a camera. The resolution on the trail cam indicates how clear the image or video captured will be.
Users have sometimes complained of trail cameras advertising more picture resolution than the actual one on the cam. Ensure to check the reviews on any cellular trail cam you have in mind.
Battery Life
The extra power needed by cellular trail cams to send pictures over a network drains the batteries faster compared to ordinary trail cams. Hence, the need for a well-powered cellular trail camera. The average number of batteries advised for a cellular cam is 12 AA batteries, and all the better if they are rechargeable.
A better option is to have a solar panel to power the batteries in the camera for a long time. If you are not getting a solar-powered cell cam, you should at least get one with the option of attaching a solar panel.
Network Coverage
What’s a cell trail cam without the network? The most important thing is that any camera that is set up should be within a network range. The strength of the network in the area your camera is sited will determine how fast you will get pictures. Also, make sure that you get a camera compatible with the dominating network in the area you want to monitor.
Durability
The fact that most cellular trail cams are exposed to weather makes it a point to look out for the durability of the cell cam. As a result, most cellular trail cams have Ingress Protection ratings that certify that they can last long in harsh weather, and some also have the extra protection of containers that keep them safe.
The difference between the two types of trail cameras is that an individual has remote access to pictures taken by the cellular trail cam. In contrast, you have to get to the camera physically to access images with ordinary trail cams.
Yes, you can. Cellular trail cams can act as security cameras; however, you should remember to opt for a camera with high picture resolution and remember that cellular trail cams can’t take videos for a long time.
Conclusion
Cellular trail cams are making waves in the games and hunting industry, and with good reason. Cellular trail cams offer unrestricted access to games in the will, albeit with the extra charge of subscription to a network provider. Therefore, you should always look into the right features when choosing a cellular trail cam so that you can enjoy the premium features it has to offer.
Of all the trail cams here, I endorse the Creative XP cellular trail cam because it simply stands out in the features offered by the trail cams on this list. Other trail cams also have exciting features to look out for, but the Creative XP trumps them overall. A close second will be the Tactacam Reveal X for its motion detection sensitivity range, making it the best cellular trail camera for the money.
Is there a trail cam that you are fond of that is not on this list? What do you consider first when opting for a cellular trail cam? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
References:
- Amber K. (2018 June). A simple way to help students understand Aperture, Shutter speed, and ISO. Retrieved from https://theartofeducation.edu/2018/06/12/a-simple-way-to-help-students-understand-aperture-shutter-speed-and-iso/