Will this camera save the moment you need?
Recording requirements for six exact camera models
Research checked September 23, 2026; key recording requirements rechecked September 24, 2026 · Research-based comparison, not hands-on testing
A camera can send an alert and show a live picture without saving video you can replay. Check the recording mode, storage and required extras before you buy.
Need a timeline you can scroll through? The Indoor Cam S350, Tapo C120 and Wyze Cam v4 below have documented continuous local-recording routes. Each needs additional storage. Need clips around a visitor or delivery? Compare the doorbells' built-in-storage and subscription requirements below. These are different indoor/outdoor products, so recording capability alone does not make them substitutes. S350 · Tapo · Wyze
Event recording saves clips around detected activity. Continuous recording builds a timeline while the camera, power and storage are working. Neither label promises that a device will never miss footage.
Read the full camera-storage guide for more on clips, continuous recording and saved history. For the broader eufy comparison, see our eufy recording-setup checklist.
Jump to an exact model
eufy SoloCam S340 (T8170)
Outdoor battery/solar camera
- Power
- Built-in rechargeable battery; included removable solar panel helps recharge it.
- Event recording
- Supported; motion-triggered clips.
- Continuous recording
- Not supported, including when connected to HomeBase 3.
- Local storage
- Built-in 8GB eMMC; optional HomeBase S380/HomeBase 3 storage.
- Required extras and settings
- No hub/card needed for built-in local clips. HomeBase 3 is optional; compatible firmware required.
- Cloud storage
- Unresolved: model-specific support says no cloud backup; US shop displays a broad membership cloud offer. Confirm S340 cloud compatibility before paying for a plan.
- Subscription distinction
- No subscription required for the documented local route; cloud eligibility unresolved.
- Main buying check
- Solar charging and extra HomeBase storage do not provide continuous video.
- What remains unverified
- Cloud eligibility conflict requires exact-model confirmation; no outage or real-world capture test performed.
Manufacturer sources for this model
eufy Video Doorbell E340 (T8214)
Battery doorbell; optional wired charging
- Power
- Removable rechargeable battery; compatible doorbell wiring can top it up. Battery must remain installed.
- Event recording
- Supported; local video clips.
- Continuous recording
- Not supported in the manufacturer France comparison table for E340. US page documents clip-based storage; regional corroboration is identified.
- Local storage
- Built-in 8GB eMMC; optional HomeBase 2 or HomeBase 3 for clips.
- Required extras and settings
- Standalone local clips use built-in storage; HomeBase not required. Wired mode needs compatible wiring and the battery installed.
- Cloud storage
- Exact-model US cloud plan, retention and eligibility not established in this check; generic shop cloud offer is insufficient.
- Subscription distinction
- No subscription required for the documented built-in local route; optional cloud terms unverified.
- Main buying check
- This is the VIDEO DOORBELL E340, not the continuous-recording FLOODLIGHT E340.
- What remains unverified
- US-specific cloud eligibility and retention unverified. Do not convert the advertised 90 days of short clips into 90 days of continuous footage.
Manufacturer sources for this model
eufy Indoor Cam S350 (T8416)
Plug-in indoor camera
- Power
- USB power adapter; 5V/2A.
- Event recording
- Clip recording supported.
- Continuous recording
- Supported locally with microSD or HomeBase 3.
- Local storage
- microSD up to 128GB, Class 10 or better; HomeBase 3 alternative.
- Required extras and settings
- microSD sold separately; enable recording. For HomeBase continuous storage, generic IndoorCam support requires an installed hard drive and the continuous-recording setting.
- Cloud storage
- Cloud storage listed in exact-model specifications; plan, resolution and retention not verified.
- Subscription distinction
- Verified continuous route is local; current cloud subscription terms unverified.
- Main buying check
- Indoor use only; add compatible storage to save recordings locally.
- What remains unverified
- Exact S350 HomeBase recording resolution/drive limits and cloud terms unverified; generic 2K-camera resolution limits were not transferred to S350.
Manufacturer sources for this model
Ring Battery Doorbell 2K Plus (Battery Doorbell Plus 2nd Gen; 2026)
Battery doorbell; optional wired charging
- Power
- Rechargeable Quick Release Battery Pack; compatible existing wiring can provide trickle charging.
- Event recording
- Saved doorbell, motion and Live View events with compatible Ring Protect subscription.
- Continuous recording
- Neither current name nor Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen) appears on the official 24/7 eligible-device list.
- Local storage
- No on-camera card route documented. Ring Edge excludes 2K devices, so it is not a local-storage route for this model.
- Required extras and settings
- Compatible Ring Protect plan and Internet connection for saved cloud events. No hub is listed for this route; optional wiring must match manufacturer requirements.
- Cloud storage
- Paid compatible Ring Protect plan required for saved video; product FAQ advertises up to 180 days depending on plan.
- Subscription distinction
- Compatible Ring Protect subscription required for video recording; basic live functions can work without a subscription.
- Main buying check
- Optional wiring recharges the battery; it does not establish 24/7 recording eligibility. Budget for a recording plan.
- What remains unverified
- Current plan-specific retention settings and outage behavior not tested. No recording modes were inferred from similarly named wired doorbells.
Manufacturer sources for this model
TP-Link Tapo C120 (US; datasheet v1.0/1.6)
Plug-in indoor/outdoor camera
- Power
- 5V DC USB power adapter; continuous mains power needed.
- Event recording
- Detection recording supported; Tapo Care cloud clips are triggered by activity.
- Continuous recording
- Supported to microSD when the recording schedule is set to Continuous.
- Local storage
- On-camera microSD up to 512GB, sold separately.
- Required extras and settings
- Compatible microSD installed/configured; app recording schedule enabled. No hub needed for the documented on-camera card route.
- Cloud storage
- Optional paid Tapo Care stores event clips; it does not provide 24-hour continuous cloud recording.
- Subscription distinction
- Tapo Care subscription for cloud; no cloud subscription needed for the documented microSD route.
- Main buying check
- Cloud clip history is not a backup of every second stored on the card.
- What remains unverified
- Hub-storage compatibility not claimed; verify exact hardware version and card compatibility. No retention duration promised.
Manufacturer sources for this model
Wyze Cam v4 (US)
Plug-in indoor/outdoor camera
- Power
- Wired plug-in power; outdoor installation requires Wyze Outdoor Power Adapter, sold separately.
- Event recording
- Local Events Only mode; paid cloud recording is a separate route.
- Continuous recording
- Supported locally: enable Record to MicroSD Card and choose Continuous.
- Local storage
- On-camera microSD; current US support maximum 256GB, sold separately.
- Required extras and settings
- Compatible microSD and recording setting; no hub needed for the card route. Suitable outdoor power accessory if installed outdoors.
- Cloud storage
- Optional paid security plan such as Cam Plus for cloud storage.
- Subscription distinction
- No subscription required for local card recording; compatible paid plan for cloud.
- Main buying check
- The current US support table says 256GB for Cam v4; 512GB is listed for Cam Pan v4, a different model.
- What remains unverified
- Older regional/marketing pages conflict on card capacity; current dated US support takes precedence here. Exact cloud retention not assessed.
Manufacturer sources for this model
Three comparisons that can prevent the wrong purchase
1. More memory cannot add a recording mode the camera lacks
S340 can use HomeBase 3 storage, but its FAQ still rules out continuous recording. S350 explicitly supports continuous recording with the appropriate storage. Choose the required recording mode before buying a hub. These cameras also serve different indoor/outdoor roles. S340 FAQ · S350 specifications
2. “90 days of history” and “90 days of continuous video” are very different
Eufy's E340 doorbell estimate assumes 30 clips per day, each 20 seconds long. That is 10 recorded minutes per day, or 15 recorded hours spread across 90 days. This is our arithmetic using the manufacturer's stated assumptions, not a measured capacity test. Likewise, Tapo Care saves activity clips while C120 continuous video uses local storage. Read the recording basis behind the day count. E340 estimate · Tapo Care FAQ
3. Similar camera names can change the accessory you need
Current US documents list 512GB for Tapo C120 and 256GB for Wyze Cam v4. Wyze's Cam Pan v4 has a different 512GB entry. Bigger capacity alone does not establish longer retention across cameras: video settings and recording mode also differ. Use the exact model's current card instructions before ordering. C120 datasheet · Wyze capacity table
How to use this before buying
- Decide whether you need clips or a timeline you can scroll through.
- Add the required card, hub/drive, power accessory or subscription to the equipment list.
- Confirm the exact model/version and current manufacturer requirements. After setup, record and replay a sample from the intended storage location.
Important checks before ordering
- Eufy cloud: confirm exact-model eligibility before purchasing a cloud plan. S340's support table says no, while generic shop messaging advertises cloud benefits. S350 lists cloud support, but its current terms were not verified. S340 support · S350 specs
- E340 doorbell: the explicit no-24/7 comparison is from eufy's France page for the same T8214 family. US sources confirm the remaining power and clip-storage details. Comparison · US product
- S350 with HomeBase: the drive prerequisite comes from a general IndoorCam support article; exact S350 HomeBase resolution/drive limits still need checking. Hub storage
- Wyze card size: this comparison follows the June 12, 2026 US support table and current US product page, rather than older regional marketing with a different limit. Current capacity table
About this comparison: we structured manufacturer documentation into a buying checklist; we did not test these cameras. Retention, missed events, outage behavior and image quality were not measured. Unknown means unverified, not unsupported. Models serve different settings, and this is not a ranked best-camera list. Methodology and review notes below
Methodology and source scope
Original structured comparison of public manufacturer product pages, support pages and one datasheet. Research-based, not hands-on testing. Six purposively selected models, not a representative market survey or ranking. US sources preferred; explicit exceptions retained.
Unknown means unverified, not unsupported. Storage in a camera, card or local hub. Local does not automatically mean no account, no Internet dependencies, theft-proof or subscription-free.
Not measured: Night image quality, missed events, Internet/power outage behavior, actual retention, installation reliability and app privacy/security.
Manufacturer requirements can change after plan, firmware or hardware updates. Check the source for your exact model before buying accessories.
All manufacturer sources were checked September 23, 2026. Key recording requirements were rechecked September 24, 2026. Ring’s US product FAQ confirms that Battery Doorbell Plus (2nd Gen) was renamed Battery Doorbell 2K Plus with the same features. Product/support claims remain manufacturer claims.
Choosing a camera setup?
These guides cover selected setups. Confirm the exact model and included accessories before buying.
Next: understand how camera history is recorded and kept.