Copyright CNET
You can mount outdoor security cameras nearly anywhere you want, but what happens when they take a tumble? From loose and aging bases to high storm winds and debris, outside events can knock cameras to the ground on a bad day. If your cam is above a driveway, patio or similar spot, that means a hard landing -- and you'll want your camera to work afterward, if possible. That's why I dropped models from top brands including Arlo, Nest, Eufy, Blink and Ring off my roof onto my concrete driveway to see exactly how they'd hold up. The results spoke to how durable today's outdoor cameras are overall, while also showing how fragile certain parts, especially the lenses, can be. Here's what happened. Ring Stick Up Cam Pro I was a little nervous about the Ring cam design, which is a blockier than many security brands. However, the Ring Stick Up Cam Pro proved sturdy, with only minor scuffs after hitting the pavement. What did surprise me was how the previously-secured battery shot out like it was spring-loaded, vaulting over 20 feet away into the grass. If your Ring cam takes a fall, you may need to spend some time finding the battery pack before car tires or sprinklers do, which is a notable downside. Tapo Indoor/Outdoor Home Security Camera C120 Tapo's small indoor/outdoor cam has a flexible hinge for quick angling, but that didn't fare well in the drop test. The hinge snapped completely off and there's no easy fix for that problem. The camera itself remained functional, but it's not usable without a connected base. Exercise caution when mounting any outdoor cam that has a large hinge or swivel, since problems like these are a possibility. Google Nest Cam Indoor/Outdoor Gen 2 Google's outdoor-ready Gen 2 Nest cam is the heaviest out of all the security cameras I tested and it feels very sturdy. The fall test showed that the Nest cam design itself is durable, with only minor scuffing -- but another problem was quickly visible. Because of its wide, exposed lens face, the Nest cam struck the ground lens-first and suffered significant lens cracking. The cam still works, but the view is slightly compromised. If I were using the cam long-term, I'd want to replace it for sure. The latest wired outdoort Gen 3 models from Nest are not only far lighter and more compact, but have a more protected lens (although I still prefer battery models when possible). Arlo Pro 5S 2K I recommend Arlo for a variety of wireless and outdoor camera purposes thanks to its excellent design, and since I had several outdoor models available, I decided to drop them all (for science). The Pro 5S is one of Arlo's more advanced models and it took the fall with only minor lens scuffing and minimal impact on viewing and video. However, its pop-out battery design didn't fare as well. Some of the internal plastic brackets meant to hold the battery section snapped off, making it harder to lock in place. This is another model I'd want to replace if it were my primary security device. Fortunately, the upgraded Arlo Pro 6 has a slightly different design that looks more durable overall. Arlo Essential Gen 2 The hefty Essential Gen 2 is one of Arlo's more affordable wireless options, but how does it survive a crash or two against pavement? Other than some slight loosening of the case and minor scuffing, this Arlo model showed no signs of damage -- one of the best results from my fall tests. Arlo Essential Pan/Tilt Security Camera (Outdoor) Arlo released a pan/tilt line in 2025 that includes an outdoor option. I was nervous about this model since the pan/tilt structure seemed innately more vulnerable to damage, but after a couple of falls, it showed no issue except the expected scuffing. Arlo's design quality really shines with models like these. Wyze Cam Pan v4 Wyze's Cam Pan v4 is made for outdoor surveillance, so I was interested to see how the compact model held up to a fall. The good news is that the camera's body remained largely undamaged. The bad news is that its lens took the brunt of the fall and cracked badly, rendering the camera unusable. Those vulnerable lenses really are an Achilles' heel for many outdoor cameras. Blink Mini 2 The tiny Blink Mini 2 comes with a mountable based and an outdoor-cable add-on to work out in the weather. The lightweight nature of the Mini 2 helped protect it from serious fall damage, although its base did snap apart -- fortunately, I was able to put it back together. Blink's design offers plenty of protection for its lens, which wasn't damaged at all. Eufy SoloCam E42 Eufy's model is a larger outdoor camera that can be combined with a solar panel for wireless charging. Its pan/tilt design proved mostly durable. No lens damage occurred during test, but the front panel below the lens did have severe cracking, which doesn't bode well for the longevity of the camera. Baseus 4K Security Camera I was curious to see how the Baseus design, with its rotating solar panel built right into the camera, would fare in a hard fall off my roof. To my surprise, the 4K camera came out intact with just a few scrapes -- a solid performance for this innovative solar cam. MyQ Outdoor Battery Camera MyQ's wireless camera is another model with a large lens face that leaves the it exposed, so I was nervous about the drop tests. This camera bounces -- something about the design makes it spring back up into the air like it's trying to get back to its perch. But bouncing tendencies aside, my tests didn't show any lens damage or problems beyond some minor scratches, leaving this hopping camera ready to go again. Lorex 2K Dual Lens Pan/Tilt Security Camera I didn't have an outdoor Lorex cam fit for this kind of drop test, but I did test an indoor Lorex model to get a general idea of build quality. After all, indoor models can get knocked off shelves or tables during accidents, too. Dropped from not quite as high as my roof, the Lorex cam had its rather flimsy cover pop off the top of the model, but otherwise remained intact. Unless your camera takes frequent tumbles to the floor, I wouldn't worry too much about the durability of this Lorex cam. Bottom line These outdoor cameras' resilience impressed me overall. Camera bodies largely remained intact and hard falls didn't disrupt their app performance, in most cases. However, lenses remain a particularly vulnerable point for cameras (as do more delicate hinges), especially if they hit the ground face-first.
