Swann's latest home security camera will protect your home with 4K footage and sharp night vision – and it's subscription-free

• The Swann MaxRanger4K Mini is a new entry-level home security system
• It records at 4K, with infrared night vision and two bright spotlights
• Its software identifies people and other subjects to avoid false alerts

Swann, the company behind some of the best home security cameras we've tested here at TechRadar, has launched a new, smaller version of its excellent MaxRanger4K cam, with a more wallet-friendly price.

We gave the full-size Swann MaxRanger4K Solar four stars when we reviewed it earlier this year thanks to its super-crisp footage, sturdy build, and built-in storage that means there's no need to pay a monthly subscription fee if you want to save and check your video clips.

The new MaxRanger4K Mini Long Range Wireless Security System offers almost all the same features as its larger sibling, with the exception of the top-mounted solar panel. The mini-sized camera can still be used fully wirelessly with solar charging, but you'll need to mount a small solar panel alongside it.

This more compact camera will be a great option if you like the idea of the MaxRanger4K, but feel its heavy-duty design might be overkill for your home, and its price (starting at $399.99 / £499.99 / AU$949.95 for two cameras and a hub, and $129.99 / £199.99 / AU$399.95 each for add-on cams) is out of your reach.

The new system is easier on the wallet, with two-camera setups costing £299.99 (about $400 / AU$600), and four-camera systems priced at £449.99 (about $550 / AU$800). That's certainly not cheap, but it's a lot more affordable than the full-size system, and you're getting far more than you would with most entry-level home security setups.

Small but sharp

Like the larger camera, the Mini version records at 4K, with the ability to zoom in on points of interest (most outdoor home cameras top out at 2K, or even 1080p). The camera's software can detect heat and motion, and identify people and vehicles to prevent false alerts and provide you with detailed notifications.

The cam can store up to three months' worth of security footage on a 32GB SD card, and you can position it well away from your router thanks to Swann's Wi-Fi HaLow range-extending technology.

After dark, infrared night-vision offers visibility up to 20 meters, and activating the two bright spotlight gives you color recordings with a range up to 15 meters.

For more security cams that you can use without paying a monthly fee, take a look at my roundup of the top three subscription-free home security cameras.

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