Swann Xtreem Security Camera review

The Swann Xtreem Security Camera is the security brand's latest launch, adding to its already extensive range of IP and Wi-Fi cameras and home alarm systems. 

Suitable for use indoors and out, the overriding appeal of the Swann Xtreem is its long battery life - once mounted, you won't need to worry about charging it again for around six months. Boasting a long list of features, such as heat and motion sensing, night vision, two-way talk, and more, I was keen to test it out to get a feel for its strengths.

I tested the Xtreem wireless camera on the front of my house to give me a constant view of my property and our car, which, as with most London properties, we park on the street outside our home.

Read on to find out what the Swann Xtreem wireless security camera offers and how we rated it. If, however, you're looking for more great examples, then check out our best outdoor security camera round-up here for our top picks. 

Swann Xtreem Security Camera: Set up & specs

• Video: 1080p Full HD
• Live view: Yes
• Night vision: Yes
• Use: Indoors and outdoors
• Weatherproof: Yes (IP56 rated)
• Motion detection: Yes
• Two-way talk: Yes
• Field of view: 110° 
• Power: Wireless (rechargeable battery lasts up to 6 months)
• Colors: White 
• Dimensions: H7cm x W5cm x D10.5cm

The Xtreem wireless security camera comes in a relatively small box. Inside, you have the camera, its magnetic wall mount, fixings for the wall, and a USB charging lead, as well as a variety of branded theft-deterrent security stickers for your windows.

As with all other security cams, it’s advisable to connect the camera to your Wi-Fi and smartphone before mounting it so you can see exactly the view and angle you require for a good picture before fixing it to a wall.

Once the wall mount is fitted, the camera is attached to it thanks to a solid integrated magnet. This makes it easy to change angles slightly whenever you need to and lift it off the base completely when it eventually needs to be recharged.

Installation is pretty straightforward. Provided the camera is fully charged, you need first to download the free Swann app (available on both iOS and Android) and open an account.

From there, you need to connect the device to your account - if you give the app access to your phone camera, you need just scan the QR code on the base of the camera to speed the whole process up. 

Once paired to your Wi-Fi network, you’re ready to go. I found it all to be a very straightforward process and took under five minutes to complete, but if you get stuck, this Xtreem camera setup video can talk you through each step.

• Read next: the best wireless doorbells for added security and a better way to organize deliveries

Swann Xtreem Security Camera: Features

The Swann Xtreem wireless security camera system is brimming with handy features, many of which you can tweak to suit your needs and lifestyle.

Heat and motion sensors

As with all the best security cameras, the Xtreem features motion sensors that you can adjust depending on how sensitive you want them to be. You can set motion detection at four levels - Maximum, Far, Medium, and Close - or switch off entirely. In addition, each motion will trigger a push notification on your phone (if you’ve given the app access to this function). The Xtreem also features heat sensors, which detect heat from people or cars too.

Live view 

Whether the sensors have picked up movement and alerted you on your phone or you just want to take a look at the view, you can access Live View at any time from your camera. 

I found that it took at least six seconds for the camera to wake up and show a live view, regardless of whether I accessed it directly on the app or via a push notification. This was more than a little frustrating, and I found it a significant downside to the camera.

Night vision

Available in color and black and white, night vision automatically kicks in when the camera detects low light. 

Free Cloud and local recording

Compared to many other security cameras requiring a subscription to record footage, the Xtreem will save short video clips on its 16BG Micro SD card (included). You can send these from the app to your email if required. The camera also features a one-day backup on the Cloud (pay for Swann’s Secure+ subscription, and this is upped to 60 days).

Siren

The Xtreem comes with a built-in siren. This can be set to go off when triggered by the motion sensors or operated manually to scare off would-be intruders or thieves. 

Voice control

Link it to an existing Alexa or Google Assistant device, and you can watch the live view, record clips, and even deploy the siren, all by asking.

Other live view functionality

When you’re in Live View, there are several functions that you can access instantly via onscreen buttons. For example, you can take a photograph, record a time-stamped video clip, access two-way talk to speak to someone in view, sound the siren and mute the sound (sound is set to on as a default).

Swann Xtreem Security Camera: Design

Small, sleek, and compact, the Xtreem is a pretty smart-looking package. Obviously, it’s entirely up to you wherever you put it, whether you choose to have it visible or hidden, but even if on view, its curved design helps it blend into the surroundings.

Swann Xtreem Security Camera: Extras

A notable few extras are available for the Xtreem wireless security camera that you could invest in should you choose. These include an outdoor solar panel - so you never need to worry about charging the camera again - and a weatherproof outdoor mount that screws into the camera if you plan to install yours in arm’s reach.

Swann Xtreem Security Camera: Our verdict

The Swann Xtreem wireless security camera is a cinch to install and use. It takes relatively clear video and crucially will record video clips automatically when sensors are triggered, unlike most security cameras that require a separate costly subscription. 

My only bugbear about the camera is that its response time for the live view is so very slow - six seconds may not sound like much, but when something triggers the sensors, you want to see what it is right away, not after it’s had plenty of time to turn around and run away.