Mashable has launched its inaugural Readers’ Choice Awards, gathering opinions from readers on their preferred smart home technology. The results are available, showcasing the leading smart home brands. You can check the complete results, and we also inquired readers about particular smart home devices, such as security cameras.

Your preferred security cameras

The competition was tight, but Blink took the top spot. Participants rated Blink 7.8 out of 10 for overall satisfaction, with Ring and Wyze closely behind at 7.7. Blink did not dominate all categories, so refer to the chart below to see where each brand shone or stumbled.

Editor’s note: While our readers enjoy and utilize Ring, we refrain from endorsing Ring in our product suggestions because of numerous past privacy concerns.

Cost and setup

Wyze clearly led in the cost category, earning a rating of 9.1, surpassing Blink (8.1) and Ring (7.5). The appealing price of Wyze may help explain its lower ratings in other areas. Ring, being a more upscale brand, received the lowest score for cost. Both Ring and Blink scored average ratings on monitoring expenses, such as cloud storage or smart functionalities. One respondent appreciated Blink’s complimentary cloud storage. A Ring user remarked, “My experience with the Ring security camera has been mostly positive. The only drawback is the monthly subscription cost. I would rather keep data on a local server.”

Wyze also excelled in setup, followed by Ring and then Blink.

Audio and video quality

Audio and video quality are vital for security cameras. Blink, Ring, and Wyze received high marks for video quality, but audio ratings were less impressive. Wyze experienced the most significant decline, scoring 6.7 in audio. For the best combination of audio and video, Blink is favored by readers.

A Blink user mentioned, “The audio quality can be a bit unclear,” and “The image quality isn’t as crisp as I hoped during heavy rainfall.” A Ring user praised its video quality relative to competitors.

Motion detection

Security cameras frequently face challenges with motion detection, either failing to capture sufficient footage or being overly sensitive. Ring achieved the highest score in this area with an 8.1 satisfaction rating.

One respondent remarked, “The image quality, motion detection, and two-way voice meet my needs.” Another Ring user pointed out, “I’ve maxed out the motion detection sensitivity, but it occasionally overlooks movements.” Conversely, another user stated, “Smart motion detection tends to classify spiders, raccoons, and opossums as people.”

Blink received similarly varied feedback. One respondent noted, “Motion detection functions effectively, and I receive alerts promptly.” Another mentioned, “The wind often triggers the motion sensor, leading to frequent alarms.”

Likelihood to recommend

All three brands performed well regarding the likelihood to recommend. Ring topped the list at 8.0, followed by Wyze at 7.9, and Blink at 7.8.