Perhaps you are looking to buy the best cellular trail camera.
But it is not always too easy to find the right one for you. First of all, there are common issues with some of the brands out there. For example, you have to deal with your SD card getting corrupted, your settings are off, dying batteries, and worse, some small animals trigger images you won’t ever need.
This is why the search for the perfect cellular trail camera requires work. You want one that is simple and easy to work with. But at the same time, it needs to have all the functionality you need.
So, we tested 5 of the top-selling cellular trail cameras in the market today to find out which one works best. Aesthetics and simplicity just won’t cut it. There is more to look into before you pick up a cellular trail camera – and we have the best choices you’ve got right here!
Let’s dive right into it.
Top 5 Best Cellular Trail Camera
Ready to buy the best cellular trail camera? Here are some of the finest in the market today:
1. Camojojo Trace LTE Trail Camera
Features At A Glance:
- Easy set up
- Built-in sim and SD card
- Tracks animal movements on the map
- NFC-equipped
- Impressive night photography
- Amazing 0.02-second trigger speed
- Instant video (plays all videos directly without paying)
- Live streaming
- Compact size
- Includes a flexible holder
- Smart identification function (Identifies the types of animals your camera shoots)
Our favorite in the bunch, the Camojojo Trace Trail camera has loads of bragging rights in one nifty package. It offers instant video capabilities, so you can receive and play videos straight away without having to pay. Capture your video, then send and play it in full within the app. Mind you, it is the ENTIRE video and not only the cover. You don’t even have to request HD playback first. That’s pretty sweet.
Live streaming in real time is also possible with this camera. It can transmit live feeds to your mobile device, which lets you see the prey through the lens and have these analyzed in real time. Imagine having to view your camera in real-time straight from your mobile device. Impressive.
The Camojojo Trace is also NFC-equipped. It is the first-ever trial of this feature in the market. What this means is that you can bypass the longer process of having to scan a QR code to connect your camera to your mobile device. With NFC, you can simply tap your phone with the camera and you are instantly connected.
Hunters will find it much more convenient to use the camera in creating an auto mode. This lets you switch to the Eco mode when your camera is not triggered, while at the same time being able to send your videos and photos to your mobile device in real time. This minimizes power consumption while making sure you don’t miss a thing with your subject’s movements.
We are also pretty impressed by the built-in memory card. That’s a 32-GB memory card that is built right into the camera. Finally, no more issues with memory card incompatibility. You can take as many photos as possible since you are no longer dealing with potential full memory cards.
It also has a built-in sim card. Simply purchase a data plan – no need for you to purchase a sim card for your camera and worry about activating it.
The data plan pricing and quality is reasonable. Just pay $11.99 a month, and this plan comes with unlimited access to your videos and photos.
Other cool features we like about this camera include:
- IP66 rating waterproof
- Wider than the average operating temperature (between -68 and 14 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Detection range is 80 feet for night vision
- Low-glow LED flash
- Compatible with many cellular carriers such as Verizon and AT&T
- Backed by a 2-year warranty
Finally, this camera features a statistic and map function. This lets you map out the hunting area you are looking at and even put a pin on key points of interest in the location. These are helpful features so you do not miss a thing during your trip.
2. Reconyx Hyperfire 2 Cellular
Features At A Glance:
- 100 feet advertised detection range
- 5-year warranty
- Fast and impressive 0.2-second trigger speed
- High quality performance
- Decent photos
- Works with 12-AA lithium batteries
- Can record video but unable to transmit via cellular
- Potential app crash issues
- Steep price
If you are an avid wildlife researcher, or you simply want to capture photos in the wild, then the Reconyx camera is a neat option. The camera is highly capable of delivering fine images and should run without any issue… Most of the time. It works fine whether day or night, and has a 60-feet trigger and at a closer range.
Interestingly, it can stop motion when at a close range during well-lit and dim-light situations. So, if you are looking to capture that photo of a buck running right in front of your camera, this device won’t disappoint. The quality is still clear and crisp instead of a messy blur.
We tested it during the day and were not disappointed. Surprisingly, even nighttime field snaps were impressive. Plus, this camera was pretty much silent in our walkthrough test. So, it did not distract our subject. That is a pretty sweet feature that helps you get excellent photos since you are not dealing with trigger noise or annoying flash to scare away the animals.
But one thing to note was this camera has some fogging issues. A bit of condensation in the housing can definitely affect the photo quality. So, it is good to keep it free from moisture as much as possible.
Overall, it is good for the price you pay.
3. Tactacam XB
Features At A Glance:
- Under 0.5 second trigger speed
- 80-feet flash range
- Certified IP66 waterproof rating
- 4G/LTE wireless module
- Includes an external port for your solar panel
- Runs on 12-AA batteries
- 96-feed advertised detection range
- Easy set up
- App has limited HD downloads
- Needs an SD card that’s class 10 U3
- Expensive cell data plans per camera
A decent cellular trail camera at a reasonable price, the Tactacam XB can capture pretty good daytime or nighttime images. Compared to the Tactacam X, the XB has a tad more features that add to its overall value. We were able to capture thousands of amazing photos except for a very few ruined by fog in the camera.
Another thing we particularly love about the XB is its no-glow feature. We can proudly say that photos taken at night were definitely on par with other more expensive cameras in terms of quality.
However, we would have wanted to see more features to really make this one spectacular budget camera. For example, filtering options and tagging features would be great, as these functions would make it much easier to organize photos.
Nevertheless, the app was not at all difficult to use, and there is a GPS built right into it, which is helpful. So, for the price you pay, it is not bad at all.
4. Moultrie Mobile Edge
Features At A Glance:
- Unlimited cloud storage comes free
- Has a 0.85 trigger speed ( tad slow)
- Powered by 16-AA batteries
- Buck recognition and smart tags for different species
- Uses internal memory instead of SD card
- 80 feet advertised detection range
- Quick setup
- Affordable price point
Just because you wanted a good cellular trail camera, this does not mean you should spend a fortune for it. In fact, the Moultrie Mobile Edge comes at an affordable price of $100. It is a reasonable price considering the impressive features it has to offer.
We particularly liked how simple it is to connect this camera to the strongest network available in the area. You can do this without having to switch your sim cards, which is great. Then, you can receive your photos quickly.
Another cool thing about the Moultrie is the image recognition feature. It can identify deer – even the difference between a doe and a buck, as well as vehicles, humans, and turkeys. So, you don’t end up spending a lot of time sorting out your photos. Want to filter your images to view only your buck photos? This camera can do that using the app.
We also like the fact that this camera provides activity data. So, it lets you know when bucks pass by your camera more frequently. It is a reliable budget cellular trail camera that ticks most of the boxes without a doubt.
However, it is not without any fault. The trigger speed is not the quickest. We have observed that it struggled with capturing my image during the 10-foot walkthrough. Nevertheless, this less-than-perfect trigger speed does not overshadow the rest of the features. It is smart enough to capture deer images that we like each time they pass by.
5. Bushnell Cellucore 20
Features At A Glance:
- Under 1-second trigger speed
- 80-feet advertised detection range
- Can capture HD videos and 20 MP photos
- Solar-compatible
- Trigger at 60 feet during night
- Low glow
- Works with 32 GB SD cards
- Requires 12-AA batteries
- App is easy to use
- Customizable flash
- Far distances has inconsistent triggering
If you want consistently crisp photo quality from your cellular trail camera, the Bushnell Cellucore 20 does the job well. The picture quality is impressive, and we like the long battery life. It is also quick and easy to set up, which is handy when you are on the go and want to shoot photos on the fly.
Daytime photos are quite impressive – the color quality is solid . The stop-motion functionality is also smooth, and it fits well to varied light conditions. On the other hand, this was something that other Bushnell cameras struggled with in past models.
As for nighttime photos, we can say they are illuminated decently. This is also possible even when you shoot images in the open field. They may not be the clearest infrared photos, but at 50 to 60 feet, it is pretty decent.
But one thing to note – this camera is not exactly the fastest in the bunch. There is no internal viewer to help you get this tool up and running. So, that is a point to consider if this feature matters to you.
Quick Tips For Buying The Best Cellular Trail Camera
Now that you know the best cellular trail cameras in the market today, let us look into the key points to consider when purchasing a cellular trail camera. Here they are:
1. Quick setup
You need to make sure that your cellular trail camera is easy to set up and program. Some cameras are finicky and can take you a while to get them up and running. This is why we like the Camojojo Trace because of the easy and simple setup procedure.
2. Image quality
Not all expensive cameras offer the best quality but at the same time, cheap ones do not promise decent image quality. So, it is good to check the specs before you buy. Go for cameras that produce crisp images and never settle for grainy blurry photo quality. The Camojojo Trace performs well whether for daytime or nighttime photography.
3. Trigger speed and Detection Range
When it comes to trigger speed, the faster the better. This is all you need to know when comparing cameras’ trigger speeds. Speaking of which, the Camojojo Trace leads the pack with its superior 0.025-second ultra fast trigger speed.
As for the detection range, you want to choose one that offers the greatest distance possible. Most cameras offer an 80-feet detection range, which is pretty good.
Bottom Line
Buying the best cellular trail camera requires some homework to make sure you really get the right one you need. The Camojojo Trace LTE trail camera beats the rest with its excellent trigger speed, top-quality images, instant video and live streaming functions, and all at a reasonable price tag.