Nope, the WYZE Cam OG doesn't need a subscription to work.

Straight out of the box, it lets you live stream, get motion detection alerts, and save some video clips on a microSD card.

But, if you're looking for extras like longer cloud storage or advanced AI detection, you might want to check out WYZE's Cam Plus service.

From what we've found, lots of folks are happy with the free features for basic security.

However, if you need more comprehensive coverage, the subscription could be worth it. It really boils down to how you plan to use the camera.

The WYZE Cam OG gives you some nice choices for storing your video footage. According to the manufacturer's description, you can go with cloud storage or use a microSD card for local storage.

If you like the idea of cloud storage, there's a subscription option that lets you store recordings online, so you can access them from anywhere. This is super handy if you want to check in remotely without worrying about running out of space on a physical card.

If you're more into keeping things local, you can pop a microSD card into the camera. The manufacturer says it handles microSD cards up to 32GB. This is really useful for continuous recording and if you don’t want to rely on the internet to save your videos. You can just take the card out whenever you need to review or download footage.

Our research shows that a lot of people really like having these two storage options. They enjoy the flexibility to pick whatever storage method works best for them.

So, in a nutshell, with the WYZE Cam OG, you can choose between cloud storage (with a subscription) and local storage using a microSD card, depending on what fits your needs better.

Yeah, the WYZE Cam OG can handle outdoor use pretty well.

It's got an IP65 rating, so it's built to stand up to the weather. The only catch is that it's not totally wireless—you'll need to keep it plugged into an outlet with the included USB cable and adapter. That might limit where you can put it if you don't have easy access to a power source outside.

Our research found that some folks found this a bit annoying, especially when they had to use an extension cord to get it where they wanted it. One person mentioned it added some setup hassle if the plug was far away.

That said, if you can manage the power situation, the camera does a good job for outdoor surveillance. For a more solid setup, you might want to grab the Wyze Outdoor Power Adapter (you gotta buy it separately) to make sure it's properly weatherproofed.

But if you’re looking for something without wires and more flexible, you might want to check out battery-powered options. They usually have rechargeable batteries and you don't need to worry about finding a power outlet.

So, while the WYZE Cam OG does need a bit of planning for the power, it's a solid pick for the price and durability if you can work around that.