If you're in the market for a decent IP camera, check out the Samsung SmartCam HD Pro. It is highly customizable and features less lag time than its competitor, the Dropcam Pro, as well as offering SD card storage.

Of course, it's not all good – the Dropcam Pro still wins in the categories of durability and video quality – probably the reason the SmartCam HD Pro features a lower price tag ($189 versus the Dropcam Pro's price of $199). Overall, it's a great choice for an IP camera if you don't need to worry about these things.

The SmartCam HD Pro is just as easy to set up and features 1080p resolution just like the Dropcam Pro, but it isn't something you'd want to rely on for security purposes. This camera also falls flat in terms of app and Web interface design. It's worth spending the ten additional dollars and going with the Dropcam Pro.

Design

Weighing in at 10.3 ounces, it's almost double the weight of the Dropcam Pro (5.7 ounces). It is comprised out of plastic, making it feel cheap compared to the metal parts of the Dropcam Pro. The Samsung measures slightly bigger (4.7 x 3.3 x 3.1 in versus Dropcam Pro's 4.5 x 3.15 x 3.15 in), and offers less of a diagonal field of view (128 degrees compared to the Dropcam Pro's 130 degrees.) It isn't a huge difference when you look at it here in black and white, but when you are watching live footage, I'm sure you'll notice the difference. Its finish is a glossy white, which isn't great for stealthy, covert applications.

Features

Mount the SmartCam HD Pro to a wall, or use the included base on a flat surface. Either installation will allow you to capture 30 fps of 1080p HD video. While this is the same as the Dropcam Pro, it differs when you're talking about zoom – 4X zoom mobile and 10X web versus the Dropcam's 8X zoom.

Another big difference between the two is the fact the SmartCam HD Pro has SD card storage. While that is a mark in its favor, there is something the Dropcam Pro features that the Samsung version doesn't: Bluetooth low energy (BLE) connectivity.

Interface

The app Samsung offers users contains a multitude of features that allow you to customize to your heart's content. Use the app to adjust the microphone sensitivity and speaker volume, as well as activate or deactivate night vision or the wide dynamic range (WDR) feature. What does this feature do, exactly? When the light is coming into the room in such a way it makes items appear darker than they are, WDR makes them look back to normal.

Another thing controlled within the app includes motion and/or audio detection, allowing you to get notifications on your Android 2.3+ or iOS 5+ device. If something sets off the sensor, you'll know immediately. You can set up to three zones for motion detection. Choose Manual Recording to divert video to the microSD card, Two-way Talk to talk to someone within the home (like your teen arriving home after school while you're at work), and Capture to save frames to your photo album.

Want to use it as a baby monitor? There is an assortment of lullabies right there within the app. There are many useful options in the mobile app and web interface, but they're pretty basic. Dropcam's apps are pretty to look at, and just as useful. If app design matters, you might stay away from the Samsung IP camera.