How Do Arlo Cameras Work
Arlo Security Cameras Review
Arlo's wireless security cameras pack a big punch nether any atmospheric condition—indoors or outside and 24-hour interval or nighttime.
Arlo was one of the first companies to release battery-powered security cameras way back in 2014, and its years of experience prove in its latest products. Nosotros think that Arlo'south wireless security cameras are a smashing option, whether you want to go along an eye on package deliveries, check in with your pet, or welcome the kids home afterward school.
Amongst these products is one of our favorite Arlo cameras: the Arlo Essential Spotlight Xl, which has a massive battery that lasts up to 12 months and doesn't require a base of operations station.
This is good news for a brand that tends to be otherwise as well pricey for near folks (only getting more affordable). Arlo backs up the cost with beautiful hardware that's piece of cake to use and install. And it has some of the all-time video quality among security cameras.
Arlo security cameras in this review
- : Best overall
- : All-time video doorbell
- : Best value
Arlo Essential Spotlight Forty
- : All-time video quality
- : Best indoor camera
Compare Arlo cameras
*Amazon.com listing cost as of postal service appointment. Read full disclaimer.
Video: A quick wait at the Arlo Pro four
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What to expect with Arlo security cameras
Arlo'south core features
While there are slight variations in the execution of Arlo'south core features, every Arlo camera tin do these things:
- The Arlo app allows y'all to admission and control your cameras using your smartphone.
- Night vision uses infrared light so your Arlo cameras tin see and record in the dark. Models like the Arlo Essential Spotlight, Arlo Pro 4, and Arlo Ultra 2 also take a bright LED light for color video at dark.
- Motion detection allows Arlo cameras to save battery ability by recording merely when at that place's motion in front of the photographic camera.
- Ii-way sound allows you to speak with people most the camera, which is perfect for checking on the kids during your lunch intermission.
Arlo camera similarities
Wire-free installation
Battery-powered cameras are the dominion at Arlo, not the exception. This means that the majority of Arlo wireless cameras have a battery that lasts upward to six months between charges—the Arlo Essential Spotlight XL lasts up to 12 months. Only the Arlo Essential Indoor and Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wired require a power cable.
By using a battery, in that location are practically countless places you can install an Arlo security camera outside your home, like fences, trees, and sheds. We as well like that the mounting hardware for Arlo cameras is like shooting fish in a barrel to install, and so you don't need to spend more than a few minutes positioning your security photographic camera.
Arlo Secure plans
You tin view live video in the Arlo app someday without a subscription, but Arlo gives you extra features and higher-quality video storage with its paid Arlo Secure plans. Here'southward a quick overview:
| Plan | Without a plan | Arlo Secure Plan | Arlo Secure Plan | Arlo Secure Plan Plus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Complimentary | $2.99/mo. | $9.99/mo. | $14.99/mo. |
| Number of cameras | Unlimited | ane | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Cloud storage  | None | xxx days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Video resolution | Upwardly to 1080p | Upwards to 2K | Up to 2K | Up to 4K |
| Live viewing | | | | |
| Basic notifications | | | | |
| Interactive notifications | | | | |
| Avant-garde detection | | | | |
| e911 emergency calls | | | | |
Data as of post date. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject area to change.
A fascinating feature in Arlo Secure Plan Plus is the emergency response service. This clears a path for a quick police response to your home instead of your smartphone location during an emergency. It's non a substitute for professional security monitoring but can streamline 911 calls.
Arlo smart home compatibility
Arlo camera differences
Video resolution
As Arlo cameras increase in price, they gain higher video resolution—while the core features such as wire-gratis installation and colour night vision remain generally the same. This is different from competitors like Ring and Google Nest, which tend to standardize resolution across cameras, regardless of cost.
By offering plenty of video resolutions, Arlo can cater to specific customer tastes. For example, a techie might buy an Arlo Ultra ii for access to stunning 4K video. But a new parent can salve a little greenbacks past opting for the lower resolution of an Arlo Essential in nurseries and playrooms.
Base stations
We have a dear/hate relationship with Arlo's hubs. We absolutely love that they improve bombardment life compared to security cameras that use only Wi-Fi. They too enable local video storage past connecting a storage device to the hub.
Just base stations have a major drawback: price. An Arlo Smart Hub accounts for effectually $100 of Arlo's starter kits' toll—the aforementioned amount every bit the Ring Stick Upward Cam Battery. This actress expense makes most brands a better value than Arlo since you can purchase more cameras for less.
The number of cameras a base of operations station supports depends on the camera type and subscription program yous have.
Stand-solitary Arlo cameras with no base station:
- Arlo Essential Spotlight
- Arlo Essential Spotlight XL
- Arlo Pro 4
- Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight
- Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell
- Arlo Essential Indoor
- Arlo Become 2
Arlo cameras that crave a base station:
(non including many discontinued models)
- Arlo Pro 3
- Arlo Pro ii
- Arlo Ultra 2
- Arlo Ultra
We recommend choosing a stand-alone camera if you want to relieve some cash. Merely the base station is the best way to tape local video without a cloud subscription, which saves more than money over the long run. Depending on the local storage capacity you lot have, y'all can start saving money in two–4 months (compared to cloud storage).
Power sources
While most Arlo cameras utilize a battery for wire-free operation, some models also apply an optional solar panel or power cablevision to supplement the battery. Two Arlo cameras don't use batteries at all: Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell and Arlo Essential Indoor.
Arlo security camera reviews
1. Arlo Pro 4: Best overall
It'southward worth noting that the Arlo Pro 4 fits perfectly betwixt the Arlo Essential and Arlo Ultra 2 when it comes to features.
We absolutely love that Arlo ditched the base of operations station and required two-pack on the Arlo Pro four, which was a major upshot nosotros had with the Arlo Pro three. This helps bring the cost down to around $200 per photographic camera and is less of a bulwark for new customers wanting something a bit more powerful than the Arlo Essential.
The crisp 1440p resolution (2K) is meliorate than most 1080p security cameras on the market just not equally detailed as Ultra's superior 4K video. The field of view is another area where Arlo Pro four shines. Its 160º field of view is broad enough to spotter over more area than the Essential—only once again, it's not equally capable as the Ultra 2.
While the battery life on the Pro 4 can last upwards to six months, we think the Arlo Essential XL is a improve wireless photographic camera with a bigger bombardment and a lower price. Overall, nosotros call back the Arlo Pro four is perfect for folks who desire a happy medium between boilerplate and overkill.
Bank check out our full Arlo Pro 4 review to learn more.
ii. Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell: Best video doorbell
The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell has the fewest placement options of any Arlo security camera, but information technology's one of our favorite smart doorbells because it comes with a broad field of view and a quick reply feature that helps you chat upwardly visitors more easily. It besides doesn't require a base of operations station unless you want local storage.
It's not as affordable equally the Ring Video Doorbell or as advanced as the Nest Doorbell. But information technology still manages to fill a niche between its two biggest competitors by offering e911 emergency calls and video with a foursquare aspect ratio.
Check out our full Arlo doorbell review to learn more about the Arlo Video Doorbell.
three. Arlo Essential Spotlight 40: Best value
The Arlo Essential Spotlight 40 is our new favorite camera from Arlo because information technology's a battery behemoth that lasts up to 12 months on a charge. Few wireless cameras match to this kind of performance—and the ones that do, similar the Glimmer Outdoor, record short video clips instead of capturing an unabridged consequence.
This camera is also one of Arlo's most affordable, at around $150, since the camera doesn't require a base station, which adds a lot to the overall price of Arlo's high-finish cameras like the Ultra 2 and the Pro 3.
Arlo Essential Spotlight Twoscore isn't as affordable as the Band Stick Upwardly Cam Battery or Wyze Cam Outdoor. Withal, it comes with everything we dearest about Arlo cameras like a spotlight for color video at night, easy mounting on practically whatever surface, and Arlo'due south outstanding back up for smart home devices.
The Essential XL doesn't accept any wired ability options to enable continuous video recording, merely nosotros think the trade-off of a bigger battery is worth information technology—though the big battery makes for a big camera.
For potentially limitless battery life, you tin can buy a solar panel accessory so you don't have to accept it down for recharging as often. It as well lacks the automatic tracking of the Pro 4 and Ultra 2, so information technology'south harder to follow the activity in a video.
4. Arlo Ultra 2: Best video quality
The Arlo Ultra 2 is the best 4K Ultra Hard disk security camera on the market. It'southward the only completely wireless photographic camera that records 4K video that we've encounter and so far. This gives it an edge over competitors because it'southward but as easy to install every bit Arlo'south other battery-powered security cameras.
We're as well big fans of its ultra-wide 180º field of view which pairs perfectly with the 2160p video resolution to capture more detail. This means yous tin can zoom in on the video to identify intruders or spot discrepancies without the image getting likewise pixelated. Arlo also uses some clever programming to remove fisheye distortions caused by the 180º lens.
The biggest disadvantage of Arlo Ultra 2 is its toll. Because this camera requires a base station, you lot demand to already ain a compatible Arlo Smart Hub or purchase a kit that includes the base station. Sadly, the base station only comes in a kit with a two-pack of cameras instead of a single camera.
Another flaw of the Arlo Ultra 2 is that you need to pay 50%–60% more to store 4K video in the deject using the Arlo Secure Plan Plus. But you tin subscribe to the cheaper Arlo Secure Plan if yous don't demand 4K video with this camera.
5. Arlo Essential Indoor: Best best indoor camera
The Arlo Essential Indoor lacks the wireless portability of the company'due south best cameras just outperforms them in ane fundamental area: privacy. The Arlo Essential Indoor has a privacy shield that slides airtight to cake the camera lens when you don't need it.
Nosotros also similar this camera because it'due south very affordable, you don't demand a base station, and you lot don't need to charge a battery. Unfortunately, it doesn't accept local storage without a pricey base station, making it almost wholly reliant on an internet connection and cloud storage to work properly.
This camera is a long overdue update to the Arlo Q, which released in 2015. It's a bummer to lose gratuitous cloud storage, but the privacy shield makes the Arlo Essential Indoor Security Camera a worthy sucessor.
Other Arlo cameras we considered
Amazon.com list toll as of post date. Read total disclaimer.
- Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight: This stand-alone camera is much less discreet than the Arlo Pro 4 because it sports a super brilliant LED floodlight that's perfect for outdoor locations.
- Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell: We like the bombardment on this unit of measurement considering information technology gives you more than installation flexibility without ant wiring. The $50 cost premium is a flake much considering Ring'south cheapest battery-powered option costs just $100.
Final word
Arlo'south camera option is diverse, and each model brings a lot to the table. Information technology doesn't accept free video storage, but thankfully Arlo's plans are very competitive with Band and Nest on price.
Still, nosotros recommend other Arlo cameras if you have the budget or simply want ameliorate video quality. Feel free to browse our FAQ below or visit our wireless security camera review to learn more near Arlo and how it compares to other brands.
Arlo Pro 4: provides 2K video quality, a wide field of view, and Arlo's best features without a base station
Arlo Essential Wired: gives you a handy way to picket over your porch without recharging a battery
Arlo Essential Spotlight Forty : is the best value for nearly folks with a long-lasting battery
Arlo Ultra 2: offers stunning 4K video when well-nigh wireless cameras still focus on 1080p
Arlo Essential Indoor: offers a privacy shield and continuous ability for unmatched indoor operation
How we reviewed Arlo cameras
We researched every Arlo security photographic camera we could find earlier writing this review. This was a tall order because Arlo currently makes 10 camera models. And Arlo's website often lists older, sometimes unavailable models alongside new models.
Nosotros besides have hands-on experience testing the Arlo Pro iv. This helped immensely when deciding what each Arlo camera is best for.
Finally, we looked for unique attributes that make Arlo worth ownership over other brands. Nosotros also focused on user reviews, which paint a favorable moving-picture show of Arlo'south products. For more data on how we rate products, check out our review methodology.
Arlo security camera FAQ
Yes, every Arlo photographic camera comes with features that work without a subscription:
- Alive video viewing
- Basic notifications
- Two-style audio
- Local storage (for cameras that use a base station)
Most Arlo cameras can record free video using one of two methods:
- Every Arlo camera that uses a base of operations station can record local video when y'all connect a USB drive or microSD carte du jour to the base of operations station.
- All of Arlo's earliest cameras come with free seven-day video storage that doesn't require a subscription. Merely newer cameras like the Arlo Essential, Arlo Pro 4, Arlo Video Doorbell, and Arlo Ultra 2 come with a gratis trial for cloud storage.
Although local storage notwithstanding saves videos without the internet, you can't view video with the app, view live video, save videos to the cloud, or adjust settings without an agile internet connection.
To view local video without the internet, yous must connect the USB drive or microSD card to a computer or gear up up Direct Storage Admission using the Arlo app. Direct Storage Access connects the base station to your habitation Wi-Fi network and so you lot can view footage as long every bit your phone is on the same network.
Arlo says the cameras' max range is up to 300 feet abroad from the base station equally long as you lot have direct line sight. This altitude decreases with each object (ceilings, walls, copse, furniture) between the camera and base station.
- All you have to do isdownload the app to your smartphone (Android or iOS).
- Once you install the Arlo app, you lot enter youre-mail accost and ready acountersign.
- Arlo sends averification email to your inbox, and in one case you click the included link, you're prepare to go.
From the app, you lot can admission recordings and live video, behave two-mode advice, alter settings, and zoom or digitally pan the camera.
Arlo makes information technology easy to add users:
- Become into the Arlo app, accessSettings, and selectGrant Access.
- Side by side, selectAdd together and enter theproper name and electronic mail address of the person yous want to add.
- After the person activates their verification link, they tin can apply the Arlo app to access the camera.
- Y'all can make up one's mind what kind of rights each user has.
- If you take more than than 1 camera, yous can select which users have access to which cameras.
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