Arlo Security Cameras Review

Arlo's wireless security cameras pack a big punch under any conditions—indoors or outside and mean solar day or night.

Arlo Pro 4

Arlo Pro 4

4.2 out of 5 stars

iv.15

  • Icon Pros  Light

    1440p video (2K)

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Wide field of view

  • Icon Cons  Light

    Short battery life

Arlo Ultra 2 camera

Arlo Ultra 2

4.1 out of 5 stars

four.05

  • Icon Pros  Light

    2160p video (4K)

  • Icon Pros  Light

    Ultra-wide field of view

  • Icon Cons  Light

    Expensive

Arlo was one of the kickoff companies to release bombardment-powered security cameras way back in 2014, and its years of experience bear witness in its latest products. We think that Arlo's wireless security cameras are a groovy choice, whether you want to keep an center on package deliveries, check in with your pet, or welcome the kids home after school.

Amongst these products is ane of our favorite Arlo cameras: the Arlo Essential Spotlight 40, which has a massive bombardment that lasts up to 12 months and doesn't require a base of operations station.

This is proficient news for a brand that tends to exist otherwise besides pricey for most folks (but getting more affordable). Arlo backs up the price with beautiful hardware that's easy to use and install. And it has some of the best video quality amid security cameras.

Pro Heading

Pros

Pro Bullet Attractive equipment

Pro Bullet Easy to install indoors and out

Pro Bullet Tons of battery-powered options

Pro Bullet Cloud and local video storage options

Pro Bullet Many affordable options

Con Heading

Cons

Con Bullet 4K models are pricey

Con Bullet Required base station for some models

Con Bullet No one-pack starter kit for Arlo Ultra two

Compare Arlo cameras

*Amazon.com listing price every bit of postal service date. Read full disclaimer.

Video: A quick wait at the Arlo Pro 4

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What to expect with Arlo security cameras

Arlo's core features

While there are slight variations in the execution of Arlo's core features, every Arlo photographic camera can 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 can see and record in the dark. Models like the Arlo Essential Spotlight, Arlo Pro 4, and Arlo Ultra 2 also have a bright LED light for color video at night.
  • Move detection allows Arlo cameras to save battery power by recording only when there's motion in front of the camera.
  • Ii-way audio allows you to speak with people near the photographic camera, which is perfect for checking on the kids during your luncheon break.

Arlo camera similarities

Wire-free installation

Battery-powered cameras are the rule at Arlo, not the exception. This means that the majority of Arlo wireless cameras accept a battery that lasts upwards to six months betwixt charges—the Arlo Essential Spotlight Twoscore lasts up to 12 months. Only the Arlo Essential Indoor and Arlo Essential Video Doorbell Wired crave a ability cablevision.

By using a battery, there are practically endless places you can install an Arlo security camera exterior your home, like fences, copse, and sheds. We also similar that the mounting hardware for Arlo cameras is easy to install, so y'all don't demand to spend more than a few minutes positioning your security camera.

Arlo Secure plans

You can view alive video in the Arlo app anytime without a subscription, just Arlo gives you extra features and higher-quality video storage with its paid Arlo Secure plans. Here's a quick overview:

Plan Without a program Arlo Secure Plan Arlo Secure Plan Arlo Secure Plan Plus
Price
Number of cameras Unlimited one Unlimited Unlimited
Deject storage Icon Tooltip  Dark None thirty days 30 days 30 days
Video resolution Up to 1080p Up to 2K Up to 2K Upwardly to 4K
Alive viewing

Icon Yes  Light Yes

Icon Yes  Light Yes

Icon Yes  Light Yes

Icon Yes  Light Yes

Basic notifications

Icon Yes  Light Yeah

Icon Yes  Light Yeah

Icon Yes  Light Yeah

Icon Yes  Light Yep

Interactive notifications Icon Tooltip  Dark

Icon No  Light No

Icon Yes  Light Yes

Icon Yes  Light Yes

Icon Yes  Light Yes

Advanced detection Icon Tooltip  Dark

Icon No  Light No

Icon Yes  Light Yes

Icon Yes  Light Aye

Icon Yes  Light Yes

e911 emergency calls

Icon No  Light No

Icon No  Light No

Icon No  Light No

Icon Yes  Light Yep

Data as of post engagement. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject 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 dwelling house instead of your smartphone location during an emergency. Information technology's not a substitute for professional security monitoring merely can streamline 911 calls.

Learn more in our guide to Arlo subscription plans.

Arlo smart home compatibility

Arlo photographic camera differences

Video resolution

As Arlo cameras increment in price, they gain higher video resolution—while the cadre features such every bit wire-free installation and colour night vision remain mostly the same. This is different from competitors similar Ring and Google Nest, which tend to standardize resolution across cameras, regardless of cost.

By offer plenty of video resolutions, Arlo tin cater to specific customer tastes. For case, a techie might buy an Arlo Ultra 2 for admission to stunning 4K video. Merely a new parent can save a fiddling cash by opting for the lower resolution of an Arlo Essential in nurseries and playrooms.

Base of operations stations

We have a dear/detest human relationship with Arlo's hubs. Nosotros absolutely love that they improve battery life compared to security cameras that use merely Wi-Fi. They likewise enable local video storage by connecting a storage device to the hub.

But base of operations stations have a major drawback: toll. An Arlo Smart Hub accounts for around $100 of Arlo'due south starter kits' price—the aforementioned amount as the Ring Stick Up Cam Battery. This extra expense makes almost brands a better value than Arlo since you can buy more cameras for less.

The number of cameras a base of operations station supports depends on the camera type and subscription plan you have.

Stand-alone Arlo cameras with no base of operations 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 two

Arlo cameras that crave a base station:
(not including many discontinued models)

  • Arlo Pro iii
  • Arlo Pro two
  • Arlo Ultra ii
  • Arlo Ultra

We recommend choosing a stand-alone camera if you want to save some cash. But the base station is the best mode to record local video without a cloud subscription, which saves more than money over the long run. Depending on the local storage capacity you have, y'all tin beginning saving money in ii–iv months (compared to deject storage).

Power sources

While most Arlo cameras use a battery for wire-free functioning, some models as well utilise an optional solar panel or ability cable 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

i. Arlo Pro iv: All-time overall

It's worth noting that the Arlo Pro 4 fits perfectly betwixt the Arlo Essential and Arlo Ultra 2 when it comes to features.

Nosotros absolutely dearest that Arlo ditched the base station and required ii-pack on the Arlo Pro 4, which was a major issue we had with the Arlo Pro 3. This helps bring the toll downwardly to around $200 per camera and is less of a barrier for new customers wanting something a flake more than powerful than the Arlo Essential.

The crisp 1440p resolution (2K) is better than most 1080p security cameras on the market simply not as detailed as Ultra'due south superior 4K video. The field of view is another area where Arlo Pro iv shines. Its 160º field of view is wide enough to watch over more area than the Essential—simply again, it's not as capable as the Ultra 2.

While the battery life on the Pro iv can terminal up to 6 months, we think the Arlo Essential XL is a better wireless camera with a bigger battery and a lower price. Overall, we retrieve the Arlo Pro iv is perfect for folks who want a happy medium betwixt average and overkill.

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 it's one of our favorite smart doorbells because information technology comes with a broad field of view and a quick answer feature that helps you chat up visitors more hands. It also doesn't require a base station unless you desire local storage.

It'south non every bit affordable as the Ring Video Doorbell or every bit advanced as the Nest Doorbell. But information technology nonetheless manages to fill a niche betwixt its two biggest competitors by offering e911 emergency calls and video with a square attribute ratio.

Check out our full Arlo doorbell review to larn more than nigh the Arlo Video Doorbell.

3. Arlo Essential Spotlight Twoscore: Best value

The Arlo Essential Spotlight XL is our new favorite camera from Arlo because it's a bombardment behemoth that lasts upwards to 12 months on a accuse. Few wireless cameras match to this kind of performance—and the ones that do, like the Blink Outdoor, record short video clips instead of capturing an entire result.

This camera is also one of Arlo's most affordable, at effectually $150, since the photographic camera doesn't require a base station, which adds a lot to the overall toll of Arlo's high-end cameras similar the Ultra 2 and the Pro 3.

Arlo Essential Spotlight XL isn't as affordable as the Ring Stick Upward Cam Battery or Wyze Cam Outdoor. Still, information technology comes with everything nosotros love about Arlo cameras similar a spotlight for color video at night, like shooting fish in a barrel mounting on practically any surface, and Arlo'southward outstanding support for smart habitation devices.

The Essential Twoscore doesn't have any wired power options to enable continuous video recording, but nosotros think the trade-off of a bigger battery is worth it—though the large battery makes for a big camera.

For potentially limitless bombardment life, y'all can buy a solar panel accessory so you don't accept to take it down for recharging as often. Information technology also lacks the automatic tracking of the Pro 4 and Ultra 2, so information technology'due south harder to follow the action in a video.

4. Arlo Ultra ii: Best video quality

The Arlo Ultra 2 is the best 4K Ultra HD security photographic camera on the market. Information technology'south the only completely wireless photographic camera that records 4K video that we've come across and so far. This gives information technology an border over competitors because it's just as easy to install as Arlo's other battery-powered security cameras.

Nosotros're also large fans of its ultra-broad 180º field of view which pairs perfectly with the 2160p video resolution to capture more than detail. This means you can zoom in on the video to identify intruders or spot discrepancies without the image getting too pixelated. Arlo too uses some clever programming to remove fisheye distortions acquired by the 180º lens.

The biggest disadvantage of Arlo Ultra two is its price. Considering this camera requires a base station, you need to already ain a compatible Arlo Smart Hub or buy a kit that includes the base station. Sadly, the base station just comes in a kit with a two-pack of cameras instead of a single camera.

Another flaw of the Arlo Ultra 2 is that yous demand to pay 50%–lx% more to store 4K video in the cloud using the Arlo Secure Program Plus. But you can subscribe to the cheaper Arlo Secure Programme if you lot don't need 4K video with this camera.

5. Arlo Essential Indoor: Best best indoor camera

The Arlo Essential Indoor lacks the wireless portability of the company's best cameras merely outperforms them in ane key area: privacy. The Arlo Essential Indoor has a privacy shield that slides closed to block the camera lens when y'all don't need it.

We also like this camera because it's very affordable, you don't need a base of operations station, and you don't demand to charge a battery. Unfortunately, it doesn't have local storage without a pricey base station, making it virtually wholly reliant on an internet connection and deject storage to work properly.

This photographic camera is a long overdue update to the Arlo Q, which released in 2015. It's a bummer to lose free cloud storage, but the privacy shield makes the Arlo Essential Indoor Security Camera a worthy sucessor.

Other Arlo cameras nosotros considered

Amazon.com list cost equally of postal service date. Read full disclaimer.

  • Arlo Pro iii Floodlight: This stand-lone camera is much less discreet than the Arlo Pro 4 because information technology sports a super bright LED floodlight that'southward perfect for outdoor locations.
  • Arlo Essential Wireless Video Doorbell: We like the battery on this unit of measurement because it gives you more installation flexibility without ant wiring. The $fifty price premium is a chip much because Band'due south cheapest battery-powered option costs just $100.

Terminal give-and-take

Arlo's photographic camera selection is diverse, and each model brings a lot to the tabular array. It doesn't accept free video storage, only thankfully Arlo's plans are very competitive with Band and Nest on price.

However, nosotros recommend other Arlo cameras if yous accept the budget or simply want better video quality. Feel free to browse our FAQ beneath or visit our wireless security photographic camera review to acquire more about Arlo and how it compares to other brands.

Arlo Pro 4: provides 2K video quality, a broad field of view, and Arlo's best features without a base of operations station

Arlo Essential Wired: gives you a handy way to spotter over your porch without recharging a battery

Arlo Essential Spotlight Twoscore : is the best value for most folks with a long-lasting battery

Arlo Ultra ii: offers stunning 4K video when most wireless cameras still focus on 1080p

Arlo Essential Indoor: offers a privacy shield and continuous power for unmatched indoor performance

How we reviewed Arlo cameras

We researched every Arlo security photographic camera we could find before writing this review. This was a tall order because Arlo currently makes 10 camera models. And Arlo's website frequently lists older, sometimes unavailable models aslope new models.

Arlo Pro 4 with magnetic mount

We as well have hands-on experience testing the Arlo Pro 4. This helped immensely when deciding what each Arlo photographic camera is best for.

Finally, we looked for unique attributes that make Arlo worth buying over other brands. Nosotros also focused on user reviews, which paint a favorable picture of Arlo's products. For more information on how we rate products, check out our review methodology.

Arlo security camera FAQ

Yeah, every Arlo camera comes with features that piece of work without a subscription:

  • Live video viewing
  • Basic notifications
  • Two-fashion audio
  • Local storage (for cameras that use a base station)

Nearly Arlo cameras tin can record costless video using one of 2 methods:

  1. Every Arlo camera that uses a base station can tape local video when you connect a USB drive or microSD carte to the base station.
  2. All of Arlo'southward earliest cameras come up with free vii-day video storage that doesn't require a subscription. But newer cameras like the Arlo Essential, Arlo Pro iv, Arlo Video Doorbell, and Arlo Ultra two come up with a complimentary trial for deject storage.

Although local storage still saves videos without the internet, yous tin't view video with the app, view alive video, save videos to the cloud, or conform settings without an active net connection.

To view local video without the cyberspace, you must connect the USB drive or microSD card to a estimator or ready up Directly Storage Admission using the Arlo app. Straight Storage Access connects the base station to your habitation Wi-Fi network then you can view footage every bit long as your phone is on the aforementioned network.

Arlo says the cameras' max range is upwards to 300 feet away from the base station every bit long as y'all have directly line sight. This altitude decreases with each object (ceilings, walls, trees, furniture) between the camera and base station.

  1. All you have to do isdownload the app to your smartphone (Android or iOS).
  2. Once you install the Arlo app, y'all enter youremail address and set apassword.
  3. Arlo sends averification email to your inbox, and once you click the included link, you lot're fix to become.

From the app, you can access recordings and live video, acquit two-way communication, alter settings, and zoom or digitally pan the camera.

Arlo makes information technology piece of cake to add users:

  1. Become into the Arlo app, accessSettings, and selectGrant Access.
  2. Adjacent, selectAdd and enter thename and email address of the person you want to add.
  3. Later the person activates their verification link, they can use the Arlo app to access the photographic camera.
  4. Yous tin make up one's mind what kind of rights each user has.
  5. If you take more than than ane camera, you can select which users have access to which cameras.

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John Carlsen

Written by

John Carlsen

John is a technology announcer specializing in smart dwelling house devices, security cameras, and habitation security systems. He has over nine years of experience researching, testing, and reviewing the latest tech—he was the Smart Home Editor for Top Ten Reviews and wrote for ASecureLife earlier joining SafeWise as a Staff Writer in 2020. John holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications, Journalism emphasis from Utah Valley University. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, photography, cooking, and starting endless DIY projects he has still to complete.

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