Arlo smart security camera review

Editor's Choice: The Arlo Pro 4 beats competitors like Nest with its solid features and reliable performance. Here's what to know.

Arlo's DIY Home Security System offers you tons of options for protecting your home, with a reasonable starting price point. Arlo is mostly known for its popular security cameras , but the brand sells a DIY home security system , too. It's a simple, straightforward system that works with Arlo's cameras but doesn't require them. It also doesn't need to be professionally installed -- I was able to set it all up in minutes myself. There was no drilling or hard-wiring involved, and the Arlo app walks you through the setup process. After spending some time with it in my own home, I came away impressed by everything Arlo's Home Security System has to offer. Unlike most security system sensors, each of these tiny devices is capable of performing a number of different functions.

Arlo smart security camera review

A rock-solid security camera with a mile-long list of features: Is it worth the cost? Arlo is one of the best security camera manufacturers in the industry and a personal favorite of mine. For one, the company has a really strong reputation, so its products better live up to it. Do you really need this much camera to protect you from burglars? So right out of the box, the first thing that caught my attention was the size of the Arlo Pro 4. Others might want a heftier camera that would-be intruders are going to be more likely to notice. You know how the best alarm systems provide you with a sign to stick in your yard to make thieves think twice? While exactly how conspicuous you want to be is a matter of preference, we recommend installing cameras that will catch the eye without being eyesores. So those were my immediate impressions of the camera itself. The short answer? Not much. Kinda defeats the purpose of having a security camera, right? These days, a lot of higher-end consumer-grade security cameras will walk you through their setup using an app, and Arlo is no different.

View on Amazon. But, Arlo breaks this norm. One of the main improvements in the Pro 5 over earlier models is the enhanced color night vision.

An outdoor security camera can keep tabs on welcome and unwelcome visitors, package deliveries, and furry creatures helping themselves to a midnight snack in your garden. They can also be a powerful deterrent to prospective mischief-makers. However, after reviewing dozens of cameras over the past seven years, we have yet to find a perfect model. Some are hard to place, some need frequent charging, and others require a paid subscription to be most effective. It also works with more smart-home platforms than our other picks, including Amazon Alexa, Apple Home, and Google Home. This battery-powered camera captures clear 2K video.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. There is plenty to consider when you shop for a security camera. But two things elevate the best outdoor security cameras : video quality and notifications. Crisp picture quality and graceful handling of different light levels, combined with rich notifications based on accurate detections, are a recipe for security success. The Arlo Pro 5 takes everything I loved about the Arlo Pro 4 and throws in longer battery life and enhanced color night vision without the need for a spotlight. The Arlo Pro 5 can record or stream video at up to 2, x 1,pixel resolution. It is crisp and detailed, offering the option for up to 12X zoom, making it easy to identify subjects or focus in on other details.

Arlo smart security camera review

Editor's Choice: The Arlo Pro 4 beats competitors like Nest with its solid features and reliable performance. Here's what to know. Arlo released its popular Pro 4 wireless outdoor camera in October We tested it out in September of the following year and were impressed with its features and performance, enough so to give our Editor's Choice award and name it as our pick for best outdoor camera overall. That said, we haven't tested out the new Arlo Pro 5 yet, either. And if you can find it on sale for the same price or lower than the Arlo Pro 4, the Pro 5 seems like the obvious choice.

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Nest, by contrast, offers person, vehicle and animal alerts for free, along with three hours of event history that's paltry, but it's something. With the camera charged and synced, it was time to set it up so that it could keep an eye on things. The mounting hardware provided is pretty flimsy. You can set clips to record in or second increments or customize them for any length up to two minutes. It definitely gave me some peace of mind, particularly when I was out of town or home alone. For my part, I like the scalability of Arlo's subscription pricing, but for some people, Google's might make more sense. Eufy claims that its cameras can last days on a full charge, which means you can truly set it and mostly forget it. When 2K is an option, I always recommend it. Editor's Choice: The Arlo Pro 4 beats competitors like Nest with its solid features and reliable performance. All of these cameras include a free trial of Arlo Smart. Pros Excellent performance Siren and spotlight Solid design. If you're allergic to more subscription services like I am, then you might want to buy a camera that will work well enough to avoid the monthly fees.

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You'd have the option to expand the system with cameras, monitoring plans or extra accessories as needed. Arlo is steadfast against monetizing your data, as well, adding, "Arlo was founded as a security company first and foremost. It still works with Alexa and Google Assistant too. During this phase of testing, we examine each feature to make sure it really adds a concrete security benefit. Installation DIY installation. Others might want a heftier camera that would-be intruders are going to be more likely to notice. Click to Scroll. Home Security Guides Security Cameras. What to look forward to. We also discovered that the system automatically downgrades video resolution to p if you opt to use cloud storage. Things to consider Storage options. Pros Pretty easy to set up and install System is agile and responsive Modular system can be customized to your needs Each sensor performs eight different functions.