Arlo Camera Review: Doorbell, Floodlight, Wireless, Outdoor, Spotlight, Indoor, Pro 2, Pro 3, And More

Arlo’s lineup of stand-alone security cameras is one of the best we’ve seen. And we know because we’ve used nearly all of them!

But, there are many to choose from to fit your home or business needs. Read about our firsthand experience, sharing the perks (and shortcomings) of Arlo and the different camera options that are currently available.

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Article Overview

• Pros & Cons
• Key Features
• Comparison Table & Terms
• Cloud Subscription Plans
• Author’s Personal Experience & Review
• Capturing Intruders (Video)
• Arlo Alternatives

Arlo

9.5

Camera View & Visibility 10.0

Audio 10.0

Remote Viewing/Streaming 9.0

Price 8.0

Recording Options 10.0

Tech Support 10.0

Pros

• Excellent customer service
• Wire-free cameras
• Motion-activated recording
• Store 7 days of footage in the cloud for free
• Battery level is displayed on the app and batteries are rechargeable
• Easy to install
• Sturdy equipment
• Great, clear footage

Cons

• Requires a base station for some models
• Two-way audio can be delayed

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Key Features

• 1-year warranty
• Variety of accessories available, including mounts, charging supplies, silicone skins and more
• Rechargeable batteries
• Free cloud recording of 7 days for up to 5 cameras
• Each camera includes a magnetic mount
• Set a schedule for when you want the cameras to be armed
• Long battery life before the cameras need recharging (unless the area experiences a high volume of activity or extreme temperatures)
• Works with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, IFTTT and SmartThings
• Solar panel chargers available for the Arlo Ultra and Arlo Pro 3

Comparison Table & Terms

Arlo (formerly owned by Netgear) has released a handful of cameras over the years. With each new camera comes improvements to their technology. Their continual innovation is why we consider Arlo to be among the leaders in home security cameras.

	Arlo Pro 3	Arlo Ultra	Arlo Pro 2	Arlo Pro	Arlo	Arlo Go	Arlo Q Plus	Arlo Q	Arlo Baby
	Arlo Pro 3	Arlo Ultra	Arlo Pro 2	Arlo Pro	Arlo	Arlo Go	Arlo Q Plus	Arlo Q	Arlo Baby
Price For 1 Camera (Unless Otherwise Noted)		2 Cameras + 1 Base Station:	2 Cameras + 1 Base Station:	2 Cameras + 1 Base Station: Check Amazon for availability	Discontinued	$379.95	Check Amazon for availability	$179.00	Check Amazon for availability
Outdoor
Video Resolution	2K, 1080p, 720p	4K	1080p	720p	720p	720p	1080p	1080p	1080p
Mobile
Baby Monitor
Field Of View	160°	180°	130°	110°	110°	130°	130°	130°	110°
Night Vision	Color	Color	Black & White	Black & White	Black & White	Black & White	Black & White	Black & White	Black & White
Zoom	12x	12x	12x	8x	8x	8x	8x	8x	8x
2-Way Audio
Wire-Free Or Wired	Wire-Free	Both	Both	Both	Both	Wire-Free	Wired	Wired	Both
Siren	Built-In To Camera	Built-In To Camera	In Base Station	In Base Station	In Base Station	Built-In To Camera
Water Resistant
Operating Temperature	-4 to 113°F	-4 to 140°F	-4 to 113°F	-4 to 113°F	14 to 122°F	-4 to 113°F
Local Storage	USB	microSD Card	USB	USB		SD Card	microSD Card
WiFi, LTE Or Ethernet Connection	WiFi	WiFi	WiFi	WiFi	WiFi	LTE	WiFi & Ethernet	WiFi	WiFi
Base Station Required
Activity Zones
Solar Panel Charger Available
Integrated Spotlight
Noise Canceling Audio	Noise & Echo Cancellation	Wind & Noise Reduction
Smart Music Player
Multi-Colored Nightlight
Air Sensors
Baby Crying Alert

Smart Music Player – Plays lullabies, white noise or a voice recording to help send your baby to sleep. You can manage the music from the app.

Air Sensors – Monitor the nursery’s temperature, humidity and VOC (volatile organic compound) levels. Get alerts if something is not within your desired range.

Cloud Subscription Plans

Arlo Wire-Free, Pro, Pro 2, Go, Q, Q Plus and Baby cameras include 7 days of free cloud recording. Arlo Ultra includes a 1-year Arlo Smart Premier trial, and Arlo Pro 3 includes a 3-month trial. After the trial ends, you can purchase the Arlo Smart Premier or Elite plan or opt for no service plan. Without a service plan, your Arlo camera will be limited to these features:

• Remote and local live streaming
• Push notifications
• Auto zoom and tracking
• Two-way audio
• Local storage recording

Arlo Pro 2, Pro, Wire-Free, Go, Q Plus, Q and Baby cameras will revert back to include rolling 7-day cloud recording since they are legacy cameras. You can learn more about Arlo’s cloud subscription plans here.

Arlo Smart Premier

• $2.99/month for 1 camera or $9.99/month for up to 5 cameras
• 30-day video history
• Up to 2K resolution

Arlo Smart Elite

• $4.99/month for 1 camera or $14.99/month for up to 5 cameras
• 30-day video history
• Up to 4K resolution

Continuous Video Recording (CVR)

• $9.99/month for 14 days of CVR history
• $19.99/month for 30 days of CVR history

Author’s Experience And Review

Arlo sent me equipment to review in exchange for an unbiased review. Our review process is strict, so no favors are given in exchange for the free product. We believe first-hand experiences give us a better understanding of the product to provide a more accurate review.

I received the equipment on the following dates:

• 1 Arlo Camera: May 2016
• 2 Arlo Pro Cameras: March 2017
• 2 Arlo Security Lights: June 2018

Arlo

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I initially had the Arlo camera mounted near my front door. However, Iowa winters can get extremely cold, and the 14 to 122°F operating temperature wasn’t enough to handle the temperatures below 0°F. The batteries were draining quickly, so I had to bring the camera inside during the winter, leaving the front door unmonitored.

This camera isn’t as advanced as the Pro and Ultra versions, but it does an adequate job documenting any activity that occurs within view.

Arlo Pro

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The Arlo Pro cameras do a much better job outside with an operating temperature of -4 to 113°F. There have been times where the temperature drops below -4°F, and the camera still operates, which is always a pleasant surprise.

I used outdoor security mounts to secure my cameras where I wanted them. The battery life on these cameras is excellent too, and I love that they are rechargeable.

Arlo Security Lights

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The lights have 400 lumens and are a nice way to add additional lighting to the exterior of a home in an attempt to scare off intruders. The lights aren’t terribly bright, but they do help illuminate your path.

I love that these are wireless and rechargeable. It’s also cool that I can adjust the color of the light to be whatever I want, so if I want to be festive for a holiday or celebration, I can adjust them.

Arlo Pro 2

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Sadie C., a contributor to Safe Smart Living, purchased two Arlo Pro 2 cameras to monitor activity near her condo building. This is her experience with the cameras:

The Arlo was simple to plug and play right out of the box. We experienced some trouble at first with the sensitivity and it recording everything, but after setting up the zones, it now only records when there is activity in those specific areas.
The battery life lasts about a month between charges, and there have been no issues with extreme weather. There is a slight delay for notifications, but it does a good job of helping us monitor the front and back doors.

Arlo Helps Capture Intruders Of All Species

This person set up an Arlo Pro 2 to try and discover who was sneaking under the fence.

What Are Some Alternatives To Arlo Cameras?

Is Arlo home security enough to protect your home? If you simply want to video monitor your entry points and some areas of your home, we think Arlo is a great option.

However, if you want to know when doors open and close, or when motion is detected throughout your home, you may want a more traditional home security system with door/window sensors and motion detectors.

Check out our best security camera reviews to see our take on the most popular security cameras on the market.