Arlo Camera • Comparison Chart & Overview

Don’t feel like reading? Scroll down to our “All Arlo Cameras” comparison chart. For a closer look at an individual camera, we’ve listed all the Arlo Cameras articles we’ve written at the bottom of this page.

If you’d like to learn more about the Arlo brand as a whole, how they work and whether or not Arlo Cameras are worth the buy, read on for the full picture below.

Arlo Cameras Lineup

The Arlo brand has cameras that are suited for indoor and outdoor use. Your options for indoor use are Arlo Q, Arlo Q Plus, and Arlo Baby. If you’re looking for a camera for the exterior of your home, you can choose between the wireless Arlo, Arlo Pro, Arlo Pro 2, Arlo Go, and the upcoming Arlo Ultra that is set to release in Q1 2019 (available for pre order now.)

The Arlo Q is a 1080p camera with dual-band WiFi, which means that it will put less strain on your network due to its ability to communicate using both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. The Arlo Q also features motion zones, which allow you to adjust the sensitivity of specific areas within its coverage in order to reduce the incidence of false alarms. The only real downside to the Arlo Q is that your only option for power is an AC Plug, which reduces flexibility for camera placement.

The Arlo Q Plus takes everything from the Arlo Q and adds in some additional features. In addition to the dual-band WiFi, you’ll also have the ability to hardwire your camera into your router with an Ethernet cable. Plus, this camera is one of the few on the market that supports Power over Ethernet — allowing you to provide reliable power and fast internet through a single cord. In addition to those extra features, you’ll also have access to local storage using an SD card.

The Arlo Baby, as the name suggests, is the brand’s premier option for baby monitoring. From a specifications standpoint, you’ll enjoy 1080p footage to ensure you’ll always have a clear picture, and the camera can even run on battery for 3-6 hours if you need to move to a different area. In addition to the monitoring features, the Arlo Baby has sensors that can monitor the air quality in your baby’s room, a Smart Multi-Colored Night Light, and a Smart Music Player.

The Arlo was the first wireless camera the brand released, although it still offers a good combination of quality in price. It records at a 720p resolution, supports night vision, and uses four Lithium CR123 Photo batteries in order to work. The battery power is nice since it doesn’t require you to be in close proximity to the plug, although you may find that the camera burns through batteries pretty quickly since they are not rechargeable.

The Arlo Pro is a step up from the Arlo, with one of the biggest jumps forward being the addition of a rechargeable battery. That battery also supports the Arlo Solar Panel, which allows you to provide a consistent source of power and makes charging a thing of the past. Other upgrades include the addition of two-way audio, a viewing angle that was upgraded from 110 to 130, and the addition of the Arlo Pro Base — adding in a siren and local storage vs. USB. For a closer look at the differences between the two cameras, check out our review of the Arlo vs. Arlo Pro and Arlo vs. Arlo Pro Base Station.

The Arlo Pro 2 was an upgrade yet again, with video quality bumped up to 1080p. This camera also uses a rechargeable battery, but you’ll get access to useful features like custom motion zones and 24/7 recording (CVR) if you keep it plugged in. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line outdoor camera, the Pro 2 is one of our top picks.

For a less traditional option that provides extremely flexible security, the Arlo Go is a competitive choice. This is the best option for areas that don’t have internet, as the camera can use mobile data in order to keep track of everything that you need. Although you’ll need to pay for a mobile plan in order to use the device, you’ll have access to backup storage via a built-in SD slot. Very few security cameras give you the ability to take your security with you when you leave the home, which puts the Arlo Go in a league of its own.

Last, but certainly not least, is the upcoming Arlo Ultra. This camera is the first to offer the ability to record in 4K, with cutting-edge image quality enhanced with HDR. The camera also includes an integrated spotlight, and has an impressive 180° field of view. Not only is this the more premium camera in the Arlo line, it will be one of the most advanced models on the market in general.

What Makes Arlo Cameras Special?

There are many choices on the market when it comes to smart video monitoring, but the Arlo brand has a very positive reputation due to the high quality of their products. Since they’ve been a major player in the industry for so long, they’ve developed a wide range of cameras — making it easy to find the perfect choice for indoor/outdoor use, keeping an eye on your child, or even monitoring wildlife (Arlo Go.) Arlo is also one of the few brands to offer a camera with support for Power over Ethernet (Arlo Q Plus.)

In addition to their well-built cameras, Arlo is one of the better options for buyers who don’t want to pay a monthly fee due to their free rolling 7-day cloud storage.

How are Arlo cameras compared to other brands?

When compared to other leading brands, Arlo smart cameras are some of the most competitive options on the market. With high quality cameras backed by years of experience and pricing that is similar to other big brands like Nest or Ring, you’ll be investing in a product that will keep your home protected for years to come.

One of the aspects we really like about Arlo is their ongoing support for their cameras. When a new camera or base station is released, the products are always backward compatible which ensures you’ll be able to update or expand your security cameras very easily in the future. Add in the free 7-day free cloud storage which you won’t find with brands like Nest and Ring, and it’s pretty clear why Arlo is one of the best brands around for smart video monitoring.

Do Arlo Cameras offer CVR?

Continuous Video Recording (CVR) is a useful way to provide some extra security to areas you want monitored 24/7. CVR requires a significant amount of power, which means that not all cameras can support it — especially those that primarily work off of battery power.

If you’re looking for a camera with CVR, your options within the Arlo brand are the Arlo Q, Arlo Q Plus, Arlo Pro 2, and Arlo Ultra cameras. These models can record your home continuously, allowing you to rewind footage to any point during the day and check in on anything you might have missed. If you opt for the Arlo Pro 2 or Arlo Ultra, keep in mind that you’ll have to keep the camera plugged in in order to access this feature.

If you’ve purchased one of the cameras above, you can enable CVR using one of two plans, charged on a per-camera basis. One plan will give you access to 14 days of continuous recording storage, and the other offers 30 days.

One thing to keep in mind is that Arlo doesn’t currently support the downloading of CVR footage, meaning you’ll have to watch them from the cloud.

Check out our take on Top 5 Smart Continuous Video Recording Cameras.

What is Arlo Smart?

Since the Arlo brand offers 7 days of rolling cloud storage for free, you don’t need to purchase any extra subscription if you don’t want to. However, if you’re looking to use more than 5 Arlo Cameras or take advantage of additional smart features, you might want to look into the brand’s subscription: Arlo Smart.

There are two main plans within Arlo Smart: Premier and Elite. Additionally, there’s an Arlo Smart Add-on that adds extra security features to individual cameras.

Arlo Smart Premier is available for $9.99/month or $99/year, and provides access to 30 days of video storage and the ability to use up to 10 cameras. Additionally, you’ll have the extra security of the e911 Emergency Call Service which will send help to your home in the event of an emergency rather than to the location of your cell phone.

Arlo Smart Elite costs $14.99/month or $149/year and provides 60 days of video storage and support for up to 20 cameras. The Elite plan also includes e911 service.

The Arlo Smart Add-on costs $2.99/month or $29/year and covers a single camera. This enables advanced A.I. Detection and custom activity zones for more accurate monitoring, as well as Rich Notifications that allow you to take action directly from a mobile alert without having to open the app. All Arlo Smart Add-on features are included with the Smart Premier and Smart Elite plans.

Do Arlo Cameras Have Local Storage?

Local storage is supported with some Arlo Cameras, but isn’t available with all models.

For the Arlo, Arlo Pro, Arlo Pro 2, and Arlo Ultra, all video recordings are stored to the cloud, but you have the option to connect a USB device to the Arlo Pro base station (an SD-card for Arlo Ultra base station) as local backup storage. You cannot use that USB as your primary method of storage, but it’s a great option to have in the event that your internet connection goes down. Also, only automatically triggered recordings will be stored locally, with manual and CVR recordings only available on the cloud.

Your Arlo app will let you know when your USB/SD-card is running out of storage space, and the base will automatically record over the oldest footage when the capacity is full.

For the Arlo Go and Arlo Q Plus, you can connect an SD card directly to the camera in order to serve as backup storage. Just like with the other Arlo models, that local storage can only be a backup and will not function as the primary method of saving recordings.

To view the recordings saved on local storage, you’ll need an SD card reader. The majority of computers don’t come with an SD card reader by default, but there are many inexpensive options on the market that use USB or Micro USB connectors such as the Transcend Card Reader. When looking for a SD card reader, make sure you buy one with the ability to read microSD cards.

The other aspects of local storage on the Go and Q Plus are much the same as the other cameras, such as the notifications when low on storage and automatic recording over older footage.

Which is the Best Arlo Camera for Indoors?

Our top picks for the best indoor Arlo Camera would be either the Arlo Q Plus or the Arlo Q.

The Arlo Q Plus is one of the few PoE cameras on the market, records in 1080p, and has a 130° field of view which should be more than enough for most rooms. It also works with smart devices like the Echo Show, offers the ability to access the Live View on demand, and includes an SD card slot for a local backup. Plus, like all Arlo cameras, you’ll have access to 7 days of cloud storage for free.

The main advantage that the Arlo Q Plus has over the Arlo Q is the PoE capability and local storage. If those two features aren’t important to you, you can save yourself a chunk of change and simply buy the Arlo Q.

For a full side-by-side comparison of these two top picks, check out Arlo Q vs. Arlo Q Plus article.

Which is the Best Arlo Camera for Outdoors?

The best Arlo camera to use outdoors is the Arlo Ultra, but it’s super expensive. Instead, we think that Arlo Pro 2 is just perfect for outdoors both specs-wise and price-wise.

If you opt for the Arlo Pro 2, you’ll have access to 1080p recording with a 130° degree field of view. The camera also offers the option to power using rechargeable batteries which allows you to install it wherever you please, and the -4° to 113° operating temperature allows it to work well in pretty much any climate. Just like the rest of the Arlo brand, you’ll have access to remote viewing, motion alerts, and 7 days of rolling cloud storage, and the Arlo Pro Base Station provides local storage and a siren.

If you’re like to save some money, you can downgrade to the Arlo Pro, with the major difference being that footage will be lower quality at 720p vs. 1080p.

The original Arlo is also an option, but you’ll lose the local storage and will be forced to rely on non-rechargeable batteries.

Our top pick is definitely the Arlo Pro 2, although the Arlo Pro is a viable alternative for the budget buyer. As far as the original Arlo goes, we feel that you end up sacrificing too many features to make the savings worth it.

How Good is the Arlo Camera Battery Life?

The batteries on the Arlo Camera will generally last between 3 and 6 months, depending on your usage. We recommend checking out the Solar Panel charger if you have access to direct sunlight, or . Even if you choose a model with solar power or the ability to recharge, it’s always good to have an extra on-hand.

Arlo Comparison Chart: Arlo vs. Arlo Pro vs. Arlo Pro 2 vs. Arlo Ultra vs. Arlo Go vs. Arlo Q vs. Arlo Q Plus vs. Arlo Baby

Our Arlo Cameras Articles

The Arlo Camera line has some of the best performing smart cameras on the market, with products designed to fit the needs in a variety of home monitoring situations. While these cameras do have a lot in common, newer releases have introduced useful features, superior performance, and better smart controls.

Check out a list of our Arlo comparison articles for more details:

• Arlo vs. Arlo Pro — Differences Explained
• Arlo Pro vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Differences Explained
• Arlo Ultra vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Differences Explained
• Arlo Q vs. Arlo Q Plus — Differences Explained
• Arlo Pro vs. Arlo Q Plus — Differences Explained
• Arlo Q vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Differences Explained
• Arlo Baby vs. Arlo Q — Differences Explained
• Arlo Pro vs. Arlo Go — Differences Explained
• Arlo vs. Arlo Pro Base Station — Differences Explained
• Nest Cam IQ Outdoor vs. Arlo Pro — Differences Explained
• Arlo Pro vs. Circle 2 — Differences Explained
• Arlo Pro vs. Canary Flex — Differences Explained
• Arlo Pro vs. Blink XT — Differences Explained
• New Ring Stick Up Cam vs. Arlo Pro — Differences Explained
• Arlo Pro vs. Ring Floodlight Cam — Differences Explained
• Reolink Argus 2 vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Differences Explained
• Arlo Pro 2 vs. Ring Stick Up Cam (New) — Differences Explained
• Blink XT vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Differences Explained
• Nest Outdoor IQ vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Differences Explained
• Arlo Q vs. Nest Cam — Differences Explained
• Arlo Q vs. Nest IQ Indoor — Differences Explained
• Arlo Q vs. Amazon Cloud Cam — Differences Explained
• Arlo Ultra vs. Nest Cam IQ Outdoor — Differences Explained

Sale

Arlo VMS4230P-100NAS Pro 2 - Wireless Home Security Camera System with Siren, Rechargeable, Night Vision, Indoor/Outdoor, 1080p, 2-Way Audio, Wall Mount, Cloud Storage Included, 2 Camera Kit

$459.99 $399.00

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Last update on 2024-04-22 at 20:15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API