Blink XT vs. Arlo Pro 2

Are Arlo’s extra features worth the price? Maybe. However, the lack of the ability to record live view with the Blink XT is a major downfall that is just too big to ignore, making the Arlo Pro 2 a better option in our book despite the extra cost.

Blink cameras offer some basic video monitoring features at a pretty accessible price, but there are some missing features that really hold it back from competing with other cameras near the price point. With that said, there are some good points to the Blink XT such as the temperature sensor and the free cloud storage. It’s definitely a viable option, we just don’t think it quite keeps up with the Arlo Pro 2’s host of features.

This is also basically comparing a more premium camera to a lower end model, so to be fair, the cards were stacked against Blink from the beginning. Although, you might not need all those extra features and the Blink XT might be just the right smart camera for your home.

So, let’s go into detail with a comparison of the Blink XT vs. Arlo Pro 2 to see what each camera has to offer. Read the whole article for a full picture, or use our navigation bar to jump directly to the sections you care about most.

Blink XT vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Differences

Blink XT - Extras - 04

  • Difference #1: Record Live View – The first difference when comparing Blink XT vs. Arlo Pro 2 is perhaps the one that is the most damning for Blink. While Arlo (and pretty much any other smart camera) allows you to record the camera’s live view, there’s no such option with Blink XT. This means when you finally catch that pesky package thief, you’ll have to watch without collecting any evidence to refer back to later or give to the authorities.

    The primary goal of most any video monitoring system is to ensure your home is protected, and Blink XT falls short in this basic task. Despite the features it does have to offer, this misstep alone makes the camera difficult to recommend for any homeowner serious about security.

  • Difference #2: Field of View – The Arlo Pro 2 has a 130 degree field of view, while the Blink XT only has 110. This might not seem like a major difference, but it’s important for cameras to cover as much ground as possible so you don’t end up with major blind spots. You’ll need more Blink cameras to cover the same amount of ground as you could with Arlo, which makes their price difference a little less substantial.

  • Difference #3: Zoom – Both cameras do a decent job of capturing action in the distance, but what if you want to zoom in for more detail? The Arlo Pro 2 gives you that option with an 8x digital zoom, but you’ll be out of luck with the Blink XT since it can’t zoom in at all.

  • Difference #4: Power Options – Both cameras give you the option to use battery power or AC plug in, although the Blink XT uses 2 AA Lithium batteries while the Arlo Pro 2 uses its own rechargeable battery. The Blink XT and Arlo Pro 2 have their own respective solar panels (, Arlo) that should make charging a non-issue, but if you decide to pass on the panel you’ll get 3-6 months out of the Arlo Pro 2, and supposedly up to 2 years with the Blink XT.

    We say “supposedly” because the reality is more like a few months. The advertising is pretty misleading in this situation, and you’ll actually probably end up with a longer life out of Arlo than you will out of Blink.

  • Difference #5: Two-Way Audio – Arlo Pro 2 has two-way audio, which means you can talk and listen to anyone within range of the camera. Blink XT, on the other hand, only has a mic and not a speaker. So if you find someone stealing your package, not only is recording them in the act an impossibility, you won’t even be able to yell at them to tell them to stop!

  • Difference #6: Motion & Sound Detection – With Blink, the motion detection is very simple. You can adjust the sensitivity, but that’s pretty much it. There is also no option for sound detection.

    The Arlo Pro 2, on the other hand, has both motion and sound detection. The motion detection allows you to adjust sensitivity, create motion zones when you’re running it off of AC power, and you will have less false alerts than with Blink due to the person detection (available when you pay for Arlo Smart).

  • Difference #7: Temperature Sensor – One advantage that Blink XT does have over Arlo 2 is the inclusion of a temperature sensor. You can monitor the conditions at each camera’s location, and can also enable Temperature Alerts to be notified when the temperature goes above or below certain thresholds.

    Arlo Pro 2, unfortunately, has no such feature.

  • Difference #8: Requires a Base Station – Both brands require a base station, but they differ the way that they approach the technology.

    The Blink XT uses the , which acts as a hub between the security cameras and the cloud. On a single module, you can connect up to 10 Blink cameras and access your video feeds from the home security app wherever you happen to be. The hub is available in both black and white, with the only difference between the two being cosmetic.

    The Arlo Pro 2 needs a base station to work as well, but it also adds in some extra features that aren’t included with Blink such as local storage and a siren. It also increases the battery life and range of your cameras, which is a nice extra perk. You can connect up to 15 cameras to one base station, at which point you’ll need to add another in. Check out our take on Arlo vs. Arlo Pro Base Station for more information on the differences between the two models.

  • Difference #9: Siren – The Arlo Pro 2 has a siren built into the base, which can you can activate in the event of an emergency to alert those nearby and scare off intruders. The Blink XT doesn’t have any siren whatsoever, which is another major downside.

  • Difference #10: Local Backup Storage – While you can’t use it as your primary method for storing recordings, the Arlo Pro 2 does have local backup storage built into the base station to support the cloud recording in the event that your internet drops. The Arlo App will even alert you when your USB storage is starting to get full, and is also capable of overwriting the oldest files to keep recording without any input from you whatsoever. It’s a great option to have on hand in case your internet goes down, as having the recording function disabled for any period of time can cause some major security issues.

    Blink XT only works with cloud storage, so you’ll be out of luck in the event that your internet drops.

  • Difference #11: 24/7 Recording – If you have your Arlo Pro 2 plugged in rather than running off of its battery, you can also take advantage of 24/7 continuous video recording (CVR). This is an extra fee at $9.99 per month per camera for 14 days of storage, and $19.99 per month per camera for 30 days. It’s a little bit expensive, so it wouldn’t make sense to enable the feature on every camera, but it’s a great option to have on hand for areas where you feel you need a little extra security.

    The Blink XT offers no such option.

  • Difference #12: Cloud Storage & Subscription – The two brands differ in the way that they approach cloud storage and subscription pretty significantly, and they seek to offer different things.

    Blink XT doesn’t actually have any subscription fees, with their cloud storage being completely free. The Blink website says that they support 7200 seconds of storage before it starts to be overwritten, which is about 1440 five-second clips. While the storage isn’t unlimited, it’s completely free and it’s always nice to not have to worry about any monthly fees going forward.

    Arlo also offers a free option with the Arlo Smart Basic plan, which supports a rolling 7 days of cloud recordings and support for up to 5 Arlo cameras.

    The Arlo Smart Add-on costs $2.99 monthly per camera, and is the entry-level tier that unlocks all the different features that the brand has to offer. First off, there are some security upgrades with motion detection, such as person detection and the ability to enable Cloud Activity Zones to concentrate the detection on certain areas. The Add-on also enables Rich Notifications that allow you to sound the alarm or call for help right from the notification rather than having to open up the app, as well as e911 Emergency Call Service that can send the authorities directly to your home when you call for help with an alert rather than to your location which could be miles away.

    There are two more premium tiers of Arlo Smart service, but they don’t offer any more features. Instead, they increase the amount of storage you have in the cloud and enable the ability to add in more Arlo cameras to your system. Rest assured, you’ll have access to all the Arlo Smart add-on perks when you pay for these plans as well.

    Arlo Smart Premier costs $9.99 per month, and offers a rolling 30 days of storage and support for 10 Arlo cameras, while Arlo Smart Elite costs $14.99 per month with 60 days of storage and support for up to 20 cameras.

    Blink XT’s plan is completely free and decently generous, although Arlo technically offers a free option as well. Plus with Arlo, you have the ability to purchase more premium features while Blink’s functionality can’t be expanded.

    All in all, we think Arlo takes the edge just because it gives you far more choice.

  • Difference #13: App Support – Both camera systems can be accessed through an Android or iOS app, but only the Arlo Pro 2 offers web access as well. For those who were hoping to control their cameras or view the feed from their computers, Arlo is really the only option.

  • Difference #14: Voice Control – Voice control is possible with either brand, and both the Blink XT and Arlo Pro 2 work quite well with Amazon Alexa and devices like the Echo Show or Echo Spot. Just keep in mind that you won’t be able to use two-way audio through the Echo show — you can only listen.

    Arlo Pro 2 also supports Google Assistant, which is great for those of us who are bigger fans of Google Home than we are Echo products.

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

Blink XT vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Comparison Chart

Blink XT Arlo Pro 2
Video resolution 1080p HD 1080p HD
Frames per Second 7.5 – 30 FPS
(low light – good lighting)
30 FPS
Video Format H.264 H.264
On-Demand Live View Yes Yes
Record Live View No Yes
Field of View 110° 130°
Zoom No 8x digital zoom
Power 2 AA Lithium Batteries Rechargeable Battery/AC
Optional Power Source Micro-USB AC Plug Solar Panel
Battery Life 2 months – 2 years Battery: 3-6 months
Solar: indefinitely
Two-Way Audio No, only mic Yes
Motion Detection Yes Up to 23 feet
Motion Zones No Up to 3 activity zones
when plugged-in
Person Detection No With Subscription
Facial Recognition No No
Sound Detection No Yes
Night Vision Yes Yes
WiFi 2.4 Ghz 2.4 GHz
Requires a Base Station Yes, Blink Sync Module Yes, Arlo Base Station
Max # of Cameras per Base Station 10 15
Siren No Via the Base
24/7 Recording No Optional when plugged-in
Built-in Temperature Sensor Yes No
Local Backup Storage No Via the Base
Cloud Storage Free 7,200 Seconds 7-Day Free / Subscription
Review, Share, & Save Yes Yes
e911 Emergency Call No With Subscription
Instant App Alerts Yes Yes
App Support Android, iOS Android, iOS, Web
Rich Notifications No With Subscription
Weather-resistant Yes Yes
Amazon Alexa Echo Show, Echo Spot Echo Show, Echo Spot
Google Assistant No Yes
IFTTT Yes Yes
Stringify No Yes
Operating Temperature -4° to 113° F -4° to 113° F
Dimension 2.8 x 2.8 x 1.3 in. 3.1 x 1.9 x 2.8 in
Color Black White

Blink XT vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Things in Common

  • Video Quality – One aspect that is common to both brands is the excellent video quality. Both cameras are designed to stream in 1080p HD with 30 FPS. They also use the H.264 Video Format which compresses the stream to allow most home networks to support three to four cameras without any negative effects on the bandwidth.

  • On-Demand Live View – When it comes to on-demand live view, there’s little to no difference between the Arlo Pro 2 vs. Blink XT. Both Blink and Arlo offer on-demand live view of the camera stream at any time via their respective apps, which allows you to check in on your home whenever you please from wherever you happen to be.

  • Night Vision – Keep your home protected when the sun goes down with both the Blink XT and Arlo Pro 2 with their night vision technology.

  • Weather-resistant – A lot of cameras are designed to be used either indoors or outdoors, but these cameras work equally well with both! The IP65 rating means your cameras will stand up to the elements and do just as good a job keeping an eye on the exterior of your home as they would in your living room.

  • IFTTT – IFTTT is one of the most powerful utilities for connecting your smart devices together, as it can cause one action to trigger another. Hook your cameras up to your security system, your lights, or even your thermostat with near-endless possibilities for customization and automation. Both Arlo and Blink are compatible with this system, with Arlo also compatible with Stringify as well (a similar idea.)


Blink XT vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Accessories

Blink XT - Accessories - Wall Mount

Most of the accessories we’d like to mention for the Blink XT are focused on mounting, while Arlo Pro 2’s are focused more on supporting the battery and keeping your cameras safe.

For Blink XT, the Outlet Wall Mount for Blink Sync Module is a great choice for getting your hub off the ground. Mounting your camera outside can be super easy with a product like the Outdoor Wall Mount Bracket, while the Adjustable Gooseneck-Like Twist Mount are great for more general usage. Last but not least, this is an excellent complement to the system if you’d like to keep the battery charged indefinitely.

The Arlo Pro 2 also has its own Solar Panel if you decide to go with battery power, but if you’d rather not purchase the panel, it’s good to have an extra rechargeable battery on hand. If you’re mounting your camera outside, we also would recommend the Arlo Security Light for better illumination of your yard, and the Arlo Pro 2 Skins to keep your camera disguised and protected from intruders.


Blink XT vs. Arlo Pro 2 — Our Thoughts

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Comparing the Blink XT vs. Arlo Pro 2 is a little bit difficult, as it’s pretty clear that the two cameras are designed at different levels. The Blink XT is a more basic model, and while there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, the lack of live view record is a huge downfall. Seeing an intrusion or theft in action and not being able to record the evidence is just inexcusable, and this is the major reason why we think Arlo Pro 2 is a much better option.

Even if you ignored the major issue with the recording, the Arlo Pro 2 just does an overall better job in pretty much every category. From the better motion detection to the local storage, to two-way audio and a better view, it just seems to one-up Blink XT at pretty much every turn.

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

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly camera, we highly recommend taking a look at the . It is a little more expensive than the Blink XT, but you get a ton of useful features and one of the best quality cameras on the market at a pretty affordable price. Check out our take on the Arlo Pro 2 vs. Ring Stick Up Cams to see how it stacks up.


Last update on 2024-03-28 at 09:02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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