Netgear Arlo Totally Wireless Camera Tested

Author: John Scanlan, Published on Feb 22, 2016

Wireless cameras almost always still need a wire for power. Given that, many argue to just used wired cameras anyway.

Recently, IPVM bought and tested Blink, a new entrant offering a totally wireless camera system.

Now, we bought and tested Netgear's Arlo, a product that has been around for many years (previously under Avaak), to see if it would beat Blink. One area Blink had problems with was low light, where it flashed a jarring bright white LED anytime it needed low light video. By contrast, Arlo has integrated IR.

Arlo

We tested Blink against Arlo for:

  • App/Mobile features
  • Day time recording
  • Night time/IR performance
  • Motion Detection
  • Battery Performance
  • Storage Capabilities

******** ******* ****** ****** ***** **** * **** *** *****. Given ****, **** ***** ** **** **** ***** ******* ******.

********, **** ****** ********* *****, * *** ******* ******** * ******* ******** ****** ******.

***, ** ****** *** ****** *******'* ****, * ******* **** has **** ****** *** **** ***** (********** **********), ** *** ** ** ***** **** *****. *** **** Blink *** ******** **** *** *** *****, ***** ** ******* a ******* ****** ***** *** ******* ** ****** *** ***** video. ** ********, **** *** ********** **.

Arlo

** ****** ***** ******* **** ***:

  • ***/****** ********
  • *** **** *********
  • ***** ****/** ***********
  • ****** *********
  • ******* ***********
  • ******* ************

[***************]

Summary **********

*************, **** *** ************ ******* *********** ******** ***** ** *** testing. ** ****, ** *********** ************ ** ***** **** ** fixed. ******** **** **** ******* **** ** *** ******, **** has **** ********** (** *****, *** *********, ****** *********, ******* specified).

Key ********

**** *** * *** ********** **** ******** ** *****:

  • ** ******* ** ***** *****: **** **********, **** ******** ******** ************ ******* ** ***** ***** ***** in *****. ***** **** *** **** ** ********** *****/****** ***** (up ** **'***'), *****'* ***** ***** ***** **** *** ******** and ***** ** ******* ** * **** *******/***** ***. **** provided ***** *** **** ******* ** ******* ****** ** *****.
  • *** ********* ** ******** ** ******:******* ******** * *** ********* *** **** ** ******** ** the ****** ****. ***** *** ****** **** *****, *****, *** setup **** ******. ***** ****** **** ****** ****.
  • ****** *********:**** ****** ***** ** ******** ****** ***** **** **** ****. Blink ****** ****** ********* ****, **** ****** ******* ***** **** view ** ****.

*******, ***** *** *** ************* ** ****:

  • ********** ***** *******:****'* ***** ******* *** ********** ****** *** *****, **** ******* clips, ****** **** * ***** ***** *** ***** ********, *** the ******** ********* ** **** **** *****. *****, **** ******* acknowledged ***** ****** **** ***** *** ****** **** **** **** working ** ********** ****** ********, **** ** ***.
  • ******* ********* *****:**** *********** ******** ****** ** ** ******* ******* ** ****, Arlo *** **** ** ****** ****** ** **' ***** ***** was **** ** ****** ****, ********* ****** ** *** ** 50'. 
  • ****** *****: * * ****** **** ** ~**% **** ********* **** * 1 ****** ***** (~$*** ** ~$***).

*******

*** **** ******* ******* ***** ***~$*** - $*** *** ********* ******** *** ****** *** *** **** *******. ** ** 15 ******* *** ** ***** ** **** **** *******. ********** ******* sell ***~$*** ****, **** ********* (** ** $**/**) **** ********* ** *****-*****. ** contrast, *** ***** ******* *** ********** *** *** *** *** ****** ***** *** $** ******. ********** ******* (** ** ** *** ***) **** $**. **** items *** ********* ** ** ******* ****** ****** ** **** ** ******** from*****.

****'* ******* **** ******* **** ** ** *** ***** ** typical ******** ***/**** *******, ********* $***-***.

******** ********

*** ***** *** **** **** ******* ********** **** ******** ************:

**** ** ******* * ******** ******** ** *** **** **** free ****** ** **** ** *** ********** **** *******: 

 

Cloud ******/*******

****'* **** **** ****** ** ** * *******, **** * **** of *******. **** ***** ($**/$**) ***** *** **** ******* (** to **) *** ** ** ** **** ** *******.

  • ***** (****): * *******/* ****
  • ******* ($*.**/**): ** *******/** ****
  • ***** ($**.**/**): ** *******/** ****

******** ** **** ***** *********, ***** ****** *** ******, ****'* ********* ** ******** ******* *** *** ***** ** much *****. *** *******, *** **** **** *******, ***** ***** pay $**/***** *** ** **** ** ******* ($** ******* + $5 *** **** ********** ******). 

Cloud Stability ******

****** *** *****, ** ********** ******** *** ******* *****: "***** was * ******* ************ * ********** ** *** ***** ******."

************, ***** ***** **** ******* *** **-** *******, *** ******* receiving ******** ****** ******, ***** **** ***** ***** **** *** saved ** *** *******. **** ******** ******** ***** (********* **** the **** ****) **** ******* ** *****. ****** **** ********** were **** ****, **** **** ******** *** ***** ***** *** event *** ******* ********. 

** ********* **** ******* ***** ***** ****** *** **** ****** said ***** ******* **** ********** *** **** **** ******* ** adding ****, *** **** **** ** *** *** **** **** may **** *****.

*** ********* ** **** **** ***** ***** ******* **** *********** in * ********** ******. ********, **** ****** *** ******* ***** make **** *********** ******* *** **** ******** ********.

*******

*** **** ******** ****** ****** "*-* ******" ** ******* ****, shipping **** **** ** ******* *********.  ***** * **** ** motion ********* ** *** ****** *** ******* ********* ************ ***** shows **** ******. ***** ** ** *** ** **** *** battery ****** ********** ******* *** ****** *** *** *** *** interface.

Nighttime *******

** ***** ****'* **' ** ************ ***** ** ** ********. In *** ***** *****, *** ****** *********** *** **** **** of *** ****, ***** **' **** *** ******. *** *******, at ***** **', ** **** ******* ***********.

*****'* ***** ***** *** *********** ******** ***** *** **** ********, with ******** **** ********** ** *** *****, ****** **** *** obvious ************ ** * ***** "*****" ***** *** ****** ** active.

******* ********* ** **** *** ***** *** ****, **** ***** details ** *** ******* *** *** ***** ******* ** *** same *****.

Detection ***********

****'* *** ****** ********* ******** ******** ******** ** ***** **' from *** ******, **** ** ***** ****** ****** *** ****** of *** *******. **** ** ************* ******* **** *****, ***** reliably ******** ******** *** ** ~**' ** *** ***********.

***/*** ********* ********

**** ****** * *** ********* ** ******** ** ****** ****, with **** *********** *********** *** ****. ***** *** ** ************ **** viewed *** ****** *********, ****** **** **** ******* ***** *** cameras' *********.

** **** **** ***** ****/*** *********, ****** ** ******* ** a **** ** *****, **** ** *** ** ***** * specific **** *** ****. ***** *** ** ******** ** *** user's ****** ****** ** ***** ** ** ** ***** *** web *********.

** ****** *** *** ********* ** **** *****:

*** ****** *** ** **** ******* ** *** *** ********* including *** ****/**** *** *************. **** ** ****** *** ****** app:

Comments (17)

Vickee Liang

IPVMU Certified | 02/22/16 06:54pm

* **** **** ** ****, *** ******* ******* **** ***** 3~4 ******, * **** *** **** ******* ** *** ** longer **** * ****** ***.

Thumbnail scanlanprofile

John Scanlan

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Vickee Liang | 02/22/16 07:05pm

** **** ****** ****** ** ******* *** ** *** **** what **** ***** ********** ******* ** *** **?

Vickee Liang

IPVMU Certified | 02/22/16 07:14pm

****** ** * **** ****, * **** *** ****** ** 25% ******* *** *** *** (**** **** * *****), ***** baby **** **** ****** **** ** ******

Bill Glover

02/22/16 07:52pm

* **** ** ** **** ***. **** ****** ***** **** it. ** ******* ****** ** *** ** *** ******* *******. It ******* ***** * ** * ******* * *** *** has ***** */* ******* **** ***** * ******.

Thumbnail scanlanprofile

John Scanlan

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Bill Glover | 02/22/16 08:00pm

**** *** ******* * ********** ** ******* **** ******* ******* & ******** *******?

Undisclosed #1

02/22/16 07:53pm

******* ********* ** **** *** ***** *** ****...

*** **, ***** *********** ***** * *** ** ***********/********** *******, especially ******** *****.

Bill Glover

02/22/16 08:10pm

**** *** **** *******. **** ****** ** *** * *** strange ** ****** **** ***** (***** ****). *** ***** *** slow ** ****** *** *** ************* **** ****. *** ** you ********* **** ***** ** * ***** ***** *** *** really ******* ** ** **** *** *******.

Thumbnail scanlanprofile

John Scanlan

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Bill Glover | 02/22/16 08:14pm

***, ** *********** *** **** ****** *******. *** ****** *** are ****** **** ****** **** **** *** **** ********* (***** servers) **** **** ***.

Bill Glover

In reply to John Scanlan | 02/22/16 08:23pm

******* ***** * ******* ** ***** ** * ******** ***** in ****** *********. ***** ** * * ** * *** lag **** ***** ****** *** ****** ***** ** *** ****** to ****** *****. *** ** ** *** * ***** *** versus *** **** ** ************. * *** **** ******* ** in ******* ** ***** * **** ****.

Thumbnail scanlanprofile

John Scanlan

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Bill Glover | 02/22/16 08:31pm

* *** **** ** ******* ****** ********* ***, ** * fast ****, ***** ***** ******** ** ~** ** **** *** camera ******** *** * ** **** ******* ***** *****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Scanlan | 02/23/16 07:11am

******* ** **** *********** **** * ********** ****** **** ******** when **** *** ****.

**** **** ** ***** ***** ** ** ** *********** *********** of ****** ******* *****.

******* ********* ******** ***'* ******* **** ** *** ** ***** til *** ***** ***-*****. *** **** **'* * ********** *********.

******, *** *'** **** *********** *****. ;)

Ross Vanderklok

IPVMU Certified | 02/23/16 04:26pm

** ********* *** ***** *** ****** *** **** *** **** issues **** ****** ***?

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ross Vanderklok | 02/23/16 04:55pm

***** **********. ******* *************. ****** ******* ***********.

******* **** ******* ********* ****** ******

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 02/23/16 05:19pm

** *** **** *******, *** **** ** ****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to John Honovich | 02/23/16 06:26pm

******* *** **********:

*** * ***'* ***** **** *** '******** **', ******** **** 'standing ** ****', ** *** *** ************ ****.

********* **** ****'* **** ***** ***** *** ***...

Bill Glover

In reply to Ross Vanderklok | 02/23/16 05:19pm

****** ****. * **** **** ** *** *** ****** **** but **** **** ******* ***** ****. *** ***** ********* *** me *** **** ****** ********, *** ********** *** *** **** time. *'** *** *** ******* ******* *** ***** * ****** and **** *** ******** ** ***** *** ************* **** ****. With **** ****, ******** **** ** ******* ** ****** *** should **** *********.

Bill Glover

02/23/16 05:33pm

***. **** ***** ** ****** *****. * ********** ***** *** use **** ** *** **** ******** ***** *** ** *****.

Login to read this IPVM report.
Why do I need to log in?
IPVM conducts unique testing and research funded by member's payments enabling us to offer the most independent, accurate and in-depth information.

Related Reports

Bosch G-Series Intrusion Tested on Jul 26, 2017
Bosch is one of the biggest names in intrusion, and the company's G-Series panels are their most advanced commercial and high-security panels. But...
Hikvision H.265+ Bullet Tested (2035) on Jul 24, 2017
Continuing our tests of Hikvision's new low cost Value Plus line, we bought and tested the 3MP DS-2CD2035FWD-I, now including H.265+. We shot the...
Wireless Burglar Alarm Sensors Guide on Jul 21, 2017
Wireless sensors for burglar alarm sensors are an increasingly common option for the historical labor intensive wired alarm systems. However,...
$8 Billion Utility Georgia Power Enters Surveillance Business Offering Avigilon And Genetec on Jul 19, 2017
Utilities are typically considered major customers of surveillance integrators but one utility, Georgia Power, with $8+ billion in annual revenue...
March Networks Company Profile on Jul 17, 2017
March Networks was one of the most well-known video surveillance manufacturers of the 2000s. In 2012, March was acquired by Chinese / American...
Power For Burglar Alarms on Jul 14, 2017
In order to operate, alarm panels require the high voltages found in electrical outlets be converted to the low voltages they run on. In this...
Batteries For Alarm Systems Tutorial on Jul 11, 2017
Alarm systems use backup batteries in order to continue working if an intruder attempts to disable the alarm by cutting power to the building. In...
Nest Cam IQ Tested on Jul 10, 2017
Nest has released their latest entry in their camera line, the Nest Cam IQ, touting 4K "Supersight", facial recognition, "HD audio", invisible IR,...
Smoke Detectors Guide on Jul 06, 2017
Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors add a life-safety component to burglar alarm systems. As intrusion detection sensors are used to...
"The Armed Robbery Epidemic" - NRF on Jul 06, 2017
The National Retail Federation (NRF) Protect 2017 featured a session titled: "The Armed Robbery Epidemic: How to Stay Safe". IPVM attended this...

Most Recent Industry Reports

$28M Drone Detection Startup Examined (Dedrone) on Jul 25, 2017
Dedrone has received ~$28M in funding to build what they call an "automatic anti-drone solution", a system to detect drones, and then automatically...
Dahua Suffers Second Major Vulnerability, Silent on Jul 25, 2017
Less than 3 months ago, Dahua received DHS ICS-CERT's worst score of 10.0 for their backdoor. Now, Dahua has received another 10.0 score for a new...
Hikvision H.265+ Bullet Tested (2035) on Jul 24, 2017
Continuing our tests of Hikvision's new low cost Value Plus line, we bought and tested the 3MP DS-2CD2035FWD-I, now including H.265+. We shot the...
Sports Stadium Security Design Recommendations on Jul 24, 2017
Sports stadiums pose many challenges for designing security systems. The facilities vary from being mostly vacant, to packed with tens of thousands...
Competing Against Convergint on Jul 24, 2017
No integrator is more aggressively expanding than Convergint Technologies. Owned and funded by private equity firm KRG, Convergint has acquired...
Security Robots Are Just Entertainment on Jul 21, 2017
Great entertainment, no real security value.  That is the happy (or sad) state of security robots in 2017. Knightscope robot's drowning, the...
Wireless Burglar Alarm Sensors Guide on Jul 21, 2017
Wireless sensors for burglar alarm sensors are an increasingly common option for the historical labor intensive wired alarm systems. However,...
Competing Against ADT on Jul 20, 2017
ADT is one of the biggest players in the security industry, with ~$4 billion revenue. In 2017, they were acquired / merged with Protection...
Hikvision Launching Deep Learning Recorders on Jul 20, 2017
Hikvision has become a common choice for super low cost NVRs. Now, Hikvision is aiming to move up market, with deep learning NVRs that claim far...
PR Campaign Exploiting Manufacturer Cybersecurity on Jul 20, 2017
Manufacturers increasingly have a bulls-eye on their back. As cyber security solutions providers grow, they realize a great way to get publicity...

The world's leading video surveillance information source, IPVM provides the best reporting, testing and training for 10,000+ members globally. Dedicated to independent and objective information, we uniquely refuse any and all advertisements, sponsorship and consulting from manufacturers.

About | FAQ | Contact