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 ********

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

  • ** ******* ** ***** *****:**** **********, **** ******** ******** ************ ******* ** ***** ***** found ** *****. ***** **** *** **** ** ********** *****/****** rooms (** ** **'***'), *****'* ***** ***** ***** **** *** position *** ***** ** ******* ** * **** *******/***** ***. Both ******** ***** *** **** ******* ** ******* ****** ** night.
  • *** ********* ** ******** ** ******:******* ******** * *** ********* *** **** ** ******** ** the ****** ****. ***** *** ****** **** *****, *****, *** setup **** ******. ***** ****** **** ****** ****.
  • ****** *********:**** ****** ***** ** ******** ****** ***** **** **** ****. Blink ****** ****** ********* ****, **** ****** ******* ***** **** view ** ****.

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

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

*******

*** **** ******* ******* ***** ***~$*** - $*** *** ********* ******** *** ****** *** *** **** *******. ** ** 15 ******* *** ** ***** ** **** **** *******. ********** cameras **** ***~$*** ****, **** ********* (** ** $**/**) **** ********* ** *****-*****. By ********, *** ***** ******* ************* *** *** *** *** ****** ***** *** $** ******. ********** ******* (** ** ** *** ***) **** $**. Both ***** *** ********* ** ** ******* ****** ****** ** well ** ******** *********.

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

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

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

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

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

****'* **** **** ****** ** ** * *******, **** * days ** *******. **** ***** ($**/$**) ***** *** **** ******* (up ** **) *** ** ** ** **** ** *******.

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

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

Cloud ********* ******

****** *** *****, ** ********** ******** *** ******* *****: "***** 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 ******** ******** *** ** ~**' ** *** ***********.

App/Web ********* ********

**** ****** * *** ********* ** ******** ** ****** ****, with **** *********** *********** *** ****. ***** *** ** ************ live ****** *** ****** *********, ****** **** **** ******* ***** the *******' *********.

** **** **** ***** ****/*** *********, ****** ** ******* ** 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

IPVMU Certified / IPVM Admin | 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

IPVMU Certified / IPVM Admin | 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

IPVMU Certified / IPVM Admin | 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

IPVMU Certified / IPVM Admin | 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 Admin | 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

Nest Cam Outdoor Tested on Sep 23, 2016
After years of claiming an outdoor model was "coming", addressing their biggest user demand, Nest has finally released their Outdoor Camera, an...
Totally Wireless IP Camera (IPVideo Corp NomadHD) on Sep 21, 2016
Wireless battery powered cameras have been a surveillance pipe dream for years, limited by camera power consumption, battery technology, and...
Camera Course September 2016 on Sep 15, 2016
This is the only independent surveillance camera course, based on in-depth product and technology testing. Lots of manufacturer training exists...
PTZ Camera Guide 2016 on Sep 15, 2016
Pan/Tilt/Zoom cameras remain critical parts of many surveillance systems, especially in large security operations. Because of this it is important...
Hikvision 4K Camera Tested on Sep 09, 2016
Hikvision is the most common choice for low price entry level products but they are also competing with low light models, smart CODECs, WDR...
Avigilon Announced 'Easiest to Install' 'Cost Effective' H4 SL Cameras on Sep 08, 2016
Avigilon's CEO, following weak results and sharply declining gross margins, told investors a few weeks ago that new cameras were coming, saying...
Axis Laser Focus PTZ Camera Examined on Sep 08, 2016
How do you make a PTZ focus better and faster? If you are Axis, you add a laser to it. In this report, we examine Axis' new Q6155-E, looking at...
Pelco Optera 270° Camera Tested on Sep 06, 2016
Multi-imager cameras are typically 180° or 360°. Pelco has released a fixed 270° versions of their Optera intended to cover exterior building...
Panoramic Camera (Fisheye / Multi-Imager) Guide on Aug 31, 2016
Panoramic cameras, including fisheyes and multi-imagers, have become increasingly widespread, with most manufacturers offering fisheyes and an...
Integrators, Replace Electricians With PoE Lighting on Aug 19, 2016
Electricians often steal security business, causing problems for themselves, users and security integrators. Now, an emerging technology...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Nest Cam Outdoor Tested on Sep 23, 2016
After years of claiming an outdoor model was "coming", addressing their biggest user demand, Nest has finally released their Outdoor Camera, an...
ACTi Refuses Race To The Bottom, Shifts To Solutions on Sep 23, 2016
The original low cost IP camera disruptor was ACTi. Back in the 2008 - 2010 time frame, Taiwanese manufacturer ACTi challenged the Western and...
You Get Robbed, Canary Will Pay You Up To $1,000 on Sep 22, 2016
Canary is trying to break the status quo in DIY security, first by raising over $40 million, and now a revamp of their monthly services package...
Milestone Ends Development of "Enterprise" VMS on Sep 22, 2016
Milestone 'Enterprise' was one of the first enterprise video management software offerings, selected by many early adopters of IP video. However,...
History of Video Surveillance on Sep 22, 2016
This is a concise history of video surveillance covering the past decade.  The goal is to help professionals newer to the industry understand...
Access Control Course Fall 2016 on Sep 22, 2016
IPVM offers the most comprehensive access control course in the industry. Unlike manufacturer training that focuses only on a small part of the...
Totally Wireless IP Camera (IPVideo Corp NomadHD) on Sep 21, 2016
Wireless battery powered cameras have been a surveillance pipe dream for years, limited by camera power consumption, battery technology, and...
Axis Launches IP Speakers on Sep 21, 2016
First, Axis introduced an IP horn, then it was video intercoms, and now it is Networked Speakers? While IP-based Public Address systems are not...
Tagged RFID Object Search Recorded Video on Sep 20, 2016
Video analytics has gotten fairly good at tagging people in video, but it does not solve the problem of finding items like specific merchandise or...
FLIR and Geovision Join the Hikvision Price Cut Race on Sep 20, 2016
Hikvision's price cuts are clearly a trend setter. After numerous and increasingly large cuts, the destructive cycle is accelerating. Last month,...

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