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

I have Arlo at home, the battery usually last about 3~4 months, I have not been managed to get it longer than 4 months yet.

Thumbnail scanlanprofile

John Scanlan

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

Is your camera inside or outside and do you know what your power management setting is set to?

Vickee Liang

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

inside of a baby crib, I will say motion is 25% through out the day (less than 6 hours), since baby only stay inside when he sleeps

Bill Glover

02/22/16 07:52pm

I have it at home too. Been fairly happy with it. My outside camera is set at the highest quality. It records about 4 to 5 minutes a day and has about 1/3 battery left after 3 months.

Thumbnail scanlanprofile

John Scanlan

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

Have you noticed a difference in battery life between indoors & outdoors cameras?

Undisclosed #1

02/22/16 07:53pm

Details delivered by both are about the same...

For me, color information helps a lot in identifying/describing someone, especially clothing color.

Bill Glover

02/22/16 08:10pm

Mine are both outside. Thry seemed to act a bit strange in really cold temps (below zero). The video was slow to upload and the notifications were slow. But as you mentioned this could be a cloud issue too and really nothing to do with the weather.

Thumbnail scanlanprofile

John Scanlan

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

Yes, we encountered the same delays indoors. The issues you are having most likely stem from the lack resources (media servers) that Arlo has.

Bill Glover

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

Another thing I noticed is there is a definite delay in motion detection. There is a 2 to 3 sec lag most times before the camera wakes up and starts to record video. For me it was a trade off versus the ease of installation. I had both cameras up in running in about a half hour.

Thumbnail scanlanprofile

John Scanlan

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

I was able to trigger motion detection and, at a fast pace, avoid being recorded at ~20 ft from the camera crossing the 4 ft wide hallway shown above.

Undisclosed #1

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

Nothing is more frustrating than a motionless motion clip received when your not home.

This wake up delay seems to be an unavoidable consequence of finite battery power.

Average homeowner probably won't realize this is how it works til the first non-event. But then it's a confidence destroyer.

Thanks, but I'll wait for wireless power. ;)

Thumbnail mg 3870

ROSS Vanderklok

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

So basically you folks are saying you have the same issues IPVM points out?

Undisclosed #1

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

Cloud unreliable. Battery unpredictable. Motion latency unavoidable.

Netgear Arlo Totally Worthless Camera Tested

John Honovich

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

DM the Arlo burglar, see what he says.

Undisclosed #1

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

Tweeted the BurlglArlo:

but I don't think they are 'standing by', probably just 'standing in line', of the the unemployment type.

Hopefully they didn't quit their night job yet...

Bill Glover

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

Pretty much. I find they do the job fairly well but with some obvious trade offs. The cloud recording for me has been fairly reliable, but definitely has had down time. I've had the cameras outside for about 3 months and have had hundreds of clips and notifications work fine. With that said, anything that is crucial to record you should look elsewhere.

Bill Glover

02/23/16 05:33pm

OMG. That video is pretty funny. I definitely would not use them as the only security layer for my house.

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

BluePoint Aims To Bring Life-Safety Mind-Set To Police Pull Stations on Sep 20, 2018
Fire alarm pull stations are commonplace but police ones are not. A self-funded startup, BluePoint Alert Solutions is aiming to make police pull...
Axis Vs. Hikvision IR PTZ Shootout on Sep 20, 2018
Hikvision has their high-end dual-sensor DarkfighterX. Axis has their high-end concealed IR Q6125-LE. Which is better? We bought both and tested...
Amazon Ring Spotlight Cam Tested on Sep 17, 2018
Amazon's Ring has released their latest camera entry, the Spotlight Cam, which we bought and tested in our Consumer IP Camera Analytics...
Vivotek 4MP Camera Tested (FD8379-HV) on Sep 13, 2018
Next in our series of updated 4MP testing, we bought and tested Vivotek's FD8379-HV, and entry level 4MP model claiming "top-notch quality video in...
October 2018 Camera Course on Sep 13, 2018
Today is the last day to save $50 on the October 2018 Camera Course, register now. This is the only independent surveillance camera course,...
VMS Export Shootout - Avigilon, Dahua, Exacq, Genetec, Hikvision, Milestone on Sep 13, 2018
When crimes, accidents or problems occur, exporting video from one's video surveillance system is critical to proving incidents. But who does it...
Dahua Low-Cost 4MP Camera Tested (N44CL52) on Sep 10, 2018
4MP use continues to increase, especially in low-cost models, according to integrators in our 2018 Resolution Usage Statistics. We bought Dahua's...
Hikvision Value Express IP Cameras Tested Poorly on Sep 05, 2018
Even lower cost Hikvision products? Their new Value Express line is marketed for applications where "budgets are limited and performance is...
Dell Launches IoT for Surveillance on Sep 05, 2018
Historically, Dell has been a PC and server provider (e.g., "Dude, you're getting a Dell") and widely used for surveillance storage. However, in...
Exit Devices For Access Control Tutorial on Aug 28, 2018
Exit Devices, also called 'Panic Bars' or 'Crash Bars' are required by safety codes the world over, and become integral parts of electronic access...

Most Recent Industry Reports

Alexa Guard Expands Amazon's Security Offerings, Boosts ADT's Stock on Sep 21, 2018
Amazon is expanding their security offerings yet again, this time with Alexa Guard that delivers security audio analytics and a virtual "Fake...
UTC, Owner of Lenel, Acquires S2 on Sep 20, 2018
UTC now owns two of the biggest access control providers, one of integrator's most hated access control platforms, Lenel, and one of their...
BluePoint Aims To Bring Life-Safety Mind-Set To Police Pull Stations on Sep 20, 2018
Fire alarm pull stations are commonplace but police ones are not. A self-funded startup, BluePoint Alert Solutions is aiming to make police pull...
SIA Plays Dumb On OEMs And Hikua Ban on Sep 20, 2018
OEMs widely pretend to be 'manufacturers', deceiving their customers and putting them at risk for cybersecurity attacks and, soon, violation of US...
Axis Vs. Hikvision IR PTZ Shootout on Sep 20, 2018
Hikvision has their high-end dual-sensor DarkfighterX. Axis has their high-end concealed IR Q6125-LE. Which is better? We bought both and tested...
Avigilon Announces AI-Powered H5 Camera Development on Sep 19, 2018
Avigilon will be showcasing "next-generation AI" at next week's ASIS GSX. In an atypical move, the company is not actually releasing these...
Favorite Request-to-Exit (RTE) Manufacturers 2018 on Sep 19, 2018
Request To Exit devices like motion sensors and lock releasing push-buttons are a part of almost every access install, but who makes the equipment...
25% China Tariffs Finalized For 2019, 10% Start Now, Includes Select Video Surveillance on Sep 18, 2018
A surprise move: In July, when the most recent tariff round was first announced, the tariffs were only scheduled for 10%. However, now, the US...
Central Stations Face Off Against NFPA On Fire Monitoring on Sep 18, 2018
Central stations are facing off against the NFPA over what they call anti-competitive language in NFPA 72, the standard that covers fire alarms....
Hikvision USA Starts Layoffs on Sep 18, 2018
Hikvision USA has started layoffs, just weeks after the US government ban was passed into law. Inside this note, we examine: The important...

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