Customer Ratings & Reviews

Not happy with this purchase. Not working in my country ( Fench Polynesia)

That it is hard to get it back on line once it is off line

Not pleased you have to pay for a subscription for any recordings

I can’t explain it right now, but I’m having issues, camera is hooked up to solar panel and It’s NOT CHARGING. Not even when camera is in the off position. I’m taking back to store, bcuz store associate was a very pleasant individual, and hopefully he can help.In 10 years I’ve never had an issue with ARLO.

Not happy with the camera it is a dud unless you buy a service. Very hard to sign up for service. Beware of scammers only go to my arlo.com. totally cannot activate service no phone support. Never will use Arlo products again. Essential Arlo 2 is what I bought.

[PROS] Easy Setup: Getting started is a straightforward process through the app. It's helpful in walking me through the Wi-fi setup and testing out signal strength. Physical setup is simple as well with the included mounting hardware and instructions. I was able get the camera installed above my garage without any issues. High Quality Video: The 2K video is sharp is enough to make out plenty of details, but the ante is upped through the implementation of HDR which is not very common. Adequate Size and Build: For security cam, this is a perfect size. It can fit in a cozy space and not be too obvious for suspected culprits. I haven't been able to test it in extreme conditions, but functionality and performance was maintained with temperatures dropped below 29 degrees with rain. Responsiveness: Whenever I'm retrieving live footage, the Arlo Home Security is snappy in providing it. [CONS] Subscription reliant: This is probably the biggest con when it comes to this device. To get the most of this product, you will need to spend more money. Not only is there the lack of local storage (typical), but advanced features like activity zones are behind a paywall. [CONCLUSION] This camera performs great, and is trustworthy in providing notifications and alerts. I just wish that more "free" features were included.

The Arlo Essential 1 Outdoor Wireless 2K Security Camera (Arlo Outdoor Wireless Camera) is exactly what I wanted and needed. It has provided a simplified solution to a concern that I have had for several years as it relates to securing my home when I’m away, as well as when I’m at home. Although I currently own a wired system with six cameras, it did not solve my issues I had with a few blind spots, including some sections that simply were out of view due to the limits of the system. However, that’s no longer an issue for me since I’ve installed this wireless camera. I’ve been using the Arlo Outdoor Wireless Camera for a little over a week now and I am extremely pleased with its’ performance. The Arlo Outdoor Wireless Camera arrived to my house very well packaged, secured in place, and there was no damage to the camera or any of the included parts. I unpacked the camera and all of its contents and read the included small pamphlet. There’s a nice welcoming sticker once you open the box containing the camera. I appreciate one of the first things I saw was plastic covering the camera clearly indicating the need to charge the camera before setup. There isn’t a detailed quick start guide, but a small pamphlet is provided with instructions on how to get you started. I used the QR code, contained within the small pamphlet, to download the Arlo Secure App and watched the helpful “how to” videos. I found that the Arlo Secure App instructions were more helpful, and can help you avoid the pain of shuffling through links on the website to find the camera’s setup instructions. Everything needed to get started is included in the box with the exception of the charging adapter (an indoor usb charging cable is provided) but I was able to use an adapter I previously owned. Make sure you use a 5volt charging adapter to extend the life of your battery. I say that with a point of emphasis because it took me a long time to find the proper charing voltage as the battery is preinstalled in the camera and cannot be removed. Although the camera comes partially charged, I had to charge it for several hours to get it to 100% and elected to allow it to charge overnight. It takes a long time to charge the battery, but the battery lasts a long time. Initially, I was having problems with my battery showing that it was fully charged and the percentage of the battery rapidly decreasing. I’m not sure what was going on, but after a couple days, I tried charing the battery again and it charged to 100% and more than a week has passed and only 10% of the battery has been used, and that’s with me testing all the features and creating more than a dozen alerts on top of the other dozen alerts from movement in my yard. I recommend reading and viewing the “how to” information available online. I spent a lot of unnecessary time checking the battery charging status only to discover (while reading online) that a blue light will be displayed when the battery is fully charged. Once the Camera’s battery was fully charged (indicated by the steady blue light on the camera), I followed the step-by-step setup instructions within the app to setup the camera via my cell phone. The setup was easy to follow along from beginning to end. It’s a quick read of the start-up guide and simple a few “how to videos” that are short and easy to understand. In fact, this may have been one of the easiest security cameras I’ve had to set up. It was easy to install and attach outside my home. I’m using outdoors in my backyard to have a clear view of my home. I was able to attach the included clip to a wooden pole in my yard in minutes and clipping the camera on the small clip was a breeze. It is very easy to attach and reattach between charging. Adjusting the camera for the perfect angle is also extremely easy. This is truly a do-it-yourself camera for just about anyone. The picture qualitly of live streams looks fantastic during the day and the color night vision provides me with all the detail that I need, and the video quality of the clips are crystal clear. The viewing angle is extremely wide. I am able to see my entire backyard, the back of the my house and all the windows and doors with no blind spots. During the night, I am able to take advance of the integrated spotlight to illuminate the entire area because things are pitch black. I have the ability to use the two-way audio when needed as well the integrated siren to scare off unwanted animals in my yard and unwanted visitors. The motion detection and identification of what the camera picks up works really good. I received alerts on my cell phone for animals as well as persons in my yard. There are many more features you can take advantage of if you elect to sign up for a paid total protection security plan, but this camera is fanatic even without the plan. The Arlo Essential 1 Outdoor camera comes with a short trial period so that you’re able to see all that the camera has to offer. The Arlo Secure App was recently updated so there are so many new features. Everything is well organized and easy to find. I highly recommend the Arlo Essential 1 Outdoor Wireless 2K Security Camera; chances are you will like it as much as I do.

Prior to receiving this camera, I already had two Arlo devices, a year-old doorbell camera and a three-year-old “Pro” model camera. Because of this I had already established an Arlo account, and had the Arlo Secure app on my mobile devices. This certainly made installation of this camera a snap, and cut a lot of time out of the setup process. I will however say definitively that the setup was much simpler than with either of the other two devices. Shortly after installing this camera initially, I had an issue that required a complete tear down and rebuild of the network it was on. This required a reset of my Arlo devices and with the pre-existing Secure app and Arlo account reintegrating this camera was quick and painless while the other devices required more finagling. In service, I believe this camera compares extremely favorably to the more expensive pro model. It is smaller than previous generations/styles while retaining the same overall look. The spotlight for color night recording and deterrence is nice and bright. This camera has a USB-C type charging port (covered with a simple rubber plug) rather than the magnetic style of my other camera. I rather like this as it does not require me to have a proprietary charging cable that I am apt to lose or could become useless from damage. Charging with this connection was somewhat faster than the other camera, but I can’t say if it is the connection, the type of battery or the age of the device that makes the difference. Unlike the magnetic mounting of the Pro camera, this one comes with a very simple plastic base. I did not like this mount at all as it has limited flexibility, and it was difficult to make fine adjustments to placement when “dialing in” the view after mounting. The camera does come with a threaded socket in the size that appears to be ubiquitous for cameras. Because of this I was able to use a mount that was included with a trail camera which had the flexibility and ease of motion I desired. This type of mount is dirt cheap, so even if you don’t have one laying around like I did you can easily and inexpensively pick one up. Once mounted and added to my Arlo account through the Secure App I found this camera very simple to set up for use. With a wide variety of setup and customization options I was able to set this camera the way that I wanted. Users can configure power management, video brightness and zoom, night vision (B&W with infrared lighting or color with spotlight), spotlight brightness, audio (mic & speaker volume), and activity zones. By setting the activity zone where I want it to activate and record I eliminated a lot of unnecessary recording and nuisance notifications. In operation I have seen literally no difference between this “Essential” camera, which very affordable and the (admittedly older) “Pro” camera. Video is just as crisp and clear; the Pro boasts 4k resolution, the Essential is rated a 2K device. Motion detection is excellent. Audio is clear on both sides. There is a significant lag making actual conversation difficult, but not impossible. This is true of all my Arlo devices (running with excellent signal strength on a 500 mbps network). Battery life has really impressed me as well. This camera is reasonably compact and light, and I had thought I would be taking it down regularly to charge. At the time I am writing this the camera has been in use for 2 weeks and the battery is currently at 85%. Overall, I have been impressed and completely happy with this camera. In fact, I picked up a second and added it to my home security so that all sides of my home are now covered. For ease of use, operational quality and value this is easily a 5-star device to me. Some may not comfortable with a cloud-based system or a subscription service, so this may not be the end all be all for everyone, but I certainly won't blame the device for this and would recommend it based on how I am using it.

Once the trial is over the cameras do not record without an expensive subscription. Only live viewing.

DO NOT BUY! These cameras are useless unless you pay a monthly fee that starts at $13/mo. I wish i had known before buying and installing these.

Cameras overall suck!!!!!notifications take forever and live view most well all the times doesn’t work!!!! It doesn’t even deserve one star!!!

The camera’s work fine but I didn’t know for them to work? I’m talking about recording? You have to have a subscription or they are useless

Do not buy false advertisement you need a paid subscription to use this product properly. Do not buy. this product is generating false advertisement

Only one of the cameras I bought works properly the other one had an issue straight out of the package.

The Arlo Essential 4-Camera Outdoor Wireless 2K Security Camera (2nd Generation) is a great option for those looking for an affordable and easy-to-use security camera system. It offers 2K resolution video, color night vision, and a variety of other features, all at a reasonable price. Arlo Essential 4Camera Outdoor Wireless 2K Security Camera (2nd Generation) Here are some of the key features of the Arlo Essential 4-Camera Outdoor Wireless 2K Security Camera (2nd Generation): • 2K resolution video: This means that you can capture clear and detailed footage of everything that happens in front of your camera. • Color night vision: This allows you to see clearly in low-light conditions, such as at night or in dimly lit areas. • Wireless design: The cameras are wireless, so you don't have to worry about running wires from your house to the cameras. • Easy setup: The cameras are easy to set up and use, and you can control them from your smartphone or tablet. • Long battery life: The cameras have a long battery life, so you don't have to worry about charging them often. • Weatherproof design: The cameras are weatherproof, so you can use them indoors or outdoors. • Two-way audio: This allows you to talk to people through the camera, which can be useful for deterring intruders or answering the door. • Motion detection: The cameras can detect motion and send you alerts to your smartphone or tablet. • Customizable settings: You can customize the settings of the cameras to your liking, such as the sensitivity of the motion detection and the length of the video clips. Overall, the Arlo Essential 4-Camera Outdoor Wireless 2K Security Camera (2nd Generation) is a great option for those looking for an affordable and easy-to-use security camera system. It offers a variety of features that can help you to keep your home safe, and it is easy to set up and use. I would recommend this camera system to anyone who is looking for a reliable and affordable way to secure their home.

The Arlo security system comes nicely packaged in sturdy boxes. There is a film on each camera telling you to fully charge - which did not take very long since they were partially charged from the factory. It only comes with one cord for the four cameras, but it is a standard C type so easy to find other cords to charge at the same time. I've had other Arlo systems, and there are a lot of improvements with this one starting with new wall mounts and plates that are simple to install (they have directional arrows), and they swivel, so you can position the cameras quickly. These cameras are high quality and the system comes with a sturdy security sign for the yard. The system was easy to install with a new app and had step by step instructions for each camera that included pairing it, checking for WiFi strength and even specifics on how to mount. I named each camera "A", "B"... etc. and then wrote the corresponding letter with permanent marker on the back of each so they'll be easy to identify. The app itself is improved and includes a dashboard to see all cameras (you can add or delete devices), as well as what type of movement it indicates (person, vehicle, animal). You can shut off alerts for one or more types. One of the best new features is a spotlight on each camera which lights when it detects movement. The feed (which shows recorded movements) can be filtered by date and each thumbnail has the time, type of motion, which camera and the length of the video. Of course the most important feature is the high video quality playback. The videos are super clear. The battery life is good - especially considering we have a lot of movement with animals and cars. Overall, I am super impressed with the Arlo Essential security system.

Got this system to expand our current wired system. Our current system has some blind or non covered spots that we identified needing camera coverage. We were looking at expanding our existing system, but is older and is a wired system that would require a lot of work, time and expense run wires and outlets to add on. This wireless system was far cheaper and easier to set up as an add on. Out of the box set up is a breeze. Download the app, charge the cameras, set up, name place where you need them. Good to go. They have spotlights, motion detection, sirens and audio. You can choose when to arm them for automatic recording when triggered by motion or use live view. You can also customize the field of view the motion detection focuses on to avoid accidental or nuisance motion alerts. Good feature for certain areas. One of the best features for our use is that each camera is basically independent from a connection standpoint! We have more than one wi-fi system due to the size of the property. Connect each camera to the signal feeding that area. You just need to be on that network when you access it. Reviewing and recording/sharing videos is such a snap. Way easier and more user friendly than our existing system. We are subscribing to the monitoring. It is cheap enough and going with the no monitoring plan you lose the ability to review and detect, they become only live view monitors, though you can record that way. For our needs, we want to record and review later if needed. I honestly am considering expanding this system to eventually replace our exiting wired system. That one is outdated and this is just so easy to use and set up. Totally recommend it!

I'm a big fan of the original Alro Essential Spotlight camera. At the time, the color night vision and built in spotlight was really nice, even if only at 1080p. They finally released the Gen 2, now with 2K. It's a definitive improvement in quality and app experience but the battery life looks like it will be a weak point. So what's different? The Gen 2 has a much thinner profile, to start. But this means a smaller battery and just with a few days of usage, I can already tell this will have to be charged at least twice as often as the gen 1. The battery life is labeled as up to 4 months based on usage which is significantly less than the original model. I plan on having mine permanently plugged in eventually so this won't be an issue for me. However, the Essential XL boasts a 16 month life based on usage so if you can't use wires or the solar panel and charging isn't as convenient, that may be the better option for you. But the biggest draw here is the 2K video quality. The picture is crisp and clear and looks great. The light also seems to be brighter than before, greatly improving night time video. Detection and alerts seem to be working well as usual with no noticeable issues. Additionally, this camera now connects directly to wifi and a base station is no longer required. I do still wish you had the option to connect to it because sometimes it seemed those devices respond better when they are. Not to mention being able to utilize a USB device as well. Though, so far I have been pleasantly surprised with how well the gen 2 is working on just the wifi. The biggest changes you'll see is within the app. During setup, it says the device requires an upgrade to the new app experience which it automatically does for you. I had just updated the app through google play so I'm not sure if it only upgrades with a purchase of a gen 2 device? Anyway, it takes some getting used to since they moved things around and changed how you do things quite a bit. At first it seemed like more steps to change the usual settings I was used to but after understanding where everything was, I started to like it more. There's a few notable changes I particularly like. First, there is an option for a low power mode which takes snapshots instead of video. You can set it to auto turn on at the threshold (10-30%) you desire. Second, unlike the first Essential Spotlight camera, you can now customize the brightness of the spotlight as well as change it to flashing instead of constant. Third and my favorite, all the original rules you used to have to set for each device in each routine is now listed under the individual devices settings. You can create all the defaults here which will then be used in your routines (now arm away, arm home & standby). From routines, you can further tweak actions, if needed. This is nice because there are a lot more settings to change for each device and this makes things a lot more efficient. The reorganization of these modes was a welcome change as well. Now with the three modes (instead of just arm and disarmed) you have greater control over your current security needs. What I don't like is they added notifications for every time you arm and disarm now with no way to turn this off at the moment. Also, the feed doesn't manually reset to the top, making you have to scroll up every time you view new clips. For Alexa, while the usual commands still work, I hope eventually I can select which mode she sets Arlo in (as in 'home' instead of just 'away'). There are a couple of other minor issues as well that aren't worth mentioning but hopefully these things can be addressed at some point.

As a whole, I do like these cameras and this system. I think they can work for most people and their needs. There is quite a bit to like here, but there is a thing or two that I wish were different or maybe could be done better. Set-up for me was a simple process. Just be sure to charge everything beforehand. It is more or less just follow some steps and you will be good. No issues for me. Installation though? Well, that was a bit of a mixed bag. While this will probably be dependent on your situation and where you are installing them, I just do not love the mounting options. I should say, more specifically, I wish the mounts offered a little flexibility. The hardware works, and is not bad to install, at all, but you really need to have your lines perfect as there is not a lot of range to move or change the angle of the cameras. It just made what could have been the perfect install, just a little worse. Also, it kind of limits any changes you may want to make down the road. Or at least makes them more difficult. Again, that may not be your experience, but just something to note. As for the cameras themselves, they give a detailed, nice, and clear picture (with zoom). Day or night (in color). They also come with quite a few options, which is always nice to see. Same with the app and operation. Two-way audio. Motion detection (very quick). Deterrence features (spotlight and siren). Alerts. Notifications. All of these things work well and are very welcome. The app, frankly, is not the best, but it is “good” and gives you what you need. I just wish there was a little more integration with other platforms, but notifications are very quick. Given that, I can live with some limitations and hope for the best going forward. Build-wise, obviously, time will tell. That said, I think everything should last. Everything is well-built and I think it will hold up. Again, it is going to have to be a wait and see thing. We shall see. I know this is the nature of the product, and on some level why the installation was so quick, but I am a little hesitant about the batteries. To be clear, in the limited time I have had them installed, the battery-life has been good, and they are rated for several months, but I am just not sure how I feel about removing them, charging them, etc…Again, I knew this going in, but I will have to see how my usage does with the batteries. If they perform well, but the batteries turn out to be an issue I may explore wiring them. Of course, this too is a wait and see kind of thing. For all that I like about these cameras, and despite some of my minor concerns that I touched upon to this point, my main “problem,” if you want to call it that, is the reliance on a subscription to truly unlock all that this system can do. To be clear, the cameras do work, and can work for a lot of people without it, but you kind of only get the most basic features. There is no recording, zones, or differentiated detection. It is a bit of a letdown. That said though, honestly, the sub costs are quite reasonable, and for most people are probably worth it. I just wish they offered a little bit more without the need for the sub, as they did with prior products (some I still have). Ultimately, this is a good system, the cameras are solidly built, and they work very well. I think, as is, they are a good value. I would suggest really know your use case and what you want out of a system like this and if you are willing to pay for a subscription to get it (or want local or cloud storage).

Very disappeared. Poor quality, subscription required after 30 days. Eufy is the way to go!