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Customer reviews

Rating 4.4 out of 5 stars with 133 reviews

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Rating by feature

  • Value

    Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

  • Quality

    Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars

  • Ease of Use

    Rating 4.6 out of 5 stars

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89%would recommend to a friend

Customers are saying

Customers regard the Essential Outdoor Security Camera 2K as a high-performing device, particularly praising its crystal-clear video quality and easy setup process. Many users also appreciate the solid battery life and effective motion detection. The camera's wireless connectivity and well-thought-out design further contribute to a positive user experience, with some noting the clarity of its night vision.

This summary was generated by AI based on customer reviews.

The vast majority of our reviews come from verified purchases. Reviews from customers may include My Best Buy members, employees, and Tech Insider Network members (as tagged). Select reviewers may receive discounted products, promotional considerations or entries into drawings for honest, helpful reviews.
Page 2 Showing 21-40 of 133 reviews
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Setup ease, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent home security system

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Super easy to install and use! The 2K video quality is amazing, even at night. Battery lasts long, and I love being able to monitor everything from my phone. The yard sign is a nice bonus for extra peace of mind. Highly recommend!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Motion detection, Setup ease, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    I like them

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Arlo offers smart, high-quality security cameras with clear video, easy wireless setup, and AI motion detection. Great for modern smart homes — but features and cloud storage require a paid plan, and battery life can vary.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Video quality
    Best Buy Employee

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Solid option, but consider wired options.

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    Best Buy Employee
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    overall functionality is really good, detection is pretty solid, although when using zones it still just picks up all motion pretty much. video quality is good, but sometimes it will lag when deciding to switch between regular and night vision mode. battery life is alright, as long as they aren’t consistently being activated they won’t run out of charge quickly, but if they are facing a high movement area they do go the their juice pretty fast.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Motion detection, Video quality

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Great video

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Cameras work well, excellent video quality and motion activation. Packaging wasn't clear that I will have to buy a base for recording if I don't want to pay a high fee for video recording. I probably should have read it closer. Otherwise, very happy with the cameras.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Connectivity, Motion detection, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great Cameras. Must Have.

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Great connectivity and crystal clear views. Motion tracking.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent Quality and Total Peace of Mind

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    I'm extremely impressed with the quality of my new Arlo system. The cameras are very durable, and the battery life is exactly as advertised. The main benefit, though, is the peace of mind it gives me. Getting instant alerts right to my phone means I always know what's happening at my home, even when I'm away. A solid investment in home security.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Tech Insider Network Member

    Rated 2 out of 5 stars

    Less "Home Security," More "Battery Anxiety"

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    Tech Insider Network Member
    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    My very first home security camera system was an Arlo Pro 2nd Gen that I was still using until the app updated and broke the experience when I added on the Arlo Essential 3rd Gen. That was my first letdown, and my experience did not improve much. The Arlo Essential 3RD Generation 2K camera is a disappointment. Its best features are locked behind a monthly paywall. Battery life is awful. Software is glitchy. Wi-Fi connectivity was weak which could lead to connection drops and severe lag. I did like the live notifications which included snippets of the video. I also really liked the color accuracy during daytime shots. But overall, I was disappointed with the experience. Unboxing: Arlo includes four 2K cameras with mounting equipment, a security sign, and a USB-C to USB-A charging cable. The cameras come with mounting stands and batteries already installed. Experience: Again, my experience soured very quickly. I was hoping I could pair these cameras with the Arlo VM4000 base station. I had forgotten how old that station was and I cannot fault Arlo from moving on to bigger and greater things. Buyers looking to repeat my mistake should note that these cameras will not work with the VMB4000 station. What I was not expecting was a sudden update to the Arlo app that instantly hid my Pro 2 cameras. Now, no matter what I try, I cannot get the cameras to work in the app. And because of their age, it is quite possible I will never get them working in app again. Which is a shame because these were my favorite portable cameras for many years. It was easy to pick up and put in a room with a dog or put on a shelf near the baby’s crib to keep an eye on him while he slept. The battery life on the Essential 3rd Gen cameras is not good. Arlo advertises that you should get up to 4 months on a full charge. That is a lousy number, and I do not think I will get that. I dropped ten percent in five days with light usage. If I set up motion detection and full color nighttime visuals (which require the built-in light), I think I will be lucky to get two months of usage. That means I will have to either install a solar charging option or take the cameras down every two months, give or take, to charge. That is absolutely abysmal battery life for a wireless security system. Many of the best features of the camera are locked behind a subscription. You get a trial subscription with the camera for 30 days. But after that, you are looking at $20 a month or $215 a year for the Arlo Plus plan. $29 a month if you want the plan with professional monitoring. You need a plan for smart activity zones, A.I. detection, and cloud-based video storage. You need the plan to get video history; there is no local storage without a base station, and I am not entirely sure the latest base station would provide local storage for these cameras as I do not have a compatible station. Without a subscription, all you can do is get a basic movement notification and then view the feed live from your phone. I do not know how useful that will be to most people. There are other camera packages from other companies with included base stations and even some cameras with built-in microSD storage support. This model by Arlo just feels dated and anything but user friendly. There are some positives. I liked the color accuracy of the daytime shots. But nighttime shots often felt washed out and overly gray. Color nighttime shots required the use of the camera’s spotlight, but those images did look good. Still, I did not feel like I got great amount of detail from the cameras. I will not be making out license plates in the street, but the image quality was acceptable. I also liked the smart notifications which showed an animated image in my phone’s notification screen. That is more useful than getting a notification on the phone that a camera has been triggered and then be forced to open the camera’s app and wait to see the footage. Conclusion: I cannot recommend this package. I do not care for the Arlo experience as it is right now. There are so many other camera packages that include local storage. It is one thing to offer extended cloud-based backup (something I would like), but it is another thing entirely to force a subscription to have any backup at all or to use some of the better software features. That is to say nothing of how ridiculously overpriced this experience is. I would pay $30 a year; I will not pay $20 a month. An updated base station could be useful for local storage, but you would lose out on smart features of the device. Combine that with simply okay video quality and an abysmal battery life, and I am not sure who this camera package is for. There are better options at better prices. Plus, I am not thrilled that Arlo just resigned my Arlo Pro 2nd Gen system to the dustbin. 2/5

    No, I would not recommend this to a friend
    • Brand response from Arlo Team
      Posted .

      Hello,

      Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve our services. We will forward your comments to the appropriate team.

      Please note that the Arlo 3rd Gen Essential Outdoor Camera is compatible with the Arlo Smart Hub VMB4000 and later models. To learn how to extend your Arlo camera's battery life, please read this article: https://kb.arlo.com/291.

      We appreciate your understanding.

      Best regards,
      Arlo Team arlo_us

  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup ease, Video quality

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Essential Arlo

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Good picture and very easy to setup just needs a charging station where you can charge more than 1 camera at a time

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Excellent Choice

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Setup was quick and simple, cameras connected easily through the Arlo app. The video quality is excellent, especially at night, and battery life has been solid so far. The yard sign and wireless design made installation effortless. Great value for the price!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup ease

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Arlo Cameras - Easy to use and install

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    This is our second set of cameras. Easy to install. I like the fact there is a privacy screen you can add so you are not spying on your neighbors. The only reason I am not giving them a 5 star is you have to order a subscription for $30 per month to get the real benefit from these cameras. I already pay for one property and now need to pay for another set at a different property. Wish there was a discount for multiple properties.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup ease, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Highly recommend!

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    It is a really nice upgrade for the Arlo system that we had before, Arlo never disappointed us. It has a great image quality and it is also so easy to install. Being able to set the zones made things so much easier and acertive! We are very happy with our new system!

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Battery life, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Overall pretty good and reliable

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Very good picture quality. Battery life is decent when you get your camera resolution and zones settings dialed in. Also has worked well as outdoor camera even when and after getting wet.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup ease, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Value At Its Finest

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Clear Picture & Easy Set Up Process… Wide Range Of View As Well… Definitely Worth The Price

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup ease, Video quality
    Best Buy Employee

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Reliable

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    Best Buy Employee
    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Good vidoes quality and quick and easy setup, the app is very user friendly

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Motion detection, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Amazing

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    It’s perfect! It delivers crystal-clear video quality and reliable motion detection, even at night. Setup was quick and easy, and I love being able to check in on my home anytime from the app

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup ease, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Camera

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    Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Arlo camera is good and easily self installable and it give a good image in the dark as well

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup ease, Video quality

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Security Cameras

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Easy setup, and good quality pictures on any mobile device

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup ease, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Great Camera / Security system!

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    Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Great system, easy install, amazing quality. Would definitely recommend for purchase

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup ease, Video quality

    Rated 5 out of 5 stars

    Arlo bundle.

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    Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Picture clarity is amazing. The sinc process was seamless. Great value.

    I would recommend this to a friend
  • Pros mentioned:
    Setup ease, Video quality

    Rated 4 out of 5 stars

    Great product

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    Posted .
    This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.

    Great product, very easy to set up and great puctures

    I would recommend this to a friend
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