Customer Ratings & Reviews

This review is of the Arlo Essential XL 1-Camera Wireless 2K Security Camera (3rd Gen) with 4x Longer Battery Life. Obviously by the title description, what makes this Arlo camera different from all the others is its extra large battery capacity. Arlo states that battery life lasts up to 4 times longer than their standard camera battery. It’s the perfect choice for cameras that need to be mounted in more secure areas where access might be a challenge and thus inconvenient to take down for charging. It is well-suited for both indoor and outdoor use. The extra-long battery life might also come in handy for wireless cameras that see frequent use and extend the time between charges. Arlo also sells a compatible solar panel that connects to the Essential XL to virtually eliminate the need for manual charging altogether. If you are familiar with Arlo cameras, the first thing you will notice immediately is how big it is right out of the box. Due to its size, the mount appears to be permanently attached to the back of the camera, using a swivel-ball mount that attaches to a plastic clip that attaches by screw into a wall or ceiling, or standalone. Other apparent features are a spotlight to light up areas for night viewing and security reasons. It also uses the standard USB-C charging port that is weather-sealed by a soft rubber hinged flap on the bottom of the camera. Setup is simple and straight-forward, by either scanning the QR code on the box with your smartphone, or if you already have the Arlo app installed, just add the device directly from the device options in the app itself. The app comes with a full trial version to test out all the many security features that Arlo offers with a subscription. The Essential XL does not require an Arlo hub, unlike their 4K cameras…just connect to your home Wi-Fi and you’re in business. Some of the security features include setting up activity zones with notifications, subject identification, video recording based on motion or time, and even person and vehicle identification. Its 2K (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution provides sharp and detailed surveillance video and its generous field of view sees a fixed 130 degrees in all directions. The app also allows access sharing to all your Arlo cameras with family and friends. Their minimal yet attractive design makes them perfect for indoor use as well and fit in seamlessly with all décor. I have a long history using Arlo security cameras both indoors and out and even in harsh outdoor conditions, the cameras have operated flawlessly. When choosing home security cameras, I can confidently recommend Arlo.

Security is huge for me! There is nothing like the peace of mind that cameras give and Arlo has done a great job with their cameras. I have been using Arlo cameras since 2020 and have 12 of them. I had some cheap cameras when I got started but the set up, tech support, camera reliability and video quality was terrible… DON’T waste money on junk and that’s how I discovered Arlo! Arlo is quality out of the box. They are built well and my older Arlo cameras have withstood the coldest Midwest winters and the hottest summer days. To be fair …when the heat is maxed I have had one or two go offline when the temp goes above their operating parameters but that is extremely rare. They say 113 degrees Fahrenheit and and -4 degrees, I’d say that's accurate but once they warm up…back online. What I like about the newest 3rd gen Essential XL is the huge battery. They say 4 times longer than before and I can attest to that.. I have the essential XL 2nd gen as well and I go months without charging !!! 3rd Gen XL is gonna be even better! I did not even need to buy the solar charger for that one! With the huge battery comes the inevitable weight issue though. If you have metal soffits that you plan to mount the XL on …make sure it is braced well and can hold it steady during a storm. The XL will give you a tremendously long battery life but it is heavy. I have opted to wall mount this camera due to the weight. A basic Arlo Essential with a solar panel might be better for soffits that are kind of flimsy. Mounting is super easy and it and they give you drywall anchors which is nice. Once mounted you can pivot the camera to angle where you need it. I love the fact that there are NO WIRES! Install and connect to the app and your off and running! The Arlo Essential XL 3rd gen and all the Arlos I own have rock Solid WiFi… they don’t drop off…ever. The operation through the app is so intuitive. The app is really helpful and I am looking at it multiple times a day. I love that with Arlo Intelligence, I know when a “vehicle”, “person” or “Animal” is getting picked up. I can set the sensitivity of the alerts to trigger a capture and then check it out it out immediately in my feed in the arlo app! I can also set the area of the view that will trigger an alert which is nice if you have a tree always blowing around that you want to cut out of the alert area. I also like the routines feature… when I leave in the morning for work the camera goes to away automatically! Having cameras is one thing but I can’t watch them all the time… Arlo Intelligence does that for me and lets me know! I also love the spotlight feature…I can set it to come on and stay on when it detects motion at night or blink. I like the blinking…I want people to know I have an invisible shield around my house and …I SEE THEM! Love it. The night time color is also very good and important to ID cars and suspects. Arlo also work flawlessly with my Google home hubs… I can say “show me the front yard” and boom I can see the camera while I am brushing my teeth before bed. With the app I can twoway communicate and sound an alarm if I needed to…but I have never actually done that…I have an alarm system for that but it’s nice to have. The app allows me to arm the cameras for home and away so if I am home the cameras won’t alert when I walk through the house or outside the house but If I am away… anyone moving in or around my house will get recorded… And recorded in amazing quality day or night in color!!! The Essential XL 3rd gen has 130 degree view and 2K video quality and it looks great on my phone or tv! I do have a subscription plan to maximize the recording features of 60 days and smart person and packages ect. I don’t think you get that functionality with out a plan but you do not have to have a plan to use the cameras. I have the unlimited camera plan and I feel it is very reasonable and well worth the money. Overall, I love the Essential XL 3rd gen video quality, easy set up, day and night color, solar panels if you need them but probably wont with such a huge battery with the XL. The app and how functional it is…. It’s a complete eye on the house and family when I am not around = Peace of mind!

Crystal-clear 2K video quality, long-lasting battery life, and an easy wireless setup make this camera outstanding. The app is intuitive with fast, customizable alerts, and the build feels durable for outdoor use. A reliable and high-quality security solution. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

For the last week, I've been testing out the new third-generation Arlo Essential XL wireless camera. I am also a current owner of the second-generation version of this same camera. Overall, this camera is easy to install, has excellent video quality and battery life, utilizes updated Wi-Fi standards, and, while subscribed to Arlo Home, it has great features. However, recharging the camera is painfully slow, viewing recorded events is slow to load, and without a subscription, the camera is just not worth owning. I like that the installation is straightforward. There is a plastic mounting plate that screws onto the desired location, and the camera snaps securely onto it with slight downward pressure. The completion of the installation is performed in the Arlo app. A few clicks and a firmware update, and the camera was available on my account. From there, the camera can be positioned in the direction I want to monitor. Video quality is excellent. The 2K resolution is crisp and clear. Even at night, the camera displays details very clearly, in color, and with very little noise. Also, the widescreen 130-degree field of view helps to protect a significantly large area. The battery lasts four times longer than the standard Arlo, which is great for reducing the frequency of recharging. From my past experience with Arlo XL, it lasts me about three months with standard traffic in front of my house (roughly about 30 events per day). While three months is a respectable amount of longevity, some drawbacks that come with it are the larger size of the camera, which increases its visibility from the street, and a painfully slow charging time of 10 hours. When it comes to performance, the Arlo does an excellent job of capturing events from beginning to end. It provides text-based push notifications within seconds of the event occurring and provides an option to activate the siren. But unfortunately, it doesn't contain a snapshot of the event, so I really wouldn't know if the event would require a siren. To view the events, I need to use the Arlo app. In the app, the events are well organized by time of occurrence, but unfortunately, displaying events has a 20-second lag, which can feel like an eternity when you need to know what is happening outside. The main thing I dislike about Arlo is that the subscription is absolutely necessary. It comes with a free 30-day trial, which allows for full functionality with the exception of continuous recording, which requires an additional fee. Without a subscription, it is just a live-streaming camera without any meaningful features. With all that said, if a subscription is not a factor, I think this is a fantastic camera with great response performance and long-lasting batteries. The few drawbacks I mention are a little nitpicky, and I could easily look past them and still be happy with this camera. However, for me, the subscription is a factor, and for that reason, I cannot recommend it.

Excellent product just like the picture. Easy setup

I’m very happy with this Arlo Essential XL camera! The video quality is super clear, and setup was quick and easy. The best part is the long-lasting battery — I don’t have to recharge it often. Perfect for keeping an eye on my home with no hassle.

I got to test out this Arlo Camera for my house and I love it as this new generation captures better quality image during morning and night time as well as its long lasting batteries

Great camera for the price. Long lasting battery and hi def video image. Perfect for home security.

Very conveniet installation and clear video/picture is produced. Worth having for security and peace of mind.

Really love Arlo cameras, the Phone application is really easy to navigate and I feel like it updates really fast as well. The quality is also excellent.

This camera is excellent! It is just perfect for our front door where the traffic is more intense. The battery last a long time and it's very easy to install! Highly recommend !

Better than expected! I like the body of the camera and doesnt feel cheap. Camera quality is super clear too!

Good camera super easy and fast installation my favorite brand and security good quality!

The 2K HDR video quality is very clear and I can see everything that happens outside my house. The battery power is convenient because I don’t need to worry about cables or outlets. I like the spotlight feature because it turns on when it detects motion at night. The 160° field of view covers a large area so I can monitor my entire front yard with just one camera. The one-month trial of the Secure Plan gives me time to test all the extra features before I decide to pay for it.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Amazing camera, good image quality, easy to use and install. Love it!

This works really well! The night vision is top notch and the motion alerts are very sensitive which is great!

This camera is great! Easy to install and easy to operate.

Absolutely loved this product! Not only does it come with a free trial, the camera moves around and focuses on movement! Great for outside and inside!

Excellent picture quality. Easy install. Overall great product!

Clear video. Works great. The app is so easy to use