Customer Ratings & Reviews

First, and foremost, the following review is NOT my original review. The Essential XL camera I initially received had some unknown problem that was causing the battery to drain at an incredibly-excessive rate. When I say “incredibly-excessive”, I mean the battery was completely dead after only 6 days. After being fully recharged, battery life improved, but just barely (it survived 8 days). After a third charging, it was able to achieve 12 days before dying…but, this is WAY less than the claimed “up to 1-year”. At the same time, a replacement was shipped, and so half the time I was still testing the defective unit, I was also simultaneously testing the replacement. As for how the replacement has been doing, I’ll get to that soon enough. UNBOXING & INITIAL IMPRESSIONS: Packaging is very environmentally-friendly…almost entirely cardboard, with the only plastic being a zip-lock bag with mounting screws, & the USB charging cable bag. Speaking of the charging cable, it’s VERY short (only 12”), but it doesn’t need to be long, as it’s only used to recharge the camera’s battery (which I highly recommend doing overnight, on a charger providing at least 2A. Included paperwork is incredibly minimal, but it also includes all that’s needed – a “safety and compliance information” pamphlet, and the “setting up” guide. Anything additional would just be a waste of paper. SETUP: As with most products of this type, setup is done through an app, which is “step 1” of the 2-step process. Unfortunately, the two steps are backwards. Step 2 is “Charge your camera before final installation”…charging the camera SHOULD be “step 1”. I won’t bore you with the details of setting the camera up through the app. If you’ve set up Arlo cameras, or any similar cameras (Logitech Circle, Lorex Wi-Fi, etc), then you are already familiar with the process. For those who’ve never set up wireless cameras, if you can plug in, and turn on, a coffee maker, you’re already equipped with the proper skills…the app walks you through all required steps. This is NOT to say it walks you through customizing settings…just getting it set up. As for ‘customizing’, that’s up to you to test & see what works best for your particular needs. VIDEO & AUDIO QUALITY, AND BATTERY LIFE: Arlo’s Essential line is new, initially in two models – ‘standard’ and “XL” versions. The only difference is the battery life…so, that’s where I’ll start. Arlo claims double the charge on the XL model (supposedly “up to 6 months” on the standard, and “up to 1 year” on the XL). As I mentioned, the first unit had a serious problem…but, I can confirm that the replacement is holding up considerably better. It’s been 16 days since its second full-charge, and the battery is currently sitting at 93%. In other words, it’s been depleting at an average of 0.5% per day, thus it should last for an estimated 200 days. Now, I realize this sounds like way less than the “up to 1-year”, as claimed by Arlo…but, you have to understand that I have it aimed into a very high traffic area, thus the actual battery life would, obviously, be considerably less. The fact that it should last almost 200 days exceeds my expectations by a considerable amount. As for audio & video quality, both are outstanding. I’ve got Arlo Pro 2 cameras, and I can tell you that the video quality of the Essential cameras is at least as good, if not better. Getting to the audio quality, the difference is like night & day. Whereas the Pro 2 cameras have fairly poor quality audio, the Essential cameras are a 1,000% improvement – audio is loud AND clear…SUPER clear. THE APP: I’m not going to say much here, as the majority of what would normally be needed has already been mentioned. I will, however, add that (as with all other products of this type) all monitoring, and setting adjustments, are done within the app. The best part is, if you already have any other Arlo cameras, they are all accessed within the same app. I mention this because some other manufacturers of wireless cameras & camera systems have been known to use different apps – one app for “systems”, and a different app for “stand-alone” cameras. ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS: First, I want to point out an ‘error’ in several other reviews, including some published by “professional” media. Some have incorrectly stated that recording is ONLY available with a subscription…this is NOT true. It is true that, without a subscription, you don’t get the 30-day cloud recording ability (nor do you have the Activity Zones, and “smart detection”). It’s also true that a hub (ie. Base Station) isn’t “required”. However, if you do have a Base Station, you DO have the ability to record WITHOUT a subscription, AND at No additional cost. Simply plug a USB thumb drive, or external USB drive (it MUST be formatted in either FAT or FAT32 format…NTFS will NOT work…and, depending on which Base Station you have, the maximum capacity drive the Base Station can read will vary), into the Base Station, and you instantly have recording ability, without the need for a subscription. If you don’t want/need the additional features that a subscription provides, then skip the subscription. However, if you do want/need them, adding the subscription is as cheap as $3.99/month (for one camera), or $13.49 (for up to 5 cameras). If you’re like me, where most cameras are installed inside, and you have only one camera installed outside, the single-camera subscription is perfect. Another ‘negative’ pointed out by several (again, mostly “professional” reviewers) is the built-in battery. Unlike Arlo’s other cameras, with their removeable batteries, the Essential line has sealed, non-removeable batteries. For one thing…possibly the most important thing…this is what allows the Essential cameras to achieve their IP67 certification (again, the ‘other’ cameras are only IP65), thus I can’t see the “sealed battery” matter as a ‘negative’…I see it as a ‘positive’. For another thing, you don’t have to deal with swapping batteries. In either case (sealed & swappable), you still have to remove the camera from the mount, as well as reinstall it on its mount, so there is NO “saved time” when dealing with a swappable/removeable battery. Finally, having a sealed battery is what allows for a stronger mount to be used…and, considering the size/weight of the battery (especially in the ‘XL’ model), that additional support is greatly appreciated. To me, again, having a sealed battery is NOT a ‘negative’, but a HUGE ‘positive’, and exactly what makes them suitable for outdoor use, as these three points should help everyone understand. I’ll admit, I haven’t tested the camera’s built-in siren, so I can’t yet claim to know the siren’s ‘pitch’, or how loud it is. FINAL VERDICT: When I first started testing the Essential XL camera, I was already impressed. The video quality is at least as good as the Pro 2 cameras, and the audio quality is spectacular. It doesn’t get any easier in setting them up, and accessing the cameras (via the app) tends to be faster than accessing the Arlo Pro 2 cameras. If you’re in need of wireless cameras, whether you already have other Arlo cameras (with, or without, a Base Station), or whether you don’t currently have any, the Arlo Essential, and Essential XL, will serve you extremely well. Do yourself a favor, and get one…or, better yet, get a multi-pack. Disclaimer: This product was provided free, or at reduced cost, for the purpose of reviewing the product. Nevertheless, the above review, be it positive, negative, or anywhere in-between, is a 100% honest review, and the price paid played absolutely no part in my review.

I install the cameras and the systems works pretty well, no problems in the installation and configuration, I need to say that without the solar panel can be a problem rechanging the battery, but the solar panel works perfect

Extra battery size is helpful to decrease recharge frequency. I wish the battery was removable like the pro cameras I have. Build quality is good like all Arlo products.

Great improvements over prior models. Unfortunate that Arlo Support is unable to assist with a dual-band network. Arlo Support insists on using only the 2Ghz band. Arlo Support states that it is compatible with the dual-band setting.

The Arlo essential spotlight camera is a great addition to my existing Arlo camera setup. The camera was extremely easy to set up and add to my Arlo smart hub. Setting up the new camera took less than 5 minutes to accomplish. The camera promises to give 1 year battery life, has a nice 1080P picture and comes with 3 months of the Arlo smart subscription for free. With Arlo Smart you can Access premium AI features including Activity Zones, person, vehicle, animal and package detection and 30-day cloud storage. The Arlo essential xl camera provides motion alerts, a spotlight, weather resistant, color night vision, 2-way audio and a built in siren to deter unwanted guests. This camera fits my needs perfectly as a way to watch areas outside of my home.

Best surveillance around, east setup. Only thing if you have alot of traffic where installed battery last 1 month. I have at least 100+ traffic passing by. I recommend to all. Loads of features

It looks nice and out of the box is much heavier than expected, which would be a good thing if the mounting bracket wasn't made of such a cheap, thin, flimsy material that the slightest bump and the sheer weight of the camera itself just snapped it off. Also for some reason it will no longer connect to my wi-fi and it's definitely not due to a weak signal. I definitely DO NOT RECOMMEND

I’m upgrading my system and I chose the Arlo system because I am familiar with the system.I had an older version that still works well without the ability to communicate back and forward.

Great cameras, video quality is alright not great, cameras pick up a lot of stuff, if you place camera in busy area the battery will die faster, I've had for a month and its 50% battery. Overall good cameras.

It's a decent little camera. I wouldn't really rely on it being a "spotlight" but so far the battery life has been really good! The biggest problem I have with arlo is the "pay plans" only go up to 5 cameras.

I can view from remotely. Also can converse with my partner when she is relaxing on the lanai. Makes me feel more secure about my surroundings.

Over the years I've had a number of the top-name security cameras and systems...yet every system, except for one, has included wired cameras. When arlo introduced the Essential XL Spotlight Camera with wire-free operation, I had to try one out. Setup - in the box is the arlo camera, wall mount and screw kit, quick start manual and a small charging cable. For setup, the quick start guide directs users to download the arlo app which then walks you through the camera setup. You will need to create an arlo account, which is very straight forward, and there's also a 3 month free trial of "arlo Smart" cloud storage. There didn't seem to be a way to get around starting the trial upon creating the arlo Smart account. Through the app, the camera is connected to a 2.4ghz wifi signal, the camera can be named (assuming some users will have multiple cameras) and camera configuration can be done at this point. There are a number of adjustments/features available and I'll dive into shortly. The wall mount kit has 3 screws and once the perfect spot was selected, the bracket was easily installed within minutes. The bracket can be connected to the camera body in the bottom or the back depending on your mounting preference. From start to finish, my camera was configured and hung within 30 minutes...and was a piece of cake! Features - the features that stand out to me are the 1080p high-def recording, wire-free design, spotlight, 2-way speaker, night vision and motion sensor. The 1080p video captures facial features, license plates, etc. which could be very valuable in the security process. The app does provide an option to turn the resolution down and prolong battery life. So depending on what is more important to an individual user, the camera is adjustable. I've gone with high resolution and know that I can easily grab my camera and recharge when needed. The wire-free feature is also a favorite, this allows the camera to be easily installed just about anywhere as no plugs/wires are needed. Mine is hung over the front door and covers the entry deck and garage/driveway area...also capable due to the 130 degree field of view. The two-way speaker is also great. I work from home and have packages delivered throughout the day. I've been able to communicate with the UPS driver via the camera without having to leave my office. The camera alerts me as the truck/driver approach and I can then speak to him and let him know where to leave the package. Performance - So far this arlo Essential XL has met or exceeded all of the performance metrics listed by arlo. The high resolution video is crisp and clear, the battery seems to holding a charge (long-term testing needed), the arlo Smart app is very user-friendly and provides a number of camera adjustments, a support section and creating activity zones. Also, the build quality is top-notch and would seem to be a unit made to last for months if not years outside. Pros: - ease of setup and use with arlo Smart app - high quality build, should last for years - wire-free installation - no need for a base/hub unit - 1080p resolution - library for video clips Cons: - there is a few second lag on the video/notification, but this could be from wifi signal Overall the arlo Essential XL Spotlight Camera is exactly what I've been looking for the past few years. A great quality camera packed with features and wire-free installation. This is a product I would certainly recommend to anyone looking to add security to their home or business.

This camera does not require a base station. It directly connects to my cell phone. The price was very reasonable. I am anxious to see how many recharges I can do since the battery cannot be placed.

Works great. Need to get a charger though to keep the battery hooked up to it because it runs itself down from my dog going in and out. If it wasn’t for that I would have gave it six stars…

This camera has a whopping one-year battery life on single charge. This is based on usage of 67 minutes a month, 30 seconds per stream, and day/night event splits 2:1 and will vary with device settings, use, activity captured and environmental factors. It does this by super-sizing the case, its larger and heavier than other Arlo cameras. It includes a mount that screws into the camera and a wall or ceiling with some included screws. Unlike other models, there is no magnetic mount, only a screw mount. The mount is a metal rod with a ball at the end with a plastic socket at each end. I really had the crank the knobs down hard to keep the heavy camera from drooping, it felt close to stripping out when it finally held it position, but its holding. Will the camera hold aim over a year of freezing temps and 100 degree heat work on that mount? I’m not confident, but time will tell. The unit is sealed and weather tight. Unlike some of the other Arlo cameras, the battery is not replaceable. When the battery no longer holds a charge, you will need to replace it. To be fair, the price is less than other Arlo cameras. There is no external power cable hookup available and no hardwire Ethernet, so no PoE (Power over Ethernet). Just a micro-USB port under a silicone cover. But there is an optional solar charger available which can eliminate pulling the camera down for the 4-5 hours it will take to recharge it. I’ll likely look to add a solar panel when the camera is coming up on its next re-charge. The picture is clear and bright in 1080HD resolution. When it is dark, you have a choice of using the built-in floodlight so you can see night shots in color and let intruders know there’s a camera on them, or someone turned on the light which can be useful. Or you can leave it dark to use night vision and remain stealthy. The camera will send notifications when it records a package delivery, a person, perhaps someone taking your package, a vehicle coming into view, even animals. It works really well, but not foolproof. A friend walking close to my camera was detected as a vehicle. Don’t tell her that! Once you get a notification you can review the video, hear and speak with visitors using the 2-way audio, activate the alarm, call police, or phone a friend. You can set custom activity zones to help decrease false alerts. Most of the advanced features will requires a subscription to Arlo Smart service, which also adds 30 days of cloud storage. You will get a 90 days trial with the camera. The camera can work solo over your Wi-Fi with a subscription, no other hardware is required. The camera only connects using 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. Faster 5GHz has shorter range, especially through walls, is not supported. The extra speed is not needed for the amount of data streaming. The camera itself has no onboard memory or SD card slot. If your Internet is out, your video will no record. The camera will pair with some Arlo SmartHubs and Base Stations. Many if not all support local storage of video. Without an Arlo hub/base station or subscription, you will not be able receive recordings from your Arlo Essential XL Spotlight camera. You will need one or the other to record video. Arlo has a provided a fully featured camera that fits into its system and works with its Smart Hubs, Base Stations, software and subscription. If you have other Arlo cameras, this will fit right in with no learning curve. The price is less than their other cameras. While labeled as an ‘Essentials’ model it does provide much more than the basic with the subscription. While it’s not 4K, but has a super clear HD picture that is not lacking. A light as well as night vision. The only features I see lacking from other Arlo HD cams is that the battery is not replaceable and there is no filter against wind noise. Every other feature I looked for was present. If only the camera mount felt as robust as the rest of the camera.

The first cameras we purchased were great. However three stopped working and we had to replace them. We have tried 8 replacement cameras and only 1 has connected to the system. At this point we will not purchase additional cameras. The ARLO support is the worst and can not help at all

Love how it tells you what is setting off your camera, animal, person, vehicle etc. I plan on replacing our older ones.

The Arlo Essential XL Spotlight Camera is part of the latest entry-level family of cameras from Arlo. Housed in a case similar to the Pro 3/Ultra with a non-removeable extra long life rechargeable battery, it offers 1080p video recording, two way audio, IR and/or floodlight for night vision and an integrated siren. It also can connect to an Arlo hub or directly to your home network without requiring a hub. The Essential XL solved a big problem for me; I have a camera in the front of the house that is activated manually or by geo-sensing whenever I'm away from home. Lately, with everyone walking by the house or playing in the court, the old camera would trigger a lot and I was swapping batteries once every month or two. Replaced it with the Essential XL, which has been in place for a about a week now and the battery is still at 98%. Since I was adding the Essential XL to an existing Arlo network, I connected it to my existing Arlo hub network (and Arlo App) and was up and running in no time. I did try connecting to my home network just for grins, which was just as smooth. Setup should be no problem. Probably the hardest part of any Arlo installation is figuring out where you want to place the cameras. Although the speced video is the same as the Pro 2 (1080p), the video quality of the Essential camera seems to be better. This may be the result of improved firmware or a different sensor, but in any case the video quality is excellent. The color night vision, using the built-in floodlight, is a major improvement over the black and white IR video (which is still available if you want). The batteries in all the Essential family cameras are non-removable and rechargeable with a standard micro-usb port and charger. A ridiculously short cable is included, but no charger. Not a real problem, but you will probably have to remove the camera and take it inside to charge. Fortunately, with the extra battery life that won't happen often. The Essential family of cameras come with a three month trial subscription to Arlo Smart, but otherwise do not offer the 7-day free cloud storage plan that comes with the Pro 2. After the trial expires, you will have to decide if the Arlo Smart plan and its monthly service charge are right for you. All of the Arlo smart features are available with the Essential cameras, including motion, person, animal, vehicle, and package detection as well as activity zones to set notifications. While I mourn the loss of the generous seven day cloud storage previously provided free, the Arlo Smart offers a lot of additional functionality and storage for a low fee. Whether you're looking to add a low maintenance camera to a high traffic area or just looking for a low cost, high quality surveillance camera solution, the Arlo Essential XL is a great choice.

Easy to use and set up to the internet. Battery life does fine for the settings I have it on which is a better quality video. Accessing the camera won't be too complicated for me since it's being used to monitor a certain area. The ability to change the sensitivity level of how far it detects movement is a major factor bc things can get pretty busy but I can easily change the area I want it to detect movement from my phone and how far. The monthly plans aren't too expensive especially for 1 device. Overall it has improved my sense of security and decreased my worry about packages being stolen.

It would not stay connected to the hub. I tried 2 others and they also would not stay connected