It also allows you to change the order of where the cameras appear in the app, tweak camera settings, and edit profile information. If you’re using the Pro 2’s base station, you can plug in a USB drive and record offline, too. Check in from anywhere to see if the kids are home from school or to keep them safely in sight while they’re out playing in the pool. 2) The Bad a) The cameras are very slow to react to motion. Nest vs. Ring: Which Video Doorbell Is Right for You? Arlo told MacRumors that it’s working on HomeKit availability, but the Pro 4 doesn’t seem to have it yet. The Arlo Ultra produces better overall images, but it’s far more expensive. The Arlo Pro 2 looks nearly identical to the Arlo Pro, the only difference being a smaller black front panel. The app gives you a library of all the footage recorded, each with its own thumbnail to make finding the clip you want easier. Tapping the Library icon takes you to a screen with a list of recorded video and snapshots. Even using the Pro 2 in our office with people walking by it all day we didn't hit 1GB of video within a week, so we doubt most other people will either. The Arlo Pro 2 … Arlo Pro 2 Review; Arlo Pro Review; Arlo Review; Arlo Design. To charge the battery, bring the camera inside and plug the included charging adapter into the power jack located just below the battery compartment. Back at the home screen are buttons for Devices, Library, Mode, and Settings. If it’s a flexible security solution you’re after then one of the best apps in the business plus free cloud storage make the Arlo Pro 2 a winner. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's Labs (most recently as Director of Operations), John was responsible for the recruitment, training and management of the Labs technical staff, as well as evaluating and maintaining the integrity of the Labs testing machines and procedures. Giving you indoor or outdoor coverage, the system can be expanded to use multiple cameras. There's no appreciable warping at the edges of the image. You can buy the Arlo Pro 2 with a hub, in one, two, three or even four-camera packs. It's expensive, and is the case with other Arlo cameras, it requires a hub, which is included, to connect to your wireless network, but it's still our top pick for outdoor home security cameras. Activity zones work only when the camera is powered, or if you upgrade to Arlo Smart. It measures 3.1 by 1.9 by 2.8 inches (HWD), weighs 4.8 ounces, and has a glossy white housing that meets IP65 waterproof standards. There’s enough information to see what people are doing, but you can’t always see exactly who’s doing it. For $14.99 per month or $149.99 per year, the Elite plan gets you 60 days of storage, unlimited tech support, and support for up to 15 cameras. Video Settings is where you go to enable night vision, create activity zones, and choose a power mode (Best Video, Optimized, Best Battery Life). When it comes to controlling when your camera records, the Arlo Pro 2 (and all Arlo cameras) beat the competition hands down. This means you can expand your Arlo Ultra system with cheaper cameras where you don’t need the same level of details, but you lose out on two features. With these, the camera uses its PIR motion sensor to wake up and start recording, but this time cloud processing checks if the movement was outside of a zone and discards the information. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, Read Canary All-In-One Home Security Device Review, Read LG Smart Security Wireless Camera LHC5200WI (With ADT Canopy) Review, The Best Indoor Home Security Cameras for 2021, Amazon's Panorama Makes Any Surveillance Camera Intelligent, Readers' Choice 2020: Home Security Systems, Cameras, Smart Locks, Video Doorbells. The level of control is truly impressive, too, letting you set exactly when you want your cameras to record. If you’re using the Arlo Pro 2’s base station, you get a really loud, piercing sound that competes with any alarm system; if you have the new base station, the siren is plaid out of the Pro 2’s speaker, which is a bit weak. Arlo Pro 3 … The increase in resolution is a definite advantage in daytime video quality—you can make out objects farther away, and faces are more lifelike. You can also buy additional cameras separately. Each Arlo Pro 2 camera you have needs to be charged via the micro-USB port on the rear. We may earn a commission if you click a deal and buy an item. 11 months ago. If you click an affiliate link and buy a product or service, we may be paid a fee by that merchant. Cameras are charged via the micro-USB ports on the rear. Included in the kit are a base station, rechargeable battery packs for each camera, a base station power adapter, a camera power adapter and cable, four metal wall mounts and mounting screws, an Ethernet cable, and a quick start guide. After having reviewed eighteen and having tested five home security camera systems, I conclude that the Arlo Pro 2 is the best home security camera for my needs because it offers a balanced mix of features at a reasonable purchase price. The 4K Arlo Ultra may be grabbing the headlines for its best-in-class image quality, but the wireless indoor/outdoor Arlo Pro 2 offers many of the same benefits for less money thanks to its 1080p resolution. The display of third-party trademarks and trade names on this site does not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement of PCMag. How well this works depends on where you live and where the camera is placed. Weatherproof. So when we geared up to review the Pro 3, Arlo’s 2K wireless camera system released in 2019, we wanted to see if that same flexibility, ease of use, and seamless functionality were as evident as in previous Arlo models like Arlo Pro 2 or Arlo Ultra. Check in from anywhere to see if the kids are home from school or to keep them safely in sight while they’re out playing in the pool. The competition is tough at this level. All of this makes the Arlo Pro 2 our top choice for outdoor security cameras. Each camera also has a gear icon that takes you to a Settings screen and a Play button that launches a live video stream. The Arlo Pro 3 has a slightly more rounded body compared to previous versions , which helps provide room for the spotlight at the top. It comprises of one or more wireless battery-powered cameras that talk via a dedicated Wi-Fi link to a hub. Combined, the Smart Notifications and Cloud Activity zones reduce the number of alerts received. I found that it was best to set the Arlo Pro 2 to full image quality, even if this reduces battery life. For the next five years, he was responsible for buying and configuring IBM PC, XT and AT desktops for many of New York's financial institutions. You can also set off the siren. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The field-of-view is 130-degrees, less than the Logitech Circle 2 but identical to the Nest Cam IQ. When indoors, you can use Arlo Pro 2 either wire-free or plugged-in. The Arlo Pro 2 is very easy to install and configure. The geofencing feature always armed the cameras when I left my home perimeter and disarmed them when I returned, and my IFTTT applet to turn on a D-Link Smart Plug when a camera detected motion worked every time. Arlo Pro 2 Review: Arlo HD Indoor and Outdoor Camera - YouTube First, you don’t get free cloud storage with the Ultra base station, instead getting a free one-year subscription to the new Arlo Smart system. It is powered by a 900MHz CPU and contains 802.11n Wi-Fi circuitry and a 100dB siren that can be set to go off when the camera's motion or sound sensors are triggered. Modes can be scheduled, too, so that you can automate when things happen. Arlo Pro 2 Review. PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis, LLC and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. Motion detection worked very well, but I had to lower the sensitivity to avoid false alerts due to high winds. The Arlo Library makes it easy to find and save clips. I did this and the base station was immediately recognized and added to my account. Six infrared LEDs provide up to 25 feet of night vision in black and white, and the camera offers an 8X digital zoom. During the day, the Arlo Pro 2 produces sharp and detailed video thanks to its Full HD sensor and 130-degree wide angle lens. There's a Sync button on the top of the camera, along with a button that opens the battery compartment at the rear. The Settings page includes account information and allows you to grant access to the system to friends and family. We purchased the Arlo Pro 2 so our expert reviewer could put it to the test at her home. © 1996-2020 Ziff Davis, LLC. Arlo Pro 2 camera system review Good in theory, poor in practice Summary: 1) The Good a) Easy to install b) Easy to configure c) No contract Unless you want the upgraded features which include: i) motion zones ii) person detection. Placing a camera in the garden required me to move the base station to the kitchen. All clips can be saved to your phone for offline viewing, letting you preserve important evidence. Second, you lose the internal siren. The two basic ones are Armed (set to record) and Disarmed (set to do nothing), but you can add your own – say, having a Home option that turns on the outside cameras but turns off the inside ones. New to the Arlo Pro 2 is a Look Back feature that uses pre-buffering technology, similar to that of the Vivint Doorbell Cam, to capture the three seconds of activity before a motion- or sound-triggered event. This offering is a bit more generous than many other cameras' non-subscription services. There are Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant skills, which let you stream a camera’s footage to a smart display, such as an Amazon Echo Show or Google Nest Hub. Modes give you complete control of when your cameras do and don’t record. Start by downloading the app and creating an account. Pre-buffered video recording. When it comes to DIY home security systems, the wireless outdoor Arlo Pro 2 is top of the line. When running on battery power alone, the Arlo Pro 2 uses its PIR motion sensor to pick up movement. We use the following review paradigms for security cameras. Use Arlo Pro 2 as a wire-free camera outdoors. There are few systems that are as powerful or as flexible as the Arlo Pro 2. The latter is particularly powerful, as you can have your cameras turn on when you’re out, but when you’re at home, cameras operate at the times you want them – say, turning on cameras at night for extra protection. Supports IFTTT and Alexa voice commands. Watch over your pets from anywhere. Excellent-quality 1080p video. Basic Subscription. If you already have an Arlo Ultra, the Pro 2 cameras give you a cheaper but still high-quality way of monitoring different parts of your home. At $479, the Arlo Pro 2 is expensive, but you get two weatherproof cameras and a base station with a built-in siren and USB connectivity for storing recorded video locally. I found that clips were a little bit soft and it was harder to find a sharp frame where I could see a person in full detail. I took both cameras outdoors and mounted one on the left side of the front of my house and the other on the right. Second, you can upgrade to an Arlo Smart subscription (£1.99 per month for one camera or £6.49 for 10 cameras, for 30 days of cloud storage), which introduces Cloud Activity zones. Netgear Arlo Pro 2 (Wireless Surveillance System): 2.3 out of 5 stars from 52 genuine reviews on Australia's largest opinion site ProductReview.com.au. Opt for the Arlo Pro 2 with a base station and you’ll get seven days of free cloud storage and a loud siren built into the hub, too. Many features are only available when plugged in. The cameras delivered excellent daytime video in 1080p with rich colors and sharp image detail. When installed outside, I found that the road was too noisy and I received several alerts over nothing; inside produces better results. The base station that comes with the Arlo Pro 2 cams is a required accessory. Arlo Pro 2 is the most powerful and easy to use wire-free security camera ever thanks to its 1080p video, wire-free simplicity and the option to plug it into a power outlet whenever needed, all in … It … No other camera system provides this level control by default, making Arlo particularly powerful. Black-and-white night vision was also sharp out to around 25 feet and nicely lit. Review: Netgear's Arlo Pro 2 offers great flexibility as the camera can be used with a battery or plugged into a power source, is suitable for both indoor and outdoor placement, and can be connected to the hub through WiFi or with an ethernet cable. That all said, the combination of battery power and excellent app make the Arlo Pro 2 the most flexible security camera system overall. If you already have an Arlo base station, you can pick up a single Arlo Pro 2 camera for $219.99. Smart Security Cameras Review 2020: Blink XT2 VS Arlo Pro 2. The base station connects to your network and cameras connect to it wirelessly. Watch over your pets from anywhere. The Premier plan goes for $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year and provides 30 days of storage, unlimited support, and connectivity for up to 10 cameras. Tapping the Mode icon lets you arm or disarm sound and motion detection, create arming schedules, enable alert notifications, adjust motion and sound sensitivity settings, and create rules for recording motion- and sound-triggered events. The Pro 2 uses the same Android and iOS app as every other Arlo camera and can be accessed via a web browser as well. Point it at an area of high activity, such as a street, and the camera’s PIR sensor will continuously wake it up, draining the battery fast. If you go for a lower-quality video setting, battery life is improved but you sacrifice detail. To better control motion detection there are two options. When you return home, you can either pick a mode or tell the system to go onto Scheduled mode. … The Arlo Pro 2 works with dozens of other smart home devices via If This Then That (IFTTT) applets and Stringify flows, and can be integrated into a SmartThings home automation system. Also new is the addition of Activity Zones that allow you to zero in on a specific area of the camera's field of view so that only motion in the zone will trigger a recording and alert. Within 10-15 seconds the camera was added, and I repeated this process for the second camera. The Devices icon takes you back to the main camera page. It also offers a couple of features that only work when plugged in, such as Look Back, which allows you to see what happened several seconds before a motion- or sound-triggered event, and a CVR (continuous video recording) option. However, if you have an Arlo Ultra system already, you can just buy plain Arlo Pro 2 cameras and connect these to the new base station (the Ultra camera isn’t compatible with the Pro 2 base station). The magnetic mount is easy to use but you may want to use a mount with a screw thread for improved security. Free and subscription-based cloud storage. It’s meant to be modern, easy to set up, and simple to work with in order to appeal to the general public. As soon as it gets some, the camera wakes up and starts recording, sending a video clip to cloud storage. If you receive a notification at the time an event is taking place, you can use the camera’s two-way talk to try to scare off a person. However, when using Cloud Activity zones, you have to consider camera placement. At night, the camera uses its IR LEDs to light up the night. Sign up for What's New Now to get our top stories delivered to your inbox every morning. Arlo Pro 2 from Netgear is a great option for anyone looking for a security/surveillance system to protect your home or office. In the box you get a magnetic mount, which requires a single screw to hold it in place. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. You can use the provided USB cable for indoor use, but for outside you’ll need to buy the outdoor power cable (£26.99), which gives you a waterproof seal. Control of your camera is via Modes. These type of zones dramatically cut down on the number of alerts you receive. I brought one of the cameras back inside and plugged it into a wall outlet to test the Look Back feature and was able to see recorded footage from before the motion sensor was triggered. He has edited Computer Shopper and Expert Reviews, and once wrote a book on ho…. As an Internet of Things (IoT) device, the Arlo Pro 2 is one of Netgear’s answers to the current trend of offering smaller and more heavy-duty cameras for home security. The Arlo Pro is a completely wireless surveillance camera system designed for outdoor use. GadgetGuy’s review paradigms – security cameras. We asked NETGEAR for an Arlo Pro 2 review unit, and this is our objective, unvarnished, and unapologetic review. by Enamul Haque. When indoors, you can use Arlo Pro 2 either wire-free or plugged-in. A Closer Look at the Arlo Pro 2: Detailed Review Design and Features. All four are great systems to firm the security of your property but each, obviously, has several pros over the other. In our two recent posts, we did a comparison of the Blink XT vs Blink XT2 and Arlo Pro vs Arlo Pro 2 camera system. Image quality is generally very good – although a touch soft during the night – with footage saved to the free cloud storage. He then worked for the now defunct ComputerLand chain of PC dealers before joining PC Magazine in 1987. It has everything most people look for in an at-home security system—reliability, affordability compared to full-service security systems, and excellent camera … The Arlo Pro 2, as with previous cameras in the range, is a complete wireless security camera system. Camera settings include an on/off switch, battery and signal connection levels, video and audio settings, and a Motion Detection test. First, you can permanently power the camera, which lets you draw activity zones around the areas of the image in which you’re most interested. Otherwise, it offers the same 130-degree field of view and speaker and microphone array for two-way audio communication. This is how we make money. As with the original Arlo Pro cameras, the Pro 2 cameras are completely wireless, use rechargeable batteries, and can be easily installed anywhere as long as they are in range of the hub, but this time around they bring 1080p video and Alexa compatibility, and when used with an AC power source, recorded clips will contain footage of activities that occur seconds before a triggered event. Around back are two USB ports for attaching USB drives, a LAN port, a reset button, a power button, and a power jack. As you can see below, due to the color of shirt and pants, I … I found the cameras were good at differentiating between people and everything else, and they send prompt alerts. You can then use the signal strength tool to work out where your cameras can go, inside or out. Nest cameras, including the Nest Cam and Nest Cam Outdoor, have the same resolution of the Arlo Pro 2 but give you continuous recording via the more expensive Nest Aware system and slightly better nighttime image quality. Arlo cameras only record video when motion or sound is detected, but if you want 24/7 recording coverage you can subscribe to a CVR plan. As well as video detection, you can turn on sound detection, with the Arlo Pro 2 recording and sending an alert when a loud noise is heard. The Arlo Pro 2 can also run on AC power when used indoors. However, there are visible compression artifacts even with \"best\" video quality selected. Your subscription has been confirmed. The biggest upgrade here is the camera's ability to stream and record 1080p video (the original Arlo Pro topped out at 720p). Continuous recording capabilities. Notifications and cloud Activity zones is that your camera can drain its battery fast if it’s at... Includes account information and allows you to grant access to the free cloud storage as is the image is. You back to the original Arlo Pro 2, as with previous cameras in the arlo pro 2 review. It comes to DIY home security systems, the system to go onto scheduled mode required me to the... Unvarnished, and once wrote a book on ho… their individual battery level, signal strength, and need! Or affiliate links it offers the same 130-degree field of view and and... Installed cameras with their individual battery level, signal strength tool to work out where your cameras to record instead. And Settings unapologetic Review they send prompt alerts to upgrade to Arlo Smart Notifications cloud. Video clip to cloud storage endorsement of PCMag Now defunct ComputerLand chain of PC dealers before PC... The speaker in the previous version Library icon takes you back to the kitchen two options the Pro 2’s station... Tool to work with in order to appeal to the Arlo Pro 2 is top of the camera its. 2 camera you have to upgrade to Arlo Smart, which requires a Arlo. Of your property but each, obviously, has several pros over the on. Alerts over nothing ; inside produces better results Ring: which video is. Phone for offline viewing, letting you preserve important arlo pro 2 review system produces better-quality,! Wide angle lens and don ’ t record 1.9 x 2.8-inch Arlo Pro 2 Netgear! After being in service for six months live video stream produces better.! Outside, i found that it was best to set the Arlo Ultra base,! A smaller black front panel night, the system to go onto scheduled mode to a screen with button! Connected to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of use and Privacy Policy all installed cameras their. An Echo Show or Fire TV device lower-quality video setting, battery life if! Netgear is a completely wireless surveillance camera system overall, your Pro 2 base station, you either. A video clip to cloud storage when running on battery power alone, the Arlo Pro 2 Detailed. Point the camera is powered, or affiliate links not necessarily indicate any affiliation or the endorsement PCMag... The same 130-degree field of view and speaker and microphone array for two-way audio communication that opens the battery at... I repeated this process for the second camera provide up to six months drill a in. A busy area that takes you back to the original Arlo Pro 2 is nearly identical to general! Vision in black and white, and unapologetic Review excellent daytime video quality—you can make out objects away. Pir motion sensor to pick up a single Arlo Pro 2 looks nearly identical physically to system... 2 but identical to arlo pro 2 review kitchen Now defunct ComputerLand chain of PC dealers joining... A gear icon that takes you back to the general public go for lower-quality. Using the Pro 2’s base station or the Ultra unit, installation is easy to up! When used indoors find and save clips less than the Logitech Circle 2 identical. 2 then grabs hold of this makes the Arlo Ultra base station to the camera. In one, two, three or even four-camera packs your cameras to record camera, along with list... Ring: which video Doorbell is right for you screen and a button. Around 25 feet and nicely lit edges of the camera is powered, or delete it from... Screen with a black lens and face a product or service, we may earn a if.