Arlo safety cameras are identified for making well-designed {hardware} with strong options that work effectively. But one other a part of the Arlo pedigree is that its units are additionally typically costly. Thankfully, it has the Essential lineup of safety merchandise, which supply a lot of what the corporate places into the extra premium units in a extra budget-friendly line. This is the place the brand new Arlo Essential and Essential XL Wireless Outdoor Security Cameras land.The design of the brand new cameras is modified to look extra like the remainder of Arlo’s units, as are a few of the internals. The Arlo Essential Outdoor Wireless Camera and the Arlo Essential XL Wireless Outdoor Camera are upgraded with all the identical options as the usual mannequin however with a for much longer battery life. So, let’s dig into extra of what these two units have to supply and see if it is actually price your cash.Today’s finest Arlo Essential 2K Outdoor/Indoor Security Camera (2nd Gen) dealsDeal ends Mon, Jan 1, 2024Today’s finest Arlo Essential 2K Outdoor Security Camera XL (2nd Generation) dealsMore than simply new appears to be like(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)So, there are two new cameras — the Arlo Essential Wireless Outdoor Security Camera and the Arlo Essential XL Wireless Outdoor Security Camera. In case you missed it, the names are precisely the identical, minus the XL moniker on one. As the names counsel, these cameras share the whole lot besides the battery measurement. It’s right here the place the XL comes into play, with a big 18600mAh battery versus the 4650mAh within the common mannequin. Otherwise, it is all the identical, together with the design, providing as much as 16 months and 4 months of use between fees.Instead of the wedge-shaped oval from the first-gen mannequin of the Essential Outdoor Wireless Camera, the brand new variants are simply oval. This is not a major change to one in all Arlo’s finest cameras, however it does convey the design according to the remainder of Arlo’s merchandise. Also, a part of the change is the situation of the highlight. Previously, Arlo positioned it above the sensor, and now it’s under it for each new cameras. Arlo made small however necessary design adjustments as a way to get the model’s total digicam product line to have the identical design language.Setting up these cameras is tremendous easy and is among the areas that Arlo has actually gotten down. It actually is so simple as establishing your Arlo account within the app, tapping the plus signal, selecting the digicam you are including, and following the prompts. It will stroll you thru set up and spotlight a few of the digicam’s options. While the onboarding course of is not essentially particular to Arlo, it simply appears so easy in comparison with different cameras I’ve examined.Swipe to scroll horizontallySpecsArlo Essential Wireless Outdoor Security CameraArlo Essential XL Wireless Outdoor Security CameraDimensions2.34 x 2.08 x 3.67 inches3.25 x 2.25 x 3.8 inchesConnectivity802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi (2.4GHz)Local storage🚫🚫Two-way communication✔️✔️Speaker✔️✔️Camera1080p HD or 2K1080p HD or 2KSpotlight✔️✔️Viewing space130° diagonal130° diagonalNight visionIR, black and white, colorIR, black and white, colorSmart featuresMotion detectionMotion detectionWeatherproof✔️✔️BatteryBuilt-in 4650mAh, as much as 4 monthsBuilt-in 18600mAh, as much as 16 monthsSecurityAES 256-bit encryption and Transport Layer Security (TLSAES 256-bit encryption and Transport Layer Security (TLSOperating temperature-4 to 113° F-4 to 113° FSmar residence compatibilityAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKitAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple HomeKitBoth the Arlo Essential Wireless Outdoor Security Camera and the Arlo Essential XL Wireless Outdoor Security Camera can be found in both a 2K video decision or 1080p HD. Going with the upper decision possibility will add $50 to the worth of both digicam, so take into account whether or not you really want that added decision. It will primarily come into play if it is advisable make the most of the 12x digital zoom, as the larger sensor will deal with that higher.I’ve been testing the HD fashions for each cameras, and each appears to be like utterly high quality in most conditions. I’ve the cameras mounted pretty excessive up, and the zoom is usable, however with the smaller sensor, it does not supply loads of element. When in low-light environments and never zoomed in, the black and white video appears to be like fairly good, contemplating it solely has a small LED highlight, however it does assist. It additionally assists in offering colour night time imaginative and prescient when enabled.Image 1 of two(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)The Arlo app gives a good quantity of customization and is comparatively effectively laid out. It is usually a bit irritating to search out particular person machine settings because the current app redesign, however I’ll have extra on that later. Once you discover the digicam settings, every possibility is straightforward to grasp and permits you to arrange exercise zones the place you will get movement alerts. It does lack an possibility for privateness zones, which might allow you to block areas from view. This can be notably useful in case you have shut neighbors.In the app, you too can select the 4 completely different energy modes. Each possibility adjusts how a lot energy the battery makes use of based mostly on how a lot you need the digicam to do. If you select the Best Video possibility, you will have the very best video high quality, however the battery will drain sooner. Alternatively, you may decide the Low Power mode and save essentially the most battery, however it should solely take snapshots as an alternative of video when movement is detected. I’ve left mine on Optimized, and it is executed effectively.No escaping the cloud(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)While I’m a fan of each of the brand new Arlo Essential Outdoor Wireless Cameras and, for essentially the most half, the app, I’m not a fan of the required subscription simply to make use of the cameras. Though this apply is not completely unprecedented in the case of most of the finest wi-fi residence safety cameras, it’s nonetheless disappointing.Arlo sells a base station to assist with connectivity and native storage, as you will not discover any Arlo digicam with native storage except you’ve a base station. Unfortunately, neither the Arlo Essential Outdoor Wireless Camera nor the Arlo Essential XL works with the accent. This means you could join one in all three Arlo Secure plans to make use of your new cameras. But you do get a trial interval together with your buy to check the service and your cameras out.(Image credit score: Android Central)The plans aren’t out of this world costly, with a beginning value of $4.99/month for a single digicam or $12.99/month for limitless. But it goes as much as $17.99 and $24.99 from there, with a small break should you pay yearly. I simply discover it fairly irritating that Arlo does not supply a neighborhood storage possibility for these cameras, and you may’t even get a fundamental set of the options you pay for while you purchase the digicam except you pay for a subscription.I discussed above that I’ve some gripes with the Arlo App. Well, general, I believe it’s higher than apps from different manufacturers of cameras I’ve examined. But my largest problem is that when Arlo redesigned the app a couple of months in the past, it modified how schedules and automation work for the cameras — and I can not get it to work like earlier than.Unfortunately, an app redesign can alter your complete expertise of utilizing a product.I reviewed the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera in 2022, and between then and now, that app redesign modified how I exploit the digicam. Since I’ve this digicam in my workplace, I do not want or need it me all day, and since it has a bodily shutter to cowl the digicam, it’s a nice selection — that’s after I may nonetheless clearly schedule when it was on or off. Now, I’ve not but been in a position to get it arrange the way in which I had it, and it is fairly irritating.Image 1 of 5(Image credit score: Android Central)(Image credit score: Android Central)(Image credit score: Android Central)(Image credit score: Android Central)(Image credit score: Android Central)I do not suppose my points with the app change needs to be a deal breaker, and should you hadn’t identified of the app prior to now, chances are you’ll not care. But it leads me to suppose the replace made a helpful function in automations and schedules much less user-friendly and might be a deterrent for somebody who does wish to have extra granular management over their Arlo safety cameras.Should you purchase these cameras?(Image credit score: Chris Wedel/Android Central)If you have already got some Arlo units in your house, just like the Essential Indoor Camera I discussed above, the Pro 3 Floodlight Camera, or maybe the brand new Arlo Video Doorbell that was introduced with these two new cameras, then these cameras will slot in effectively. You get choices for battery life and video high quality, strong connectivity, and a ready-made ecosystem.But should you aren’t within the Arlo ecosystem, you may balk on the necessity for a subscription to make use of the units you’re shopping for. You do get some good options with Arlo Secure, however chances are you’ll not need or want a few of them. You’ll pay anyway simply to avoid wasting your digicam’s footage. Taking the subscription out of the equation, with a beginning value of $50 for the usual Essential Outdoor digicam and $99 for the XL mannequin, these are nice units with strong function units and will serve your own home effectively. But that month-to-month subscription must be handled and is a selection completely as much as you.
Arlo Essential Outdoor Camera (2nd Generation)
Basic, however good
Along with the brand new bodily design adjustments, this digicam has gotten a bit sooner and is available in two decision choices of 1080p HD and 2K to take higher benefit of the 12X digital zoom. Just keep in mind to enroll in the Arlo Secure subscription or the digicam will not do a lot for you.
Arlo Essential XL Outdoor Camera (2nd Generation)
Go longer
Everything the usual Essential Outdoor Camera gives however with extra battery life. In truth, with the XL mannequin you may get greater than thrice the use earlier than it is time to recharge it.