Arlo vs Blink: Smart Home Security Head to Head!

Arlo vs. Blink, which one is the better option? Here is an unbiased and detailed comparison of these two top smart home security brands. Read on to find out their key differences and similarities so you can make an informed decision.

While Arlo by Netgear is an old player in the smart home niche, Blink is a newcomer. The company was started in 2016 and is now famous for its affordable security solutions. On the other hand, Arlo is renowned for its feature-packed smart home security devices.

Security systems are the most important home monitoring devices. They are designed to alert you when motion is detected. And you can monitor what’s going on in your home remotely. In this resource, we’ll peek into the significant differences (and similarities) of the products that each has to offer. We’ll contrast and compare their kits, outdoor cameras, and indoor cameras and more to help you make the right choice.                     

Design, Resolution, & Field of View

The Arlo Ultra is an 89 x 52 x 78.4 mm outdoor security camera with a shiny, black exterior. It comes in one, two, three, or four-camera kit systems. What’s more, the camera is extremely light and weighs just 4 oz.

On the other hand, Blink XT2 is a 71 x 71 x 34 mm square security camera that comes in one, two, three, or four-camera kit systems. Its weight, however, is on the higher end weighing close to 12 oz.

Resolution

Arlo Ultra’s video resolution is a notch higher at 4K UHD while Blink XT2 boasts of a standard 1080p video resolution. Arlo’s Ultra cameras also have a wider viewing angle of 180 degrees compared to Blink’s XT2’s 110 degrees viewing angle.

Both of these cameras are weatherproof and can be used indoors or outdoors. They have a weather rating of IP65. And each comes with a one year warranty.

In case you want to install more than five cameras, both Arlo and Blink allow you to purchase an add-on camera. But, you will need to buy a separate module for every add-on camera.

Power, Installation, Storage, & Streaming

Arlo Ultra and Blink XT2 are two of the most straightforward DIY installation security cameras available today. They are both wire-free. You can either place them on a surface or mount them on the wall using the provided mounting hardware. Set up too is a breeze. You’ll be done in 30 minutes (or less).

Although both options provide free cloud storage for your video recordings, their capacities are quite different. Blink XT2 only provides a cloud storage space of up to 7200 seconds, while Arlo Ultra offers 7 days free storage.

Arlo’s cloud storage can be upgraded to 30 days by purchasing the Arlo Smart Home plan. Arlo Ultra also has an SD card slot (supports up to 32GB SD) that can be purchased separately. The XT2 doesn’t support local storage.

Power

Powered by two non-rechargeable AA lithium batteries, Blink XT2 has a long battery life of up to two years. The Arlo ultra has a single rechargeable battery. It comes with a magnetic charging cable for easy and convenient charging. On the downside, only one charging cable is provided regardless of the number of cameras you purchase.

Video streaming on both cams is decent. You can stream live on-demand footage straight to your phone or tablet.  However, Arlo Ultra cameras take the lead here. Unlike Blink’s XT2, these can allow you to share and record your live streaming easily from your Smartphone app.   

Night vision, Motion & Audio Detection

Both cameras have infrared night vision LEDs. This is an essential feature because infrared LEDs are undetectable using the open human eye. The only difference is that the Arlo Ultra cameras are packed with color night vision, instead of the usual black and white images.

With both the Arlo Ultra and Blink XT2, you can set activity zones. This feature allows your camera to focus on hotspot areas. The camera raises the alarm only when motion is detected inside the activity zones to minimize false alarms.

Once again, Arlo Ultra takes the upper hand with automatic tracking. It zooms in, focuses, and tracks any moving objects detected. On top of that, the cameras are preinstalled with a bright spotlight that lights up when your camera senses movement. A siren can be activated remotely on your app (or preset to sound as soon as motion is detected).

Two Way Audio

Both outdoor security cameras also have a two-way audio recording. This feature allows you to talk to your visitors (or pets) remotely. But the two-way audio recording in Blink XT2 is almost impossible to use since its maximum video footage range is only 60 seconds. Plus, its push alerts are sent to the app after the recording has been completed.

Smart Integration & Smartphone App

The Blink XT2 works well with Amazon’s Alexa to disarm and arm the system, view motion clips, and to stream live footage. You’ll need to install Blink Home Monitor App for iOS and Android if you want to monitor the cams using your smartphone.

Arlo Ultra Cameras are compatible with both Apple’s Home Kit and Amazon’s Alexa. Plus, you’ll get a year free Arlo Smart Premier Service. The Premier Service gives you access to extra smart control features such as customizable motion alerts and a 30-day cloud recording. However, the free one-year subscription only works for US residents.

Both smartphone apps have user-friendly interfaces, but the Blink XT2 has limited control options.

Technical Comparison

	Arlo Ultra	Blink XT2
Audio	Dual mic with noise and wind cancellation	Built-in Mic and speaker
LED indicators	Blue and amber	Green for power, Blue for internet/recording, Red for system error/no connection
Battery Life	3 – 6 months depending on usage	2 years under normal use (about 40, 000 seconds)
Weatherproof rating	IP65	IP65
Dimensions	89 * 52 * 78.4 mm	71 * 71 * 34 mm
Operating temperature	-20 to 60 degree Celsius	-20 to 45 degrees Celsius
Weight	4 oz.	11.6757 oz.
Field of View	180 degrees	110 degrees
Illuminator	850 nm Infrared LEDs	850 nm Infrared LEDs
Warranty	1 year	1 year
Spotlight	42Lux @1M, 6500K	None
Video modes	4k, 1080p, 720p	Up to 1080p
Radio	Dual-band 2.4/5 GHz Wi-Fi Arlo ultra 2	2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 900MHZ Blink Protocol

Design, Resolution & Field of View

Blink’s home security and monitoring kit are easy to install, reliable, and affordable security camera systems. If you are looking for a free, no contract home monitoring kit, this one is worth considering.

The Blink’s cameras have a 720p HD video resolution that ensures clear footage with little (to no) blurring. They are also compact and sleek. Their size is 70.8 x 70.8 x 30 mm. 1, 2, 3, and 5 camera systems are available. But the Blink hub can support up to 10 cameras.

Arlo’s Smart Home Security Kit comes in with extra versatility. It comprises the Arlo Pro HD camera, an audio doorbell, and the Arlo chime. Unlike the Blink’s camera that is only ideal for indoor use, the system is weatherproof and can be installed both in and out. You can monitor your entryway more conveniently from any location.

Both cameras have a wide field of view of 110 degrees. They are durable and well made. However, Arlo’s system isn’t as compact as the Blink cameras. It weighs one pound, which is a little on the heavier side.

Power, Installation, Storage, and Streaming

Both the Arlo and Blink security systems are battery-powered. They are wholly wire-free and you do not require professional help to install them. Blink cameras have unique battery technology. Although the batteries are non-rechargeable, they can last for a whopping two years. Arlo’s batteries will need to be recharged every three to six months, depending on use.

Another advantage of Blink’s system is that it provides free cloud storage. No monthly subscriptions. No contract fees. On the downside, space is only enough to store up to two hours of footage, after which the old footage is overwritten by new footage.

Paid Subscription

On the other hand, Arlo’s camera, doorbell, and a chime also provide seven-day free cloud storage, upgradeable to up to 30 days via a paid subscription that costs between $2.99 – $19.99 depending on the number of cameras you have installed.

When a person presses the doorbell, your phone rings instantly, and you can view or talk to the visitor who’s at your door.

A “live view” mode allows you to monitor what is happening at your home in real-time in both options. Have peace of mind knowing what is happening at home, even when you’re miles away.

 Night vision, Motion Detection, Audio

When motion is detected, both the Arlo pro camera and the Blink camera send instant alerts to your phone. And the “live streaming” mode allows you to view who is outside.  A short clip is as well recorded as soon as movement is sensed and sent to your cloud storage.

Arlo goes a step further to include a doorbell and a chime. If the visitor presses your Arlo doorbell, quick alerts are sent to your app. Your phone and chime(s) will ring instantly.

Two Way Audio

You can see who is outside using the Arlo app on your smartphone. And because the doorbell has two-way audio, you can talk to your visitor remotely. Or, you can choose to leave them a short message.

Blink’s camera, on the other hand, doesn’t support two-way audio. You can only hear what the one outside says. The quality of the night vision on both cameras is great.

Night Vision

Arlo uses undetectable infrared rays, while Blink needs low-light illumination. Although the light on Blink’s camera is necessary for clear images, it is visible which may signal to an intruder that they are being watched.

A great addition to the Blink monitoring system is the temperature sensor. You can set your app to send alerts to your phone whenever the temperature rises or falls below a particular range.

 Smart Integration & Smartphone App

Both the Blink and Arlo home security systems work with Alexa and Alexa enabled devices (including Echo Dot, Amazon Echo, and Amazon Tap) to give you remote voice control. On top of that, both options have a free smartphone app. You’ll receive instant motion alerts straight to your phone regardless of your location.

Please note that Blink requires at least Android 5 Lollipop or iOS 10.3. On the other hand, Arlo requires at least Android 6 or iOS 10. The apps allow you to control your system remotely.

Features

Use your app to adjust your camera’s sensitivity, set activity zones, view recorded video footage, arm or disarm your system, and more. Arlo’s smartphone app is more versatile. You can activate a security siren, leave a message, set your doorbell and chime to silent mode, etc.

However, both of these home automation systems do not work with SmartThings or Apple’s Homekit.

Technical Comparison

	Arlo Smart Home Security Kit	Blink Indoor Home Security Camera System
Video Resolution	720p HD
Field of View	110 degrees	110 degrees
Smart Integration	Works with Alexa	Works with Alexa
Audio	Two-way audio	One-way audio and speaker
Power & Battery Life	Non-rechargeable batteries last up to two years	Rechargeable batteries last up to six months
Sensors	Motion, audio, and temperature sensors	Motion and audio sensors
Storage Capacity	2 hours of free cloud storage	7 days free cloud storage upgradeable to up to 30 days
Weatherproof	No	IP65
Geofencing	No	Yes
Siren	No	Yes

Design, Resolution,& Field of View

Want to keep tabs with what is happening inside your house even when you’re away? Or do you want to watch your furry friend? Both the Arlo Q and Blink mini cameras are designed for this exact purpose. These are casual indoor monitoring cameras. They are not weatherproof and shouldn’t be used outside.

Like its other cameras, the Blink mini is compact measuring just 2 x 1.9 x 1.4 inches. On the other hand, Arlo Q measures 4.45 x 5.99 x 4.93 inches. Though it is twice as large as the Blink’s camera, it is still relatively small and inconspicuous.

Resolution

With a video resolution of 1080p, both the Blink mini and Arlo Q provide crisp images both day and night. Designed for wide-angle viewing, you can monitor a large area using just one camera. But Arlo Q has a broader field of view of 130 degrees compared to Blink mini’s 110 degrees.

Power, Installation, Storage, & Streaming

These indoor cameras need to be plugged into an AC outlet to function. The Arlo Q comes with a nearly ten-foot-long power connection USB cable while Blink mini’s cable is about seven feet.

There is seven-day free cloud storage with the Arlo indoor camera. This can be expanded to 30 days via a paid subscription. But the camera has no provision for an SD card.

Paid Subscription

Unlike in other Blink cameras, you’ll need a subscription to access the cloud storage in Blink mini. This costs between $3 – 10. It also has a local storage option, sold separately. But you’ll also need to buy the latest Blink Sync Module 2 and a USB flash drive.

Installation for both is a breeze. Easy to follow instructions are provided. And the best part, both options do not need a sync module, they’ll connect automatically to your home Wi-Fi network.

Additionally, you can stream real-time video 24/7 with both cameras via a smartphone app or the web portal (Arlo Q).

Night vision, Motion Detection, Audio

Motion and audio alerts are sent to your phone instantly. Plus, both the Blink mini and Arlo Q cameras have a built-in mic and speaker for two way communication. This means that you can communicate with your family (or pets) even when you’re away. Audio on both cameras is clear and reasonably decent, with a few seconds delay.

What’s more, both cameras allow you to set activity zones for more accurate alerts. With built-in night vision infrared, your cameras will work round the clock to keep you informed on what’s happening at home. The Arlo Q camera has enhanced night vision to give better and brighter images.

Smart Integration & Smartphone App

With both options, you can arm or disarm your cameras via an Alexa enabled device. Or you can play recorded footage or stream live videos. However, Arlo is more versatile and works perfectly with Google Assistant, IFTTT & Stringify.

The Arlo Q and Blink mini are also accessible using an Android or iOS app. Your smartphone app gives you remote access and control of your cameras regardless of your location. You can set schedules, activity zones, stream live, and more.

But, Arlo’s Q has a geofencing feature. With this feature, your camera is armed or disarmed automatically based on your phone’s location.

Technical Comparison

	Arlo Q	Blink Mini
Video Resolution	1080p	1080p
Audio	2-way audio recording & Speaker	2-way audio recording & Speaker
Storage	7-day free cloud storage plan	Paid cloud storage and local storage sold separately
Power	AC plug-in	AC plug-in
Wi-Fi	2.4 & 5 GHz	2.4GHz
Field of View	130 degrees	110 degrees
Dimensions	4.45 x 5.99 x 4.93 inches	2  x 1.9  x 1.4 inches
Live View	Streaming and recording	Streaming and recording
Power Cable Length	Roughly 10 feet long	Roughly 7 feet long
Motion Detection	Up to 50 feet	Up to 20 feet
Warranty	1 year	1 year

Conclusion

Blink’s products are ideal for anyone looking for a reliable yet affordable entry-level smart home security device. Arlo’s products are more sophisticated. They are more versatile and can be upgraded to provide even more premium features