The Arlo Pro 4 has long been one of thebest outdoor security cameras , but that might be changing with the arrival of the Arlo Essential 2nd Gen. This refreshen camera supports up to 2 kB footage capture , offer a similar design to that of the Arlo Pro 4 , and clocks in at a much lower cost .
But should you bucket along out to put back your Arlo Pro 4 with the new Arlo Essential 2nd Gen ? And if you ’re raw to the market , which is the better purchase ? Here ’s a secretive look at both to help you find the ripe one for your smart home .
Pricing and monthly fees
The Arlo Essential 2nd Gen is tender in two formats . The HD version be just $ 50 , while the premium 2 kilobyte version costs $ 100 . The Arlo Pro 4 regularly costs $ 200 , though it ’s typically on sales agreement for less than $ 150 . Both cameras also support Arlo Secure — a monthly subscription that unlocks utilitarian feature film such as swarm save and video history .
Membership start at $ 5 per month for a single camera ( and it ’s highly recommended you sign up ) . Higher tiers are also useable , though these are intended for bigger security scheme with more than one camera or homes that desire 24/7 professional monitoring .
Design and installation
The new Arlo Essential 2nd Gen shares a lot of the same design elements as the Arlo Pro 4 . This includes a pitch-dark front - facing photographic camera and a white enclosure . The Essential is a bit modest than the Arlo Pro 4 , though most visitors to your home will have a difficult time telling the two aside .
installment is unsubdivided for both cameras , thanks to a wire - free setup unconscious process . The Pro 4 slightly beats out the Essential in this family , as it uses a magnetic mount denture so you could easy attach and detach the camera . For the Essential , you ’ll make use of a sliding mechanism to lock it into place .
Resolution and night vision
As observe earlier , the Essential is offer as both an HD and 2 M twist . Regardless of which you pick , you ’ll also get colour Nox vision — which is specially attractive on the cheap $ 50 HD variation . The Arlo Pro 4 is only available in one format , 2K. It also bear out colour night visual modality . What set it aside from the Essential is its 160 - grade battlefield - of - horizon , which allows it to capture a massive dowry of your property . The Essential is no slouch , but its 130 - degree field - of - sight is observably narrower .
Features and spec list
The majority of spectacles are shared across the Essential and Arlo Pro 4 . This let in two - way audio , 12x digital zoom , an integrated glare , and weatherproof to handle inclement atmospheric condition and extreme temperatures ( down to -20 degrees Celsius and up to 45 degrees Celsius ) . One of the only differences between the cameras is stamp battery life — the Essential lasts up to four months and the Pro 4 endure up to six months . This will vary depending on your utilisation , but expect the Pro 4 to get a bit more juice than its more affordable sib .
The Arlo Essential has also recently added support for Apple Home . When pair to a plunk for Base Station or SmartHub , you may use Siri to operate your devices , look at lively feeds in the Apple Home app , have motion alert from the app , and more .
Which is the better security camera?
The Arlo Pro 4 has much been interchange by the newer Arlo Essential 2nd Gen , with the Pro 4 no longer sold straight off by Arlo . But if you ’re glad with the performance of your live Pro 4 , there ’s no need to rush out and replace it . In fact , the Pro 4 might be a considerably all - around equipment , thanks to a wider field of view and longer barrage life . However , the Arlo Essential 2nd Gen carries a much honorable price tag end and offers many of the same features — and its vivacious 2 special K resolution certainly looks great on smartphones . Be sure to give it a look if you ’re seeking one of the best security department camera on the marketplace .
look for something with more battery life ? Check out our comparison of theArlo Pro 4 and Essential XL 2nd Gen.
