With the help of the app guiding you through the process, setup is really easy, and you'll soon be viewing your back garden in high-definition quality.
If you don't already have an Arlo camera or two in place, you're going to need to install a hub that's wired to your router, so bear that in mind – the cameras all connect to the hub (not to your Wi-Fi), and this can mean there are range issues. For all the more basic smarts, it's great, though. The motion detection is top-notch, and the app is a pleasure to use as well (a lot better than the apps you get with some budget security cameras), though if you want to get into its cleverest customizations, there is a bit of a learning curve. There's an integrated smart siren too: if would-be burglars need a little extra encouragement to get off your property, then the spotlight and siren should be able to provide it. One neat feature is the integrated spotlight, which can be turned on manually, or activated automatically when motion is detected.
Still, what you get for the money is all the usual Arlo traits in terms of the solid build quality, superb camera footage, tons of clever features and a polished app.īuilding on what the Arlo Pro 2 offers, the Arlo Pro 3 offers QHD HDR video, full weatherproofing (so you can stick it outside), an impressive 160-degree viewing angle, and even color night vision – so your low light shots will be in color rather than grainy black and white. Though the Arlo Ultra (see below) technically has all the same smarts and more detailed 4K resolution, the Arlo Pro 3 still won our T3 Awards 2020 award for Best Smart Security, because its image quality is still excellent, and it's slightly better value – though its price is still its Achilles' heel.
That means more sensitivity in terms of motion detection, and more specific detection functions (like person or package detection) are sometimes reserved for those with constant power. Most wired cams will offer Ethernet connectivity, and they can do more feature-wise when they're not forced to rely on drawing a relatively slim trickle of power from a battery. There's no need for a central bank of monitors or even central recording, though this is often an option: you'll be able to access footage or a live view through the cloud, you'll get alerts when you need them, and the only time you'll need to climb the ladder is to clear stray spider webs or to switch out batteries.Īlternatively, you could go wired and endure a slightly more difficult installation in exchange for rock-solid reliability. If you go for a wireless smart security camera, there's an absolute minimum of drilling and disruption required – generally, it's just a case of installing once, setting up the wireless connections, and moving on with your life.
And in most cases, you won't need an expert to set it up for you. While this kind of technology was once limited to luxury homes or brand-new swanky apartments, it's now well within the reach of everyone.
With many offering companion smart apps accessible via phones and other smart devices, you get to see whose at the door before they even ring the bell.
Many cameras, in fact, now allow home owners to interact with any visitors – wanted or wanted – anytime and anywhere.