4.1
5.2
Overall Score
Author: Kaitlyn Short
Arlo is Netgear's latest model of home security cameras. It is compact, lightweight, and simple to install without any expertise or special tools. The camera can record HD footage for up to 60 days straight to cloud storage. It's one of the lighter and easily-mountable camera bodies on the market.
Keep reading for pros and cons, plus Arlo reviews from real customers.
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The Good
- Free Trial
- Setup Process
- Features
Free Trial
Arlo offers a free 7-day trial for cloud storage. This gives users a chance to see how great the 720p recordings look and how easy they are to access before committing to more storage. Even then, Arlo's prices are competitive; you can get up to 60 days of cloud storage for only $14.99 a month.
Setup Process
The Arlo is also a great option for those worried about the hassle most security cameras take to install. It is completely wireless and requires a simple setup process, with plenty of tutorials and forums online to help with any problems you might face. It's also small enough to keep from becoming an eyesore in your home or yard.
Features
As small as it is, the camera is also capable of some impressive features and movements. You can easily pan and zoom within a 130-degree range, as well as enable night vision for increased visibility. All of these enhancements in such a lightweight camera can be difficult to find elsewhere.
The Bad
- Picture Quality
- Relatively Expensive
Picture Quality
Netgear's Arlo does sacrifice some picture quality for its small and lightweight body. Though technically "HD," the camera cannot shoot full high-definition video. This can result in a less-than-crisp image, especially when under the night vision. It's a major downside when you consider how important it is to be able to identify precise elements using these kinds of pictures.
Relatively Expensive
Though its price lands the Arlo somewhere in the middle, it could be considered expensive for such a lightweight model. Prices range from $200-$500 for camera setups, not including the monthly fee for cloud storage. You also have to consider that Netgear has only been in the security industry for about six years, most of which dealt with commercial customers. You will pay a more "professional" price for something that is simply more consumer-friendly. Depending on what you look for in a home security camera, this may not be ideal.
The Bottom Line
The Arlo security camera is ideal for those who want accessible home security without a complicated programming process, a tangle of wires to deal with, or an expensive installation fee. It's easy to set up and mount anywhere you'd like in your home within a matter of minutes. The price for storage is pretty good when compared to other competitors, but the overall price for the camera may be steep for those who are looking for more fancy features and camera specs. The Arlo does have the Netgear brand behind it, which may sway those who feel hesitant about a product that's so new to the market. One major downside for previous Netgear customers is that the Arlo is incompatible with their former VueZone video monitoring system. If you're okay with starting fresh, however, then this is a simple security option with a decent picture and a hassle-free setup.
