This Affordable Security Cam Does Everything I Need, and It’s 51% Off for Amazon’s Spring Sale

I’ve been testing safety cameras for years, and one rule persistently holds true: If you desire a cam with higher-end options, it is certain to come back with a hefty price ticket. That means it is easy to drop $200 or extra for only a single digital camera. So after I examined the second-gen Arlo Essential 2K cam, I used to be impressed to search out that it stays amazingly reasonably priced for a do-it-all battery digital camera. 

And proper now, the Arlo Essential is much more funds pleasant because it’s all the way down to an all-time low value for Amazon’s Spring Sale at simply $49 right now. That’s a superb value for a digital camera that provides most of the similar glorious options of Arlo’s highest-end fashions.

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What I like in regards to the Arlo safety digital camera

While testing the Arlo Essential 2K Cam, I discovered the indoor/out of doors wi-fi digital camera performs very properly. The 2K decision helps collect loads of particulars, it is extremely climate resistant, and Arlo’s app excels at walk-throughs on the best way to arrange and use the cam. Other frequent options embrace two-way audio, coloration evening imaginative and prescient and a built-in siren.

Arlo is not carried out but. The cam’s built-in highlight did an excellent job of lighting up my yard — and for those who desire different good dwelling platforms, it performs properly with Alexa and Google Home, in addition to IFTTT (no Apple HomeEquipment help presently, but it surely’s a future chance). For extra, listed below are CNET’s picks for the very best dwelling safety programs.

Arlo wins at customization within the dwelling safety dialog

I favored loads of what the Arlo Essential does, but it surely’s not too completely different from what many different safety cameras do — simply surprisingly reasonably priced. I actually like Arlo’s UI and good dwelling integration too, with an app that is straightforward to grasp and pop open for a fast take a look at your own home while you’re out in town (and that does not even require a subscription). It’s the deeper customization options that basically impressed me.

Those who prefer to tinker with their dwelling safety setup will love the beta-version customized detection choices that include higher-tier subscriptions, along with facial and automobile recognition. I have never seen customized setups like this on any different safety digital camera earlier than. In my assessments, I used to be capable of “educate” the cam AI to acknowledge when a pet toy appeared on digital camera or when sure objects had been now not current.

I may additionally use this function to inform me when the storage door opened or if one thing priceless (say, a bit of paintings) disappeared. Likewise, the automobile detection choices can inform if a selected automobile is pulling as much as your own home. I’ve by no means seen anything like this for many who actually need to push their dwelling safety to the boundaries.

Arlo cams for your self or others

With Arlo’s straightforward and informative setup course of, the Essential digital camera is a good selection even for those who or your loved ones have not tried a safety digital camera earlier than. As lengthy as a person is comfy attempting out a brand new app and following the directions, Arlo is a superb expertise. I charge the app and user-friendliness round Blink’s stage, one other one in every of my favourite digital camera apps. 

With indoor/out of doors placement, the digital camera can also be versatile, so you do not have to fret about folks not discovering a spot to make use of it. You may additionally spend a bit extra to improve the digital camera with an prolonged battery and a photo voltaic panel, an efficient combo if you wish to keep away from manually charging the battery as a lot as attainable. It nonetheless wants a Wi-Fi connection, however this combo is nice for out-of-the-way spots like above my storage door or a excessive level on roof eaves.

If you are fascinated about getting this Arlo Essential digital camera as a present, take into accout Arlo locks fairly a number of necessary options behind its $8-plus month-to-month subscription, together with good alerts with object recognition and cloud video storage. So whereas the digital camera is usable with out charges, there is a sturdy incentive to pay. 

Arlo does supply a free trial of its companies, however that might really feel like a bait-and-switch to present recipients who aren’t anticipating a safety digital camera. If you need to give the cam as a present, you could need to add some PayPal or Venmo money to cowl not less than a number of months of a subscription. 

If you are in search of extra reasonably priced tech, take a look at Amazon’s Spring Sale offers on Anker units. Plus, here is our full record of the very best dwelling safety cameras of 2025.