How To Set Up Arlo Camera Without Base Station
Arlo Essential Review 2022
Arlo's first-e'er SmartHub-free outdoor photographic camera.
If Arlo puts you off because you have to buy the visitor's expensive base station to make its cameras work, your days of frustration are over. The Arlo Essential doesn't require actress hardware to function, and information technology has virtually every prophylactic feature a camera could use.
As with most Arlo cameras, you'll need to pay for a plan before y'all can utilize all of the Essential's features. But since you lot aren't shelling out money for a base of operations, the plan is a lot more affordable.
This review is about the Arlo Essential camera, also known every bit the Arlo Essential Spotlight camera. Arlo too recently released an Essential indoor photographic camera, which we accept non still reviewed.
Arlo Essential Wireless Security Photographic camera price and details
| Product | Toll | Storage program price range | Automation | Learn more than |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlo Essential | $99.00 | $two.99–$14.99 | | View on Amazon |
Amazon.com List Prices (as of 02/11/2022 11:20 MST). Full disclaimer
Arlo Essential features
Advanced detection! Sirens! Multiple colors! No base stations!
In our estimation, the about pregnant difference between the Arlo Essential and other Arlo outdoor cameras is the Essential's lack of SmartHub.
That's right; you don't demand an Arlo base station or SmartHub to connect with this photographic camera. Arlo recommends using the hub if you have one (for one matter, yous need it to access local storage), but information technology's not required.
But that'south not all this camera has up its sleeve. Here'southward a total list of what you tin look from your Essential.
Arlo Essential features:
- 1080p video without subscription
- 130° viewing angle
- Indoor-outdoor use
- Two-way audio
- Color dark vision
- Motion detection
- Customizable motion zones
- Geofencing
- Bundle detection
- Person detection
- Vehicle detection
- Animal detection
- Spotlight
- Siren
- Solar capabilities
- Rechargeable batteries
- Local and deject storage
- 2 color options
According to the Arlo website, the Essential Wireless Security Cameras come in both white and black. That's a new step for Arlo, a company that'due south known for its white camera shells.
That'south a lot of features! But some of them are out of achieve unless y'all choose to apply a paid subscription.
Advanced object detection
This camera is far from the kickoff to include person, package, vehicle, or beast detection, but information technology's i of the few we've seen with all 4.
The different motion-detection settings are scattered across the app, making information technology challenging to manage them. Substantially, though, you tin toggle all settings on or off. And so if yous want to become notifications for your Amazon delivery and your neighbor'south cat, you tin. Likewise, if you desire to exclude people, packages, vehicles, or animals from your movement detection, you can do that, too.
Said exclusion choice is more than helpful if yous live on a decorated street. If you live on a street with boilerplate traffic or cull to use the camera indoors, nosotros recommend keeping all move detection settings on.
This photographic camera offers a exam that helps you make up one's mind if your motion detection is working, which we like.
Spotlight
The spotlight definitely has the potential to startle intruders! We placed the camera on a landing for most of our tests. Information technology gave us a bit of a shock every time the light snapped on when we walked up the stairs in the nighttime.
Siren
You tin can ready the siren to activate automatically, or you tin activate it manually from the app.
The siren comes with a warning that information technology's "extremely loud," simply it didn't sound very loud to usa. The Essential siren doesn't hold upwardly next to the Arlo Ultra siren; nosotros're not certain y'all'd be able to hear it unless you're close by.
Solar capabilities
This camera volition work with Arlo's upcoming Essential Solar Panel. We're not exactly certain when the panel will exist ready, only we similar the thought of harnessing solar ability vs. recharging the batteries.
The batteries in the Essential Photographic camera are supposed to last six months on a charge. But nosotros institute that after a few days of utilise, the bombardment levels dropped by 9%. While that's nothing to sneer at, it'due south not promising if yous want your batteries to last half a year without taking the photographic camera down to charge.
Arlo Essential pricing
The price of this camera is more cheap than steep.
To buy this camera on its ain, information technology's $99. If yous want three, it'south $269.99* While Arlo isn't the most budget-friendly camera manufacturer out in that location, these prices aren't astronomical. Especially if yous compare the price to Google Nest.
Information technology looks like Arlo also plans to sell this camera as a parcel with the solar panel, although nosotros don't yet know when or how much it will toll.
*Amazon.com List Prices (as of 02/11/2022 ane:00 MST)
Storage plans
The Arlo Essential comes with a three-calendar month-long trial of Arlo Smart Premier. Later that, if you desire deject storage or anything else that comes with a college-tier plan, yous need to pay.
Arlo Smart price and cloud storage comparison
| Features | Arlo Smart (no plan) | Arlo Smart Premier | Arlo Smart Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $ii.99/mo. for i camera; $9.99/mo. for up to 5 cameras | $4.99/mo. for 1 camera; $xiv.99/mo. for upward to 5 cameras |
| Max resolution | 1080p | 2K | 4K |
| Deject storage | | | |
| Push button notifications | | | |
| Custom activity zones | | | |
| Advanced object detection | | | |
| E911 emergency phone call service (with multi-camera plans) | | | |
| Details | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Data constructive 06/17/2021. Offers subject to modify.
As you can see, many of the best features are subconscious backside the paywall, which is disappointing. It's difficult to justify buying the Essential without the features when you lot can get a cheaper camera with everything included.
Only the subscription is pretty affordable for a single photographic camera, so if in that location's a feature you really want, the cost probable won't be insurmountable. Take the money you didn't spend on the base station and get a few years of video storage instead! We would advise the Smart Premier over the Smart Elite, unless you feel you can't do without 4K.
Arlo Essential habitation automation
The Essential works with the usual suspects and more.
The Essential camera works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT, which is pretty typical. Less typically, it also connects with Apple HomeKit and Samsung SmartThings. If you're an Apple or Samsung stan, this is one of the only leading camera brands that will work with your favorite hub.
You need the Arlo base station or SmartHub to connect with Apple tree HomeKit.
Arlo still lacks integration with Z-Moving ridge and Zigbee, which means you lot can't directly connect your photographic camera or your Arlo account to many smart lights, smart locks, and other habitation devices. But with the existing compatibility, you can indirectly connect to virtually anything. The links just take to become through a central hub or protocol.
Arlo automation assist
If y'all demand assistance connecting your Arlo products to your smart home banana, we take guides for Alexa and Google Assistant users.
Arlo app
People aren't crazy nigh the Arlo mobile app. It has four-ish star ratings on both the App Store and Google Play, and users are constantly criticizing it in their Amazon reviews.
It's non the worst app nosotros've meet. Just we do wish that some of the settings were easier to observe. It's manner more than intuitive to click on a single device and adapt all its settings from ane screen than it is to hunt downward settings across the app.
Arlo Essential installation
This DIY security camera isn't also difficult to set up.
If you love DIY domicile improvement projects, you'll be thrilled to know you lot'll set upward this camera yourself. (Unless, like some of our team members, you lot know someone who loves to exercise transmission labor in exchange for dinner.)
Arlo Essential installation steps:
- Charge the photographic camera.
- Download the Arlo app.
- Create an Arlo account.
- Select Devices > Add New Device > Cameras > Essential.
- Select your Essential model.
- Choose whether to connect the camera to a SmartHub.
- Connect the app to your Wi-Fi network.
- Follow the app instructions to complete the camera setup.
- Secure the Arlo mount in the desired location.
Make sure you secure the camera in a identify you can achieve again since (until the solar panel comes available) you'll take to dismount it at least twice a year for battery recharges. Or you can mount it within an extension cord's achieve of an outlet if you'd rather bring the charge to the camera.
Recap: Is Arlo Essential skillful?
We think the Arlo Essential is very good overall
When all is said and washed, if you're looking for an Arlo camera, this would be one of our first recommendations. The base station-free design simply tin can't be beat, and the upcoming solar power function is another step in the correct direction for user convenience.
- Features: This photographic camera has a lot of condom features, including multiple types of motion detection, a light, and a siren.
- Pricing: The Arlo Essential isn't the cheapest photographic camera on the market, but for a leading safety brand, it'southward a lower cost.
- Abode automation: You lot'll go plenty of indirect smart product connections with this Arlo camera.
- Installation: The Essential shouldn't exist too difficult to install in your home.
If y'all want a fuller overview of how the Essential compares to other Arlo cameras, read our complete Arlo review. You tin besides check out our Arlo Ultra and Arlo ii vs. Arlo 3 pieces for even more insight.
Arlo Essential FAQ
We've got answers to a few questions that might exist on your listen.
Is the Arlo Essential an indoor or outdoor camera?
Well-nigh of Arlo'south cameras are indoor-outdoor, and as far equally nosotros tin tell, this ane is as well. But regardless of the designation, you can employ all outdoor cameras indoors. You just accept to exist okay with paying more, since outdoor cameras are typically more expensive due to waterproofing.
So, in short, at that place's no reason you tin can't apply this photographic camera both indoors and outdoors. Only if you lot merely demand indoor use, y'all can always wait until the cheaper Essential Indoor Photographic camera drops.
Is a paid Arlo Smart plan worth it?
Paying $2.99 for advanced object detection, better video quality, and cloud storage seems like a pretty good deal to united states of america. Even if you pay more for fifty-fifty higher epitome quality, the cost is all the same reasonable.
If you lot choose to use local storage, remember that you'll have to purchase an Arlo SmartHub (and an SD card). That will require a lot more coin up front than a subscription plan will. And with the local storage, you lot'll have to remove the SD carte du jour from the hub to view the videos on a estimator. Which is manageable merely non very convenient.
How does the Arlo Essential compare to the Arlo Pro cameras?
The Arlo Pro and Arlo Essential have a lot of the same features since some of Arlo'due south top tech comes through the subscription program, not through the photographic camera model. But in that location are some differences.
The Pro 3 (the most recent model) is more expensive, has a wider field of view, and has local storage in the camera itself. It as well requires a SmartHub. And while it has a siren, it doesn't take a spotlight. (Yous can, yet, buy a version with a floodlight.)
Should I get an Arlo doorbell?
Should you get an Arlo video doorbell instead of the Essential? Not necessarily. While the video doorbell is cheaper and has some of the aforementioned features, it can only be placed in ane spot. You lot have to make sure you definitely desire a camera on your door earlier yous buy.
Should you get the doorbell in improver to the Essential? Sure. It'southward a decent video doorbell, and you'll exist able to admission both cameras at once using your Arlo ecosystem in the app.
Learn more from our Arlo video doorbell review.
Does Arlo sell a dwelling security system?
No, Arlo doesn't sell a full security arrangement. We've heard rumors for the concluding few years that the visitor will presently break into the proper home security industry, but so far, nothing's happened.
However, with its many, many cameras, Arlo is certainly a strength in the security photographic camera system space.
Which security camera is the best?
"Best" is a relative term, but nosotros've broken down the habitation security photographic camera scene and chosen some top recommendations. You can find our write-upwardly hither.
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