Arlo Pro 2 Vs Arlo Ultra: What To Buy?

Arlo is a US-based company that manufactures various home security products like cameras and doorbells. Since you can’t enjoy your day out unless you are sure your house is completely secure against all sorts of unwanted troubles, Arlo provides an easy way to achieve this: keeping you always connected to your house. Between Arlo Pro 2 and Arlo Ultra, it isn’t unusual to be confused as to what suits your purpose. There are a lot of good reviews out there, but a comprehensive comparison is a way out.

Our Verdict

Both the Arlo Pro 2 and Arlo Ultra are outstanding security cameras. If you’re looking for a cheap and secure solution with pretty high video quality, and live in a moderate temperature zone, Arlo Pro 2 is the way to go. For high security in sensitive areas, in unpleasant weather conditions, Arlo Ultra would be your best buddy!

Arlo Pro 2 Vs Arlo Ultra: Comparison Chart

Differences

1. Video Resolution

The Arlo Pro 2 has a 1080p video resolution, while the Arlo Ultra has three modes: 4K, 1080p and 720p. Using the latter, you can adjust your video quality as per your choice. A higher resolution camera provides good video quality at the expense of storage space. Arlo Ultra is definitely better.

2. Digital Zoom

The Arlo Pro 2 offers a 8x digital zoom, whereas the Arlo Ultra provides 12x zoom. A larger zoom enables a better view of details and far-off objects. The Arlo Ultra is certainly better in this regard.

3. Field of View

The Arlo Ultra offers a wide field of view of 180⁰ , using two cameras, each having a 150⁰ field of view. The Arlo Pro 2 offers only 130⁰ field of view. A higher field of view allows a larger area to be covered at a time. Thus, Arlo Ultra has got the upper hand.

4. Weather Resistance

The Arlo Ultra can handle a very large temperature difference from -20⁰C to 60⁰C, making it usable practically anywhere in the world. The Arlo Pro 2, on the other hand can handle temperatures from -20⁰C to 45⁰C, which is better to be used in cooler regions.

5. Noise cancellation

The Arlo Ultra uses active noise cancellation that basically removes all the noise from unwanted sources like wind and traffic, and records only the sound of the object/area in focus, making the audio much sharper. The Arlo Pro 2 has no such noise cancellation mechanism, so its audio is a bit noisy. Arlo Ultra is certainly better.

Similarities

1. Activity Zones

Both Arlo Pro 2 and Arlo Ultra focus on a particular zone in the view range where some activity occurs. This way, unnecessary details are automatically cut off.

2. Wireless operation

Both the cameras are wireless in operation. Both Arlo Pro 2 and Arlo Ultra work with Apple Home Kit, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, for easy, hassle-free operation and control.

3. Resistance

Both Arlo Pro 2 and Arlo Ultra are resistant to rough, unpleasant weather conditions. They can handle rain, strong winds and snow.

4. Lightweight

Both the cameras are quite light(~300 gm / 11 oz), for all the loads of features packed in them.

Technical Specifications Of Arlo Pro 2

Technical Specifications Of Arlo Ultra

• Video Modes
  • 4k, 1080p, 720p
• Video Features
  • Auto Track and Zoom, HDR, H.264 & H.265 Encoding
• Lens Field of View
  • 180⁰
• Sensor Size
  • 0.5 inches(12 mm)
• Spotlight
  • 6500K, 42Lux at 1m
• Motion Detection
  • Dual Motion Detectors, 150 degree horizontal
• Night Vision
  • High power Infrared LEDs (850nm) with InfraRed Cut Filter
• AC Adapter Output
  • 5V,  2A(10 watts)
• AC Adapter Input
  • 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz
• Indoor/Outdoor
  • Both (outdoor UV and weather resistant)
• Digital Zoom
  • 12x
• Microphone
  • Dual Microphone Array with noise and wind cancellation
• Max Video Resolution
  • 3840×2160 resolution
• Image Sensor
  • 8 megapixels
• Audio
  • Full Duplex 2-way Audio
• Status Lights
  • 2 LEDs (blue and amber)
• Networking
  • 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth Low Energy 4.2
• Compliant Standards
  • 128-bit SSL, AES-128, TSL, 2 factor authentication
• Battery Life
  • 3-6 months
• Charge Time to Full (via camera)
  • 3.5 hrs
• Charge time to Full (via charger accessory)
  • 2.9 hrs
• Operating Temperature
  • -20⁰C to 60⁰C
• Connectivity
  • Wi-Fi Connection, min 2Mbps upload speed
• microSD card requirements
  • Class 10, UHS1, V10
• Min home upload speed
  • 2-4Mbps

Overview Of Arlo Pro 2

The Arlo Pro 2 is an inexpensive, high-end security solution for most households. With a video quality of 1080p, and 8x zoom, upto 300 feet range, and upto 23m passive infrared(PIR) motion detection, this camera can do wonders. Connect it to your phone, and you will be ever updated as to the whereabouts of your house’s surroundings, real time.

This device has a 90-decibel siren that warns you if it detects any suspicious activity or danger in and around your house. It is powered by an adapter, but with 2440 mAh of battery capacity, it can be used wirelessly for a long period of time(depends upon the usage). It also comes with two-way audio, meaning you can listen to it, and talk back: the camera has a speaker too. This device can also prompt push notifications to your phone in case of urgent updates. There is also a 3-second look-back feature, that helps you track activity from the very beginning. Wondering how all of this is possible? Well, there’s the Arlo app that does all these miracles. In the free version, you can connect up to 5 cameras at one time.

Upgrading to the pro version of the app will let you connect up to 20 devices in one go. The app adds a whole world of functionalities to the device. You can literally carry the house in your pocket. Recording video clips and playing them whenever required, setting off the siren to ward off intruders, talking back to delivery persons while you aren’t home, zooming in and out of living video footage, and more. The app also lets you access the Arlo cloud where you can save 7 days’ footage, for up to 5 cameras. The only requirement for this is fast internet connectivity of at least 1MBps. You may also use flash memory to store the camera footage. As to the durability of the product, it is IP65-certified to stand the rain, sun, heat, or cold. Arlo Pro 2 has a lot of amazing features But have you checked how different Arlo pro is in comparison to Arlo pro 2?

Overview Of Arlo Ultra

The Arlo Ultra is definitely one of the best security solutions available in the market. With an adjustable video quality of up to 4K resolution with HDR, 180⁰ field of view with advanced dewarping, active noise cancellation, and close up zoom, it is certainly a monster at its price. Just like the Pro 2 version, it is also backed up by the app. The app has all the features of the Pro 2 model and many other features.

You can set the focus area for any camera using the app as “favorite”. Footages of up to 30 days can be kept in the cloud. Ultra also works fine with Apple watch and Google Home hub. As for the camera, there are active noise cancellation microphones that help record crystal clear audio. A bright LED flashlight and a 100-decibel siren help scare off intruders. What’s really cool about this model is that it has a color night vision, which means, it will capture colored videos even at night. The only drawback of the Ultra model is that it requires an internet connection of a minimum 2MBps for good performance. Also, the cloud storage isn’t free of cost.

FAQs

Conclusion

The Arlo Ultra is a high-end security solution that provides the best possible security to your house. However, if the security requirements are not that strict, The Arlo Pro 2 is a good alternative at a low price. Want something similar to Arlo Pro 2, check out how similar and different Arlo Pro 3 is in comparison to Arlo Pro 2.