When it comes to buying any home security product, we need to be very cautious about the brand we are using and the type of product we are buying. Smart cameras are leading home security products today which almost everyone wants in their homes. Now there are plenty of smart camera brands available in the market but are all of them equally good? Of course, they all differ in their quality and effectiveness.
To make your decision easy of what smart camera you should buy, we have found out two of the best security cameras present in the market today- Blink XT and Arlo Pro 2. After testing both these products consistently for a week, here we have their differences as well as similarities in detail so that you can decide the best between the two.
Our Verdict
Quick Navigation
Both cameras belong to equally known brands and are known for their quality, but have lots of differences. Blink XT offers you a better video quality up to 1080 p while Arlo pro has 720 p. Arlo Pro 2 has a lot of additional features like a local storage facility, siren support, and two-way audio that Blink XT does not have. Therefore, if we have to choose one between both the products then we would suggest Arlo Pro 2 because of its extra smart features that give it an edge. However, it depends on you what you believe would be the most convenient of the two for your home. You should make up your final mind only after reading all their features in detail.
The new technology of two-way audio lets you have a live conversation with the person who is captured or standing in front of the camera. It is helpful in many ways because if you find anything wrong or unusual taking place at your home like your kid has got hurt or any stranger comes at your door, at least you can communicate with them on the spot and try to resolve the problem as quickly as possible. It is available in Arlo pro 2 but unfortunately not in Blink XT.
2. Design
Both cameras differ in their designs and color. Blink XT is a small black model that looks pretty classy too. Although it is small in size, it can be quite visible if installed on a white wall or any other light color wall. For this purpose, it comes with extra skins to hide and protect it.
Arlo Pro 2 is more attractive in design because it has a white glossy finish. It is very eye-catching to look at. It can be easily spotted too and that is why it comes with skins and camouflage for hiding.
3. Power
In terms of power, Arlo Pro 2, of course, has better power-up options than Blink XT. Both devices work on lithium-ion batteries but Arlo pro 2 has rechargeable batteries with solar panel charger. On the other hand, Blink XT batteries are not rechargeable. In the case of Arlo Pro 2, you would not have to worry about changing the batteries every time as far as you have good sunlight outside. Arlo Pro 2 works has solar power batteries so in a way it can prove to be cheaper in the longer run. While, the Blink XT batteries have to be changed from time to time failure of which will stop the recording.
4. Integration
There is a difference between a smart hub and a voice controller. A smart hub lets your smart devices connect so that they can communicate well amongst themselves and give you a more effective and automatic result. In a smart hub, you can easily control all your smart devices through one app and it also lets your devices function automatically following each other. A voice controller feature is where you can control a smart device through your voice commands. There are a lot of advantages a smart hub has over any voice controller. In this respect, Arlo pro 2 exceeds as it lets you integrate with SmartThings hub, IFTTT, and Amazon Echo Show while Blink XT only allows voice controller integration with Amazon Echo and Echo Dot.
Without the hub, you won’t be able to change the settings of all your smart devices according to your liking. Your smart camera will not schedule itself according to your lifestyle following other smart devices. Therefore, Arlo pro 2 has an advantage over Blink in this very important feature.
5. Remote Viewing
One of the smart features that any smart camera offers you is remote viewing your activities with the help of an app or web. Both Blink XT and Arlo Pro 2 have remote viewing features. Arlo Pro 2 offers you remote viewing through the app as well as web access while Blink XT only offers you viewing through the app. In case if you lose your smartphone anywhere you need web access as an alternate option for viewing. Therefore, Arlo Pro 2 is a better device than Blink XT for such emergencies.
6. Video
In terms of the video quality, Arlo Pro 2 gives much better quality that is 1080 p while Arlo pro 2 is 720 p which is quite less in quality as compared to Blink.
Arlo pro 2 can zoom in 8 times and its field of view is 130 degrees. Blink XT can also zoom in 8 times but with 110 degrees field of view.
7. Storage Facility
In terms of storage also, Arlo pro 2 proves to be a better option than Blink XT. Arlo Pro 2 offers local as well as cloud storage. It can store data up to 7 days in cloud storage which is quite a long time as compared to other smart cameras.
On the other hand, Blink XT does not have a local storage facility. It stores the cloud data only up to 3 hours. It also does not offer any subscription plan to offer any extra storage facility.
Both devices are compatible with iOS as well as Android devices which is one great advantage of both of them. You do not need to worry about which smartphone you have if you buy any of these devices.
2. App Control
Both devices offer an app control feature. You can change the setting of your cameras, set schedules or timers or view the footage with the help of their respective apps via your smartphone anytime you want and from anywhere.
3. Motion-detector
Both devices can easily detect whenever someone comes close to the camera and send you an alert via notification or e-mail in emergencies.
4. IFTTT
IFTTT is an important feature which is available in a lot of smart devices. It is very common. It helps you integrate your smart devices to other devices at your home. This feature is present in both devices.
5. Recording Facility
Both smart cameras have video recording facility. However, their video storage time may differ, but they both can record the footage as per your convenience to work as proof in times of need.
Additional Features And Technical Specifications Of Blink XT
Has got a 130-degree viewing angle which offers a pretty wide angle of view
A wire-free device with a rechargeable battery
It can charge by power adapter too
It has the feature of activity zones. The areas which are the most important like kitchen, front door, living room, etc. need to be set on activity zones and there are extra surveillance in these areas so you get an instant alert as soon as any motion is detected in these areas
Two-way audio access
Instant alert feature via e-mail or notification
Offers smart quality siren with 10-decibel alarm for emergencies
Has the local back up option where any activity can be stored in your USB
Video quality is 720 p
Has the night vision facility so it cannot easily record in the dark
It can work in dim light
It has got IP65 certification for weatherproofing feature
Has the video recording facility
It can store data up to 7 days in Cloud
Compatible with SmartThings, IFTTT and Amazon Alexa
Accessories
There are some accessories that you get along with each box for free. The list of the accessories offered by each box is given below-
Blink XT
Extra Blink XT skins- 3pcs silicone skin
White cover for blink set
An adapter to charge
Arlo Pro 2
Extra Arlo skins- 2pcs silicone skins
Arlo fully rotational wall mount- 2pcs
An adapter to charge
FAQ’s
1. Does Blink XT have a monthly fee?
No, Blink XT does not take any monthly fee. Once you purchase the item, it is completely yours and you can use it for free.
2. Does the Blink XT camera need a Wi-Fi connection?
Yes, the Blink XT camera does need a Wi-Fi connection to work. You need to have proper Wi-Fi that works smoothly to make your cameras function. If there is no connection, the camera will stop working.
3. How many cameras can you add to Arlo Pro 2?
Arlo Pro 2 can connect up to 6 cameras which are fairly less than Blink XT that supports a total of 10 cameras integration.
4. Does Arlo Pro 2 emit any light?
Yes, Arlo Pro 2 camera does have a light which is pretty much visible from a close distance.
Bottom Line
Jot down your needs, before buying any of these smart cameras for yourself. Giving a thumbs up to any of them would be difficult as they are designed at different levels. Blink XT is a regular high video quality camera but it lacks the necessary features like live video recording and local storage. If you want to see more of Blink X T you should definitely check out the comparison done between Blink Xt and Blink.
While for Arlo Pro 2 the video quality is not as amazing as Blink but the features are far ahead. So, on the whole, it’s pretty much your decision which one would be best for your home. If you like Arlo Pro, do compare it with Arlo Q Also.
Andrea is a Senior Content Editor who digs into the very minuscule details to give her readers the best hands-on experience of the products. She brings her years of research and engineering experience to help us consistently create immaculate engaging content and products that hold the highest technical integrity.
Leave a Reply