Simcam 1S AI vs Arlo Pro 2: Which One Is Better?

Having a smart camera in your home can have many advantages – better security, surveillance on kids, or other people inside your homes, capturing suspicious activities, etc. With the advancement in technology, cameras have also become smart these days. Now it is so convenient to have a smart camera at home. Let’s compare Simcam 1S and the Arlo Pro 2, which are two amazing smart cameras.

Our Verdict

The Simcam 1S comes out on top and offers a better value for money with features like 360° pan, enhanced face recognition, and enhanced night vision. The best part here is that you don’t have to upgrade to any expensive plans, unlike the Arlo Pro 2.

Simcam 1S Vs Arlo Pro 2: Comparison Chart

Differences

1. Storage And Subscription

The best part of Simcam 1Sis that you don’t have to buy any subscription plans with this one. Everything is stored locally on its 128 GB micro SD card. With local storage, you also get the 24/7 recording feature.

In Arlo Pro 2, you have seven days of cloud storage without any additional cost. You can also backup those recordings via USB drive. But if you want more than that, then you will have to upgrade to its Smart subscriptions, which offer 60-day cloud storage.

2. Field Of View And Pan

The area where Simcam 1S has an advantage over the Pro 2 is the field of view and pan. The 1S can rotate up to 360° with a gimbal stabilizer. This will give a clear picture of a room without having to install multiple cameras.

Arlo Pro 2 comes with a 130° field of view, so it does give you many options there. But without the stabilizer, Simcam 1S has only a 100° field of view.

3. Power Options

In terms of power options, Arlo Pro 2 is a versatile camera as it runs on rechargeable batteries or with a power adapter. If you don’t have wiring in your house, then you can still use Pro 2 outside, and that is great. However, most of the premium features can only be used when it is powered by the AC connection.

On the other hand, Simcam 1S can only be powered by an AC connection. There are no battery options available with that one making it a lot difficult to use outside.

4. Sound Detection

Arlo Pro 2 does have its advantages, and one of them is sound detection. Just like motion detection, the camera starts to record whenever it hears something such as a fire alarm, or the police siren.

This feature is not available on the Simcam 1S.

5. Person And Object Detection

Another advantage of having a Simcam 1S is that it does well when it comes to tracking people and objects. The camera can identify a person and give you custom alerts, or follow them with its 360° pan. When it comes to object tracking, you can create a frame around the object. So whenever the object is moved from its position, you’ll automatically get alerts. This feature is available on Arlo Pro 2 but only with a paid subscription. You cannot access it on the free plan that comes with the cameras.

Similarities

1. Two-way Audio

Simcam 1S and Arlo Pro 2, both come with two-way audio means that you can listen to everything that the person on the camera is saying, or you can also talk to them via the camera speaker. A great feature to scare potential thieves or direct a delivery person.

2. Live View on Demand

Both the cameras come with a 1080p HD live view on demand. You can watch the live feed of your home whenever you want.

3. Weatherproof

Both the cameras can handle harsh weather conditions with a range from -4 to 122° F. The Arlo Pro 2 will have better weatherproofing when it’s’s working on battery power. When it connected to a chord, it won’t be protected much as it plugs in the USB port.

The Simcam 1S comes with a tighter and more secure power plug connection, but still, it shouldn’t be used in the pouring rain.

4. Motion Detection

Motion detection is another common feature between both the cameras. If any motion is detected by these cameras, they will alert you as soon as possible. The Simcam 1S does a better job when it comes to motion detection. Motion detection is only available on Arlo Pro 2 when it is connected via the power adapter.

Features And Specifications of Simcam 1S

• Design: The Simcam 1S is a small camera that is designed mostly for indoor use.
• Color: white or black
• Dimension and weight: 4.7 x 2.8 x 2.8 inches and weighs just 8 ounces.
• Rating: The camera is IP54 rated and can handle some light splashes but not pouring rain.
• Camera: The camera supported 1080p HD video recording at 30 FPS and had a 100° field of view along with a 360° pan when used with a gimbal stabilizer. The camera comes with a Starlight night vision technology that uses ten infrared LEDs to give up to 50 ft of black and white night vision. This feature is pretty amazing and will be used a lot at night.
• Local Storage: The best part of the camera is its local storage. The 1S comes with a 16 GB micro SD card, but you can upgrade it to 128 GB. It can event-triggered videos, which also include a 5-second video of events before the motion-triggered event.
• Detection: Simcam 1S also comes with face recognition up to 18 feet, which works well and sends you custom alerts. It also supports car detection, person detection, and animal detection—some pretty cool Features. You can also custom select a particular area around an object. So if the object is moved from its location, you’ll be immediately notified by the camera.
• Connectivity and Compatibility: The reason they are called smart cameras is because of their connectivity. Simcam 1S can be controlled by its mobile app. You can use the two-way audio feature to communicate via the camera, as well. The custom zones are also selected from the app, and you can view a live stream whenever you want. The 1S also supports Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or other IFTTT devices, which means that it can integrate with your other smart home devices. This device supports 2.4Ghz or even 5Ghz bands, which will give better connections and speeds.
• Quality: The 1S performs very well and produces good quality videos in the daytime. Starlight night vision provides great night-time videos with good contrast, and details are precise up to 40 feet.
• Features: Two-way audio is a pretty useful feature, and thankfully, it’s’s, not just a gimmick. It works as expected, loud, and bright. Automatic tracking is also very accurate but swipes gestures can have a better response rate. The software does an excellent job of distinguishing between people, pets, and cars.
• Integration: The integration with Google Assistant, Alexa, or other IFTTT devices is pretty responsive too. You can use Alexa to show the camera’s live stream on your Alexa enabled devices, and it will work flawlessly.

Features And Specifications of Arlo Pro 2

• Dimensions and Weight: The Arlo Pro 2 is a glossy white camera that measures 3.1 x 1.9 x 2.8 inches and weighs about 4.8 ounces. The top has a sync button and another one to open the battery compartment.
• Rating: The Pro 2 is IP65 waterproof and can be used in tough weather conditions as well.
• Power: The Arlo Pro 2 can be used with a rechargeable battery or an AC power adapter.
• Camera: The camera can record 1080p HD videos and has a 130° field of view. It also comes with six infrared LEDs to give a decent range of 25 feet for black and white night vision.
• Ports and Buttons: Arlo Pro 2 comes with a base station that has two USB ports, LAN port, power button, reset button, and a power jack.
• Look Back feature: The Pro 2 comes with a Look Back feature that allows the camera to capture a three-second video before the motion or sound-triggered event.
• Custom activity zones: You can also select custom activity zones to enable the camera to record any incidents in those areas only. One drawback is that you can use these features only when the camera is plugged into the power source.
• Storage: You can save up to 7 days of footage on the cloud-based video storage, which is decent. With the free plan, you can connect up to five cameras for a single account. There are different plans for which you’ll have to pay extra, and you’ll get to use the various features.
• Application: The Pro 2 works well with its camera app. You can see the battery level, motion and sound alerts, or a live on-demand view.
• Integration: This one also works with Alexa or Google Assistant and also with IFTTT devices. You’ll have no issues with the interface.

What’s In The Box?

Simcam 1S

• 1 Simcam 1s camera
• One power cable
• One power adapter
• One screwdriver
• One wall mount
• Wall anchors
• screws and cable clips
• One quick start guide.

Arlo Pro 2

• 1 Arlo Pro 2 camera
• 1 rechargeable battery
• 1 base station with built-in siren
• 1 AC Power adapter
• 1 power cable
• 1 ethernet cable
• 1 outdoor security mount
• 1 outdoor security mount screw set
• 1 wall mount
• 1 wall mount screw set
• 2 window decals and a quick start guide.

Overview of the Simcam 1S

The Simcam 1S is a great budget camera with some brilliant features that aren’t available on other budget cameras. It offers a sharp 1080p video and a very good night vision. Features like motion detection, face recognition, and custom zones work flawlessly and are actually useful rather than just being gimmicky. The app controls are pretty intuitive, and IFTTT functionality is brilliant. The alerts on this camera are instantaneous, unlike some other cameras which take some time to send the alerts. Plus, you don’t need any extra subscriptions. Every feature is available to use right out of the box.

Overview of Arlo Pro 2

The Arlo Pro 2 camera gives the freedom to go wireless with a rechargeable battery. The camera provides great video quality and lives view on demand. But all this does not come cheap, the Pro 2 is more expensive than the Simcam 1S. Features are great but are only usable with the power adapter but it’s fine. It comes with a decent 130° field of view and the installation process is pretty simple.

The voice controls and IFTTT integration makes the experience even better. But there are some trade-offs to this device such as only 7 days local backup, limited features when on battery. Still, this is a very good camera if you can look over the price tag. If you’re looking for A good smart camera you should check how nest is in contrast to Arlo pro.

FAQs

Bottom Line

Simcam 1S is a clear winner in this review as it provides better features at a lower price. The features work as expected, and camera quality is excellent. But if you talking about security you should also check out how differences and similarities between Reolink Argus 2 and Arlo Pro 2.

Pro 2 is not a bad camera at any means, and if you need something for your HomeKit, then you’ll have to go with the Arlo Pro 2 as the 1S is not HomeKit compatible, at least for now.

But the 1S is a much better value for money. Also if you’re really interested in arlo pro 2 you should check how Pro 2 is in contrast to the Ring floodlight camera.