Arlo Essential Spotlight Price And Availability
- List price: $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.99
The Arlo Essential Spotlight camera is positioned as Arlos entry-level home security camera, although with color night vision and a built-in siren it doesnt make too many compromises. The Arlo Essential Spotlight camera is available now from the Arlo website, Amazon and other electronics retailers with a list price of $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$229.99.
The camera comes with a three-month free trial of Arlo Smart, which stores video footage securely online and identifies whether motion alerts are caused by a person or animal. Once the trial expires youll need to subscribe, at a cost of $2.99 / £2.49 / AU$4.49 per month, to get the most out of your camera. Arlo offers a more expensive subscription that supports 4K video, but as the Arlo Essential Spotlight camera isnt capable of recording at this resolution you won’t need this.
- Powered by a rechargeable battery
- Secure screw mount makes it harder for the camera to be removed
- Camera is out of action when charging
Arlo designs products that look and feel like they belong together, and the Arlo Essential Spotlight is no exception. The weather-resistant camera has the same white plastic body and black front as the rest of Arlos security camera lineup, and at first glance you probably wouldnt be able to tell which model is which.
Arlo Ultra Battery Life
Proprietary rechargeable batteries
The newest Arlo camera is the Arlo Ultra, which has 4K footage.
When it was first announced, there were some major concerns from Arlo users in regards to battery life due to its ability to record in 4K. However, Arlo Ultra has mostly lived up to its promised battery life in our testing.
In our experience, Arlo Pro and Pro 2 might last 5-6 months, but Arlo Ultra usually needs recharging around 3-4 months. There are other major differences to look at with Arlo Pro vs Arlo Ultra, but we are just focusing on battery life for this article.
Arlo Ultras battery is released on the back of the camera.
Unlike the Arlo Pro and Pro 2, the charging cable is magnetic and attaches on the bottom of the camera. This makes it easy to recharge the battery or power the camera without uninstalling it and attaching a cord on the back.
Arlo Smart Home Compatibility
Arlo has some of the best smart home compatibility among security cameras, which extends to the Arlo Pro security cameras. Out of the box, you can expect Arlo Pro 4 to work with four smart home platforms: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, IFTTT, and Samsung SmartThings. By linking your Arlo account to one of these platforms, you can make your camera work alongside other smart devices.
If you buy the optional base station, Arlo Pro 4 gains smart home compatibility with Apple HomeKit.
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Arlo Essential Wireless Security Camera: Design
The Arlo Essential looks like Arlos other outdoor wireless cameras, only larger. It has a trapezoidal shape with the rounded rear slightly larger than the flat front. Measuring 3.5 inches long by 3 inches wide and 2 inches thick, its a lot larger than many other wireless outdoor cameras, such as the Blink Outdoor and even some of Arlos other cameras. Its definitely more noticeable.
At the back of the Arlo Essential is a small screw hole which you can use to attach the camera to the included mounting bracket. On the bottom is a small rubber flap that protects the microUSB charging port as well as a small power button.
As should be the case with all outdoor cameras, the Arlo Essential is weatherproof. It withstood plenty of inclement conditions outside my home.
Like most of Arlos more recent security cameras, the Arlo Essential can connect directly to your Wi-Fi .
As part of the installation process, Arlo requires all users to set up two-step authentication to help prevent hackers from accessing your camera.
Arlo Essential Xl Spotlight: Features
The Essential XL is a weather-resistant indoor/outdoor camera with 1080p HD video quality, two-way audio, motion detection alerts, color-night vision, 12x digital zoom, a built-in siren 80dB and – as the name implies – a high-powered spotlight.
There’s no HDR video, Zoom and Track capability, or wide field of view as there is on Arlo’s higher-end models.
Arlo alternative: Arlo 4 Spotlight Camera review / Arlo Ultra 2 review
But you still get a completely wireless experience and Arlo’s excellent app that offers loads of customization, and smart alerts so you can choose if you want to know about all motion, animals, people, vehicles, and even packages. Plus, customizable motion zones also help cut down on nuisance notifications.
As we’ve said, there’s no local storage on the device – although you can pair it with a Base Station for a local option if you don’t want to rely on the cloud. There’s also no continuous video recording as there is on some Arlos – as you can’t keep it plugged in.
But you do get motion-activated recording and rich notifications that include a snapshot of the action and the option to play a live view from the lock screen – a feature we really like.
If you want to store recordings to view later and get those smart alerts you need to pay for the Arlo Smart cloud service .
Affordable rival: Reolink Argus 3 security camera review
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Arlo Essential Spotlight Battery Life
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Arlo is misrepresenting the battery life of their cameras. On the site they claim that the Arlo Essential Spotlight camera will have 6 months of battery life after fully charged. This is blatantly not true. We are good if we can get 48 hours on a full charge. A class action lawsuit might get Arlo’s attention. We spent an inordinate amount of time getting the first Essential Spotlight replaced. After 6 weeks customer service did agree to send a replacement. It was supposed to have been a black camera, but of course they sent a white one and then we had to buy a new skin for it. My husband is ready to throw away $200 worth of Arlo equipment because they don’t perform like they should.
Arlo Essential Wireless Security Camera: Price And Availability
On Arlos site, the Arlo Essential Wireless Security Camera is priced at $129, although you can often find it on sale at other retailers. Arlo also offers discounts if you purchase three cameras at the same time .
The Arlo Essential XL is the same camera, but with a larger battery that the company says will last up to a year before needing to be recharged. Both versions are available with either a white or a black case.
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Arlo Essential Xl Spotlight Camera
- Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
- Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
| Surveillance, Monitor Babies, Pet Camera |
| Connectivity Protocol |
- Local storage option – Secure your video camera footage directly to your Arlo Base Station or SmartHub and view them anytime anywhere. Compatible with VMB4000, VMB4540, VMB5000
- Works seamlessly with your smart home – Receive alerts and manage your home security by making your surveillance camera a Amazon Alexa device, Google Home device, Samsung Smartthings device, and Apple HomePod device
- Arlo Secure – Includes 3-months of Arlo Secure for 30-day cloud recording, advanced object detection, rich notifications, cloud activity zones and more. Plans start at dollar 2.99 per month for a single camera, and dollar 9.99 for unlimited cameras
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- Batteries :1 Lithium Polymer batteries required.
- Product Dimensions :7.62 x 5.08 x 8.89 cm 340.19 Grams
- Date First Available :June 13 2020
- Manufacturer :Arlo
- Place of Business :SAN JOSE, CA, 95134 US
- ASIN :B0875FRJPT
| SAN JOSE, CA, 95134 US |
| Item model number |
|---|
| 7.62 x 5.08 x 8.89 cm 340.19 Grams |
| ASIN |
3.6 out of 5 stars5.0 out of 5 stars
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Arlo’s Essential Spotlight Camera Does A Lot For 130 Bucks
The Essential Spotlight Camera has *most* of the same great Arlo features for much less money.
Megan Wollerton
Senior Writer/Editor
Megan Wollerton has covered technology for CNET since 2013. Before that, she wrote for NBC’s Dvice.com . Megan has a master’s degree from the University of Louisville and a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College, both in international relations. She is a board member of the Louisville chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. When Megan isn’t writing, she’s planning far-flung adventures.
I’ve been waiting for Arlo to offer a more affordable outdoor security camera for a long time — and it’s finally here. The new $130 Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera isn’t as cheap as the $50 Wyze Cam Outdoor or the $100 Ring Video Doorbell, but it’s yet another example of the growing trend of more affordable home security cameras.
Like
- It’s affordable
- It has a lot of alert options and extra features
Don’t like
- The battery isn’t removable
The Essential Spotlight Camera has a lot of the stuff I like about Arlo’s Pro line of outdoor cameras — livestreaming and a lot of alert customizations and other advanced features via the optional Arlo Smart cloud service. That said, this $130 camera strips out some things too. Instead of a removable battery, you have to bring the whole camera inside to charge it and the USB charging cable Arlo provides is comically short.
Arlo Essential Spotlight Terrible Battery Life
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All 3 of my Essential Spotlight cameras have terrible battery life. I have had these in operation for about 4 months and have to charge each camera 3 times. I am now down to them lasting about 2 weeks. This is terrible……
Are they connected to WiFi or to a base or hub? Have you brought a camera closer to the router/hub to see if that makes a difference? How many total minutes of recording and live viewing are you doing on average per day? Are you using zones? If so, try removing them so you can see every recording to add up the minutes.
This is such a ridiculous response about bringing the cameras closer to the router . In my case, moving them closer means completely changing from the areas in which I need monitored. The only camera I could move by more than a foot and still capture the same area from a different angle is already the closest to the WiFi router anyway.
I am not using zones. There are about 40 recordings a day at 20 seconds per.
wrote:
This is such a ridiculous response about bringing the cameras closer to the router . In my case, moving them closer means completely changing from the areas in which I need monitored.
Moving a camera closer to the router can help you sort out whether connection drops are part of the puzzle for you . Obviously not a solution, but it can be helpful in troubleshooting the problem.
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How Long Does An Arlo Essential Battery Last
Best answer: The Arlo Essential battery will last up to six months, or up to a year with the Essential XL Spotlight Camera. Although that estimate depends on how often and when the camera is activated, with nighttime footage burning through the battery twice as fast. It can last indefinitely if you connect your Essential Camera to an Arlo solar panel.
- Six months or less: Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera
- Up to a year: Arlo Essential XL Spotlight Camera
- Never worry about battery life: Arlo Essential Solar Panel Charger
How long will the Arlo Essential battery last?
Many wireless or wire-free security cameras have removable battery packs, so you can buy a spare and swap it in with almost no footage downtime. That isn’t the case with the Arlo Essential, which we named the best Arlo camera for people just starting out at home security. It has a built-in battery, so you’ll need to unmount and recharge it indoors when its battery runs out, then climb back on your ladder and mount it again. So knowing how often you’ll have to go through this process is pretty important if you’re considering buying one.
The Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera has a six-month battery estimate, but Arlo explains on its help page that this prediction “is based on usage of 4000 seconds per month, 30 seconds per stream, and day/night event splits of 2:1. Battery lifespan varies with device settings, use, activity captured, and environmental factors.”
Ifttt And Samsung Smartthings
IFTTT and SmartThings give you a little more flexibility in using your Arlo cameramostly with how you set up routines to control devices. IFTTT is great for connecting Arlo to other devices and services that usually wouldn’t work with your smart home system. A good example is using other security cameras like Wyze and Ring with Arlo. This frees you up to use a variety of cameras for your home without sticking to one brand.
The best part about pairing Arlo with SmartThings is that you can link it to other sensors in your home. It helps the camera know to start recording if there’s motion just outside the front door or if a window opens that’s just out of the camera’s view.
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Arlo Battery Life Review
Affiliate Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which earn us commission at no cost to you.
The Arlo security cameras that work on a battery without plugging into the wall are Arlo Ultra, Arlo Pro and Pro 2, Arlo Wire-Free, and Arlo Go.
They all have different battery life promises from Arlo, so we will provide details on each.
One of the most important things to know is that battery life can vary greatly. Your own set up and environment can drain your Arlo batteries more quickly, so your mileage may vary.
Below the different cameras, we also give some important tips that will help you conserve your cameras battery life.
| No. Buy third-party rechargeable batteries as a workaround | Yes | ||||
| Interchangeable with Arlo Pro 2. Proprietary. | Interchangeable with Arlo Pro. Proprietary. | 2 CR123 batteries. | Not interchangeable. Proprietary. | ||
| Summary | Battery life lasts ~3-4 months in our testing. Improved magnetic plug attaches to bottom of camera. | Battery life lasts ~6 months in our testing. | Battery life lasts ~6 months in our testing. | Original Arlo cameras. Weakest battery life and features. | 3G/4G camera that doesn’t require WiFi, but drains battery faster. |
Analysis Of 1k+ Reviews For Arlo Vmc2330 Essential Spotlight Camera
BestViewsReviews analyzed 392,622 reviews for 290 products in the Wireless Security Cameras category.
We analyzed a total of 1,139 reviews for this product out of which, 933 reviews were received in the last 6 months.
The analysis indicates that around 68% reviews were positive while around 27% of reviews had negative sentiment.
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How Arlo Pro 4 Compares To The Competition
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| Read Review |
Amazon.com list price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Arlo has consistently appeared in our lists of best cameras over the years because the brand consistently makes products that perform exceptionally well in terms of quality and connectivity.
It can be pricier than competitors like Reolink, but if smart home options are important to you or youre an Apple user, Arlo has more options to connect with.
Its also got impressive motion zone customizations and the widest field of view of cameras we recommend. Motion zones let you cut down on motion alerts by ignoring busy areas like sidewalks or a bus stop near your house. And if you want to cover a wide area, a bigger field of view will help you do that with fewer cameras.
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I set the camera on the railing of our back deck where our Wi-Fi network was good, but not great, and I received alerts anywhere between three and 10 seconds after motion took place. Later on, I set up a motion zone to reduce the coverage area to our little backyard garden to make sure no more pests were stealing our tomatoes . That helped reduce the number of alerts I received and slowed the drain on the battery.
I enlisted Kevin to test out the camera’s two-way talk feature and it was remarkably clear. There was a one- or two-second delay and we occasionally talked over each other because of it, but I was surprised how clearly I could hear him, both talking to him through my phone and through the camera itself from the back deck.
The Essential camera has customizable armed and disarmed modes, including the ability to set rules like, “If motion is detected , then record video and turn on the camera’s built-in siren.” If you don’t want the siren to sound every time motion is detected , you can turn it on manually in the app. As the camera’s name suggests, the Essential Spotlight Camera also has a built-in spotlight. If the spotlight is enabled in the app, it will flash or pulse light when motion is detected at night. I forgot to tell Kevin about this feature and it startled him when he was taking the dogs out one evening. You can turn this feature off or adjust the brightness in the app as needed.
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