What is the deal?
The Arlo Pro 5S 2K security camera is discounted to $180 with a limited-time deal.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Arlo’s flagship Pro 5S 2K digicam is battery-powered and encompasses a 2K decision that sells for $250 however is at present $180.
- The Professional 5S can go anyplace surveillance is required. It’s reliably correct at detecting movement and has a detachable rechargeable battery.
- Arlo requires a subscription to entry many of the in-app options, the video high quality could possibly be higher for 2K decision, and it is costly.
The Arlo Pro 5S 2K is a very wi-fi safety digicam that may be positioned indoors or outside. It is modern, compact, and dependable — all qualities you’d count on from a brand new Arlo digicam. Some issues left me wanting, although I am unable to say if it is due to Arlo or private choice.
First, it is value discussing the elephant within the room: the month-to-month subscription.
I really like an incredible safety system; it is one of many few issues I do not overlook to modify on each night time, and, as a identified OCD sufferer, it helps me sleep at night time. I’ve a Eufy Security system in my dwelling as a result of it would not require any subscription or month-to-month charges, although the startup price is not low cost.
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Arlo cameras are costlier than the Eufy Safety ones all through my dwelling and nonetheless require a subscription after you purchase it. I might go on an extended rant about why I dislike safety digicam subscriptions, however I will say this: If I purchase the digicam, I wish to personal the photographs. You do not purchase a images digicam to pay the producer for every picture or video you are taking.
The Arlo Professional 5S 2K digicam is not meant to be a standalone product. Whereas it’s offered and can be utilized as one, it is meant to work greatest when linked with different Arlo Residence Safety units. Customers should buy a separate Arlo Extremely SmartHub to raise their safety system and allow native storage. The SmartHub can document onto a micro SD card that is offered individually.
As soon as arrange, customers can solely entry the digicam recordings when they’re in the identical community because the SmartHub, because the system works domestically. This provides some customers a much-needed sense of privateness, however it may give others a headache.
Arlo shoppers can bypass this setup and remotely entry the video recordings saved within the SmartHub utilizing port forwarding or a VPN.
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The corporate gives various kinds of Arlo Safe subscriptions to allow cloud storage of as much as 30 days, sensible interactive and animated notifications, audio detection of alarms, sensible exercise zones, theft substitute, important alerts, 24/7 emergency response, and sure AI-powered options.
The Arlo Safe subscriptions vary from $4.99 a month for a single digicam as much as $25 a month for an infinite quantity of cameras, plus 24/7 skilled monitoring companies, video verification, Household Security monitoring for check-ins and placement alerts, and crash detection and response by way of the Arlo Secure App.
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Month-to-month charges apart, I’ve discovered the Arlo Professional 5S 2K to be extraordinarily dependable and responsive. Movement alerts are available in instantly. As quickly as there’s motion on the Arlo’s aspect of the yard, my cellphone lets me know.
Moreover, the battery life has been excellent. The Arlo Professional 5S has a detachable and rechargeable battery that lasts as much as eight months on a single cost. I examined the Professional 5S for about six months and solely needed to recharge the battery as soon as.
Nevertheless, the picture high quality captured by the digicam wasn’t nice. I am uncertain if the problem lies with the digicam or if my yard is not fairly sufficient, however I used to be left ready for the high-quality picture from the Arlo Professional 5S. As an alternative, I used to be met with overexposed patches of grass in my feed that overpowered a lot of the picture, making it onerous to establish folks once they walked by that space.
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I will admit my yard will get a number of daylight, and overexposure was the one problem I skilled with the Arlo Professional 5S. By this expertise, I decided the Professional 5S is healthier suited to surveil both the entrance or aspect of my dwelling.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Is the Arlo Pro 5S 2K value shopping for? It is the right digicam for somebody with an present Arlo subscription or setup or somebody focused on it — so long as they do not thoughts the month-to-month charges. It is an distinctive digicam, that is for certain, however it doesn’t stay as much as its full potential with no subscription or as a part of an even bigger Arlo setup.
I do not consider I would get the SmartHub to allow native storage, as viewing it remotely appears troublesome, however I can see why folks do. If I have been so as to add to my Arlo community, I would most likely get a month-to-month subscription. However since I am on the cost-savings aspect of issues, the Professional 5S 2K would be the solely Arlo in my dwelling for now.
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