Home security is a huge concern for all of us and many people rely on technology and Smart Devices to protect our homes and families. Home Security Cameras constitute an important piece of the puzzle in protecting your homes.
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Smart Home Security Systems nowadays include smart locks, lighting, complete alarm systems, smart security cameras etc. The Netgear Arlo model falls into the latter category of security cameras and is considered one of the best and most popular gadgets in the area of home security.
Netgear is a global computer networking and electronics company based in San Jose, California. It produces and sells electronics hardware for consumers, businesses and service providers. One major branch of Netgear in the home security niche is Arlo which we will describe in-depth here.
The home security cameras that we are looking at today are Arlo vs Arlo Pro vs Arlo Pro 2. All camera models work great but let’s illustrate first with a comparison table the main differences between them.
Table of Contents
Netgear Arlo vs Pro vs Pro 2 – Comparison Table
Last update on 2019-05-19 at 02:59 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Netgear Arlo Review
- Works with Alexa for voice control (Alexa device sold separately); Audio not supported
- Patented 100% Wire-Free design for easy placement anywhere
- Night vision cameras work even in the dark
Last update on 2019-05-19 at 02:59 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
First of all, the Arlo brand is one of the best security cameras out there. The very first iteration in this camera model is still a top-notch camera device but as you can see from the comparison table above, the old Arlo model lacks many important features that the other two Pro models have.
- Almost Half the Price of the other two models
- No sound detection alert (only motion detection).
- No Siren supported.
- Not compatible with voice services and smart home hubs like Samsung Smartthings, Wink etc.
- No rechargeable batteries.
- Smaller field of view of the lens.
- Lower video resolution compared with Pro 2.
Netgear Arlo Pro Review
- Works with Alexa for voice control (Alexa device sold separately).
- 100% Wire-free - Free of power cords and wiring hassles
- Weather-resistant - Arlo Pro cameras are Weather-resistant so you can place them anywhere-indoors and out
Last update on 2019-05-19 at 02:59 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
After the initially successful basic Arlo model, Netgear developed Arlo Pro which is a step ahead with improved performance and additional features.
The Pro model is much superior compared to the older plain Arlo model in many ways. However, it has many similarities compared to the Pro2 with some minor differences as shown below:
Arlo Pro Vs Pro 2
- A little bit cheaper (around $70 cheaper) compared to Pro2.
- Better battery life (6 months) compared to Pro2 (3 months).
- 720p HD video instead of 1080p HD.
- No Activity Zones supported.
- No 3-second Look Back.
In our opinion, the small price difference between Pro and Pro2 is nothing compared to the few important extra features you get with the Pro2 option. Our recommendation is to go with Arlo Pro2 instead of Arlo Pro if you have the budget to spend on a good security camera kit.
Netgear Arlo Pro 2 Review
- Works with Alexa for voice control (Alexa device sold separately).
- 100% Wireless Camera - Free of power cords and wiring hassles. Operating temperature 32 degree to 122 degree Fahrenheit. Wireless range- 300+ feet line of sight.Focus range (ST)- Fixed focus (2 ft to infinity)
- 1080p HD Wireless security camera system with night vision - High quality video with sharper and brighter details. Night Vision turns on automatically in low light so you can see clearly, even in the dark
Last update on 2019-05-19 at 02:59 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Finally we’ve arrived to the newest Arlo model, the Pro 2. It works in both wireless and plugged-in modes with an enhanced Video resolution of 1080p HD compared to 720p of the previous 2 models we’ve discussed above.
Have in mind that if you plug-in the Pro2 camera on AC power, it gives you some extra capabilities like Continuous Video Recording (CVR) and Activity Zones. These features are not available when working on batteries.
Moreover, a distinct feature of this model compared to the previous two is the support for Activity Zones. This means you can place boundaries on the areas monitored by the camera. You select specific areas of the whole camera view and tell the camera to monitor only those specific areas.
Let’s see the main pros and cons between Pro2 and Pro.
Arlo Pro 2 Vs Pro
- Better video recording resolution of 1080p HD.
- Supports up to 3 Activity Zones.
- 3-second Look Back so that you get a 3-sec video before the motion trigger.
- Better support for other Smart Home Platforms.
- A little bit more expensive than Pro.
Our Recommendation
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After considering all those features, differences, pros and cons etc between the 3 models, without doubt the best one is the Netgear Arlo Pro 2.
When compared to the original Arlo model, Pro2 is far superior hands-down.
When compared to Pro model, the small price difference between the two is worth it when you consider the extra capabilities of the Pro2.
Wendy Gaddis says
January 2, 2019 at 8:52 pmI need to know if the arlo pro camera will work with the regular arlo netgear
BlogAdmin says
January 3, 2019 at 7:43 amYes the Arlo pro will work with the older Arlo hub gear. The camera needs a hub unit to connect to so you must have this.