Updated: Nov 20, 2019
Find out everything you you need to know to choose between the Arlo Pro 1 and Arlo Pro 2.
For those in a hurry, here’s the bottom line:
👉 The Arlo Pro 2 is for you if you care about getting higher resolution videos.
👉 If you don’t mind 720p videos, the Arlo Pro is more than enough for use in the typical home.
Considering the price difference, the lower resolution is more than adequate for most people.
Contents
- 1 The Differences Between Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2
- 2 The Similarities between the Cameras
- 3 Comparison Chart
- 4 Comparing Each Feature in Detail
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions
- 5.1 Q: Can I get Arlo Pro 2 cameras if I already have an Arlo or Arlo Pro base station?
- 5.2 Q: Is Arlo Pro or Arlo Pro 2 better?
- 5.3 Q: Are you sure, absolutely sure, that the Arlo Pro 2 cameras are compatible with the Arlo Pro base station AND the original Arlo (non-pro) base station?
- 5.4 Q: How does the CVR upgrade work?
- 5.5 Q: How difficult is the setup?
- 5.6 Q: Do the cameras offer Power over Ethernet?
- 5.7 Q: Can I manually activate the siren?
- 5.8 Q: Will this work with satellite internet?
- 5.9 Q: Do the continuous video recording, activity zone and 3 second look back features work while powered by solar panel?
- 5.10 Q: Can I turn off the camera when it’s not needed (e.g. when I’m home)?
- 5.11 Q: How far away can I place my camera from its base station?
- 5.12 Q: Does it matter where I place the base station?
- 5.13 Q: Will the Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 if my internet goes down?
- 6 Current Prices
- 7 In Conclusion
The Differences Between Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2
- The Arlo Pro records in 720p while the Arlo Pro 2 records in 1080p resolution.
- The Arlo Pro 2 offers continuous recording with a monthly subscription. The Arlo Pro records only when it detects motion and for up to 8 minutes.
- The Arlo Pro may miss the first few seconds of recording after motion. The Arlo Pro 2 addresses this issue with “3-second look-back”.
- The Arlo Pro 2 can record on motion or in specific zones. The Arlo Pro will only record on motion.
- The Arlo Pro battery life is up to six months long. The Arlo Pro 2 battery life is shorter at only three months long.
The Similarities between the Cameras
- Both cameras work with all of the Arlo base systems. You don’t need to upgrade the base unit to add newer model cameras.
- Both the Arlo Pro and the Arlo Pro 2 have two-way communication with speaker and microphone built-in.
- Each of the models I am looking at are weather-resistant so you can safely mount them outdoors.
- They both have the ability to sound a siren from the base station from motion activation or manual activation.
- The Arlo cameras both have night vision capabilities.
- USB backup at the base station is available for both models in the event the network goes down.
- Seven days of cloud storage is available for free (Unless you opt for the paid continuous recording option of the Arlo Pro 2).
- Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 cameras are compatible with all of the smart home systems: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, Wink, IFTTT, etc.
- Included with each of the units is an outdoor mount, which is advised to use instead of the indoor magnetic mount.
- You can schedule (geofencing) to automatically arm the cameras when you leave home.
- You can have each of the cameras send you a notification for triggered sound and motion events.
- External camera dimensions are identical. You can use the various skins to change the look of either camera.
Money Saving Tip:
If you are having a hard time deciding which one to get, keep in mind that the systems are interchangeable, meaning both base stations with work with cameras from the other system.
So my advice is to start off with the cheaper Arlo Pro system right now, and only add a Pro 2 camera or two when you find that you have an area that requires continuous recording or higher resolution videos. You save a bunch of money this way.
Comparison Chart
|
|
Arlo Pro | Arlo Pro 2 |
| Resolution | 720p | 1080p |
| Battery Life | Up to 6 months | Up to 3 months |
| Outdoor Mount | Included | Included |
| 2-way Communication | Yes | Yes |
| Continuous Video Recording | No | Yes (on AC power) |
| Smart Home Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Backward Compatible | Yes | Yes |
| Night Vision | Yes | Yes |
| 3-Second Look Back | No | Yes (on AC power) |
| Cloud Storage | 7 Days Free | 7 Days Free |
| USB Back Up | Yes | Yes |
| Motion Zones | No | Yes |
| Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
| Price | Check on Amazon |
If you’re looking for a review of the original Arlo vs the Arlo Pro, click the link to read our detailed comparison.
Comparing Each Feature in Detail
I would like to take the time now to point out the details of all of the important features of these two models. I think it is important for you to have knowledge of what these details mean to you.
1. Resolution
When I first looked at the image quality of the Arlo Pro, I was fairly impressed. Recording at 720p in high definition is becoming more standard in home security cameras, and it was nice to see it offered here. The problem is playing the videos back seems to have lost a bit of the high definition in the compression. It isn’t a horrible drop, but it is noticeable.
The Arlo Pro 2 upgraded the resolution to 1080p HD recording, and it does make a difference. The video is much clearer in the Arlo Pro 2, and this is one of the main reasons to pick the Arlo Pro 2 over the original Arlo Pro.
The Arlo Pro 2’s camera covers a wider area than the Arlo Pro, I like that you can see a wider area but it does have a more pronounced fisheye effect. Not too big of an issue in a security camera.
Bottom Line: The 1080p resolution of the Arlo Pro 2 is the clear winner.
2. Geofencing
Geofencing is a pretty nice addition to the system; when it works. In essence, geofencing uses your mobile phone via an app, as well as your WiFi and GPS information to determine where you are in the world. If you happen to be within a predetermined radius of your device, it will automatically trigger an event.
Most people tie their cell phone to the system for Geofencing to arm the system when they leave the radius and disarm it when they return to the radius.
The problem I have found with this is that it’s not always very accurate. If you are in a sparse area population-wise, you may find that the radius will need to be set very large. Which means it may include the corner store you are running to, and the system will never arm.
Likewise, if you are in a heavily populated area and off ground level (a high rise apartment, for example), The GPS may never put you exactly in the zone, which means the system stays armed when you are home and walking around.
I think the idea is good here and it is something you should try to implement as a part of your smart home design, just don’t be disappointed if it isn’t dead on accurate.
Bottom Line: Since both models offer this feature there isn’t a need for a winner, but the Geofencing needs to be upgraded a little bit to win me over.
3. Night Vision
Night vision is an absolute must for security cameras. It has been my experience that rarely do intrusions happen during the day. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that both models have night vision capabilities. So I had to test them.
What I discovered was that I could see well enough but only if there was some background lighting, like the ambient light from surrounding houses or streetlamps. This makes sense since there has to be photons for the camera sensors to capture in order to form an image.
The Arlo Pro 2’s night vision produces somewhat brighter videos than that of the Arlo Pro.
Bottom Line: Night vision works in both models, but the Arlo Pro 2 does produce slightly brighter videos.
4. Continuous Video Recording
The Arlo Pro 2 has the ability to run in CVR Mode. CVR is Continuous Video Recording. The Arlo Pro doesn’t offer this feature, and will instead go into “sleep” mode to conserve battery life and spring into recording when there is motion or audio alerts.
The CVR made me ponder the possibilities of camera mounts and how many cameras I may need to run continuously. Unfortunately, my answer was zero. Your answer may be different. However, because it isn’t a feature I need, I was more skeptical of it.
The main issue I have is that to access the CVR feature, you have to pay for a monthly plan for the service, which negates the best part of owning an Arlo–the free seven-day cloud storage! I guess cloud storage is expensive and Netgear has to charge for running a cloud platform, but for most people the main reason for buying a smart security cam like this is so you don’t have to pay monthly fees to security companies. If you fall into that category, you might as well ignore this feature. Without a paid plan, there is no CVR.
Another drawback for this feature is that the camera must be plugged into an AC power supply to run this mode. You can’t activate it if it is running on battery power.
Yet another drawback is that CVR videos can only be viewed on the cloud and cannot be downloaded.
Until someone invents better batteries and super cheap cloud storage, Netgear will have to charge for this service (and make you plug it into AC power), so CVR will not be a very practical feature for most normal households.
Bottom Line: A feature I can live without, especially for requiring a paid service. The Pro 2 only gets the win if continuous video recording is a must for you.
5. Three Second Look Back
One issue I found with the Arlo Pro was the ease at which it could miss some recording time. For example, I had someone walk up to the front door and ring the bell. The Arlo Pro sprang into action, but only after the doorbell was rung. The delay in beginning recording has been noted for some time with the Arlo Pro.
The Arlo Pro 2 has solved this issue by offering a three-second look back. Utilizing this allows you to view the recording and revert back three seconds before the recording event (such as motion) is triggered. As pointed out by our astute reader Steve, this feature only works when the Arlo Pro 2 is running on AC power. It does not work when running on batteries, which diminishes its usefulness.
Bottom Line: The Arlo Pro 2 addressed an issue with the prior model. However, the feature only works on AC power. A qualified win for the Arlo Pro 2.
6. Battery Life
When you think about wireless cameras, batteries are important. The cameras need to be powered, and that power comes from 3V CR123A rechargeable batteries.
Under optimal conditions, the batteries will last about six months in the Arlo Pro cameras. With their sleep mode activated the battery drain is very minimal. The Arlo Pro 2, on the other hand, offers a three-month lifespan for their batteries.
This is mainly due to the higher definition resolution of the Arlo Pro 2 and the lack of sleep mode that the Arlo Pro offers.
Bottom Line: The Arlo Pro has better battery life, and in the end, that is what you are looking for. Arlo Pro wins this round.
7. Motion Activity Zones
The Arlo Pro has one major disadvantage with its PIR (Passive Infrared Sensor): You can’t control the area it monitors. The Infrared sensor covers the entire front portion of the lens. You do have the ability to zoom into a specific area; however, you cannot zoom the PIR focus point.
Any time movement activates the PIR the camera will begin recording. However, if you have the lens zoomed in you may not see the motion that activated it. For example, if you have a camera on your driveway and zoom in so the street is not in view, you may still get recordings when a car passes by.
The Arlo Pro 2 solves this problem by allowing you to set activity zones. These zones will only activate the siren or recording when motion is detected within the boundaries. Anything outside the boundary, even in the field of vision, will not activate the camera.
Note that this feature also only works on AC power.
Bottom Line: The Arlo Pro 2 addresses another issue the Arlo Pro presented with active zones. The win goes to the Arlo Pro 2.
8. Work-around to Motion Activity Zones
If the “motion activity zones” feature is important to you, but you don’t want to plug your Arlo Pro 2 into AC power or you only have Arlo Pro 1 cameras, you can use Arlo Smart’s “cloud activity zones” feature.
This feature uses Netgear’s cloud servers to do the computations on what to record and what to ignore, and the result is the same as an AC-connected Arlo Pro 2.
The benefits of of using the cloud is that you don’t need a Arlo Pro 2 camera, and if you do have a Arlo Pro 2 camera, you don’t need to plug it in.
The downside is that there is a monthly charge for using Arlo Smart.
Bottom Line: Arlo Smart may be worth it if you really need Motion Activity Zone but don’t want to plug your Pro 2 cameras into AC power.
Frequently Asked Questions
You have a lot of questions about these cameras, allow me to answer them here:
Q: Can I get Arlo Pro 2 cameras if I already have an Arlo or Arlo Pro base station?
Netgear offers full back compatibility with their entire Arlo line up. This means that you can use any Arlo camera with any Arlo base system.
The Arlo Pro 2 cameras will work just fine on an Arlo Pro system, as such the Arlo Pro will work on an Arlo Pro 2 system.
Q: Is Arlo Pro or Arlo Pro 2 better?
The Arlo Pro 2 is better because it has higher resolution, 3-second look-back, and motion activity zones. The Arlo Pro’s resolution is lower at 720p and lack those advanced features. However, given the lower sticker price, the Arlo Pro may be a good choice for those who don’t need 1080p videos.
Keep in mind that you can mix and match cameras since Arlo Pro 1 and 2 cameras are compatible with all current Arlo base stations. This means you can save money by getting just one Arlo Pro 2 camera and installing it where you need a higher resolution (or the other advanced features). For the rest of the house where such a high resolution is not needed, you can use the cheaper Arlo Pro cameras.
Q: Are you sure, absolutely sure, that the Arlo Pro 2 cameras are compatible with the Arlo Pro base station AND the original Arlo (non-pro) base station?
Yes, in fact all 3 base stations are all compatible with any of the cameras. If you don’t believe me (what?!), here is the official word from Arlo.
Q: How does the CVR upgrade work?
When you first get your camera, you will be given cloud storage for your video recordings. Netgear will give you seven days’ worth of storage free. You also have the option for a monthly fee service for more storage, if you need it.
The seven days free isn’t just one week a month, it is a cycle, every seven days the storage is overwritten, you will still have storage all month long, but only seven days at a time.
When you upgrade to the Continuous Video Recording, you must upgrade to a paid service plan. The cheapest plan costs $9.99 per month or $99 if you pay annually and comes with 14 days of 24/7 storage.
Q: How difficult is the setup?
The setup is actually easier than it was for you to type that question. Seriously, it is all done through the app on your cell phone and takes less than five minutes. Next comes the mounting. After mounting the camera easily snaps to the base via magnets. It’s pretty fun to play with. I love magnets.
Q: Do the cameras offer Power over Ethernet?
PoE is not an option with the Arlo Pro or Arlo Pro 2 cameras. These cameras are wireless and designed to connect as such. The home base connects to the router through an Ethernet cable and receives the signal from the cameras over your home network WiFi connection.
If you are looking for a PoE option, there is the Arlo Q, which is covered in another article I wrote.
Q: Can I manually activate the siren?
Yes, you can. If you happen to be watching your feed from your smartphone, you can use the app to activate the alarm manually.
This feature is a good one and works well. Even if you have the siren disabled, you can quickly enable it and activate the siren from your phone.
Q: Will this work with satellite internet?
It will work with satellite internet, but only if you meet the requirements.
First, the internet must be always on (this means you do not log in to the service, it is just always there). Second, you must have a minimum of 1Mbs upstream capabilities. A lot of satellite internet options will charge extra to maintain this speed. Lastly, Satellite Internet charges for bandwidth use over your allotted plan.
Video recording uploads will take a lot of data and bandwidth. If you pay by the gigabyte for data, you can expect a very large bill once you add the cameras on.
So, yes, you can use satellite internet, just be wary of the costs you may incur.
Q: Do the continuous video recording, activity zone and 3 second look back features work while powered by solar panel?
No, all three features require the Arlo Pro 2 to be plugged into AC power. Note that the solar panel is an optional separate purchase.
Q: Can I turn off the camera when it’s not needed (e.g. when I’m home)?
Yes, you can manually set your camera to “Armed” or “Disarmed” through the Arlo app. Disarmed means that motion won’t trigger the Arlo to turn on. There are many reasons why one might do this, one example is if you need to do some lawn maintenance and don’t want constantly trigger the motion sensors.
You can also set the camera to automatically arm or disarm itself during certain times using the “schedule” option in the app.
Finally, geofencing is supposed to automatically arm and disarm the camera based on whether you’re home or not. It’s not always reliable though, so scheduling is probably best.
Q: How far away can I place my camera from its base station?
The maximum distance you can place any Arlo camera from its base station is 300 feet. But that is the line-of-sight maximum, meaning there isn’t anything blocking the line of sight from the base station to the camera.
In practical use, walls and ceilings will reduce the effective range of the cameras. Try placing the base station at the center of your house if you have a large house with multiple cameras.
Q: Does it matter where I place the base station?
The base station has to be connected to your home router via an ethernet cable. As long as it’s connected by ethernet to your router, you can place the base station anywhere, probably in an area where all of your Arlo cameras have access to it.
Q: Will the Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2 if my internet goes down?
Without internet acesss, the base station will continue to record on the USB device you have plugged in. Obviously, you will not be able to access the data remotely while the internet is down.
Current Prices
In Conclusion
Overall I will admit I was impressed with both the Arlo Pro and the Arlo Pro 2. The upgraded features for the Arlo Pro 2 do justify the cost increase, with a few caveats.
The main improvement is the video resolution bump to 1080p. However, other new features such as (1)continuous recording, (2) 3 second look back, and (3) customized activity zones all require the camera to be connected to AC power. Connecting to the optional solar panel does not allow for these features.
If you like high resolution security videos and the option to use the above features when connected to AC power, the Arlo Pro 2 is the way to go.
If you don’t need high resolution videos, the Arlo Pro will work just fine. No need to spend extra money for features that require AC power, partially defeating the purpose of a wireless camera.
Click here to see all the security camera deals on Amazon today.
I am looking to but one of the Arlo systems. I am going back and forth between Arlo Pro – Arlo Pro 2.
Now the Arlo HD 6-Camera Indoor/Outdoor is appearing on social media.
Is the Arlo HD one of other models above or a new one? That is one question.
The other is I want to put a camera inside the house, near the window to view outside. Will I get a glare from the window to distort the view? I am not able to mount these cameras outside on the house at this time.
Have no trees around me to attach it. Main problem is that I have a brick ranch house and I can not drill through the brick to attach the cameras.
Many thanks Karen from Michigan
Hi Karen,
I believe that Arlo HD camera mentioned on social camera is the original Arlo camera (not Arlo Pro nor Arlo Pro 2). If the ad is meant for Arlo Pro or Pro 2, they will most likely include the “pro” in the title.
Some users do have a problem with glare. Since lighting conditions vary greatly depending on the way the sun hits your window throughout the day, you can try to test it by recording a video with your cellphone’s camera from where you would position the Arlo. The cameras use similar technologies so this should give you a good idea whether glare will be a problem.
Also, here is a thread on mounting the camera on brick walls if you need to go that route: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Arlo/External-Mounting-on-brick/td-p/1558
Recently discovered that cams are not auto focus and there will be glare when lighting from outside lighting/sun dictates. There is a feature on the look back video screen that adjust the bright/dark. I was able to focus out of my room directly thru window glare to a brilliant look of the pine trees next to the house, that were all washed from sun glare! However it did not work on the cell phone, only the cpu. Try it! One or the other, inside or thru the windows, and always different according to time of day. I leave my main view inside the room and when I get a notification from that cam I refocus thru cpu to check on past videos if it was windy, for movement as mentioned above, just to see if there was any activity in that particular clip.
Maybe Smart Robotic Home could test this out and be more clear about it.
Thanks for this write up it was very helpful I will be buying one of the 2 tonight
Thank you for your kind words Michael, I’m glad you found the review helpful!
3-second look back only works when running on AC power, it does not work running on batteries. A pretty important distinction that should be emphasized when discussing the feature.
Thank you for pointing that out Steve! This clarification will certainly help other readers considering the Arlo Pro 2 for the 3s lookback. It has been added to the article.
Just wondering, if you attache the arlo solar panel to the pro 2, does that equate to running on AC power and therefore getting the benefits?
Hi Kerry,
Unfortunately, the solar panel is not able to provide enough power to the cameras to get CVR, activity zone, and 3s lookback. Hope that clarifies the issue.
Is that due to the current output from the solar panels being insufficient or the voltage being insufficient? Knowing which it is, one can use another solar panel to “trick” the Arlo to enable those features. “Know what I mean Vern?”
Hey TK, if I had to guess, I’d say it’s the current not being stable enough. If a cloud passes by, the solar panel’s output would drop for that period of time, not giving the camera enough power. Your idea is great though! Do let us know if you figure out a way to trick the cameras!
I’m hoping for a quick tutorial rather than spending my own time researching. Is this saying these WIRELESS cameras need to be connected to WIRED AC power in order to use all the features? The batteries are not sufficient?
Hi RR,
Yes you are correct, indeed these wireless cameras do need wired AC power to use the advanced features since the battery cannot keep up with the power demands. This partially defeats the purpose of a wireless camera.
I recommend getting the original Arlo Pro if you are planning on running it wirelessly most of the time. Hope that helps!
Wonderful, thoughtful review Kevin, thank so much for taking the trouble to do this. Going with the Pro, not the Pro 2, and saving big bucks thanks to your efforts.
Thank you for your kind words Bob.
Looking at the pro2. Wanting to know if camera can be plugged into either solar panel or direct power to utilise activity zone feature.
Thanks Nick
Hi Nick, when the camera is plugged into the solar panel, the activity zone feature does NOT work. It only works when plugged into AC power. Hope that helps!
Hi Kevin,
maybe a silly question, but can either the Arlo Pro or the Arlo Pro 2 be “disabled” from cell phone to save battery life while in the home and just turned “on” when leaving?
Thanks
Hi Michelle,
The question is certainly not silly. In fact, I’ve added it to the commonly asked questions section! The short answer to your question is yes. You can manually arm or disarm it through the app, or you can program a schedule for the camera to be armed during certain times of the week. Hope that helps!
Kevin,
Thank you for writing this article. I found it really helpful, since I am in search of an outdoor security system. Could you help me understand what the lack of PoE option means? Does that mean no footage will be recorded when the computer is off? Thanks again!
Hi May,
PoE is a technology that uses ethernet cables (the cable that you plug into your laptop to access the internet before wifi was prevalent) to deliver power. PoE is found in some IP security cameras and phones, but is not available in the Arlo Pro/Pro 2.
Not having PoE just means that the Arlo Pro/Pro 2 rely on direct AC power or a battery to operate. Whether or not your computer or smartphone is on does not affect its recording in any way. In fact, a computer is not needed to operate the cameras, just a smartphone (so you can install the Arlo app). Hope that helps!
I appreciate your help!
As PoE does not apply to Arlo, I just wanted to make one more point. If you are looking to use a wired system, PoE means that the data to and from the camera goes through the same wire as power for the camera. So, you only need one connection on the camera vs two (signal AND power). Saves a ton of money if you have to run wires over a significant distance.
That’s a great point Scott, thank you for the insight!
Thank you sooo much. Your the only one that answered all my questions precisely and without bla bla.
I have both Arlo pro in my office and Arlo pro2 at home and everything you said is exactly right.
Finally someone who does his homework correctly.
Peter
Will the motion detector work if the camera is placed inside and looks out the window?
Hi Al, yes, the motion detection function should work as long as the camera can see clearly out the window. Hope that helps!
Excellent review- I appreciate the time , effort and thought you put into the comparison
I have two questions-
Do the batteries charge while the units are plugged in- or do they need to be removed and placed in a charger
I am looking for security cameras to put on a boat house- do you think the near constant rocking motion will trigger the units to record almost constantly?
all the best
Hi Lloyd,
1. The batteries do charge while plugged in, they don’t need to be removed.
2. Yes, the constant rocking motion will almost certainly constantly trigger the motion detection.
Thank you for the kind words!
Hi Kevin,
I’ve seen online that there is a USB solar panel, one could buy that constantly charges up the Arlo Pro 2’s battery. If that is the case, will the 3-second look back work in this instance as the solar will be mounted with the camera too? Just a thought.
Hi Aji,
The 3-second look back feature does not work on a solar-powered Pro 2. It will only work with a camera connected to AC power. Hope that helps!
Kevin
To get CVR do i have to pay for cloud storage? If so, what is the least amount of cloud storage that I must purchase?
Hi Tom,
Yes, a paid cloud storage plan is required to get CVR. The cheapest one right now is $9.99 per month or $99 if you pay annually. It stores 14 days of 24/7 footage.
I am looking for live streaming video. The ability to record is not important. I saw a comment in a review about the Arlo Pro needing to be within range of its base station. As long as the Arlo Pro camera has Wi Fi access that is on the same network as the base station, will it work?
Hi Roger,
The camera actually communicates with the base station instead of connecting directly to your WiFi network. That is why it has to be within range of the base station, not the Wi-Fi network. The maximum range is 300 feet from base station to camera. But in real life use, that range will be reduced by physical barriers between the two. Hope that helps.
Great report explaining the difference between the two models. Going to stick with my pro as battery life is an important feature for me. Question though re pro cameras I bought a 4 camera system arlo pro then added another pro camera later and that camera records during activity that is happening (i.e. 35 seconds) whereas the other cameras all stop after 10 seconds, do you have a work around for that? Btw anyone reading this Arlo pro has provided me with service that can’t be rivalled by any other.
Hi Malcolm, you can change the recording duration from 10 seconds by going to your mobile app, tap on “Mode”, and find the camera you want to change.
Tap the pencil icon to edit, tap the pencil icon again, then choose “Record Video”. Now you can choose between “Record until activity stops” or “Record for a fixed length of time”.
Thank you for the kind words!
One of the great review I read in recent times. Thank you .
I want to start small and then build on it .
My question is : if I buy only the standalone
Arlo camera ( without the base station )
Does it work ? Since I just need 1 camera , there is no real ” z wave communication ” between the devices when I start small .
Is this feasible or base station is mandatory for all the feature of camera to work ?
/A
Hi Ajit,
Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately the setup you described will not work since an Arlo base station is required even if there’s only 1 camera installed. In other words, Arlo cameras are not able to connect directly to a home network. Hope that helps!
Great review and comparison. Thank you.
Thanks for the comparison. I was thinking about PoE, and there are PoE to USB adapters out there – would that work for providing constant power to the arlo? For some it may be easier to run the ethernet cable instead of wiring an outlet to be near the camera.
Hi Kevin,
Using ethernet cables is a cool idea! However, I don’t have any experience with PoE to USB adaptors, so I do not know whether that’ll be enough to provide constant power to wireless Arlos. Please let us know if you get to test that out.
The other option is to go with a wired solution like the Arlo Q Plus, which has PoE built in. No need to go wireless if you’re going to run an ethernet cable to it anyways.
I just wanted to point out one pro on the HD resolution that was not discussed. I had a 720P solution installed and someone broke into my garage however when I tried to analyze the video to get a closeup of his face, the 720P was not crisp enough!
I agree that viewing the live feed in 720P is great to check in, however when you really need it… you’ll want 1080P!
Is this true that Arlo Pro 2 needs AC power for 2-way communication?
Arlo Pro Arlo Pro 2
2-way Communication Yes Yes (on AC power, requires paid plan)
Hi John,
Thank you for bringing this up. The Arlo Pro 2 does not need AC power for 2-way communication. That was a typo in our table and it has now been corrected. Thank you!
Superb, helpful comparison (thanks). For me initially thought that the reduced prices currently on offer for the Arlo Pro made it the better choice but the additon of zonal moniroing is nigh essential for a serious home security device (especially if you own a cat!). Such a shame this is only available on powered cameras though. Thanks again.
Was wanting to have an Arlo Pro set up with solar power to keep an eye on a water trough for cows while we are away.
Not sure if you need the Arlo Pro 2 so it is recording all the time or can you just activate ithe Arlo Pro by wifi when you want to check this.
Please advise whether this is possible or do you have any suggestions.
Many thanks,
Hi Chris,
If you just want to look at the live feed, then you don’t need continuous recording. Going with just the Arlo Pro will be enough. Hope that answers your question!
One thing worth mentioning here is that you can mix arlo pro and arlo pro 2 cameras on the same system. Also, arlo security lights can trigger arlo cameras. My situation for watching my cars is that I couldn’t mount the cameras near my cars. So I got an arlo pro 2 for the enhanced video due to the distance, and use an arlo security light to trigger the camera, since motion detection has a limited range and at higher sensitivity cars driving down the street set off the motion detector. The security light is now nearer the street than the cars, pointing to the back of the driveway and toward the cars, and the camera is at the back of the driveway, pointing at the cars.
Thank you Fred for pointing out these useful tips!
My concern is while away from home even the camera is in the sleep mode do I will be able and monitor what’s going on inside the house. Thanks in advance
Hi Edwin,
Yes, you’re able to view the camera live whenever you’d like.
If you purchase the Pro base station and then add Pro2 cameras later, do the features follow the camera like 3 sec playback and motion zones part of the camera, or is that part of the base system. thx nice article and question followup.
Hi Vince,
Yes, the advanced features are part of the camera and the Pro base station will support those features.
Thank you for the kind words and hope that helps.
How long is the cord that is connected from camera to electric outlet ?
Hi Bob,
The cameras are battery powered, so there’s no cord connecting the camera to an outlet.
I was wondering if the pro2 was worth the extra $ . Considering the battery’s last longer in the Pro, that’s the way to go. Thanks for a fantastic review!
Hi Garry,
I think the Pro 2 is not really worth the price premium unless you plan to have the camera connected to AC power all the time. In that case, the extra features are worth it. Let me know if you have any more questions!
I was wondering about performance in cold weather. It says it’s rated for -4 degrees but live in a area that will see -30 from time to time. Is the alro system up for temperatures that cold or is there another system I should look at?
Hi Eric,
Wow minus 30 degrees! Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to test it in conditions that cold. Sorry we can’t be more helpful.
Kevin
If I purchase the Arlo Pro base station and 2 camera set can I add extra Arlo Pro 2 cameras later? If so, will I get the extra features of the Arlo 2 cameras used on the standard Pro system simultaneously? I’m thinking to use the Arlo Pro cameras in the house and Arlo Pro 2 outside where I can activate the “motion activity zone” to mask off the street. Will this work having both versions being used at the same time and are features camera specific?
Thanks,
Dave
Hi Dave,
1. Yes, adding the Pro 2 cameras later is ok, they will work with the Pro base station.
2. The features are camera specific, meaning that your Pro cameras won’t have the “motion activity zone” capability, but your Pro 2 cameras will.
3. Note that to use this feature, your Pro 2 must be connected to AC power. The motion activity zone feature does not work on battery/solar. If you just want the motion activity zone feature, look into Arlo Smart, which is a monthly plan that lets you use motion activity zone on your Pro 1 cameras by leveraging the cloud.
Hi, What is the difference between the Pro Base and the Pro 2 Base? It seems they both support USP drive local backup, are they the same? or is there an antennae range improvement? I understand the difference in cameras.
Hi Michael,
As far as I can tell, the Pro and Pro 2 base stations are the same. There are no improvements on the Pro 2 base station and all the improvements are in the cameras themselves.
Hope that helps.
If I add an additional Arlo Pro 2 camera to my existing Arlo system, will I get the enhanced camera quality from the Arlo Pro 2 camera or will it be the same as my existing Arlo cameras?
Hi Lucy,
You will get the enhanced camera quality and features from the Arlo Pro 2. All features are dependent on the camera, not the base station.
Thanks for the great comparison! This might be a stupid question. You mentioned plugging in the base station to a computer. I thought it needed to be plugged into a router, am I mistaken? If it can be plugged into a computer, will a laptop work if it goes into sleep mode?
Hi Liz,
Thank you for pointing this out! I wrote that wrong and you are correct, the base station connects to your home router (not a computer) via an ethernet cable. I have corrected the mistake. in the FAQ.
Thanks so much for the thorough comparison of Arlo Pro VS Arlo Pro 2. My husband and I are not very techy,lol, so this helped us a lot!
No problem Jennifer, thank you for the kind words!
Very good article indeed. Thanks a lot.
I really like my Arlo pro 3 camera system I have had for almost 2 years so far. Lately I started having the problem you mentioned in the article regarding the delay between the motion detector and beginning recording. As a matter of fact, I had the same thing happened to me when I only heard my door open and close and did not see anyone in the camera view! I was excited and thinking of upgrading to Pro2 when you talked about the 3 seconds look back feature. But got very disappointed to learn it requires AC! That is ridiculous. If I wanted to install cameras that needs AC to work, I would probably got other brand with more powerful cameras. I am not sure why I started having this problem now when it was not that bad before? I have a feeling it is the camera that I may have to replace but not sure. Any idea? To me this is very important that I may have to consider changing to other system if I don’t find a solution.
Another issue I wanted to share with you is when I use the app on my Samsung Note8, most of the time when I want to review activities, the date showed is 2 days behind! I will have then to change to today’s date to watch latest recording.
Thanks again
hello,
I have for the moment 4 cameras in use.
Please let me know if it is possible to use more than the 4 cameras with the same base station.
Thanks for your answer.
Regards
Eddy
Hi Eddy,
You can have up to 5 cameras on the same base station. Hope that helps!