Arlo Essential 3 2K Security Camera Review

Arlo Essential 3 2K Security Camera: Introduction

• Type: Outdoor battery-powered Indoor, outdoor, pan&tilt etc
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi
• Ecosystems: Arlo

There’s something about the word ‘Essential’ that shouts budget and basic, but the Arlo Essential 3 2K Security Camera shows that’s not true. In fact, in many ways this camera is far from a budget, entry-level model and it’s well worth a look, whether you have an Arlo system or not.

It has many of the same features as the more expensive Arlo Pro models, including 2K video and advanced object detection, but at a considerably lower price. There are compromises, most notably the integrated battery, but they may be easy to live with given the price saving.

Design and Installation

• Integrated battery
• Wall mountable

The Arlo Essential 3 2K Security Camera looks much like its more expensive sibling, the Arlo Pro 6 2K. The key difference is the battery. Here, it’s built into the camera and charged via USB-C; the Pro range uses replaceable batteries.

As a result, the entire camera has to be removed for charging. It’s more of a faff than carrying a spare battery that can be swapped in for continuous coverage. A replaceable battery is also easier to deal with if it eventually fails.

Arlo says the Essential 3’s battery should last between four and six months, compared with up to eight months for the Pro 6. Real-world battery life will depend on how often the camera records, but the gap isn’t huge.

The supplied wall mount is easy to install and offers plenty of adjustment, making it simple to position the camera for the view you need. Once mounted, the camera connects directly to your Wi-Fi network and is managed through Arlo’s excellent app.

Features

• Subscription required for the main features
• Excellent object detection options

The Arlo Essential 3 2K appears in the app alongside any other Arlo cameras, with a thumbnail that opens the live view. From here, you can use two-way talk or start a manual recording.

As with most Arlo cameras, however, you need a subscription to unlock cloud recording and the more advanced detection features. Prices vary by country, with the US better value than the UK.

The basic plan costs £7.99 per month for one camera in the UK. It includes person, animal, package and vehicle detection, but only seven days of video history in the UK. Compared with rival services, that feels stingy.

A £11.99-per-month plan covers up to four cameras in the UK. It isn’t prominently advertised on Arlo’s website, but it can be found in the app’s subscription section.

Arlo Secure Plus costs £19.99 per month and supports unlimited cameras, resolutions up to 4K and 14 days of video history. It also unlocks the more advanced AI features.

In the US, Arlo Smart Aware is $9.99 a month for one camera ($19.99 a month for unlimited), and you get full resolution video, and AI Custom Detection. Smart Secure is $29.99 a month for unlimited cameras and adds 24/7 Professional Monitoring. Ultra Secure ($49.99 a month) adds 24/7 recording for up to three cameras.

The US version is better value, but Arlo subscriptions are still quite expensive compared to rivals, such as Ring.

Arlo’s system is very good, though. Its object detection options work with activity zones to cut down dramatically on unwanted notifications. It doesn’t take long to configure the system so that only useful alerts get through.

The Secure Plus tier adds custom detection. Using before-and-after images, you can train the camera to recognise specific events, such as a garage door being left open. It works best when there is a clear visual difference between the two states, but it offers considerable flexibility.

Facial recognition is also available on the higher tier and worked well in testing. However, it can only be enabled on one device in the home, which limits its usefulness.

Secure Plus offers more, then, but the cheaper plans cover most everyday requirements and are easier to justify.

Cloud recordings are neatly organised in the app. Each clip has a thumbnail, with recordings grouped by day. You can filter events by camera or motion type, making it quick to find, watch and download a specific clip.

Recording can also be controlled through the app’s modes: Arm Away, Arm Home or Standby. Each mode can use a different selection of cameras and can be activated manually, scheduled or changed automatically based on your location.

Performance

• Excellent daylight footage
• Strong full-colour night footage

With a resolution of 2560 x 1440, the Arlo Essential 3 2K matches the Arlo Pro 6 for image resolution. Its 130-degree field of view is slightly narrower, but it still captured everything I needed when mounted at the back of my garden and pointed towards the house.

Daytime footage is sharp and detailed. Objects at the far edges of the frame become a little soft, but the camera coped well with bright sunlight and retained enough detail to make faces easy to identify.

At night, the Essential 3 initially records in black and white using its infrared lights. Its integrated spotlight can then switch on to capture full-colour footage.

Colour recording preserves plenty of detail, although moving subjects introduce some motion blur. Even so, it was easy to find clear frames showing a person’s face. Given the price, the overall image quality is excellent.

Final thoughts

The Arlo Essential 3 2K Security Camera delivers most of the features found on the higher-end Arlo Pro 6 2K for considerably less money.

Its integrated battery makes charging less convenient, and the narrower field of view may not suit every location. Otherwise, there’s little to complain about. Video quality is excellent during the day and at night, while Arlo’s object detection and activity zones make notifications accurate and manageable.

It’s a strong alternative to the Pro 6 or a good addition to an existing Arlo system, particularly for a secondary area where you don’t need the company’s most expensive camera.

The subscription remains the biggest obstacle. If you don’t want another sizeable monthly bill, look for an alternative with cheaper cloud storage or local recording.

How we test

When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.

Smart security cameras usually live within an ecosystem, or a range of products that – supposedly – all work in harmony. Therefore, it’s impossible to use a security camera for a week and deliver a verdict.

Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular camera compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.

Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.

Read our guide on our review process for smart security cameras to learn more.

FAQs

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