2026 Arlo Security Camera Hands-On Review

Arlo’s Current Security Camera Lineup

We appreciate Arlo’s recent efforts to make their lineups as easy to figure out as possible. They all look alike; they come in either white or black finishes and have capsule-shaped faces. But you can tell them apart through their names.

• Arlo Essential: These are entry-level cameras with 1080p HD to 2K resolution, and some smart features.
• Arlo Pro: These are the mid-range cameras. They all have a 2K resolution and a wider field of vision than the Essential range.
• Arlo Ultra: These cameras offer a video resolution of up to 4K and a maxed-out, 180-degree field of view for maximum coverage. These are their flagship cameras.
• Arlo Go: These cameras are unique because they don’t require an internet connection. They are still cloud-dependent, but they use a 4G/5G SIM to connect to the cloud.

>> Related: Are There Security Cameras That Work Without Wi-Fi?

Here’s the complete product line:

Arlo also offers two security cameras with built-in security lighting. There’s the Arlo Wireless Floodlight, whose camera is based on the Arlo Pro we tested before, and the newer Arlo Wired Floodlight. With its $149.99 price tag, we think it’s a great alternative to the $279 Nest Cam with Floodlight.

Our Arlo Essential Experience

In our latest testing of Arlo, we took two Arlo Essential cameras for a test drive.

First is the Arlo Essential 2K, which is a plugged-in, indoor-only camera. It’s one of the only two Arlo cameras that don’t run on batteries. We found it more than decent for an indoor camera, especially with the 130-degree field of view and built-in privacy shutter. Unlike the Ring Indoor Cam 2 we reviewed that requires you to manually slide the shutter close when you want privacy, we were able to control and schedule Arlo’s shutter via the app.

We also think the Essential 2K is affordable for a 2K indoor camera. It currently retails for $39.99, making it one of the most affordable 2K cameras on the market. Just note that we found technological limitations, the biggest of which is its image-based motion detection. It’s more prone to false positives than the PIR motion sensors on other Arlo cameras, such as the Arlo Essential XL, which we also tested. Here’s our complete video review of the Arlo Essential 2K:

Unlike the Essential 2K, the Essential XL 2K can work both indoors and outdoors. It also runs on batteries, and uses a more accurate PIR motion sensor. We also like that it has a built-in spotlight bright enough to give it color night vision of our backyard (see the video below).

As for downsides, size is probably the biggest consideration for this device. It promises a battery life four times longer than the base model, the Essential 2K. The trade-off is that it needs a much larger battery, so the device itself is bulkier. Fortunately, it seems capable of delivering the promised one-year battery life.1 We’ve been using it for six months now, and the battery is still at 45 percent.

Our Arlo Pro Experience

For the Arlo Pro lineup, we tested the Arlo Pro 5S, which has since been replaced by the Arlo Pro (6th Gen) at $124.99 and the Pro XL (6th Gen) at $199.99. That was worth pointing out because we think of the Pro 5S as a slightly upgraded version of the Essential XL 2K, at least when it comes to hardware specs.

Is it worth paying extra to get a 30-degree wider field of view and dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity? The current Arlo Pro (6th Gen) at $124.99 offers similar improvements over the Essential XL at $79.99. If we base it on hardware alone, we don’t think it is. In our opinion, the Essential XL 2K provides more bang for your buck.

Really, we only recommend buying Pro models if you’re also planning to invest in an Arlo home security system. That’s because the Pro cameras can pair directly with the security system hub using the Arlo SecureLink standard. This extends the range of the camera (no need to place it within Wi-Fi range) and keeps the camera running during power and internet outages (thanks to cellular backup on the hub). SecureLink is also more power efficient than the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless standards.

If you’re planning to buy an Arlo security system as well, here’s our video review of the Arlo Pro 5S.

Our Arlo Ultra Experience

We haven’t tested the Ultra (3rd Gen), but we didn’t feel the need to after testing the first-generation Arlo Ultra. They’re basically identical, except for the Ultra (3rd Gen)’s upgraded wireless range and dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity. It also features USB-C charging, more accurate AI-powered alerts, and more customizable notifications.

To be fair, the Arlo Ultra (3rd Gen) is a huge upgrade compared to the Pro models, thanks to its 4K video quality and the ultra-wide 180-degree field of view. But these features come at a cost. The Arlo Ultra (3rd Gen) requires a hub (the Arlo SmartHub), and individual cameras cost $199.99. That’s not as expensive as the Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro we reviewed, but it’s a hefty investment.

We think the Arlo Ultra (3rd Gen) is a great camera; we just only think it’s worth it if you plan to buy an Arlo SmartHub anyways. Otherwise, the 4K resolution and 180-degree viewing angle are not worth the requirement of a SmartHub.

Arlo Go

The Arlo Go 2 is Arlo’s most unique camera because it doesn’t need Wi-Fi. It has a SIM slot that, with a compatible data SIM, can give the camera the internet connectivity it needs to stream live video and send recordings to the cloud.

We haven’t tested the Arlo Go 2, but its hardware specs are similar to the Arlo Essential HD, which we tested in 2021. The Arlo Go 2 has a 1080p HD resolution, a 130-degree viewing angle, a PIR motion sensor for detection, and a built-in spotlight. Those don’t sound too impressive, especially for a $199 camera. But we think the Arlo Go 2 is a great security solution for RVs and cabins that don’t have a Wi-Fi connection.

Arlo Feature Testing and Recommendations

When we’re testing individual security cameras, we tend to focus on hardware specs and features, such as video quality, battery longevity, motion detection sensitivity, and so on. When we’re reviewing entire lineups (like we’re doing now), we look at the bigger picture and offer recommendations based on our individual security camera testing. We also focus on things like the app experience and cloud subscriptions.

Video Quality Recommendation for Arlo Cameras

Let’s start with the video quality. Arlo offers a range of options from 1080p HD to 4K security cameras. The industry standard is still 1080p, but we recommend going for Arlo’s 2K cameras. Fortunately, all of Arlo’s cameras aside from the Go 2 offer at least 2K resolution.

We recommend 2K because it offers better clarity and details than standard 1080p while keeping the price more approachable compared to the 4K resolution of the Arlo Ultra (3rd Gen). It’s the perfect balance, and Arlo found the sweet spot with their 2K cameras.

Night Vision Recommendations for Arlo Cameras

Except for the Arlo Go 2, all current Arlo cameras offer black-and-white (Infrared) and color night vision. Color night vision is made possible through an integrated spotlight, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to use Arlo cameras indoors. In our opinion, the spotlight is too bright for indoor use, so we recommend sticking with Infrared night vision. Plus, Arlo has some of the best Infrared night vision cameras we’ve tested.

For Arlo’s outdoor cameras, color night vision comes in handy. It’s clear enough to identify things like the color of shirt a person is wearing or the color of a car driving by. And since the spotlight is motion activated, it adds an element of surprise and acts as a deterrent to trespassers and burglars.

Basic Motion Detection Recommendations

We’ve noticed that Arlo uses two types of motion detection on their security cameras.

The first one is image-based motion detection, which relies on the camera’s video feed. Basically, it analyzes live footage at the pixel level. If there’s a big enough change in a cluster of pixels, the camera registers it as movement. If used by itself without smart motion detection (more on this below), it’s not very reliable, because even things like moving shadows or swaying branches can trigger alerts.

The second one, a separate PIR motion sensor integrated into the camera’s face, is what we recommend. It’s more reliable because it looks for heat signatures, so most inanimate objects won’t trigger false alerts. Fortunately, all Arlo cameras use a PIR motion sensor except for the Arlo Essential Indoor models.

Advanced Detection Features

Arlo offers some of the most advanced detection features, and that’s mainly thanks to the Arlo Intelligence suite. It’s a collection of AI-powered features such as person, animal, vehicle, and package detection. And what we like about it is that these features are available across all Arlo cameras.

There’s a catch, though. Arlo Intelligence is cloud-based. For one, that means the features are internet-dependent. If your internet goes down, you lose access to them. Another thing to consider is that Arlo Intelligence doesn’t come with your device purchase. You need an Arlo cloud subscription – which we’ll talk about next – to enable advanced detection.

>> Alternatives: The Security Cameras of 2026 that Don’t Require Subscriptions

On the bright side, we found Arlo Intelligence highly accurate. During testing, the catch rate for person-triggered motion events was over 90 percent. The same goes for animal detection and vehicle detection. Package detection was a little bit spotty, but we later found that Arlo recommends a specific placement for the security camera to enhance package detection. The camera used should be placed overhead, looking down to where packages are typically dropped off.

Arlo Intelligence also includes facial recognition, similar to what we saw when we tested ADT security cameras from Google Nest. You have to “teach” the cameras who to recognize by naming the people it sees, just like how the People feature on the iPhone’s Camera Roll works. Over three months of testing, facial recognition got accurate enough that it was able to identify friends we have over every week.

Other Arlo Intelligence features that we didn’t extensively test were:

• Fire Detection:  Arlo alerts you when the camera sees fire within its frame. We don’t recommend this for indoor cameras if you have a fireplace in view, but we think it’s a cool feature otherwise.
• Advanced Audio Detection: Arlo detects certain sounds, even if they come from outside the camera’s view. They are still beta testing this feature, but the goal is to detect sounds like gunshots, smoke/CO alarms, screaming, glass breaking, and dog barks. Note that the Nest Hub Max we tested has similar audio detection features.

Arlo Cloud Subscriptions and Pricing

Arlo offers two main cloud subscription tiers: Plus and Premium. The Plus plan is available for a single camera or unlimited cameras, while Premium covers unlimited cameras and adds professional monitoring features. Here’s an overview of Arlo’s prices for their subscription plans:

Compared to Ring, Arlo’s plans cost about twice as much. They don’t offer as much cloud storage either. Ring’s plans give you 180 days of video event history, whereas Arlo only gives you 60 days. Both are still above the industry standard of 30 days, so we can’t knock Arlo too hard here.

While we think Arlo’s subscriptions are slightly overpriced, they offer some unique AI capabilities that we appreciate. For instance, with a subscription, your Arlo cameras will listen for the sound of a fire or smoke alarm and then send you a notification if they hear it. They also go beyond just person detection with vehicle, pet and package detection.

Arlo Local Storage via SmartHub

If you’re trying to avoid monthly fees but still want to be able to record footage with your Arlo cameras, you can connect them to the Arlo SmartHub. It allows you to store up to 2 TB of event footage on an external hard drive or USB flash drive. That’s about two months of continuous footage, but since the cameras record only event clips, 2 TB will go a long way.

We particularly like how the storage in the SmartHub integrates into the Arlo Secure app. With it, you can easily review all of your footage in the app. Managing the storage is easy, too. In the app, you can see how much storage is left and get alerts when the storage has less than 20 percent capacity left. We recommend turning on the automatic overwrite feature, so that when you run out of space, the oldest footage gets deleted instead of it no longer recording new footage.

Our Thoughts On the Arlo App

There’s no denying that the Arlo Secure app is powerful, but it took us a while to fully learn how to use it. We found the interface most similar to the Wyze app in that a few features are tucked away in unexpected menus. For instance, if you want to turn off vehicle alerts, you’ll need to navigate to the Arlo Pro settings instead of the camera’s motion detection settings.

On the plus side, we didn’t experience any technical issues with the app. Everything works as expected and it offers a lot of control over your cameras. It’s just a matter of digging up the feature or setting you’re looking for.

>> Check Out: Wyze Home Security Camera Reviews 2026

Arlo Customer Support

Oddly enough, Arlo’s customer support center is similar to the app. All the information you could need is there, but it’s difficult to find. One of our main gripes is that they sort articles based on each individual camera model even if the information applies to multiple models. That means if you’re troubleshooting an issue with your Arlo Pro (6th Gen), you might actually find the information you need in the Arlo Pro 4 section.

When it comes to receiving live support, we found the options lackluster. First of all, you can only get help from a human from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. PST unless it’s for technical support with a camera you already own. If you need help with a new order, you’ll need to ask your questions during their support hours.

On one occasion, once we accessed their live support, it took us about 15 minutes to get a real person on the line. Their agent was clearly well-trained, and they provided thorough answers to our question, so at least Arlo has that going for them.

Arlo vs. The Competition

Arlo’s smart, cloud-based home security cameras face stiff competition from the likes of the Google Nest lineup of Nest Cams and Ring’s affordable but intuitive security cameras.

Arlo vs. Nest Cam

In terms of AI capabilities alone, we found Arlo to offer more features. Nest Cams also have person, animal, vehicle, and face detection, plus a few advanced audio detection, but they lack Arlo’s fire detection. That’s probably not a big selling point, but the point is, Arlo is slightly ahead in this category.

That being said, Nest Cams work directly with ADT home security systems, enabling video verification on systems with a supported monitoring plan. On top of that, Nest Cams works seamlessly with any other Google Nest home product, including the Nest Hub we reviewed. So when it comes to integrations, the Nest Cam wins.

Arlo has one huge leg up compared to the Nest Cam line, though. It offers multiple security camera options. There are over a dozen different Arlo security camera models across the Essential, Pro, and Ultra lineups, whereas Nest Cams only come in four flavors: Nest Cam (battery), Nest Cam Indoor (wired), Nest Cam Outdoor (wired), and Nest Cam with Floodlight.

>> Learn More: Nest Cam Security Camera Review

Arlo vs. Ring

Comparing Ring and Arlo, the latter’s cameras are way more high-tech. As we saw, Arlo offers a 4K camera. Ring hadn’t had a camera go beyond 1080p HD up until recently. Ring also doesn’t offer advanced detection features such as facial recognition, although Ring cameras allow you to refine your motion detection settings through activity zones.

Where Ring wins is with value. Pound-per-pound, Ring security cameras are more affordable than their Arlo counterparts. The most expensive Ring product, the Floodlight Cam Pro, starts at $229. Technically, that’s more than the Arlo Ultra (3rd Gen), but it doesn’t require a separate base station to work, making it more affordable overall. It’s also less than the $249.99 Arlo Wireless Floodlight camera.

On top of that, Ring’s cloud plans are more affordable but offer more cloud storage. You can store event clips for up to 180 days with Ring; with Arlo, videos stay in the cloud for up to 60 days only.

>> Read About: Top Alternatives to Arlo Security Cameras in 2026

Recap

All in all, we like Arlo’s security cameras. We’ve used cameras with more advanced capabilities and cameras with better value, but Arlo provides a great middle ground. They also offer something for everyone from $39.99 budget cameras to premium $249.99 floodlight models, all without overwhelming you with choices.

Like with any company, there were a few drawbacks. For instance, we wish they offer 24/7 live support and their app could have been more intuitive. Despite these drawbacks, Arlo security cameras offer top-notch security features for reasonable prices.