Expert review of the Arlo Pro 4
In short:
- Thanks to the built-in spotlight, no one can walk into your house or garden unnoticed.
- With the 2K resolution, the image from the cameras is sharper than camera images with a Full HD resolution.
- With the 160-degree viewing angle, you can monitor a larger part of your home or garden than with similar cameras.
- You'll need an Arlo Smart subscription to store footage and view it back later.
- You'll need a good WiFi signal where you install the cameras.
First impression of the Arlo Pro 4
The Arlo Pro 4 comes in a minimalist packaging. The design of the box is sleek, which gives it a high-quality look. When you open the 3-pack I've tested, the 3 IP cameras look you right in the eye. Underneath the lid with cameras, you can find the accessories like a charging cable and magnetic mounting materials. In addition, I find the necessary booklets that direct me to the app. That way, I can get started right away.
Easy to set up
The setup isn't explained in a booklet. I download the Arlo app to my smartphone and follow the instructions step by step. I connect the app to my WiFi connection and use a QR code to connect the IP cameras to my phone. This is all very quick, even though the 3rd camera didn't connect right away. When I removed it and added it again, it solved the issue. Without this issue, the entire setup had taken no longer than 10 minutes. I place the cameras on their spot. One facing the front door, one the living room, and one the garden.
The Arlo app: get to know
The Arlo app is the beating heart of the security cameras. Via this app, I can set up everything according to my liking. The home screen is clear. I see my 3 cameras and the most recent recording. I can also see the status of my battery at the glance of an eye. I tried to adjust more functions, like a timer, geofencing, and motion notifications. This took me quite some time. There are various ways to adjust settings, and I had to look for them. You'll have to further click through the menu for these functions. Once you're used to them, this is also quick and easy.
Very smart notifications
Once you get to know the Arlo app, you'll find a lot of smart functions. I wanted to reduce the notifications of random passengers, but not the ones of the delivery drivers. Turns out that the Arlo Pro 4 recognizes a delivery driver. That way, I'll still receive a notification and I can talk back via the camera when I'm not home. In addition, I can set up activity zones at the front door. That way, I'll only receive a notification when someone's right up the door. The camera also notices the difference between people and animals. You do have to pay a fixed amount per month for some functions.
Good battery life (with the right settings)
The Arlo Pro 4 is wireless, so I can easily set it up and place it. The first week, I used it in the default settings. Every time I got up from the couch, I received a notification. This used 15% of the battery every day. Then, I set it according to my own preference. The camera is turned off during the day when I'm home, except for when I expect a delivery driver. That way, it doesn't record unnecessary footage and the battery lasts longer. My expectation is about 3 to 4 months. To get the 6 months Arlo promises, you can dive even deeper into the settings or add an Arlo Solar Panel.
Razor-sharp 2K image
The Arlo captures images in 2K, so I can distinguish every detail. Thanks to the HDR support, all the colors pop on the screen. The camera doesn't record all the time, just when it detects motion. At night, I mainly use the camera as an alarm. When someone walks in my garden, the siren will go off and the spotlight will turn on. Without a spotlight, the camera records black and white footage at night. The wide viewing angle of 160 degrees stands out too. After I placed the camera, I was surprised to see all the corners of the garden on the image.
