Review: Arlo Projector Camera Covers My Backyard and Is Under $100 for Black Friday

When we purchased our home in late 2022, fixing the light near the back entry door was our top priority. It was an ugly, bare light bulb, separated from the plaster and always in danger of falling off, and it had a motion detector that no longer detected movement.

If you’re a fixer-upper owner yourself, you’ll understand when I say that I didn’t actually manage to replace the wired projector security light and camera until I had a chance to test it, about two years later. From Arlo. It’s currently 33% off at Home Depot for Black Friday, bringing the price down to under $100, and I think it’s a great buy. Let me tell you why.

Who is Arlo?

Arlo may not be as familiar a name in the home camera business as Blink or Ring, but that’s probably because both of those devices are owned by Amazon, which has a vested interest in ensuring they’re prominently displayed on Amazon. But Arlo has been around for a long time, too, and actually focuses more on security services than some of its rivals, and started life as a subsidiary of Netgear before spun off into its own company in 2018.

While Blink tends to appeal to entry-level customers looking for cameras integrated with their existing smart assistants, Arlo’s offerings are a bit more robust and security-focused; They market cameras, lights, alarms, and other DIY security systems for the entire home. subscription tracking services.

If you just need an outdoor light with a camera, the Arlo may be a bit much for you. However, if you are looking for a solution that will add a camera, improve your lighting, and increase your peace of mind, it is a good option.

Arlo wired projector camera is an easy upgrade

Part of the reason I avoided fixing my light for two years was because I thought I’d have to hire an electrician, but this Arlo projector was simple enough to handle on my own. The package includes a QR code that you can scan to view an installation video that walks you through connecting the wires to your existing outdoor electrical box and mounting the light; this gave me the confidence to try (once I was sure I was back) cut the power at the fuse box; If you are unsure about that part, never attempt to install it or any wired hardware yourself).

If you can work a screwdriver and match the wire colors, you can definitely install this yourself in 10 minutes or less (provided you have the correct connections available).

Arlo wired projector camera: a good mix of features and price

Even though I was just replacing a bare bulb, I wanted something a little more robust to light up my backyard, and Arlo’s floodlight camera met my needs. It has two bright LED lights that are powerful enough to illuminate the entire area (granted, I live in Brooklyn, so my backyard isn’t particularly big, but it extends about 12 feet from the back door), a sandbox, and a Swing to set up when my kid and his friends on the block like to play ; usually later in the year, when it is quite dark.

The floodlight does the job; The 2,000-lumen beams illuminate the area well without blinding, and you can increase or decrease their intensity via the app (more on this shortly).

If you’d prefer not to be alerted every time a squirrel wanders around the garden, motion detection can be set; I found that detecting motion in the garden worked well in the best-lit areas, but sometimes kids could get hit or miss too close to the Swing (about 35 feet away from the camera).

The 2K camera works pretty well too. It has a 160° field of view and, like the lights, is easy to position to provide the best view of the area you’re monitoring. You can view what the camera sees at any time from the app, and the camera also records and transmits videos to your phone when it detects motion.

The video quality is quite excellent; You can pinch and zoom to see details. One evening I walked into my garage to get something and before I could see what it was I noticed a large creature speeding away. I checked the camera’s recording (it turned on when I entered the garden) and was able to identify what it was; A cat, in case you’re wondering. I was worried it was an opossum, or even a large mouse (hey, it’s Brooklyn).

The camera works day and night, and I think the night vision is pretty impressive, especially close to the camera (25 feet or more) – instead of the greenish tint on some cameras, this camera uses invisible infrared LEDs to create a color image.

A fully featured (but slightly confusing) app

The true test of any smart home device is the app you use to manage it, and Arlo’s is pretty good. I only have one device, but using the Arlo Secure app you can control all your Arlo devices at once, turning them on and off, setting routines and more. Once installed, setting up your projector camera is as simple as pairing it with the app (make sure you have a good Wi-Fi signal in your garden; wifi range extender in the kitchen to ensure that mine is connected reliably).

To get the most out of a floodlight camera, it’s worth noting that: you will need to pay for a monthly subscriptionIt starts at around $7 per month. Without a paid plan, the camera offers motion detection and live tracking via the app, but there are a few other features. Floodlight comes with a 30-day free trial; so you can familiarize yourself with its content and decide whether it’s worth paying for and at what level:

• Basic ($6.67 per month for single camera) It offers 30 days of video history, motion detection (people/vehicles/animals) and smart activity zones.

• Plus ($15 per month for unlimited cameras) It adds packet detection, facial and vehicle recognition, and voice tracking features that can identify familiar people and cars.

• Bonus ($20.83/month) It adds professional 24/7 live monitoring and emergency response, as well as a possible discount on your homeowners insurance.

Set motion zones and configure notifications

You’ll use the app to customize your settings and configure your alerts. For example, you can adjust the intensity of the projector, set motion zones if the camera covers areas you don’t want to monitor, and configure notifications and alerts to identify this. the camera detects a person but you don’t need to know there is a cat in the garden).

Credit: Screenshot by Joel Cunningham

Speaking of which, the camera can distinguish what type of motion it detects and specifically indicate when it’s sending you an alert. Different detection modes include people, vehicles, animals and packages. The Feed tab shows an archive of everything the camera has recorded in the last month (provided you have a subscription plan). Videos load very quickly and are sorted by date and action type, making it easy to find the video you want.

You can set routines to determine when the camera monitors, and choose from three settings (Standby, Activate, and Activate Away) to control how it behaves depending on whether you’re home or not. You can also set emergency alerts, including whether the light emits a siren sound when it detects motion.

Credit: Screenshot by Joel Cunningham

You can also contact emergency services through the application. When you trigger one of the alerts (by tapping the Emergency tab), Arlo Emergency Alert will contact first responders. It’s not exactly live security monitoring, but it’s a nice thing to have if you’re considering this lighting as a component of your home security system.

In conclusion

If you’re looking for a simple light with just a camera, the Arlo is probably overkill—though it will certainly do the job, though to get the most out of it (and to justify its $150 list price), it’s probably best to consider a home security device that requires more of a monthly subscription. as device.

In this sense, it performs well; It captures and stores clear, detailed video and offers accurate, precise motion detection. I was pleased enough that I upgraded my monthly subscription again after Arlo Secure’s 30-day free trial ended, which is the best support you’ll ever get from me, an epic squeeze.