Arlo Essential 2K Indoor Camera: Unpacking the features and value of this home security cam

Are you in the UK and looking for internal cameras to keep an eye on your pets or property? If so, the Arlo Essential 2K indoor security camera (2-pack) is now discounted by 26% from its £159.99 RRP to just £119.00. As usual, the product is available with free delivery and free returns, which is helpful if the product turns out to be defective.

In addition to the discounted product, the listing also notes there’s a £10-off voucher available until Monday and a £10 Morrisons on Amazon voucher.

Arlo is a reputable brand for home security cameras so this deal marks a great opportunity if you’ve been looking for this type of device. Do note that it is a wired camera so it’ll have to be plugged in somewhere.

Deep dive into camera features and capabilities

The Arlo Essential 2K indoor security camera comes with a very good 2K (up to 2,560x1,440) resolution that provides you with clear, detailed video, great if you want to keep an eye on smaller pets such as kittens. Not only is the camera high-quality, but the camera is equipped with black and white night vision (it can see up to 7 metres), so you can see any events that occur at night.

This Arlo security cam features two-way audio with noise reduction and echo cancellation allowing you to chat with anyone coming to feed your pets. There’s also an automatic privacy lens cover that physically blocks the lens when disarmed, providing you with more privacy when at home.

There is also passive infrared motion detection that has a range of 7 metres. You can use motion detection in combination with the 80 dB smart siren to scare away intruders. The siren can also be activated manually.

The Arlo Essential 2K features a 130-degree wide-angle diagonal view, which is sufficient for most rooms, to capture more of what’s going on in the room and there is 12x digital zoom to take a closer look at objects. It’s compatible with pretty much all Wi-Fi devices with its 2.4GHz Wi-Fi support and it integrates with your smart home via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT.

Leveraging the Arlo Secure subscription for enhanced security

When you buy the Arlo Essential 2K, you get a 30-day free trial of the Arlo Secure subscription, and if you want to continue it, it costs from £11.99 per month or £119.90 per year. This subscription isn’t necessary for basic functionality, but it does unlock the full potential of the camera.

When you subscribe you get secure cloud storage for video history (30 to 60 days depending on plan); AI-powered identification of people, animals, vehicles, and packages, reducing false alerts; custom activity zones that let you define areas for motion detection, minimising unwanted notifications; and interactive notifications that can be interacted with from the lock screen like view animated previews, activate siren, and call emergency services.

My biggest issue with this camera is that there is no local storage for recordings, necessitating the need to buy the subscription if you want to save any footage. If you’re thinking of using this camera to protect your home from theft and want footage to give to the police, you’ll need a subscription.

An alternative to a subscription is buying the Arlo SmartHub (VMB5000) which is compatible with the Arlo Essential 2K indoor camera, according to Arlo’s website.

The savings on this camera twin-pack are significant and it’s the lowest price they’ve been at on Amazon UK so they’re definitely worth considering for your home. If you don’t mind the subscription or have the Arlo SmartHub already, then this camera makes sense. If not, then you may be better off with a camera that comes with an SD card slot and recording capabilities.

• Arlo Essential 2K Indoor Pet Security Camera (2-pack): £119 + £10-off voucher + £10 for Morrisons on Amazon (Amazon UK) / MSRP £159.99

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