Arlo Essential Indoor review: The Arlo experience at a lower price

At a glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

• Multiple types of AI detection
• App enables a lot of customization of security features
• Budget price

Cons

• Subscription required to unlock its full capabilities
• No local storage option

Our Verdict

The second generation of the Arlo Essential Indoor is a great entry-level security camera that makes many of the best features of Arlo’s Pro line available to tighter budgets.

Although this is the second generation of Arlo’s Essential Indoor entry-level security camera, it’s the company’s first truly budget-conscious offering. No doubt responding to popular bargain-priced security cameras from Wyze and Blink, Arlo is selling the revamped HD camera (model VMC2060) for $39.99, about a 60-percent price drop from the first-generation model that sold for $99.99. It has also introduced a 2K version (model VMC3060) for the still ridiculously low price of $59.99.

The camera has received a modest makeover, with a taller body and a shorter stand. But both versions boast similar features to the original Essential Indoor, including a 130-degree field of view, motion detection, black-and-white night vision, two-way audio, 12x digital zoom, a built-in siren, and an automated privacy shield.

You connect and operate that camera with the same Arlo Secure app that’s used with Arlo’s Pro line of cameras. To add the camera, you tap the plus sign on the app’s home screen and the app automatically recognizes the camera and prompts you through a few steps to connect it to your Wi-Fi (2.4GHz networks only).

Michael Ansaldo/Foundry

Out of the box, you can view the camera’s live feed and receive basic motion notifications, but Arlo requires users to purchase an Arlo Secure subscription to enable intelligent motion detection (people, vehicles, packages, and pets); smart notifications; and smart activity zones, as well as to save video clips to the cloud. The basic Secure plan costs $4.99 a month for one camera or $12.99 a month for all your Arlo cameras. The $17.99/month Arlo Secure Plus plan adds the ability to call emergency responders from within the Arlo app. For $24.99 a month, you can add 24/7 professional monitoring with Arlo’s Safe & Secure Pro plan. That plan is more appropriate for the Arlo Home Security System TechHive reviewed recently, which can integrate Arlo cameras.

The Arlo Secure app uses a system of preset operational modes to control how the camera responds to motion or sound in various scenarios. Arm Away mode enables the strongest level of security by activating motion detection, event recording, and push notifications on all your connected Arlo cameras. Arm Home is used while you’re still on the premises, and arms only those devices you select, such as your outdoor cameras. Standby mode allows you to minimize or disable monitoring according to the device rules you set. You can add or remove rules for each mode as it suits your needs.

I’ve used the Arlo Secure app with other Arlo cameras, and I always enjoy the ease and flexibility it brings to operating the camera. You need tap only one of the modes on the app dashboard to activate it—there’s no need to comb through a settings menu to activate or deactivate individual security features—which makes it far more likely you’ll use them. You can also add automations to change modes based on a schedule or upon detecting when you leave or arrive at your home.

Michael Ansaldo/Foundry

The camera’s video quality is excellent, and motion detection worked reliably in my testing. By default, the camera will record video of detected events for up to 5 minutes or until the activity stops. Alternatively, you can record clips for a fixed length between 10 seconds and 2 minutes, configurable in the settings menu. Similarly, you can adjust the motion detection sensitivity, the volume and duration of the siren, and other key features.

Should you buy the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera?

Arlo’s Pro security cameras are among the best you can buy, but their high price tags can be a barrier to some budgets. This new Essential Indoor Camera makes many of the most desirable Pro camera features available to virtually anyone. It’s a fantastic value that should be considered by anyone looking for an affordable home security solution.