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1345 Review
42 Karma

Review on πŸ“· Arlo Essential Spotlight Camera - 1 Pack, Wireless Security, 1080p Video, Color Night Vision, 2 Way Audio, Wire-Free, WiFi Direct, No Hub Required, Compatible with Alexa, White - VMC2030 by Adam Rogers

Revainrating 1 out of 5

Somewhere between Arlo Pro 2 and 3 - plus Wi-Fi

This camera is perfect for the job. This gives you all the benefits of an Arlo camera (battery powered, great app, reliable smart alerts, etc.) without the need for a base station. In my case, I have a very large property and most of it is covered by outdoor hotspots, so my Wi-Fi coverage is MUCH larger than my base station coverage. I have three Arlo Pro 2s that cover this area, and I have two Arlo Gos (which send data through Verizon instead of WiFi) that cover locations outside of my base station's coverage area. With the Essential camera, I can easily replace the Go camera. The bottom line for me is that they are perfect for those who have a large area and are convenient to set up access points with (I recommend the Ubiquiti line of switches, gateways and access points). The reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because I find this camera to limp uselessly. The first issue is that it has a micro-USB port for charging instead of the Arlo Pro 3's magnetic charging option. The second problem is that the battery is not removable/replaceable. For some, this can be a deal breaker, and for me it almost does. I can only hope they release an Essential Pro camera with direct WiFi connection, as well as a removable battery and magnetic charger. The first issue is that instead of the Arlo Pro 3's magnetic charging option, it has a micro-USB port for charging. The second issue is that the battery is not removable/replaceable. For some, this can be a deal breaker, and for me it almost does. I can only hope they release an Essential Pro camera with direct WiFi connection, as well as a removable battery and magnetic charger. The first issue is that it has a micro-USB port for charging instead of the Arlo Pro 3's magnetic charging option. The second problem is that the battery is not removable/replaceable. For some, this can be a deal breaker, and for me it almost does. I can only hope they release an Essential Pro camera with direct WiFi connection, as well as a removable battery and magnetic charger. that they will release an Essential Pro camera with direct WiFi connection, as well as a removable battery and magnetic charger. The first issue is that it has a micro-USB port for charging instead of the Arlo Pro 3's magnetic charging option. The second problem is that the battery is not removable/replaceable. For some, this can be a deal breaker, and for me it almost does. I can only hope they release an Essential Pro camera with direct WiFi connection, as well as a removable battery and magnetic charger. that they will release an Essential Pro camera with direct WiFi connection, as well as a removable battery and magnetic charger. The first problem is that it has a micro-USB port for charging instead of the Arlo Pro 3's magnetic charging option. The second problem is that the battery is not removable/replaceable. For some, this can be a deal breaker, and for me it almost does. I can only hope they release an Essential Pro camera with direct WiFi connection, as well as a removable battery and magnetic charger. For some, this can be a deal breaker, and for me it almost does. I can only hope they release an Essential Pro camera with direct WiFi connection, as well as a removable battery and magnetic charger. For some, this can be a deal breaker, and for me it almost does. I can only hope,

Pros
  • Video surveillance
Cons
  • Slightly torn