Why we like the Arlo Q 1080p HD Security Camera

Netgear’s Arlo is a relatively new competitor in the smart home security camera space. They are competing directly with several excellent products from Nest, Samsung, DLINK and Logitech but do a very admirable job at providing a quality product but also addressing some of the pain points of other camera systems. They include 7 days of event-based cloud recordings which is a nice addition for people sick of having to pay subscriptions fees just to view their own footage.

Voice Assistant Compatibility

At this time the Arlo Q 1080p HD Security Camera is not officially compatible with Google Assistant. But it is fully compatible with Amazon Alexa where you can send your camera feed to your Fire TV box or Echo Show assistant. This is handy, but it would have been nice if it would play nicely with the Google / Chromecast ecosystem.

Other Compatibility

IFTTT and Stringify are fully compatible with Arlo and provide extensive automations that should be able to make up for the loss of Google Assistant support above. Arlo is particularly good at functioning as a motion detector to activate other smart home products like Hue or LIFX bulbs if something is detected.

Extra features

The Arlo Q is a 1080p smart home camera that relies on AC power. It has a very good 2-way audio system which will allow you to yell at intruders or your dog if the need arises. Like the Nest Cam IQ, the Arlo Q uses a 130 degree lens which can capture a very large environment. Like we mentioned above, the Arlo Q really appeals to people who are in two boats:  (1) People who don’t want to pay for cloud storage at all. Arlo comes with free 7 days of stored events. Now this isn’t full motion video, this is chunks of video identified in events where motion or sound was detected. But it is certainly nice to not be nickle and dimed for a basic thing like this. (2) the other group that would really want the Arlo Q is people who are already invested in the Arlo Pro or Arlo Pro 2 outdoor cameras. These cameras are wireless (battery powered) cameras that are definitely the best fit for many houses. So if you want to keep all of your cameras in the same ecosystem, you’ll want to go with the Arlo Q indoors.

You can upgrade to a paid plan that includes 24/7 cloud recording if you want. But if that is that case, I’d recommend just looking into the Nest Cam IQ with Nest Aware since it is probably better hardware.

Conclusion

The Arlo Q 1080p HD Security Camera is an excellent smart home camera that solves some of the annoyance with the Nest system. You get free motion event storage for 7 days and the Arlo app is very well made with most of the other features offered by Nest and Logitech. If you are already invested in Arlo Pro or Arlo Pro 2 outdoor cameras, the Arlo Q is a no brainer.

Netgear Arlo Q review: An indoor security camera that doesn't blink

May 16, 2017 - Popular Science

Like most in-home security cameras, the Q is simple to setup. After downloading the Arlo app, you choose the Wi-Fi network you want the camera to use and then place a large QR code your phone generates in front of it. A chime sounds to let you know the...