Despite being a tech journalist who normally has at least two security cameras running at all times, I've long felt uneasy about installing lenses in my own home. The security vulnerability suddenly weighs a bit more heavily when my family is being recorded indoors, and not just the rabbit sitting in my driveway. Plus, I hate the thought of sitting on the couch eating sushi and watching TV. Dragon's house.
Of course, there are plenty of workarounds that can give you peace of mind when lounging within view of an indoor security camera: you can rotate the lens, hide the camera behind a picture frame, place an opaque cup over the device, or simply unplug it. But it's nice to see brands recognize that we don't want cameras pointed at us all the time and adjust their designs accordingly. And that's exactly what Arlo has done with its second-generation Essential Indoor Camera.
I wrote about this camera in the 2019 issue of Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus, which has great hardware, a great companion app, and some unusual privacy features that I really like. This is the ideal indoor camera for anyone on the fence about indoor cameras.
Staff Recommendations
Arlo Essential Indoor Camera (2nd Gen, 2K)
The Arlo Essential Indoor Camera (2nd Gen) is available in two resolutions: 2K or high-definition 1080p. Both models feature a built-in siren, an automatic privacy shutter (hides the lens when the camera is off), and high-quality black and white night vision. The camera requires a nearby outlet to power itself, but it also has versatile mounting options (tabletop or wall-mounted).
- Automatic Privacy Shutter
- Clear night vision
- Crisp 2K video
Pricing, Availability and Specifications
Like most Arlo products, the Essential Indoor Camera (2nd Gen, 2K) is available on the virtual shelves of many popular electronics retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Arlo itself also stocks the camera. Most places are priced at $80 for the 2K version, which is in the upper mid-range for indoor cameras. If you want to save a little money, consider the 1080p HD version, which is $40.
What's great about the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera (2nd Gen, 2K)?
Automated Privacy and Clear Night Vision
Arlo's second-generation Essential Indoor Cam, like most of the company's products, is built to be durable. Mounting the camera couldn't be easier, especially when using the tabletop stand. Plug in the device and follow the instructions in the Arlo mobile app to connect the camera to your Arlo account. In my case, the process took less than two minutes, and the Arlo app was already installed.
My living room isn't that big, but the camera still covers about 25-30 feet from where it's installed to the opposite wall, which is also where my front door is. With amazingly clear 2K video and 12x digital zoom, I could easily see the faces of people walking into my front door in live and recorded video. And this was during the day. At night, I couldn't see such details until the face was about 5-10 feet away from the lens. But with night vision, if an intruder were to break into my house at night, the image was legible enough that I could identify the face pretty clearly.
A big part of the Essential Indoor Camera's appeal is its automatic privacy shutter: this plastic disk snaps the camera lens shut when the device is released and opens when the camera is armed. Privacy shutters aren't as common in indoor cameras as they should be in general, though, and most competitors that offer such a design only offer a manually operated shutter. (Such is the case with Ring's second-generation Indoor Cam, which beats Arlo cameras in many ways, like color night vision and a wider field of view, but falls behind in some other ways, like Google Home integration and 2K video.)
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Maybe one day there will be an indoor camera that combines automatic and manual shutters to give you maximum control over your privacy, but until then, I much prefer Arlo's automatic shutters. I'm the kind of person who needs to double- or triple-check that the oven is off, the garage door is closed, and the door is locked before I leave the house. I'm terrible at this kind of forgetfulness, so I appreciate that the Essential Indoor Cam gives me control over whether the Privacy Shield is open or closed.
All of the Essential Indoor Cam's core security camera features work as you'd expect: Two-way audio is always clear and legible. The siren is loud enough to scare away uninvited guests and can be activated remotely. A sleek, user-friendly companion app serves as the hub for all camera activity and video storage. This storage, along with many other features, including smart movement identification for people and animals and arm/disarm functionality, is locked behind a subscription paywall. It's not the cheapest security subscription on the market, but it's still affordable, with the basic single-camera plan costing just $8 per month.
What are the drawbacks of the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera (2nd Gen, 2K)?
Please use local storage
I have very few complaints about the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera 2nd Gen. While the automatic shutter is useful, I would have liked the Arlo Essential Indoor Cam (2nd Gen) to add a manually operated privacy shield for extra security, but this is a complaint that's easily overlooked since it's easy to recreate with a cup or towel.
The lack of a local storage option is the camera's biggest drawback. I rarely save footage from indoor cameras (although I never get tired of watching my cats run around the house), but even if I did, Arlo's paid cloud-based storage isn't ideal. A local video archive option, either via a microSD slot or a compatible base station, would certainly boost customer confidence, especially for indoor cameras. Arlo has quite a few competitors in this regard, including the Wyze Cam v4, which has an onboard SD slot for local storage.
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Should I buy it?
Some shoppers may not absolutely need an indoor camera, but if you've made it this far into my review, you'll likely agree that it's worth it as a pet camera, baby monitor, or to keep an eye on your home while you're away. There are cheaper indoor camera options out there, and with a few caveats, the 2nd Gen Essential Indoor Camera is a great choice for anyone looking for quality hardware from a reputable brand.
Arlo Essential Indoor Camera (2nd Gen, 2K)
While you might be frustrated by the lack of variety in storage options on the Arlo Essential Indoor Camera 2nd Gen, overall it's still a strong choice for the best indoor camera you can buy.
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