The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell is a popular choice for those looking to enhance their home security with advanced features and reliable performance.
In this review, we will explore the key features, benefits, and potential drawbacks of the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell to help you decide if it’s the right fit for your home.
I recently installed the Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell at my home, and I was impressed by its high-definition video quality and wide 180-degree view.
Although the installation process requires careful attention to instructions, the end result is a seamless integration with my smart home devices and a significant boost to my home’s security.
Installation Requirements and Setup
The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell requires specific electrical wiring to function properly. This includes a wired doorbell and doorbell chime with voltage between 16V AC and 24V AC and a 10VA transformer. Following the installation instructions carefully is crucial to ensure a smooth setup process. The unit comes with all necessary components, making it a convenient DIY installation for most users. Additionally, the app provides step-by-step guidance to help users through the setup process, ensuring that even those with minimal technical skills can install the doorbell without issues.
Comprehensive Field of View
The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell features a 180-degree field of view, allowing you to see more at your front door. This wide-angle perspective ensures that you can see a person from head to toe or a package on the ground, providing comprehensive coverage of your doorstep. This feature is particularly useful for monitoring deliveries and ensuring that nothing goes unnoticed. The doorbell’s advanced camera technology also minimizes the ‘bubble’ effect, offering a clearer and more natural view of your front door area.
High-Quality Video and Night Vision
The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell provides HD video with HDR quality, ensuring that you get clear and detailed footage even in varying lighting conditions. This high-quality video output is crucial for identifying visitors and capturing important details. Additionally, the doorbell is equipped with night vision capabilities, allowing you to see clearly even in complete darkness. This feature enhances the security of your home, ensuring that you can monitor your front door effectively at any time of day or night.
Two-Way Audio and Quick Replies
The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell features two-way audio, allowing you to hear and speak to visitors through your smartphone. This feature is particularly useful for communicating with delivery personnel or guests without opening the door. The doorbell also offers pre-recorded quick reply messages, enabling you to respond to visitors even when you are unable to engage in a live conversation. These audio features add a layer of convenience and security, allowing you to manage interactions at your front door more effectively.
Smarter Notifications with Arlo Secure
With an Arlo Secure plan, the video doorbell provides smarter notifications for people, vehicles, packages, and animals. These alerts are sent directly to your phone’s lock screen, allowing you to react quickly to any activity at your front door. This feature enhances the overall security of your home by ensuring that you are always aware of what is happening outside your door. The ability to customize alerts based on your preferences further adds to the convenience, making it easier to manage and respond to different types of notifications.
Motion Detection and Arlo Foresight
The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell includes motion detection capabilities, allowing it to start recording before someone rings the doorbell. This feature, known as Arlo Foresight, ensures that you never miss a moment by capturing video prior to every motion-triggered event. This is particularly useful for identifying potential security threats or simply understanding the context of an event. The ability to see what triggered a motion alert before it happens provides a more comprehensive view of activity at your front door.
Weather Resistance and Durability
The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell is designed to withstand various weather conditions, making it a reliable choice for outdoor use. Whether it’s heat, cold, rain, or sun, this doorbell can handle it all, ensuring consistent performance year-round. Its weather-resistant design means that you don’t have to worry about the elements affecting its functionality. This durability is essential for maintaining the security of your home in different climates and weather conditions, providing peace of mind regardless of the season.
Built-In Siren for Added Security
The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell comes with a built-in siren that can be triggered manually or automatically during an event. This feature is designed to ward off unwanted guests and enhance the security of your home. The siren can be a powerful deterrent, alerting you and your neighbors to potential intruders. Being able to activate the siren from your smartphone adds a layer of control and responsiveness, allowing you to take immediate action in case of suspicious activity. This feature makes the doorbell a valuable addition to any home security system.
Integration with Smart Home Devices
The Arlo Essential Wired Video Doorbell is compatible with a range of smart home devices, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Samsung SmartThings. This seamless integration allows you to control and monitor your doorbell using your preferred smart home ecosystem. Whether you want to view the live feed on your smart display or receive voice alerts through your smart speaker, the doorbell’s compatibility with these devices adds a layer of convenience and functionality to your home security setup. This feature ensures that your doorbell integrates smoothly with your existing smart home infrastructure.
Customer Service and Support
Arlo provides excellent customer service and support for their products, ensuring that any issues or concerns are addressed promptly. Whether it’s through troubleshooting guides, online resources, or direct customer support, Arlo makes sure that you have the help you need to get the most out of your video doorbell. The company’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in their willingness to assist with installation issues, device replacements, and other concerns. This level of support adds significant value to the product, ensuring that you have a positive experience from purchase to daily use.