Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight camera review: It doesn't get much better than this (2023)

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9,0

Arlo Pro 3 spotlight camera

$179 on Amazon

(Video) Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera Review - Unboxing, Features, Installation, Settings, Video Quality

$ 250 na Best Buy

As

• easy to install
• Wired or wireless setup
• flexible application

I don't like

• loading process

Product Details

• To set up Mobile, outside/inside
• resolution 2560 x 1440 (2K)
• store cloud storage
• Google/Alexa Compatibility Google Assistant
• field of vision 160 degrees

It's not the cheapest spotlight camera (nor the most expensive), but at the regular price of €250 it's the one thatArlo Pro 3 spotlight camerais the bestcamera spotlightI tested it - and since its launch in late 2021, no one has surpassed itArlo Pro 3 camera, but the spotlight does not require a base station and has more powerful built-in lighting than the spotlight-equipped Pro 3 camera.

The scope of delivery includes the floodlight camera, a weatherproof housing, a removable rechargeable battery, a charging cable and a simple wall bracket and hardware. The camera features crisp HD live streaming, provides quick alerts and offers real security camera features with arming and disarming functions, a built-in siren and a very bright built-in spotlight. It works withAlexaEGoogle Assistant, for.

Paying for the optional Arlo Smart Cloud service gives you access to even more features (more on that below). arlo, thatwas spun off from Netgear in 2018Starting its own brand has managed to offer an increasingly impressive range of devices - and the battery-powered Pro 3 Spotlight Camera is among the best.

blinded by the light

In addition to connecting directly to Wi-Fi instead of requiring a base station, the Pro 3 Floodlight Camera differs from the Arlo Pro 3 Camera in its blinding floodlight.

According to Arlo's specs for this model, the light output is 2,000 lumens -- 3,000 lumens if you buy an optional external charging cable ($25 for an 8-foot cable or $50 for a 25-foot cable). feet). There's also an $80 solar panel accessory that gives you a few options if you don't want to rely entirely on battery power.

You can also buy additional batteries for $50 each.

There's an option to test the floodlight when setting up the camera, and it specifically warns about the risk of glare: "This light is strong and should only be tested from a distance."

To contextualize the brightness of this spotlight,800 lumens is approximately equivalent to a 60 watt incandescent light bulb, so 2000 to 3000 lumens is more than double the brightness of a standard bulb. It's definitely bright enough to be distracting, especially when the light is installed at eye level.

Fortunately, the spotlight is dimmable from 5% to 100%, so you can adjust the brightness. Competing models sit in the same row - thering spotlight camerahas two 1,500 lumen LEDs andNest's new spotlight camerathere are two with 2,400 lumens - but the Arlos has the most brightness potential if you buy this external charging cable.

If the floodlights came on at night when I walked the dogs, they illuminated the yard far beyond the quarterdeck where they were installed. I could see the dogs running across our small yard and beyond.

When the camera is activated and the motion sensor detects activity, the light automatically turns on. In the app, you have the option to customize when you want it to turn on based on how bright or dark it is outside. You can also adjust the brightness if you want to dim those lumens a bit, as well as choose whether you want the light to be constant or pulsating and for how long, from 1 minute to 20 minutes.

the camera

Everything else about this camera is just like the traditional Pro 3 camera. The spotlight camera has a very clear HD live stream, although this can vary depending on the quality of your Wi-Fi connection - so make sureCheck your network strengthwhere you want to install it. If you are experiencing connectivity issues, please visitour most popular WiFi extenders.

In the app, you can set the arming/disarming mode manually, by schedule or by geofencing. All three are easy to set up and worked well for me in testing. Geofencing allows you to define a radius, known as small, medium or large. The app doesn't give the exact range of each one, but the small beam armed when I traveled a few blocks away and then disarmed when I returned.

When the camera is activated and motion is detected (and it's dark outside), the spotlight turns on by default. If you want the siren to turn on too, you can edit the rules by clicking on the pencil in the mode and then on the rules. Here you can also choose to receive an email when activity is detected in addition to the standard push notification.

CommonArlo Smart Subscription, starting at $3 a month, you get advanced motion detection that distinguishes between people (not facial recognition, just recognizing that you see a person), vehicles, animals, and packages. You also get 30 days of saved activity clips, activity zones, smoke and carbon monoxide detection, and e911, the service that lets you contact local emergency services right from your phone, even when you're out of town.

Like the Pro 3 camera, the Pro 3 spotlight camera did a good job of identifying people and animals, successfully distinguishing between me, my husband, and our dogs. Where I've installed it in my backyard, not a single car or package has come into its field of view, so I can't comment on how well it identifies them.

Define activity zones if you have specific areas where you want motion detected, rather than your entire yard or driveway. I created a zone for the quarterdeck and after that I only got warnings in that area. I have not tested the camera's ability to "listen" to standard smoke and carbon monoxide detectors or e911.

This camera works with Alexa and Google Assistant. I don't have a smart speaker or monitor at home to test this on, but in theory you should be able to access the live video feed on a smart monitor, arm and disarm the system (to disarm you need a four-digit PIN). digits). -- and more.

Privacy is a crucial component when testing smart home devices, so be sure to readArlo's Privacy Policybefore you buy to decide if you are satisfied with their policies.

My favorite Arlo so far

There's really no competition here; This is a great spotlight camera. Granted, $250 is a lot of money, but you can find the Pro 3 Floodlight Camera for $200 pretty regularly these days—and that's still significantly cheaper than Nest's $280 alternative. Arlo combines outstanding performance, features, usability and design in one elegant package. I'm particularly impressed with the easy installation and battery-powered design - and the ability to install it wirelessly, which most competitors just don't offer.

There's a reason we've givenArloPro 3,ArloPro 4EArlo Video DoorbellEditor Awards. The Pro 3 Floodlight camera is in line with Arlo's trend towards innovation with unique twists on classic products that just work.