Arlo has just launched two new third-generation video doorbells, and they pack all the features you need to keep your home secure. Both models cost $79.99 and come in four colors, including Sand Dune, Greystone, White, and Black.
Sand Dune is probably the most surprising color. Most doorbells come in black or a slightly different shade of black, so one that blends with a beige house is a nice change.
The two models are the Arlo Video Doorbell (3rd Gen), which runs on battery, and the Arlo Wired Video Doorbell (3rd Gen). Both ship in late November.
So which one should you get?
If you rent, or your door has no doorbell wires, you should get the battery-powered one. The best part is that you are not missing out on most features by going the battery route. Homeowners with existing wiring should probably go wired.
Constant power lets it save a few seconds of video from before anyone triggers it. That sounds minor until you’ve watched a clip that starts with a stranger’s back walking away from your porch. On the Ultra Secure plan, it’ll also record all day and night.
What features can you expect from these doorbells?
Both doorbells pack a 2K camera with 12x zoom capabilities. You get a 180° field of view, which is wide enough to catch someone’s shoes and the box they left on the mat. When the bell rings, your phone does too, and you can talk to whoever is there.
If you spot someone suspicious, you can trigger a siren to deter them from doing anything nefarious. The doorbells can handle rain and heat, see in the dark, and switch Wi-Fi bands on their own when one gets weak. Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, and IFTTT all work with it.
The doorbell itself is only half the story, because the smartest features sit behind Arlo’s Early Warning System plans. There are three: Smart Aware, Smart Secure, and Ultra Secure. Arlo’s paid plans add a few extra tricks, like Fire Detection, Event Captions that sum up each clip in a line of text, and Threat Assessment, which tells you which alerts actually need your attention.
All in all, these doorbells pack the features you need to keep your home safe, and the fun colors are a nice bonus. They’re definitely worth checking out.